Annals of the Poor

by John Kendrick Bangs

  PART II.

  A sweet solemnity often possesses the mind whilst retracing pastintercourse with departed friends. How much is this increased when theywere such as lived and died in the Lord! The remembrance of formerscenes and conversations with those who, we believe, are now enjoying theuninterrupted happiness of a better world, fills the heart with pleasingsadness, and animates the soul with the hopeful anticipation of a daywhen the glory of the Lord shall be revealed in the assembling of all hischildren together, never more to be separated. Whether they were rich orpoor while on earth is a matter of trifling consequence: the valuablepart of their character is, that they are "kings and priests unto God;"and this is their true nobility. In the number of now departedbelievers, with whom I once loved to converse on the grace and glory ofthe kingdom of God, was the Dairyman's daughter.

  About a week after the funeral, I went to visit the family at ---, inwhose service the younger sister had lived and died, and where Elizabethwas requested to remain for a short time in her stead.

  The house was a large and venerable mansion. It stood in a beautifulvalley at the foot of a high hill. It was embowered in fine woods, whichwere interspersed in every direction with rising, falling, and swellinggrounds. The manor-house had evidently descended through a long line ofancestry, from a distant period of time. The Gothic character of itsoriginal architecture was still preserved in the latticed windows,adorned with carved divisions and pillars and stonework. Several pointedterminations also, in the construction of the roof, according to thecustom of our forefathers, fully corresponded with the general featuresof the building.

  One end of the house was entirely clothed with the thick foliage of animmense ivy, which climbed beyond customary limits, and embraced a loftychimney up to its very summit. Such a tree seemed congenial to the wallsthat supported it, and conspired with the antique fashion of the place tocarry imagination back to the days of our ancestors.

  As I approached, I was led to reflect on the lapse of ages, and thesuccessive generations of men, each in their turn occupying lands,houses, and domains; each in their turn also disappearing, and leavingtheir inheritance to be enjoyed by others. David once observed the same,and cried out, "Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth, andmine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state isaltogether vanity. Surely every man walketh in a vain show; surely theyare disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shallgather them."

  Happy would it be for the rich if they more frequently meditated on theuncertainty of all their possessions, and the frail nature of everyearthly tenure. "Their inward thought is, that their houses shallcontinue for ever, and their dwelling-places to all generations: theycall their lands after their own names. Nevertheless, man being inhonour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. This their way istheir folly; yet their posterity approve their sayings. Like sheep theyare laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and their beauty shallconsume in the grave from their dwelling."

  As I advanced to the mansion, a pleasing kind of gloom overspread thefront: it was occasioned by the shade of trees, and gave a characteristiceffect to the ancient fabric. I instantly recollected that death hadvery recently visited the house and that one of its present inhabitantswas an affectionate mourner for a departed sister.

  There is a solemnity in the thought of a recent death, which willassociate itself with the very walls from whence we are conscious that asoul has just taken its flight to eternity.

  After passing some time in conversation with the superiors of the family,in the course of which I was much gratified by hearing of the unremittedattention which the elder sister had paid to the younger during theillness of the latter, I received likewise other testimonies of theexcellency of her general character and conduct in the house. I thentook leave, requesting permission to see her, agreeably to the promise Ihad made at the funeral, not many days before.

  I was shown into a parlour, where I found her alone. She was in deepmourning. She had a calmness and serenity in her countenance whichexceedingly struck me, and impressed some idea of those attainments whicha further acquaintance with her afterwards so much increased.

  She spoke of her sister. I had the satisfaction of finding that she hadgiven very hopeful proofs of a change of heart before she died. Theprayers and earnest exhortations of Elizabeth had been blessed to a happyeffect. She described what had passed with such a mixture of sisterlyaffection and pious dependence on the mercy of God to sinners, asconvinced me that her own heart was under the influence of "pure andundefiled religion."

  She requested leave occasionally to correspond with me on serioussubjects, stating that she needed much instruction. She hoped I wouldpardon the liberty which she had taken by introducing herself to mynotice. She expressed a trust that the Lord would overrule both thedeath of her sister and the personal acquaintance with me that resultedfrom it, to a present and future good, as it respected herself, and alsoher parents, with whom she statedly lived, and to whom she expected toreturn in a few days.

  Finding that she was wanted in some household duty, I did not remain longwith her, but left her with an assurance that I proposed to visit herparents very shortly.

  "Sir," said she, "I take it very kind that you have condescended to leavethe company of the rich, and converse with the poor. I wish I could havesaid more to you respecting my own state of mind. Perhaps I shall bebetter able another time. When you next visit me, instead of finding mein these noble walls, you will see me in a poor cottage. But I amhappiest when there. Once more, sir, I thank you for your past kindnessto me and mine, and may God in many ways bless you for it!"

  I quitted the house with no small degree of satisfaction, in consequenceof the new acquaintance which I had formed. I discovered traces of acultivated as well as a spiritual mind. I felt that religiousintercourse with those of low estate may be rendered eminently useful toothers, whose outward station and advantages are far above their own.

  How often does it appear that "God hath chosen the weak things of theworld to confound the things which are mighty and base things of theworld, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, and things whichare not, to bring to nought things that are; that no flesh should gloryin his presence!"

  It was not unfrequently my custom, when my mind was filled with anyinteresting subject for meditation, to seek some spot where the beautiesof natural prospect might help to form pleasing and useful associations.I therefore ascended gradually to the very summit of the hill adjoiningthe mansion where my visit had just been made. Here was placed anelevated sea-mark: it was in the form of a triangular pyramid, and builtof stone. I sat down on the ground near it, and looked at thesurrounding prospect, which was distinguished for beauty andmagnificence. It was a lofty station, which commanded a complete circleof interesting objects to engage the spectator's attention. Southwardthe view was terminated by a long range of hills, at about six milesdistance. They met to the westward another chain of hills, of which theone whereon I sat formed a link, and the whole together nearlyencompassed a rich and fruitful valley, filled with cornfields andpastures. Through this vale winded a small river for many miles: muchcattle were feeding on its banks. Here and there lesser eminences arosein the valley: some covered with wood, others with corn or grass, and afew with heath or fern. One of these little hills was distinguished by aparish church at the top, presenting a striking feature in the landscape.Another of these elevations, situated in the centre of the valley, wasadorned with a venerable holly-tree, which has grown there for ages. Itssingular height and wide-spreading dimensions not only render it anobject of curiosity to the traveller, but of daily usefulness to thepilot, as a mark visible from the sea, whereby to direct his vessel safeinto harbour. Villages, churches, country-seats, farm-houses, andcottages, were scattered over every part of the southern valley. In thisdirection also, at the foot of the hill where I was stationed, appearedthe ancient mansion which I had just quitted,
embellished with its woods,groves, and gardens.

  South-eastward I saw the open ocean, bounded only by the horizon. Thesun shone, and gilded the waves with a glittering light that sparkled inthe most brilliant manner. More to the east, in continuation of thatline of hills where I was placed, rose two downs, one beyond the other,both covered with sheep, and the sea just visible over the furthest ofthem, as a terminating boundary. In this point ships were seen, somesailing, others at anchor. Here the little river which watered thesouthern valley finished its course, and ran through meadows into thesea, in an eastward direction.

  On the north the sea appeared like a noble river, varying from three toseven miles in breadth, between the banks of the opposite coast and thoseof the island which I inhabited. Immediately underneath me was a finewoody district of country, diversified by many pleasing objects. Distanttowns were visible on the opposite shore. Numbers of ships occupied thesheltered station which this northern channel afforded them. The eyeroamed with delight over an expanse of near and remote beauties, whichalternately caught the observation, and which harmonized together, andproduced a scene of peculiar interest.

  Westward the hills followed each other, forming several intermediate andpartial valleys, in a kind of undulations, like the waves of the sea;and, bending to the south, completed the boundary of the larger valleybefore described, to the southward of the hill on which I sat. In manyinstances the hills were cultivated with corn to their very summits, andseemed to defy the inclemency of the weather, which, at these heights,usually renders the ground incapable of bringing forth and ripening thecrops of grain. One hill alone, the highest in elevation, and about tenmiles to the south-westward, was enveloped in a cloud, which justpermitted a dim and hazy sight of a signal-post, a light-house, and anancient chantry, built on its summit.

  Amidst these numerous specimens of delightful scenery I found a mount forcontemplation, and here I indulged it. "How much of the natural beautiesof Paradise still remain in the world, although its spiritual characterhas been so awfully defaced by sin! But when divine grace renews theheart of the fallen sinner, Paradise is regained, and much of its beautyrestored to the soul. As this prospect is compounded of hill and dale,land and sea, woods and plains, all sweetly blended together, andrelieving each other in the landscape; so do the gracious dispositionswrought in the soul produce a beauty and harmony of scene to which it wasbefore a stranger."

  I looked towards the village in the plain below, where the Dairyman'syounger daughter was buried. I retraced the simple solemnities of thefuneral. I connected the principles and conduct of her sister with thepresent probably happy state of her soul in the world of spirits, and wasgreatly impressed with a sense of the importance of family influence as ameans of grace. "That young woman," I thought, "has been the conductorof not only a sister, but perhaps a father and mother also, to the trueknowledge of God, and may, by the divine blessing, become so to others.It is a glorious occupation to win souls to Christ, and guide them out ofEgyptian bondage through the wilderness into the promised Canaan. Happyare the families who are walking hand in hand together, as pilgrims,towards the heavenly country. May the number of such be dailyincreased?"

  Casting my eye over the numerous dwellings in the vales on my right andleft, I could not help thinking, "How many of their inhabitants areignorant of the ways of God, and strangers to his grace! May thisthought stimulate to activity and diligence in the cause of immortalsouls! They are precious in God's sight--they ought to be so in ours."

  Some pointed and affecting observations to that effect recurred to mymind as having been made by the young person with whom I had been justconversing. Her mind appeared to be much impressed with the duty ofspeaking and acting for God "while it is day," conscious that "the nightcometh, when no man can work." Her laudable anxiety on this head wasoften testified to me afterwards, both by letter and conversation. Whatshe felt herself, in respect to endeavours to do good, she happilycommunicated to others with whom she corresponded or conversed.

  Time would not permit my continuing so long in the enjoyment of thesemeditations, on this lovely mount of observation, as my heart desired. Onmy return home I wrote a few lines to the Dairyman's daughter, chieflydictated by the train of thought which had occupied my mind while I saton the hill.

  On the next Sunday evening I received her reply, of which the followingis a transcript:--

  "Sunday.

  "REV. SIR,

  "I am this day deprived of an opportunity of attending the house of God, to worship him. But, glory be to his name, he is not confined to time or place. I feel him present with me where I am, and his presence makes my paradise; for where he is, is heaven. I pray God that a double portion of his grace and Holy Spirit may rest upon you this day; that his blessing may attend all your faithful labours; and that you may find the truth of his word assuring us that wherever we assemble together in his name, there is he in the midst to bless every waiting soul.

  "How precious are all his promises! We ought never to doubt the truth of his word. For he will never deceive us if we go on in faith, always expecting to receive what his goodness waits to give. Dear sir, I have felt it very consoling to read your kind letter to-day. I feel thankful to God for ministers in our church who love and fear his name: there it is where the people in general look for salvation; and there may they ever find it, for Jesus' sake! May his word, spoken by you, his chosen vessel of grace, be made spirit and life to their dead souls! May it come from you as an instrument in the hands of God, as sharp arrows from a strong archer, and strike a death-blow to all their sins! How I long to see the arrows of conviction fasten on the minds of those that are hearers of the word, and not doers! O sir, be ambitious for the glory of God and the salvation of souls! It will add to the lustre of your crown in glory, as well as to your present joy and peace. We should be willing to spend and be spent in his service, saying, 'Lord, may thy will be done by me on earth, even as it is by the angels in heaven.' So you may expect to see his face with joy, and say, 'Here am I, Lord, and all the souls thou hast given me.'

  "It seems wonderful that we should neglect any opportunity of doing good, when there is, if it be done from love to God and his creatures, a present reward of grace, in reflecting that we are using the talents committed to our care, according to the power and ability which we receive from him. God requires not what he has not promised to give. But when we look back, and reflect that there have been opportunities in which we have neglected to take up our cross and speak and act for God, what a dejection of mind we feel! We are then justly filled with shame. Conscious of being ashamed of Christ, we cannot come with that holy boldness to a throne of grace, nor feel that free access when we make our supplications.

  "We are commanded to provoke one another to love and good works; and where two are agreed together in the things of God, they may say,--

  'And if our fellowship below In Jesus be so sweet, What heights of rapture shall we know When round the throne we meet!'

  "Sir, I hope Mrs. --- and you are both of one heart and one mind. Then you will sweetly agree in all things that make for your present and eternal happiness. Christ sent his disciples out, not singly, but two and two, that they might comfort and help each other in those ways and works which their Lord commanded them to pursue.

  "It has been my lot to have been alone the greatest part of the time that I have known the ways of God. I therefore find it such a treat to my soul when I can meet with any who love to talk of the goodness and love of God, and all his gracious dealings. What a comfortable reflection, to think of spending a whole eternity in that delightful employment! to tell to listening angels his love 'immense, unsearchable!'

  "Dear sir, I thank you for your kindness and condescension in leaving those that are of high rank and birth in the world, to converse with me, who am but a serv
ant here below. But when I consider what a high calling, what honour and dignity, God has conferred upon me, to be called his child, to be born of his Spirit, made an heir of glory, and joint heir with Christ; how humble and circumspect should I be in all my ways, as a dutiful and loving child to an affectionate and loving Father! When I seriously consider these things, it fills me with love and gratitude to God; and I do not wish for any higher station, nor envy the rich. I rather pity them, if they are not good as well as great. My blessed Lord was pleased to appear in the form of a servant, and I long to be like him.

  "I did not feel in so happy a frame of conversation that day, nor yet that liberty to explain my thoughts which I sometimes do. The fault must have been all in myself; for there was nothing in you but what seemed to evidence a Christian spirit, temper, and disposition. I very much wished for an opportunity to converse with you. I feel very thankful to God that you do take up the cross, and despise the shame: if you are found faithful, you will soon sit down with him in glory.

  "I have written to the Rev. Mr. ---, to thank him for permitting you to perform the burial service at --- over my dear departed sister, and to tell him of the kind way in which you consented to do it. I should mention that your manner of reading the service on that day had a considerable effect on the hearers.

  "Pray excuse all faults, and correct my errors. I expect in a few days to return home to my parents' house. We shall rejoice to see you there.

  "From your humble servant in Christ,

  "E--- W---."

  It was impossible to view such a correspondent with indifference. I hadjust returned from a little cottage assembly, where, on Sunday evenings,I sometimes went to instruct a few poor families in one of the hamletsbelonging to my parish. I read the letter, and closed the day withthanksgiving to God for thus enabling those who fear his name to build upeach other in fear and love.

  Of old time "they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; andthe Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was writtenbefore him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon hisname."

  That book of remembrance is not yet closed.