The foster-sisters : $b A story in the days of Wesley and WhitfieldGuernsey, Lucy Ellen
History
The foster-sisters : $b A story in the days of Wesley and Whitfield
Guernsey, Lucy Ellen
Evangelical Revival -- England -- History -- 18th century -- Fiction; Historical fiction; Young women -- Fiction
"Well, and so I did. Says I, 'Nan, my dear, you may go, and welcome, if
you will let Meg go with you, for you know you are not very strong,'
says I, 'and I should feel easier in my mind if I knew she was along.'
"So they were up and away before it was fairly light. I waited with
some anxious thoughts for her to come home, and the minute she got in,
I saw that some change had come over her. It was like as if a hard set
mask had fallen, and showed my own Nan's face underneath as it used to
be before she saw that—well, I won't call him by name.
"'Well, Nan, did you have a good preaching?' says I.
"Up she comes to me and casts herself right on my neck. 'Mother,' says
she, 'I've been a wicked, undutiful, self-willed girl to you. I was
bound to have my own way, take me where it would, and when I couldn't,
I was determined to die. But the Lord has showed me my sin, and I've
given it all up to Him,' says she, raising of her eyes. 'It's all over
now. Mother, forgive me, and I will try to be your own Nan again.'
"And then I kissed and hugged her," concluded the good mother, wiping
her eyes, and she put on her apron and fell to serving breakfast just
as she used to do. "I am afraid she isn't long for this world, but it
is a joy to see her happy once more. Now do you wonder that I haven't a
word to say against the Methodists?"
"I am sure, I do not," answered Mrs. Thorpe.
"Where is Nan?" I dreaded to ask for her after all I had heard.
"She is gone down to Judy Lechmire's to make her bed, and carry her
some broth, and read the Bible to her a bit. Judy is bed-rid, and she
does not get too much kindness, for she has been a bad 'un in her day,
surely and the folk hereabout do take her for a witch. Here comes Nan
now."
I glanced out of the window and saw approaching, a tall pale girl with
the red-gold hair and clear skin so common in these parts. She looked
ill, and moved languidly; but her face was the very abode of peace. She
greeted us kindly, and seemed particularly glad to see Mrs. Thorpe.
"After dinner Nan and Meg shall sing you one of their hymns!" said
Mrs. Davis. "For Meg is as wholly taken up with them as her sister.
And though the church is good enough for me, I won't deny that the
Methodists have worked such a change as I could never have believed,
if I had not seen it, among the wild folks hereabouts, specially the
colliers."
Accordingly Anne and Meg sung for us with much feeling, that hymn of
Mr. Wesley's, beginning—
"Jesus, lover of my soul."
They both had sweet well-regulated voices, and I am sure I never
enjoyed any music more.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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