The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX. No. 1002, March 11, 1899 — John Shaqi
The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX. No. 1002, March 11, 1899Various
General
The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX. No. 1002, March 11, 1899
Various
Children's literature -- Periodicals
TO-MORROW.—To-morrow is the fool’s seed-time.
HIS GREAT REWARD.
CHAPTER II.
Sunday came, and with it a fine dry day, causing Mrs. Duncan to
congratulate herself upon her good fortune. She was a martyr to
rheumatism in damp weather, and obliged consequently to be very
careful. To-day, however, she would be able to go to church, and at
the thought her heart bounded with pleasure. For, unlike a great
many—indeed, I fear I might almost say the majority of people—Margaret
Duncan really loved to go to God’s house. To her the services were
never long, nor the familiar prayers and collects wearisome. On the
contrary, she realised, as few do, the beauty of the concise language
in which they are written, and frequently caught herself wondering how
much could be expressed in so few words. This morning, although alone,
both husband and son having been called away to see sick people, the
service seemed especially sweet, and the sermon to bring more comfort
than usual to her heart.
It was perhaps by design that Mr. Mellis preached from the text “That
which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die,” dwelling upon the
necessity for the death of the body, that the soul might rise again,
and particularly on the hope—nay, certainty—of a blessed reunion above
with those who had “gone before.”
Listening to the comforting words, and looking on the face of the dear
old Rector, which fairly shone, as he spoke, with intense conviction,
it was little wonder that Mrs. Duncan felt happier than she had done
for a long time. Her child was not lost, only safe in Christ’s keeping,
till she, too, should go to join her.
How the strong faith of one individual helps the feeble faith of
others! In such a manner did Mr. Mellis help his friend and parishioner
to-day.
Not that Mrs. Duncan really doubted God’s wisdom in taking away from
her her child, but just as we crave a fresh protestation of love from
one dear to us, drawing pleasure from it, so did she find comfort and
consolation in the renewed assurances of divine love, spoken by the
Rector this morning. To her husband, Margaret Duncan never mentioned
such topics. Years before she had made the discovery that, although
the doctor was careful to keep all the ordinary religious observances,
being a regular attendant at church, yet he was not imbued with that
_living_ faith which delights in dwelling upon a future life when this
one shall be ended. A loving husband and tender father, Dr. Duncan had
felt the death of his little daughter keenly at the time, but though
his wife had hoped for some permanent spiritual awakening and an
expression of it, nothing was said which could lead her to suppose it
had taken place. Belief does not come to all with equal facility, and
knowing this, Mrs. Duncan never even in thought blamed her husband, but
was content to wait.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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