The Poorhouse Waif and His Divine Teacher: A True StoryByrum, Isabel C. (Isabel Coston)
Religion
The Poorhouse Waif and His Divine Teacher: A True Story
Byrum, Isabel C. (Isabel Coston)
Christian life -- Fiction; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
Edwin lost no time in getting into the place assigned him, but before sleep
would come to his eyes, he had carefully reviewed in his mind all the
events of the day. Charging his mind with the place where he had left off
in the evening, he was determined to commence again right there at the very
first opportunity that was offered him, and he was confident that he would
somehow discover just what was the next best thing to do. Still he could
not help wondering just what that step would be. He was still pondering
upon these things when sleep came to his relief, and it was not until the
early songs of the little birds peeled merrily forth through the grove the
following morning that he awoke from his dreams.
Edwin was soon dressed and out upon the grounds, feeling thankful indeed
that he was still permitted to live and enter upon another day of life.
Only a few people were in sight, and he began to wonder how long it would
be before breakfast would be ready. Then he thought he could hear the sound
of singing such as he had heard in the meetings, and he listened carefully.
"I can not afford," he told himself, "to miss anything that pertains to the
meeting." He found that the sound was coming from the tent near where he
had spent the night, and, walking up to it, he quickly lifted the flap that
served as a door.
The tent was owned by Mr. Meyer, as was the wagon in which Edwin had spent
the night, and the occupants of the tent, which were Mr. and Mrs. Kauffman,
Mr. and Mrs. Gardner, and the Meyers, were having their morning worship
together. To Edwin the little scene that met his gaze was a pleasant
surprize; for he at once connected it with the prayer-meetings that had
been held at the residence of his employer, as he recognized some of the
people who had been at the meeting and whose countenances and earnestness
in prayer he would never forget.
The worship was over, and the song to which Edwin had listened had been
intended for the closing-song. Then they were to separate and each family
go to their own tent for the morning meal. Edwin's appearance in the
doorway changed their plans, and Mrs. Meyer, a dear old lady who had felt a
deep interest in Edwin from the time she had first seen him in the
prayer-meeting, arose and, offering her chair to Edwin, bade him enter and
be seated, while she found a seat for herself on the foot of a temporary
bed. Edwin needed no second invitation, for Mrs. Meyer had spoken in his
mother-tongue, and he could understand what she said. Then she said, "Let
us once more kneel down and pray," and they all knelt down, Edwin following
the others' example.
As they prayed, Edwin once more watched their faces and carefully listened
to every word, but not a word could he understand. He knew that the people
were praying, but he did not know that they were praying for him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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