Chapter 72
"There! Ten;--d'ye see!"
"Yes, it does say ten," replied the man. "And yet it seems to me there are eleven. I'm sure I have always thought so."
"Doesn't it say ten, here?" inquired Mr. Wade, with marked impatience in his voice.
"It does certainly."
"Well, what more do you want? Can't you believe the Bible?"
"Oh, yes I believe in the Bible, and yet, somehow, it strikes me that there must be eleven Commandments. Hasn't one been added somewhere else?"
Now this was too much for Brother and Sister Wade to bear. Such ignorance on sacred matters they felt to be unpardonable. A long lecture followed, in which the man was scolded, admonished and threatened with Divine indignation. At its close, he modestly asked if he might have the Bible to read for an hour or two, before retiring to rest. This request was granted with more pleasure than any of the preceding ones. Shortly after supper the man was conducted to the little spare room accompanied by the Bible. Before leaving him alone, Mr. Wade felt it his duty to exhort him on spiritual things, and he did so most earnestly for ten or fifteen minutes. But he could not see that his words made much impression, and he finally left his guest, lamenting his ignorance and obduracy.
In the morning, the man came down, and meeting Mr. Wade, asked him if he would be so kind as to lend him a razor, that he might remove his beard, which did not give his face a very attractive aspect. His request was complied with.
"We will have family prayer in about ten minutes," said Mr. Wade, as he handed him a razor and a shaving-box.
In ten minutes the man appeared and behaved himself with due propriety at family wors.h.i.+p. After breakfast he thanked the farmer and his wife for their hospitality, and departing, went on his journey.
Ten o'clock came, and Mr. N--had not yet arrived. So Mr. and Mrs.
Wade started off for the meeting house, not doubting that they would find him there. But they were disappointed. A goodly number of people were inside the meeting house, and a goodly number outside, but the minister had not yet arrived.
"Where is Mr. N--?" inquired a dozen voices, as a little crowd gathered around the farmer.
"He hasn't come yet. Something has detained him. But I still look for him; indeed, I fully expected to find him here."
The day was cold, and Mr. Wade, after becoming thoroughly chilled, concluded to go in, and keep a look-out for the minister from the window near which he usually sat. Others, from the same cause, followed his example, and the little meeting house was soon filled, and still one after another came dropping in. The farmer, who turned towards the door each time it opened, was a little surprised to see his guest of the previous night enter, and come slowly along the aisle, looking from side to side as if in search of a vacant seat, very few of which were now left. Still advancing, he finally pa.s.sed within the little enclosed altar, and ascending to the pulpit, took off his old gray overcoat and sat down.
By this time Mr. Wade was by his side, and with his hand upon his arm.
"You mustn't sit here. Come down, and I'll show you a seat," he said in an excited tone.
"Thank you," returned the man, in a composed tone. "It is very comfortable here."
"But you are in the pulpit! You are in the
"Oh, never mind. It is very comfortable here." And the man remained immovable.
Mr. Wade, feeling much embarra.s.sed, turned away, and went down, intending to get a brother official in the church to a.s.sist him in making a forcible ejection of the man from the place he was desecrating. Immediately upon his doing so, however, the man arose, and standing up at the desk, opened the hymn book. His voice thrilled to the very finger ends of Brother Wade, as, in a distinct and impressive manner, he gave out the hymn beginning--
"Help us to help each other, Lord, Each other's cross to bear; Let each his friendly aid afford, And feel a brother's care."
The congregation arose after the stranger had read the entire hymn, and he then repeated the two first lines for them to sing. Brother Wade usually started the tune. He tried it this time, but went off on a long metre tune. Discovering his mistake at the second word, he balked, and tried it again, but now he stumbled on short metre. A musical brother here came to his aid, and let off with an air that suited the measure in which the hymn was written. After the singing, the congregation kneeled, and the minister, for no one now doubted his real character, addressed the Throne of Grace with much fervor and eloquence. The reading of a chapter from the Bible succeeded to these exercises. Then there was a deep pause throughout the room in antic.i.p.ation of the text, which the preacher prepared to announce.
Brother Wade looked pale, and his hands and knees trembled;--Sister Wade's face was like crimson, and her heart was beating so loud that she wondered whether the sound was not heard by the sister who sat beside her. There was a breathless silence. The dropping of a pin might almost have been heard. Then the fine, emphatic tones of the preacher filled the crowded room.
"_A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another_."
Brother Wade had bent to listen, but he now sank back in his seat.
This was the ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT!
The sermon was deeply searching, yet affectionate and impressive.
The preacher uttered nothing that could in the least wound, the brother and sister of whose hospitality he had partaken, but he said much that smote upon their hearts, and made them painfully conscious that they had not shown as much kindness to the stranger as he had been ent.i.tled to receive on the broad principles of humanity. But they suffered most from mortification of feeling. To think that they should have treated the Presiding Elder of the District after such a fas.h.i.+on, was deeply humiliating; and the idea of the whole affair getting abroad, interfered sadly with their devotional feelings throughout the whole period of the service.
At last the sermon was over, the ordinance administered, and the benediction p.r.o.nounced. Brother Wade did not know what it was best for him now to-do. He never was more at a loss in his life. Mr.
N--descended from the pulpit, but he did not step forward to meet him. How could he do that? Others gathered around and shook hands with him, but he still lingered and held back.
"Where is Brother Wade?" he at length heard asked. It was in the voice of the minister.
"Here he is," said two or three, opening the way to where the farmer stood.
The preacher advanced, and extending his hand, said--
"How do you do, Brother Wade? I am glad to see you. And where is Sister Wade?"
Sister Wade was brought forward, and the preacher shook hands with them heartily, while his face was lit up with smiles.
"I believe I am to find my home with you?" he said, as if that were a matter understood and settled.
Before the still embarra.s.sed brother and sister could reply, some one asked--
"How came you to be detained so late? You were expected last night.
And where is Brother R--?"
"Brother R--is sick," replied Mr. N--, "and so I had to come alone. Five miles from this my horse gave out, and I had to come the rest of the way on foot. But I became so cold and weary that I found it necessary to ask a farmer not far away from here to give me a night's lodging, which he was kind enough to do. I thought I was still three miles off, but it happened that I was much nearer my journey's end than I had supposed."
This explanation was satisfactory to all parties, and in due time the congregation dispersed; and the Presiding Elder went home with Brother and Sister Wade. How the matter was settled between them, we do not know. One thing is certain, however,--the story which we have related did not get out for some years after the worthy brother and sister had rested from their labors, and it was then related by Mr.
N--himself, who was rather (sic) excentric in his character, and, like numbers of his ministerial brethren, fond of a good joke, and given to relating good stories.
THE IRON WILL.
"f.a.n.n.y! I've but one word more to say on the subject. If you marry that fellow, I'll have nothing to do with you. I've said it; and you may be a.s.sured that I'll adhere to my determination."
Thus spoke, with a frowning brow and a stern voice, the father of f.a.n.n.y Crawford, while the maiden sat with eyes bent upon the floor.
"He's a worthless, good-for-nothing fellow," resumed the father; "And if you marry him, you wed a life of misery. Don't come back to me, for I will disown you the day you take his name. I've said it, and my decision is unalterable."
Still f.a.n.n.y made no answer, but sat like a statue.
"Lay to heart what I have said, and make your election, girl." And with these words, Mr. Crawford retired from the presence of his daughter.