The Broken Font: A Story of the Civil War, Vol. 2 (of 2)

by Moyle Sherer

  CHAP. III.

  And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base, That may compassion of their evils move? There is; else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts. But O th' exceeding grace Of highest God! that loves his creatures so, And all his works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed angels he sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve his wicked foe. SPENSER.

  The village of Old Beech, which has been often named in this story asthe living of George Juxon, was a retired and picturesque place,containing about three hundred inhabitants. Here, as at Cheddar, therewas no lord of the manor in residence. The principal owner of thevillage lands for the last twenty years had been a Roman Catholicgentleman, who, being single, and of a severe and gloomy temper ofmind, had, before this accession of property, embraced the monasticlife in Italy, and taken the vows as a brother of the Carthusianorder. The lessee of his estates had let them advantageously to foursubstantial farmers; one of whom occupied the venerable oldmanor-house. Its quaint wooden gables and ornamental carpentry alwaysarrested the attention of the passer by their venerable appearance.

  A bay window, with five lights in two divisions, marked verydistinctly the situation of the great hall; a noble apartment usedonly by the tenant as a vast store-room for the produce of his orchardand his garden. The broad gates hung broken and decaying from thesquare stone columns in which their hinges had been fastened by ironstaples, and the pavement of the court was half hid by rank weeds. Thechurch was small and ancient, and stood, not far from the manor-house,on a gentle eminence, which commanded a beautiful flat of meadow-land,watered by a small clear river that meandered through the fields infine and graceful curves, was richly fringed with willows, and turnedin its course two clean-looking busy mills. Not far from thechurchyard stood a tall and stately beech-tree, about two centuriesold, and near it the stump of the very tree from which the village hadbeen first named was still visible.

  The smooth bark of this noble old beech was covered with initialletters, true love knots, and joined hearts, rudely carved by rustichands, many of which, it might be seen by the dates affixed, had longsince mouldered under the grassy heaps, to which lowly beds of peacethe very same bell still tolled the parting summons of their linealdescendants.

  One of the most remarkable features in this pretty village was therectory. The basement story was completely built of glazed bricks incheckered patterns, while that over it was constructed of fine massiveblack timbers, the walls being plastered between; the whole wassurmounted with elevated overhanging roof and lofty gables. Theentrance was through a fine long porch of timber, and the woodwork ofthis, as well as of the projecting portions of the roofs and gables,was elaborately ornamented after the fashion of the fifteenthcentury. Of Juxon's habits something has already been said, but amore particular account of his home life is necessary to show himfaithfully in the relation in which he stood to his parish. Having aprivate fortune, in addition to the proceeds of his living, he was asable as he proved himself always willing to benefit his people. Whenhe came first among them he found them much neglected and in greatdarkness: his first step was to establish a school, and to win thehearts of the parents through their children, all of whom he hadtaught to read, and many of the most promising yet further instructedin writing and arithmetic. A few of the old villagers, and one of themost acute of his farmers, who, though unable to read himself, waswell furnished with all that worldly wisdom which may be orallyconveyed in pithy proverbs, and committed to memory for practicalguidance in life, resisted this strange innovation. But steadyperseverance and good-humoured resolution soon conquered allopposition; and Juxon had the satisfaction of seeing around him muchimprovement in that knowledge which makes the mind, and _the heart_of man, accessible to the light of divine truth.

  He was diligent in his duties, open in his manners, cheering in hiswords, and wise in his charities; he distinguished well between theobjects of them, knew how to give, and when and what; he farmed hisown glebe, partly as an amusement, and also to set a good examplebefore his farmers of just behaviour to labourers. He understoodcottage economy as well as the most prudent among them; could talkwith them over the wickets of their little gardens about theirsuccession crops, and about the fattening of their pigs and poultry,and knew every poor man's cow upon the village common.

  The happy children upon the green never paused in their merry gameswhen he passed them, and the winner of a race was doubly pleased ifMaster Juxon's eye had seen his triumph. The rough blacksmith, when,at breathing times, he stood out under the shade of the ancient andhollow oak near which his shed had been erected, always tried toengage him in a little talk; and although these brief colloquies werecommonly of simple occurrences, yet the sturdy smith forgot not thedropped word of advice, and he sung his part in the village quireo'Sundays with his understanding as well as with his fine deep voice.It might be truly said, that the parson of Old Beech was popular inhis parish, and deserved to be so. A hogshead of wheat, and another ofpease or barley, stood ever in his hall, out of which the aged widowsand the poor housekeepers of the village were always liberallysupplied in their need. He would patiently listen to their long andprosy tales about their family as they sat in his hospitable porch,without hurrying them, though perhaps they had told him the same storyfor weeks in succession. But if an angel from heaven dwelt among threehundred human beings, and passed his life in acts of love and kindnesstowards them, he should not want enemies, nor should he reap gratitudeand good will from all; therefore Juxon was regarded by a small andenvious knot with evil eyes. Of this party, a small chandler orgrocer, a publican, and one of the millers, who was sinking intopoverty from slothful habits, were the leaders, and the worthy rectorhad sense enough to know that in due time they would show their enmityopenly.

  However, with the answer of a good conscience, he walked about daily,without the shadow of a fear, and lay down to sleep in peace, wellknowing that God alone can make any of us to dwell in safety. Withinthe last two years many things had occurred to awaken his own mind tomore serious views than those with which he had at first entered uponthe ministerial office. The questions concerning scandals among theclergy engaged his serious attention; and his opinions about thelawfulness, or rather the expediency, of some practices, the good orevil of which he had never previously considered, now underwent achange.

  He would never admit for a moment, that to hunt, or to shoot, or tofish, were diversions _inherently_ sinful; but he began to look ontime as a talent, for which every man must render a solemn account,and the time of a clergyman as more especially given him to beemployed to graver ends than could be honestly and effectuallyattained, if sports and amusements of a nature so idle and absorbingwere not resigned. Nor was this the only change in his opinions;--acloser study of the sacred volume, for the purpose of preaching itssaving truths more plainly to his people; an earnest desire to setbefore them the glory of gospel hopes, and the comfort of Scripturepromises; and a lively recollection of some of his conversations withCuthbert Noble, satisfied him that if he would be found faithful hemust preach, with authority and with persuasion, free reconciliationto God through a willing and all-sufficient Saviour.

  The prayerful exercises to which the composition of his sermons nowcompelled him produced a blessed influence on his own spirit; and henever stood up in his pulpit, as an ambassador for Christ, without amost affectionate solicitude for the welfare of immortal souls, and apresent sense of the high privilege and deep responsibility of hissacred office. His growing seriousness, as a clergyman, had been moreapparent to Katharine Heywood than to any one else at Milverton; forshe was too deeply taught to be deceived in the evidences of a livinggrace. In his parish his earnestness in his pulpit was well known, asmight be seen from the report of it which had reached Sir CharlesLambert, and which partly caused those taunts and insinuations, theissue of which, in the quarrel and the encounter that
followed, hasbeen already related; but to common observers, as Juxon's language hadno peculiar religious phraseology, and as his manners, his happycountenance, and his manly habits, prepossessed their good opinion,without alarming any of their prejudices, he seemed one of themselves,and they neither knew nor cared to know his inner man.

  However, as Juxon and Sir Charles rode back slowly to Milverton afterthe violent scene which might have terminated so awfully for both, hewas determined not to lose so favourable an occasion for settingbefore the softened transgressor the great and common evil of man'snature, and the blessed remedy. He did this with a feeling, afaithfulness, and a humility which surprized and affected his silentcompanion greatly, and which at last drew from him a confession of amost interesting kind. He told Juxon that, from his earliestchildhood, he had found himself an object of dislike and aversion toall his family; that his elder brother, his senior only by one year,had been the indulged and favoured pet both of his father and mother,while he had been always either treated with neglect or addressed inthe language of unkindness and reproach; that hate had begotten hate,and that he had passed his early youth hating and hateful; that at theage of sixteen, as his brother was out shooting on the manor, he losthis life by the accidental discharge of his own gun, as he wascarelessly forcing his way through some thick furze bushes. Heconfessed that he was inwardly rejoiced at this calamity; that helooked upon the corpse without one emotion of sorrow or even of pity,and that he viewed with a malignant satisfaction the agony of hisparents, more especially that of his mother, whose persecution of himhad been perpetual, and of a petty and irritating nature. This feelingof his was so irrepressible as to be seen. The thought that theirdespised boy should inherit the estates and the title had proved sovery intolerable to his mother that she could not endure his presenceat home. He was therefore sent away, and placed under the charge of asevere tutor, who, finding him the ignorant and evil-disposed youthwhich the letters of his father had represented him, governed him withstrictness, and instructed him with an evident contempt for his wantof capacity and for his backwardness in those attainments which, intruth, it had been impossible for him to acquire; it having been themean pleasure of his mother to deny him the advantages enjoyed by hisbrother. He related the story of his mother's funeral, to which he wascalled after an absence of two years, and the death of his father,which had taken place four years later, while he himself was abroad.It appeared by these accounts that subsequent to the death of hisbrother he had never enjoyed or indeed desired any intercourse withhis parents, and that when he came to take possession of the estates,he found his sisters, who were much younger than himself, grown up andleft to his protection. As they were not mixed up in his mind with theinjuries of his childhood, such little kindness as he had ever feltcapable of he had entertained for them. But even here he stated he hadfound disappointment; for one being timid and of no character, fearedhim, while his sister Jane, the only being who had ever behaved wellto him, he nevertheless knew did not, and perhaps could not, love himas a brother.

  This confession was poured into the ear of a generous and a thoughtfulChristian, deeply skilled in the diseases of the human heart. It wasevident to Juxon that the depravity of our fallen nature, common toall, had, in the miserable heart now laid bare before him, beeninflamed by the early unkindness of parents, and had taken the darkcolours of a rancorous and cruel disposition. Yet, even in thisapparently desperate case, there was a ray of hope, there was a lightof that mysterious something which may be observed in the human heart,as a fragment of its better nature that has survived the fall,--_acapacity of loving_; which, as it could find no issue towards man,exhibited itself in a rare kindness and affection to dogs, horses, andbirds. To these living creatures Sir Charles, who was to manindifferent or cruel, showed himself gentle, patient, and fond. Juxonhad often observed this with pleasure: he now caught this goldenstring, and by it he led up the mind of his hearer to contemplate theGod of creation upon a throne of universal love, caring for themeanest of his creatures, and revealing himself more especially to manin the relation of Father. Thence, by a swift transition, he paintedman (_the whole race_) prodigal, miserable, naked, feeding with swine,till returning to their Father they were forgiven and with embraces;nor, while he fixed attention upon the mighty Saviour, from whosegracious lips this parable proceeded, did he fail to preach Jesus asthe incarnation of Divine love, reconciling the lost children of earthto their heavenly Father, waiting to be gracious. He did not thusspeak in vain:--who shall dare to look down upon any human being aslost, hardened, reprobate? Who maketh men to differ? Who can make therock yield water, and dry up the Euphrates? He who can change fleshinto stone when it is his pleasure.

  But we return to show the connection of what has passed with theprogress of our story.

  It was a most welcome sight to the family at Milverton, to see Juxonand Sir Charles return amicably together after the quarrel of themorning; but there was something, nevertheless, very inexplicable inthe manners of both. Those of the former were far more serious andabsorbed than Katharine had ever observed them before; while thelatter had an embarrassed air, a softened tone of voice, and anexpression of deep, real, unaffected sorrow in his countenance.

  Whatever had passed between them, it was evident that thereconciliation was on both sides of the sincere nature of heartyforgiveness. As Katharine contemplated the brow and the features ofSir Charles, she discerned traces of a mental working such as she hadnever seen at any previous period of their frequent intercourse; and,for the first time, she looked on him without aversion and withoutsuspicion.

  To his great honour, and as the strongest proof of the good effectwrought on him by the events of that memorable day, he took the firstopportunity that offered, to declare, in the absence of Juxon, thecircumstances of their rencontre, and the generous conduct of hisnoble antagonist.

  There is a something in the honest avowal of shame, and the honestrecognition of another's excellence, which, as it can only proceedfrom a humbled and subdued heart, so it will instantly engage theapproval of every well constituted mind.

  From that very hour Sir Charles found himself regarded by all atMilverton with a new feeling,--all countenances were changed towardshim: he had gotten a friend in Katharine,--he found the eyes of hissister Jane ever resting upon him, with a new and strange delight: SirOliver, to whom discord was trouble, and who had never whollyresigned the hope of having Sir Charles for a son-in-law, was beyondmeasure gratified; and Arthur felt a more undoubting confidence andease at the thought of serving under him than he had hithertoadmitted.

  A sense of all these mercies, a consciousness that he was drawn withthe cords of love by an invisible hand, deepened his repentance andhumility, and gave life, strength, and love to his new-born faith; butall this was a secret work, in which he was wisely assisted by theprudent counsel and the sound judgment of Juxon. It was fortunate,that, amid the stirring and necessary duties of those times, he wasprovided with so plain, so manly, so healthy an adviser. Side by side,with a profound self-abasement, grew a sentiment of self-respect, thatprevented his spirit being paralysed, or cast down below the rightdegree of energy required of him by his position at the moment. He wasnow truly prepared, in a more noble frame of mind, to render good andfaithful service wherever the cause of his king and country mightlead him. Now, too, he understood and respected the motives whichdecided Juxon to remain at his own proper post, and to perform his ownsacred duties to the last moment.

  In the fortnight which passed about this period he lived long; thatis, he gathered the experience which is usually the fruit of a muchlonger space of time.

  Swiftly as the days glided by, they fully developed the love of Juxonand Jane Lambert; and, although Katharine could not persuade Juxon tohear of Jane's being exposed to the inconvenience and danger ofbecoming his wife, at a time when the clergy might expect apersecution, yet she did enjoy the happiness of seeing them seatedbefore her in the sweet and interesting relation of avowed andbetrothed lovers.
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