The Prodigal Village: A Christmas TaleBacheller, Irving
General
The Prodigal Village: A Christmas Tale
Bacheller, Irving
Christmas stories; Fiction
"A bath is a good sort of baptism," the minister remarked. "Here's an
overcoat that I haven't worn for a year. It's fairly warm, too. Now if
your Old Self should happen to come in sight of you, maybe he'd move
back into his home. I remember once that we had a canary bird that got
away. We hung his cage in one of the trees out in the yard with some
food in it. By and by, we found him singing on the perch in his little
home. Now, if we put some good food in the cage, maybe your bird will
come back. Our work has only just begun."
They went out of the door and crossed the street and entered the big
stone Congregational Church and sat down together in a pew. A soft light
came through the great jeweled windows above the altar, and in the
clearstory, and over the organ loft. They were the gift of Mr. Bing. It
was a quiet, restful, beautiful place.
"I used to stand in the pulpit there and look down upon a crowd of
handsomely dressed people," said Mr. Singleton in a low voice. "'There
is something wrong about this,' I thought. 'There's too much
respectability here. There are no flannel shirts and gingham dresses in
the place. I can not see half a dozen poor people. I wish there was some
ragged clothing down there in the pews. There isn't an out-and-out
sinner in the crowd. Have we set up a little private god of our own that
cares only for the rich and respectable?' I asked myself. 'This is the
place for Hiram Blenkinsop and old Bill Lang and poor Lizzie Quesnelle,
if they only knew it. Those are the kind of people that Jesus cared most
about.' They're beginning to come to us now and we are glad of it. I
want to see you here every Sunday after this. I want you to think of
this place as your home. If you really wish to be my brother, come with
me."
Blenkinsop trembled with strange excitement as he went with Mr.
Singleton down the broad aisle, the dog Christmas following meekly. Man
and minister knelt before the altar. Christmas sat down by his master's
side, in a prayerful attitude, as if he, too, were seeking help and
forgiveness.
"I feel better inside an' outside," said Blenkinsop as they were leaving
the church.
"When you are tempted, there are three words which may be useful to
you. They are these, 'God help me,'" the minister told him. "They are
quickly said and I have often found them a source of strength in time of
trouble. I am going to find work for you and there's a room over my
garage with a stove in it which will make a very snug little home for
you and Christmas."
That evening, as the dog and his master were sitting comfortably by the
stove in their new home, there came a rap at the door. In a moment,
Judge Crooker entered the room.
"Mr. Blenkinsop," said the Judge as he held out his hand, "I have heard
of your new plans and I want you to know that I am very glad. Every one
will be glad."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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