Elizabeth: the Disinherited Daughter: By E. Ben Ez-erArnold, Ebenezer
Religion
Elizabeth: the Disinherited Daughter: By E. Ben Ez-er
Arnold, Ebenezer
Arnold, Elizabeth Ward, 1778-1865; Methodist women -- United States -- Biography
Her line of duty was now fully decided, cost what it might. Saturday
morning they were again in their saddles, and side by side, beginning a
long ride in silence. Elizabeth was desirous of telling her story and
kindly explaining her views of duty, and, obtaining permission, she began
at the beginning and rehearsed the dealings of God with her up to that
hour. She then declared her filial affection and her readiness to obey
implicitly in all matters where duty to God and conscience would permit.
Finally, she appealed to her father "not to hinder or embarrass her, seeing
the Lord had so marvelously rescued her from the power of the enemy and
snatched her from the very jaws of death and ruin."
All this time the stern man had kept silence. They were nearing home. He
opened his mouth and firmly told her that he "should at once and finally
disinherit her if she went to Methodist meeting again!"
No more was said. Elizabeth that day looked upon all the familiar objects
about that dear old home of her childhood as no longer hers in any sense.
Her pets, especially her noble horse; her home, in which she was born and
reared; the sick room, where she had suffered unutterable horrors and
gained such memorable victories; her own dear room, where she was finally
to spend that, her last night, as having any right there. She came, at
last, late in the evening, to sweet slumbers in the "peace that passeth
understanding."
Early Sunday morning she was plainly attired and slowly walking toward her
beloved church, a plain chapel in a part of the city of Middletown near two
miles from the Cove. There she feasted upon the word and publicly gave in
her name as a probationer in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
From that moment she was afloat--out on the broad sea of life, without
a home; a disowned, disinherited girl! She left home this morning, a
comfortable, stately, dear old home of wealth, elegance, and affection. She
must not return to it to-night. She was but yesterday an heiress. To-day
she is poor, a wanderer in the earth. But she has at last a church-home,
and her life really begins to-day. Father and mother have cast her off for
her religion, but "the Lord hath taken her up." She is not without friends.
Several doors are open for her. Almost before she knows she is homeless she
has resumed her work of teaching and has a delightful home in a Methodist
family.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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