CHAPTER II.
In the parlor the older people were conversing on somewhat similartopics: first discussing plans for the entertainment and gratificationof their children and other young relatives, during the approachingholidays, then of the needs of the poor of the neighborhood, and how tosupply them; after that they talked of the claims of Home and ForeignMissions; the perils threatening their country from illiteracy, anarchy,heathenism, Mormonism, Popery, Infidelity, etc., not omitting the dangerfrom vast wealth accumulating in the hands of individuals andcorporations; also they spoke of the heavy responsibility entailed byits possession.
They were patriots and Christians; anxious first of all for theadvancement of Christ's kingdom upon earth, secondly for the welfare andprosperity of the dear land of their birth--the glorious old Uniontransmitted to us by our revolutionary fathers.
It was a personal question with each one, "How can I best use for thesalvation of my country and the world, the time, talents, influence andmoney God has entrusted to my keeping."
They acknowledged themselves stewards of God's bounty, and as suchdesired to be found faithful; neglecting neither the work nearest athand nor that in far distant lands where the people sit in greatdarkness and the region and shadow of death, that on them the "Sun ofrighteousness might arise with healing in his wings."
It had been expected that the guests would stay at Ion till bedtime, buta thaw had set in and ice and snow were fast disappearing from theroads; therefore all departed for their homes directly after an earlytea.
Lulu was very quiet during the homeward drive; her thoughts were full ofMaud's surprising assertion in regard to her father's wealth.
"I wonder if it is really so," she said to herself. "I'm tempted to askpapa; but he might not like it, and I wouldn't want to do anything tovex or trouble him,--my dear, dear kind father!"
An excellent opportunity for a private chat with him was afforded hershortly after their arrival at home. The little ones were fretful andViolet went to the nursery with them; Max hastened to his own room tofinish a composition he was expected to hand to his father the nextmorning, Gracie, weary with the excitement of the day, and the longmorning drive, went directly to her bed, and having seen her in it, andleft her there with a loving good night, the captain and Lulu presentlyfound themselves the only occupants of the library.
Taking possession of a large easy chair, "Come and sit on my knee andtell me how you have enjoyed your day," he said, giving her a fondfatherly smile.
"Very much indeed, papa," she answered, accepting his invitation,putting her arm round his neck and laying her cheek to his.
His arm was around her waist. He drew her closer, saying softly, "Mydear, dear little daughter! I thought you were unusually quiet cominghome: is anything amiss with you?"
"Oh, no, papa! I've had a lovely time all day long. How kind you were togive us all a holiday and let me go along with the rest of you."
"Good to myself as well as to you, my darlings; I could have had verylittle enjoyment leaving you behind."
"Papa, it's so nice to have you love me so!" she said, kissing him withardent affection. "Oh, I do hope I'll never, _never_ be very naughtyagain!"
"I hope not, dear child," he responded, returning her caresses. "I hopeyou feel ready to resume your studies to-morrow, with diligence andpainstaking?"
"Yes, papa, I think I do. It's almost a week since you have heard merecite; except the Sunday lesson yesterday."
"Yes," he said gravely, "it has been something of a loss to you in oneway, but I trust a decided gain in another. Well to change the subject,are you pleased with the prospect of spending the holidays at Ion?"
"Yes, papa; I think it will be lovely; almost as nice as having a partyof our own, as we did last year."
"Possibly we may add that--a party here for a day or two--if GrandmaElsie does not use up all the holidays with hers," he said in a halfjesting tone and with a pleasant laugh.
"O papa, do you really think we may?" she cried in delight. "Oh you arejust the kindest father!" giving him a hug.
He laughed at that, returning the hug with interest.
"I suppose you and Eva and the rest were laying out plans for Christmasdoings this afternoon?" he said inquiringly.
"Yes, papa, we were talking a good deal about games and tableaux, andabout the things we could buy or make for gifts to our friends, and whatwe would like to have given us."
She paused, half hoping he would ask what she wanted from him, but hedid not. He sat silently caressing her hair and cheek with his hand, andseemingly lost in thought.
At length, "Papa," she asked half hesitatingly, "are you very rich?"
"Rich?" he repeated, coming suddenly out of his reverie and lookingsmilingly down into her eyes, "yes; I have a sound constitution,excellent health, a delightful home, a wife and five children, each oneof whom I esteem worth at least a million to me; I live in a Christianland," he went on in a graver tone, "I have the Bible with all its greatand precious promises, the hope of a blessed eternity at God's righthand, and that all my dear ones are traveling heavenward with me; yes, Iam a very rich man!"
"Yes, sir; but--I meant have you a great deal of money."
"Enough to provide all that is necessary for the comfort of my family,and to gratify any reasonable desire on the part of my little girl. Whatis it you want, my darling?"
"Papa, I'm almost ashamed to tell you," she said, blushing and hangingher head; "but if I do, and you can't afford it, won't you please say soand not feel sorry about it? because I wouldn't ever want you to spendmoney on me that you need for yourself or some of the others."
"I am glad you are thoughtful for others as well as yourself, daughter,"he said kindly; "but don't hesitate to tell me all that is in yourheart. Nothing pleases me better than to have you, and all my dearchildren do so."
"Thank you, my dear, dear papa. I don't mean ever to hide anything fromyou," she returned, giving him another hug and kiss, while her eyessparkled and her cheek flushed with pleasure. "It's a diamond ring I'dlike to have."
"A diamond ring?" he repeated in surprise. "What would my little girl dowith such a thing as that?"
"Wear it, papa. Maud Dinsmore has such beautiful one, that a rich auntsent her the other day," she went on eagerly; "there's a large diamondin the middle and little ones all round it, and it sparkles so, andlooks just lovely on her hand! We all admired it ever so much, and Isaid I'd be wild with delight if I had such an one; then Sydney said,'Why not give your father a hint that you'd like one for Christmas?' andI said I was afraid you couldn't afford to give me anything that wouldcost so much; but Maud said I needn't be, for you were worth millions ofmoney. Can you really afford to give it to me, papa? I'd like it betterthan anything else if you can, but if you can't I don't want it," sheconcluded with a sigh, and creeping closer into his embrace.
He did not speak for a moment, but though grave and thoughtful hiscountenance was quite free from displeasure,--and when, at length, hespoke, his tones were very kind and affectionate.
"If I thought it would really be for my little girl's welfare andhappiness in the end," he said, "I should not hesitate for a moment togratify her in this wish of hers, but, daughter, the ornament you covetwould be extremely unsuitable for one of your years, and I fear itspossession would foster a love of finery that I do not wish to cultivatein you, because it is not right, and would hinder you in the race Itrust you are running for the prize of eternal life.
"The Bible tells us we can not serve both God and Mammon; can not lovehim and the world too.
"'If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.' Godhas entrusted me with a good deal of money, but I hold it as hissteward, and 'it is required in stewards, that a man be foundfaithful.'"
"I don't know what you mean, papa," she said, with look and tone of keendisappointment.
"That I must use the Lord's money to do his work, daughter; a great dealof money is needed to help on the advancement of his cause and
kingdomin the hearts of individuals, and in the world at large. There aremillions of poor creatures in heathen lands who have never so much asheard of Jesus and his dying love; and even in our own favored countrythere are thousands who are sunk in poverty, ignorance and wretchedness.Money is needed to feed and clothe them, to send them teachers andpreachers, and to build churches, schools, and colleges, where they canbe educated and fitted for happiness and usefulness.
"Suppose I had a thousand, or five thousand dollars, to spare aftersupplying my family with all that is necessary for health, comfort andhappiness; could my dear eldest daughter be so selfish as to wish me toput it into a diamond ring for her at the expense of leaving some poorcreature in want and misery? some poor heathen to die without theknowledge of Christ? some soul to be lost that Jesus died to save?"
"Oh no, no, papa!" she exclaimed, tears starting to her eyes, "Icouldn't be so hard hearted. I couldn't bear to look at my ring if ithad cost so much to other people."
"No, I am sure you could not; and I believe you would find far moreenjoyment, a far sweeter pleasure, in selecting objects for me tobenefit by the money the ring might cost."
"O papa, how nice, how delightful that would be if you would let me!"she cried joyously.
"I will," he said; "I have some thousands to divide among the variousreligious and benevolent objects, and shall give a certain sum--perhapsas much as a thousand dollars--in the name of each of my three childrenwho are old enough to understand these things, letting each of youselect the cause, or causes, to which his or her share is to go."
"Which are the causes, papa?" she asked, her eyes sparkling withpleasure.
"There are Home and Foreign Missions, the work among the freedmen, andfor the destitute in our own neighborhood, beside very many others. Wewill read about these various objects and talk the matter over together,and finally decide how many we can help, and how much shall be given toeach. Perhaps you may choose to support a little Indian girl in one ofthe Mission schools, or some child in heathen lands; or a missionary whowill go and teach them the way to heaven."
"Oh I should love to do that!" she exclaimed, "it will be better thanhaving a ring. Papa, how good you are to me! I am so glad God gave mesuch a father; one who tries always to teach me how to serve Him and tohelp me to be the right kind of a Christian."
"I want to help you in that, my darling," he said; "I think I could doyou no greater kindness."
Just then Max came into the room, and his father called him to take aseat by his side, saying, "I am glad you have come, my son, for I wasabout to speak to Lulu on a subject that concerns you quite as nearly."
"Yes, sir; I'll be glad to listen," replied Max, doing as directed.
The captain went on. "The Bible tells us, 'If any man have not theSpirit of Christ, he is none of his.' If we are like Jesus in spirit, wewill love others and be ready to deny ourselves to do them good;especially to save their souls; for to that end he denied himself evento the shameful and painful death of the cross.
"He says, 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and takeup his cross, and follow me.... Whosoever doth not bear his cross, andcome after me, cannot be my disciple.'
"That is we cannot be his disciples without doing something to bringsinners to him that they may be saved; something that will cost usself-denial; it may be of our own ease, or of something we would like todo or have.
"And it must be done willingly, cheerfully, from love to the dear Masterand the souls he died to save, and not as the way to earn heaven forourselves.
"We can not merit salvation, do what we will; we must take it as God'sfree, undeserved gift."
There was a moment of thoughtful silence; then Max said, "Papa, I thinkI am willing if I knew just what to do and how to do it. Can you tellme?"
"You have some money of your own every week; you can give what you willof that to held spread abroad the glad tidings of salvation; you canpray for others, and when a favorable opportunity offers, speak a wordto lead them to Christ. Ask God to show you opportunities and give yougrace and wisdom to use them. Try also, so to live, and act, and speak,that all who see and know you will, take knowledge of you that you havebeen with Jesus and learned of him."
"Papa," said Lulu, "won't you tell Max about the money you are going togive in our names?"
"No, I will let you have that pleasure," the captain answered with akindly look and tone, and she eagerly availed herself of the permission.
Max was greatly pleased, and Violet, who joined them just in time tohear what Lulu was saying, highly approved.
"But you will understand, children," the captain said, "that thisinvolves your gaining a great deal of information on the subject ofmissions, and other schemes of benevolence, and in order to help you inthat, we will spend a short time each evening, when not prevented bycompany or some more important engagement, in reading and conversing onthis topic."
"I wish I could earn some money to give," said Lulu. "I'd like to carvepretty things to sell; but who would buy them?"
"Possibly papa might become an occasional purchaser," her father said,stroking her hair and smiling kindly upon her.
"Or Mamma Vi," added her young step-mother.
"And I have another offer to make you both," said the captain; "forevery day that I find you obedient, pleasant-tempered and industrious Iwill give each of you twenty-five cents for benevolent purposes."
"Thank you, papa," they both said, their eyes sparkling with pleasure;Max adding, "That will be a dollar and seventy-five cents a week."
"Yes; and for every week that either one of you earns the quarter everyday, I will add another to bring it up to two dollars."
"O papa, how nice!" exclaimed Lulu. "I mean to try very hard, so that Imay have enough to support a little Indian girl. And is Gracie to havethe same?"
"Certainly; and I shall not be greatly surprised if Gracie's missionarybox fills faster than either of the others."
"I am almost sure it will," said Lulu, sobering down a good deal; "andMax's will be next. But I do mean to try ever so hard to be good."
"I am quite sure you do, dear child," her father responded in tendertones. "I know my little girl wants to improve, and I shall do all I canto help her."
"Papa, is that quarter a day for good conduct, to be in addition to ourusual pocket money?" asked Max.
"Certainly, my son; your pocket money is your own, to use for yourpleasure or profit, except what you feel that you ought, or desire togive of it; but the quarter is expressly, and only for benevolentpurposes."
"When may we begin to earn it, papa?"
"To-morrow."
"I'm glad of that," said Lulu with satisfaction, "because I want to earna good deal before Christmas."
Then she told of Evelyn's suggestions in regard to gifts for the poor intheir immediate neighborhood.
"A very good idea," her father said, "and I think it may be carried outin a way to yield enjoyment to both givers and receivers."
"I hope it will be cold enough at Christmas time to make ice and snowfor sleighing and sledding," Max remarked; "for we boys have planned tohave a good deal of fun for ourselves and the girls too, if it is."
"You mean if there is sleighing and sledding," his father said with anamused look. "It might be cold enough, yet the needed snow or ice belacking."
"Why, yes, sir, to be sure, so it might!" Max returned, laughing goodhumoredly.
"What kind of fun is it you boys have planned for us girls?" asked Lulu.
"Never you mind," said Max; "you'll see when the time comes; thesurprise will be half of it you know."
"My dear, you seem to me a very wise and kind father," Violet remarkedto her husband when they found themselves alone together, after Max andLulu had gone to their beds. "I very highly approve of the plans youhave just proposed for them. Though, of course the approval of a sillyyoung thing, such as I, must be a matter of small consequence," sheadded, with a merry, laughing look up into his face.
"Young, but
not silly," he returned, with a very lover-like look andsmile. "I consider my wife's judgment worth a great deal, and am highlygratified with her approval. I am extremely desirous," he went on moregravely, "to train my darlings to systematic benevolence, a willingnessto deny themselves for the cause of Christ, and to take an interest inevery branch of the work of the church."
Christmas with Grandma Elsie Page 2