第119章 The Protestant Confessional.(5)

"Come,my dear young friend,do not expect too much of yourself to-day.You cannot take in all this truth at once,any more than this young pear tree could take all the dew and sunshine,cold and heat (for autumn frosts are needed as well as spring showers)that nature had in store for it,but its life was assured from the moment it was able to receive nature's restoring influences.So with greater certainty a happy,useful life is assured to you as soon as you receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour,Teacher,and Life-giver.'As many as received him,to them gave he power to become the sons of God,'and I assure you the Great King will look after his children right royally.But you don't know him very well yet,and so cannot have the life which flows from his fulness of life.Suppose you come here mornings,and we'll read together the story of Jesus,just as it is told in the New Testament,and I don't believe it will be long before you will say to me that my Friend is yours also.Now,come up to the house and I'll introduce you to my sister.You think me a saint;but I'll show you what a human appetite I have.""I hear a brook near by,"said Ida;"may I not go to it and bathe my face?""Yes,do what you like best while here.Would you rather bathe in the brook than at the house?""Yes,indeed.Everything seems sacred here,and I can imagine the brook yonder to be a rill from the Jordan.""Don't be superstitious and sentimental,"said the old gentleman,shaking his head gravely."The life of a Christian means honest,patient work,and Christ's blood alone can wash us till we are whiter than snow."Ida's face grew earnest and noble as she stepped to the symbolic tree and placed her hand on one of its lower branches.

"Mr.Eltinge,"she said gently and gravely,"as this broken,wounded tree received all the help nature gave it,so I,more bruised and broken,will try to receive all the help Christ will give me to bear my burden and live a life pleasing to him.I shall be very glad indeed to come here and learn to know him better under your most kind and faithful teaching,and as I learn,I will try to do my best;but oh,Mr.Eltinge,you can't realize how very weak and imperfect--how ignorant and full of faults I am!""Just so the poor little tree might have spoken if it had had a voice.Indeed I thought it WOULD die.But now look at the fruit over your head.You shall take some of it home,and every pear will be a sermon to you--a juicy one,too.If you will do as you say,my child,all will be well."She bathed her tear-stained face in the brook,and came back looking fairer than any flower in the garden.Then they went up to the old-fashioned house.

"My dear,this is my sister,Miss Eltinge,"he said,presenting a white-haired old lady,who still was evidently much younger than her brother.Then,turning suddenly around in comical dismay,he said,"Why,bless you,my child,I don't know your name!Well,well,no matter!I know YOU.There are people whose names I've known half my life,and yet I don't know them and don't trust 'em.""My name is Ida Mayhew,"said the young girl simply."I heard Mr.

Eltinge speak at the prayer-meeting last night in such a way that I wanted to see him and ask his help and advice,and he has been very,very kind to me.He can tell you all.""Yes,if he chooses,"said the old gentleman with a laugh."Sister knows me too well in my character of father confessor to expect me to tell everything."They made her at home as the simple and well-bred only can do.

After dinner Miss Eltinge tried to entertain her for a while,but at last said,with appreciative tact:

"My dear,I think you will best enjoy yourself if you are left to range the old house and place at will.After my brother has rested he will join you again."Ida was glad to be alone.She had made a promise of far-reaching and vital import that morning.Life was taking on new aspects that were so unfamiliar that she was bewildered.She went back to the garden,and,taking Mr.Eltinge's seat,leaned against the emblematic pear-tree,which she curiously began to associate with herself,and for which she was already conscious of something like affection.

"Oh,"she sighed,"if my life would only come to abound with deeds corresponding to the fruit that is bending these boughs above me,it could not be a burden,thought it might be very sad and lonely.

I now begin to understand Jennie Burton--her constant effort in behalf of others.But HE will comfort her before long.Her dark days are nearly over.No matter how deep or great her troubles may have been,they must vanish in the sunshine of such a man's love.

I wonder if he has spoken plainly yet--but what need of words?

His eyes and manner have told her all a hundred times.I wish she could be my friend,I wish I could speak to her plainly,for she is so kind and wise;but I must shun her,or else she'll discover the secret that I'd hide from her even more carefully than from him,if such a thing were possible.I wonder if they ever met before they came here.I never saw one human being look at another as she sometimes looks at him.I believe that deep in her heart she fairly idolizes him,although her singular self-control enables her,as a general thing,to treat him with the ease and frankness of a friend.Well,she may love him more deeply than I do because possessing a deeper nature.I can but give all I have.But I think my love would be like the little brook over there.It's not very deep or obtrusive,but Mr.Eltinge says it has never failed.Well,well!these are not the thoughts for me,though how I can help them I cannot tell.I will try to win a little respect from him before we part,and then my life,like this pear-tree,must be full of good deeds for those who have the best right to receive them,"and taking a small pen-knife from her pocket she mounted the chair,and carved within the two lower branches where they could not easily be discovered the words,"Ida Mayhew."