Ingleside; $b or, Without Christ and with HimLeslie, Madeline
Religion
Ingleside; $b or, Without Christ and with Him
Leslie, Madeline
Christian fiction, American; Christian life -- Fiction; Country life -- Fiction; Invalids -- Fiction; Rural churches -- Fiction
"My daughter is not a widow, Doctor," murmured the patient, her
cheeks flushing. "You have been such a kind friend, I may confide
so much of our story to you. Juliette was married at the early age
of fourteen, and her child was born within the year. Geenie was only
a few weeks old when his father left home for England, ostensibly
to obtain a situation where he might support his family in the
luxuries to which they had been accustomed. We hear from him
occasionally, but have never seen him since."
"Unnatural monster!" cried the doctor, indignantly. He thought
of his own little girl, and wondered how she would endure such
a living trial,—she to whom the loss of a pet dog had been the
greatest grief she had known.
It was a minute or two before he could rally sufficiently to remark,
"Eugene is better too. I am sorry to say my patient will soon be
dismissing me."
"We have so few friends in America, we cannot give up your visits
without regret, Doctor. But it is selfish for us to keep you longer
than is necessary, when so many need you."
"Is a physician to have no friends, then?" queried the doctor,
assuming a gruff voice. "You will find it hard, madam, to get rid
of me." Then, with an emphatic shrug of his shoulders, he went away,
and drove nearly a mile out of his course, while he was wondering
what kind of a man Mr. Cheriton could be who would forsake a wife
like Juliette.
In another respect the young mother showed that she had taken God's
word as the rule of her life. This was in the management of her
child. Formerly, when herself provoked at his rudeness or impatient
at his exactions, she had dealt him a sudden blow, which, however,
always seemed to rouse his combativeness to such a degree that it
required much skill to soothe him. She usually had to buy him off
from the exhibition of temper by confectionery or some new toys.
Now, feeling her own weakness, she daily sought strength from God.
She had noticed, too, how easily Mr. Angus and Marion had made him
obey, not by blows or threats, but by a firm and gentle kindness,
which won his confidence. It was her aim to imitate this method.
As soon as he was able to sit up, Eugene felt rather than understood
that his mother would no longer submit to be struck in the face
or called "bad mamma" when his wishes were crossed. She talked
to him, explained that he must obey, that Jesus Christ loved good
children, and that she would teach him to pray, and ask this best
Friend to help him be good.
There is a sacredness in religious teachings which always arrests
the attention of a child. No stories are so much delighted in
as the stories of Joseph and Samuel and Daniel, and particularly
the story of our dear Saviour. Over and over again these stories
may be repeated; yet the little one never tires, but will ask
new questions concerning the wonderful characters.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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