Elsie's children

by Martha Finley

  CHAPTER TENTH.

  "When we see the flower seeds wafted, From the nurturing mother tree, Tell we can, wherever planted, What the harvesting will be; Never from the blasting thistle, Was there gathered golden grain, Thus the seal the child receiveth, From its mother will remain." --MRS. HALE.

  For once Mrs. Gibson had the grace to feel a passing emotion of gratitudeto this kind benefactor, and shame that she herself had been so ready withfault-finding instead of thanks.

  As for Sally, she was completely overcome, and dropping into a chair, hidher face and cried heartily.

  "Come, don't be a fool," her mother said at last; "there's too much to bedone to waste time in crying, and besides you'll hurt your eyes."

  Sally rose hastily, removed the traces of her tears, and began setting thetable for their morning meal.

  "How soon are you going?" her mother asked at its conclusion.

  "Just as soon as I can get the things cleared away and the dishes washed;if you think you can spare me."

  "Of course I can. I feel well enough this morning to help myself toanything I'm likely to want."

  There was still half an hour to spare before breakfast when, after a roundof five or six miles on their ponies, Philip and Elsie reached the Crags.

  "What shall you do with yours?" asked Philip, remarking upon that fact.

  "Read," she answered, looking back at him with a smile as she trippedlightly up the stairs.

  Dinah was in waiting to smooth her hair and help her change the prettyriding hat and habit for a dress better suited to the house; then Elsie,left alone, seated herself by a window with her Bible in her hand.

  For a moment her eyes rested upon the blue distant mountains, softlyoutlined against the deeper blue of the sky, watched the cloud shadowsfloating over the nearer hills and valleys here richly wooded, therecovered with fields of waving grain her ear the while drinking in withdelight many a sweet rural sound, the songs of birds, the distant lowingof cattle, and bleating of sheep--her heart swelling with ardent love andthankfulness to him who had given her so much to enjoy.

  Dinah had left the door open, that the fresh air might course freelythrough the room, and Gertrude coming, some minutes later, in search ofher friend, stood watching Elsie for a little unperceived.

  "Dear me!" she exclaimed at length, "how many times a day do you pore overthat book?"

  Elsie looked up with a smile as sweet as the morning, "I am allowed toread it as often as I please."

  "Allowed? not compelled? not ordered?"

  "No, only I must have a text ready for mamma every morning."

  "Getting one ready for to-morrow?"

  "No, just reading. I had time for only a verse or two before my ride."

  "Well, that would be plenty for me. I can read it, too, as often as Ilike, but a chapter or two on Sunday, generally does me for all the week.There's the bell; come let's go down."

  Vi met them at the door of the breakfast-room. "Oh, Elsie, did you have apleasant ride? Is Sally Gibson coming soon?"

  "I don't know; mamma said I need not wait for an answer."

  There was time for no more, and Vi must put a restraint upon herself,repressing excitement and curiosity for the present, as mamma expected herchildren to be very quiet and unobtrusive at table when away from home.

  Vi was delighted when just as they were leaving the table, a servantannounced that a young person who called herself Miss Gibson, was askingfor Miss Travilla; for Vi never liked waiting, and was always eager tocarry out immediately any plan that had been set on foot.

  Mrs. Gibson was not troubled with any delicacy of feeling about asking forwhat she wanted, and had made out a list of things to be provided forherself and Sally, which the girl was ashamed to show; so extravagantseemed its demands.

  When urged by her benefactress, she mentioned a few of the most necessaryarticles, modestly adding that the generous gift Mrs. Travilla had alreadybestowed, ought to be sufficient to supply all else that might berequired.

  Elsie, seating herself at her writing desk and taking out pen, ink andpaper, looked smilingly into the eager faces of her two little girls.

  "What do you think about it, dears?"

  "Oh, they must have more things; a good many more, and we want to help payfor them with our money."

  "You see, Miss Sally, they will be sadly disappointed if you refuse toaccept their gifts," Elsie said. "Now I'm going to make out a list and youmust all help me, lest something should be forgotten. Mrs. Ross has kindlyoffered us the use of her carriage, and we will drive to the nearest townand see what we can find there, the rest we will order from New York."

  The list was made out amid much innocent jesting and merry laughter ofboth mother and children,--Sally a deeply interested and delightedspectator of their pleasing intercourse--the mother so sweet, gentle andaffectionate, the children so respectful and loving to her, so kind andconsiderate to each other.

  In fact, the girl was so occupied in watching them, that she was not awaretill Mrs. Travilla read it over aloud, that this new list was longer andmore extravagant than the one she had suppressed.

  "Oh, it is too much, Mrs. Travilla!" she cried, the tears starting to hereyes.

  "My dear child," returned Elsie, playfully, "I'm a wilful woman and willhave my own way. Come, the carriage is in waiting and we must go."

  The shopping expedition was quite a frolic for the children, and a greattreat to poor, overworked Sally. "She looks so shabby; I'd be ashamed togo with her to the stores or anywhere, or to have her ride in the carriagewith me," Gertrude had said to Vi as the little girls were having theirhats put on; but Vi answered indignantly, "She's clean and tidy, and sheisn't vulgar or rude, and I do believe she's good; and mamma says dressand riches don't make the person."

  And that seemed to be the feeling of all; Elsie, too, had purposelydressed herself and her children as plainly as possible; so that Sally,though at first painfully conscious of the deficiencies in her attire,soon forgot all about them, and gave herself up to the thorough enjoymentof the pleasures provided for her.

  She felt that it would be very ungrateful did she not share the heartyrejoicing of the children over "her pretty things" as they eagerlyselected and paid for them with their own pocket money, seeming fully torealize the truth of the Master's declaration, "It is more blessed to givethan to receive."

  Vi would have had the making of the new dresses begun at once, wantingSally to return with them to the Crags, and let Dinah fit her immediately,but was overruled by her mamma.

  "No, my dear, Sally must go home to her sick mother now, and Dinah shallgo to them after dinner."

  "But mamma, I want to begin my part. You know you said I could hem nicely,and might do some on the ruffles or something."

  "Yes, daughter, and so you shall, but must rest awhile first."

  Violet had often to be held back in starting upon some new enterprise, andafterward encouraged or compelled to persevere, while Elsie was moredeliberate at first, more steadfast in carrying out what she had onceundertaken. Each had what the other lacked, both were very winsome andlovable, and they were extremely fond of one another; scarcely less so oftheir brothers and the darling baby sister.

  "When may I begin, mamma?" asked Vi, somewhat impatiently.

  "After breakfast to-morrow morning you may spend an hour at your needle."

  "Only an hour, mamma? It would take all summer at that rate."

  "Ah, what a doleful countenance, daughter mine!" Elsie said laughingly, asshe bent down and kissed the rosy cheek. "You must remember that my twolittle girls are not to carry the heavy end of this, and the sewing willbe done in good season without overworking them. I could not permit that;I must see to it that they have plenty of time for rest and for healthfulplay. I appoint you one hour a day, and shall allow you to spend one more,if you wish, but that must be all."

  Violet had been trained to cheerful acquiescence in the decisions of herparents, an
d now put it in practice, yet wished very much that mamma wouldlet her work all day for Sally, till her outfit was ready; she was sureshe should not tire of it; but she soon learned anew the lessons she hadlearned a hundred times before--that mamma knew best.

  The first day she would have been willing to sew a little longer after thesecond hour's task was done; the next, two hours were fully sufficient tosatisfy her appetite for work: on the third, it was a weariness before theend of the first hour; on the fourth, she would have been glad to beg offentirely, but her mother said firmly, "No, dear; one hour's work is nottoo much for you, and you know I allowed you to undertake it only oncondition that you would persevere to the end."

  "Yes, mamma, but I am very tired, and I think I'll never undertakeanything again," and with a little sigh the child seated herself and beganher task.

  Mamma smiled sympathizingly, softly smoothed the golden curls, and said inher own gentle voice, "Let us not be weary in well-doing'! Do you rememberthe rest of it?"

  "Yes, mamma, 'for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.' And youtold us to faint was to get tired and stop. But mamma, what shall I reapby keeping on with this?"

  "A much needed lesson in perseverance, for one thing, I hope my littledaughter, and for another the promise given in the forty-first Psalm,'Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him intime of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and heshall be blessed upon the earth; and thou wilt not deliver him unto thewill of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed oflanguishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.'

  "How would you like to hear a story while you sit here sewing by my side?"

  "Oh, ever so much, mamma! A story! a story!" And all the little flockclustered about mamma's chair, for they dearly loved her stories.

  This was an old favorite, but the narrator added some new characters andnew scenes, spinning it out, yet keeping up the interest, till it and thehour came to an end very nearly together.

  Then the children, finding that was to be all for the present, scatteredto their play.

  Mrs. Ross had come in a few minutes before, and signing to her friend toproceed, had joined the group of listeners.

  "Dear me, Elsie, how can you take so much trouble with your children?" shesaid. "You seem to be always training and teaching them in the sweetest,gentlest way; and of course they're good and obedient. I'm sure I lovemine dearly, but I could never have the patience to do all you do."

  "My dear friend, how can I do less, when so much of their future welfare,for time and for eternity, depends upon my faithfulness?"

  "Yes," said Lucy slowly, "but the mystery to me is, how you can keep thatin mind all the time, and how you can contrive always to do the rightthing?"

  "I wish I did, but it is not so; I make many mistakes."

  "I don't see it. You do wonderfully well anyhow, and I want to know howyou manage it."

  "I devote most of my time and thoughts to it; I try to study the characterof each child, and above all, I pray a great deal for wisdom and for God'sblessing on my efforts; not always on my knees, for it is a blessedtruth, that we may lift our hearts to him at any time and in any place.Oh, Lucy," she exclaimed with tearful earnestness, "if I can but train mychildren for God and heaven, what a happy woman shall I be I the longingdesire of my heart for them is that expressed in the stanza of Watts'sCradle Hymn:

  'Mayst them live to know and fear him, Trust and love him all thy days, Then go dwell forever near him, See his face and sing his praise!'"