"Go back for my crutches? Mamma! why, mamma! don't you see that I
am free?--that I can walk as well as you?" she exclaimed, with a
catch in her breath that was very like a sob. "You've just got to
know it, for me and with me," she continued authoritatively, as
she started on, "for I will never use them again. I have 'clung to
the truth'--we've all clung--and 'Truth has made me free'! Oh!"--
in an indescribable tone--"'who is so great a God as our God?' Let
us g-get home quick, or--I shall have to c-cry right here in--the
street."
"Mamma, I think I know, now, just when all the fear left me,"
Dorothy said later, when, after reaching their rooms, each had for
a few moments sought the "secret place" to offer her hymn of
praise for this new gift of Love. "You know how beautifully Mrs.
Minturn talked about man's 'God-given dominion,' this morning; did
you ever hear anyone say such lovely things? She seemed to take
you almost into heaven, and I felt so happy--so light and free, I
wanted to fly. I forgot all about my body, and I walked out of
that room without realizing what I was doing; I hadn't really got
back to mortal sense and things material, when you stopped and
spoke of my crutches. I haven't said anything about it, for it
seemed too good to be true, but for nearly two weeks I've had such
a longing to walk alone, and, at times, it has almost seemed as if
I could, but didn't quite dare to try. And, mamma"--Dorothy
lowered her voice reverently--"have you noticed, when helping me
to dress lately, that--that one of the curves is nearly gone from
my back?"
"Yes, dear, but I 'have not dared' to call your attention to it--
that is what has made you seem so much taller, though we have
called it 'growing,'" her mother returned.
"Don't you think we have been very, very faithless, mamma, dear,
not to 'dare' speak of our blessings and thank God for them?" said
the girl, tremulously.
"Dorrie, you shame me, every day, by your implicit faith!"
faltered the woman, tears raining over her face.
"No--no; not 'implicit,' mamma, for that would make the other
curve straight this very minute. But I know it is going to he,
sometime, for God made the real me upright and nothing can deprive
me of my birthright."
Half an hour later Prof. Seabrook came in, looking a trifle pale
and anxious.
Dorothy arose and went forward, with radiant face, to meet him. He
could not speak, but opened his arms to her and held her close for
a minute, his trembling lips pressed against the fair head lying
on his breast.
Presently she gently released herself, remarking:
"Papa, do you know, when you came in, you looked as if you
expected to find what we have all wished for so long."
"I did and--I didn't," he replied, with a faint smile. "When I had
finished what Mrs. Minturn asked me to do, and started to leave
the room, I saw your crutches standing in the corner where I had
put them after you were seated.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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