“Of course,” returned Jewel.
“I thought a woman got it up,” said the girl. “I thought your church
worshipped her.”
The child smiled at the phrase. “You know Christ was the first one.
That's why we call ourselves that. We couldn't be Christian Scientists
if we worshipped any one but God,” she answered. “Of course we love Mrs.
Eddy. Just think how good and unselfish a person has to be before they
can hear God's teaching. He showed her how to remind people of the
things that Christ taught, and how to get rid of their sins and
sickness. We love her dearly for helping people so much, and shouldn't
you think everybody would? But they don't. Some people think hating
thoughts about her, just as if she was teaching bad things instead of
good ones. Mother says it reminds her of what the Saviour said, 'For
which of these works do ye stone me?'”
“Ah, but you see,” returned Eloise, “Christian Scientists let people die
sometimes without a doctor.”
“But lots of people they do cure are the ones doctors said would have to
die.”
“I know they claim that.”
“And such a lot of people pass on while doctors are taking care of them
I wonder why it makes everybody so angry when a Scientist goes without
any.”
Eloise smiled faintly as she shook her head. “It is more respectable to
die with a doctor at your side,” she returned.
“Are you really willing to help me with the lesson, cousin Eloise? If
you are, it would be nice if you would get your Bible too.”
The girl looked embarrassed. “I haven't any.”
“Well, your mother's would do just as well,” said Jewel politely.
“She hasn't any--here, I'm sure.”
The little girl stood very still a moment. “No wonder they're sorry,”
she thought.
“All right. We can both look over one,” she answered, and going to the
dresser she brought her books.
“Was this the study you meant?” asked Eloise, looking at the three books
curiously. “I thought I was offering to help you with something I knew
about. I used to learn verses out of the Bible when I was a little girl
in Sunday-school. I don't know anything about it now.”
“But you can read everything, the big words and all,” replied Jewel. “I
wish I could.”
Eloise saw that this reply was designed to minister to her self-respect.
She took up the small black book lying with the Bible. “What is this?”
“That is 'Science and Health,' that Mrs. Eddy wrote to explain to us
what the Bible means; and this other one is to tell us where to pick out
the places for the day's lesson.” Jewel pulled up a chair, and seating
herself, turned over the leaves of the Quarterly briskly until she found
the right date.
“Please find Zechariah, cousin Eloise.”
“What's that?” asked the girl helplessly.
“It's in the Old Testament. Would you rather I'd find them? All right,
then you can take 'Science and Health' and find that part.”
“I hope it's easy, for I'm awfully stupid, Jewel.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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