Christian life -- Juvenile fiction; Family -- Juvenile fiction
"Ah! that's the point," cried Walter; "you mean, of course, make some
amends to the good preacher. Yes, that can be done, for he said he
should be at his post at the same hour every day during the season. But
it will require some moral courage to do it, and no little of that
valuable article too. Now I am sure, dear auntie, you have in that
cabinet of your memory one drawer at least full of examples of moral
courage, and you can pick me out one to suit this case."
"Yes, dear boy," said his aunt, smiling, "I daresay I can; for ever
since you first asked me to help you in the matter of moral courage by
examples drawn from real life, I have been noticing and storing up in
one of these drawers you speak of whatever instances of moral courage
have come before me in my reading."
"What, then, is it to be to-day, dear Aunt Kate? Can you find me one
that will show me how I ought to act in this sad business?"
After reflecting for a few minutes, Miss Huntingdon began: "I have
rather a strange moral hero to mention now, and yet he is a most real
one. His name is James Comley. He was for years a confirmed infidel--a
most intelligent man, but in utter spiritual darkness. He lived at
Norwich, and carried on the business of a tea-dealer. He had
indoctrinated his wife and children with his own infidel views, and had
never lost an occasion of publicly assailing the truths of religion.
But at last he was brought to see the misery of his condition. He
prayed earnestly for light, and God gave it him at last, and he became a
truly changed man. And now, mark his conduct after this change had
taken place. He at once tore down some lying placards which covered the
shutters of his shop and the whole front of his house--placards which
stated that his tea business was `The Eastern Branch of the Great
European Tea Company,' which company, in fact, had no existence. He
disposed of about seventy empty tea-chests, which had been so arranged
in his shop as to suggest the idea of an immense stock. A huge bale of
unused placards he carried into the Norwich market-place, where he
addressed the crowd that awaited his arrival, and then carried this
bundle of lies to Mousehold Heath, where, after the singing of a hymn,
praying, and addressing the crowd which had accompanied him, he
committed it to the flames. He after this began publicly to preach that
gospel which for nine years in Norwich he had done his best to destroy.
Here was true moral courage indeed; and perhaps his example may be a
help to you, dear Walter, in showing you what you ought to do."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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