LABOURS OF LOVE. CHAPTER I. The Little Messenger. 'Little drops of water, little grains of sand, Make the boundless ocean, and the beauteous land; So our little errors lead the soul astray, From the paths of virtue, oft in sin to stray. Make our earth an Eden, like the heaven above.' HE cold wind blew keenly across the hills and plains one December afternoon, as Bessie Higgins ran panting along the foot-path through the bare brown fields which led to Townend Farm. The fierce blast made the little girl shiver, and draw her scanty shawl closer round her, as she hastened on her errand, which, to judge from the expression of the downcast face, was a painful one. Rapidly she made her way over steps and stiles, pausing not, till arriving in the court-yard, or back entrance to the farm house, she hesitated and shrank back terrified; for there, like a great lion in her path as he was, stood a great black dog, glaring at her wildly with his fierce black eyes. Poor frightened Bessie! What was she to do? She dared not go one step farther forward for fear of being torn in pieces by the huge animal, and yet go back she must not. The tears started to her eyes as she gazed on her tormentor, and wished, with all her might, that he would retire quietly into his kennel without taking any notice of her. At last she determined to try and make her way to the door; so she slipped close up by the side of the wall, saying, every now and then, 'Poor doggie! good doggie!' as coaxingly as possible; but 'doggie' was not to be done in this manner. With a furious growl he sprang at his poor little victim the whole length of his chain; but Bessie, with a scream of horror, flew out of his reach. Just then a gruff voice cried, 'Down, sir; down,' and Cæsar shrank away abashed and somewhat discomfited at the finale of what he considered a very meritorious action, and an excellent opportunity of distinguishing himself. Bessie turned round and dropped a timid curtsey to the farmer. 'And what may you be wanting, little maid?' asked Mr. Mason, in his good-natured, kindly way. 'Please, sir, my mother's ill; and please, sir, she says would the missis oblige her with a drop of somethin' to do her good?' NEW FRIENDS. 7 'Somethin' to do her good! Surely, child; just wait you here, and I'll send the missis to ye. She'll set you all right;' and having led her into the kitchen, he placed her on the settle by the fire. In a few minutes Mrs. Mason made her appearance. She was a great favourite with the poor, and had a smile and a kind word for every one. The inmates of every cottage for miles around were known to her; and in times of sickness or distress she always proved a friend in need. The Higgins family had only just come to the neighbourhood, and were, as yet, totally unknown to her; but the good lady's heart was touched by Bessie's pale face, and pinched features; her ragged dress and shoeless feet telling all too plainly the sad tale of poverty and want. Very gently and soothingly she spoke to the child, asking all the necessary questions about her mother's illness, in such a quiet, tender voice, that the child's shyness soon wore off, and she began to feel quite at her ease. By and by Mrs. Mason rose, saying she would put on her bonnet and walk down to the cottage with her; and, looking into the parlour, she told her daughter Lucy to give Bessie something to eat, while she filled the basket with a variety of things that might be useful to the sick woman. Lucy was ever ready to perform any little act of charity; and, knowing the value of a little, she strove by 'little deeds of kindness,' and 'little words of love,' to do her best to make the world an Eden to those around her. Even though they should only brighten one poor heart, and relieve it of only one small care, she felt it to be worth striving for. Lucy was just a little girl of twelve years old, and perhaps you may think it was very little she could do; and yet, if you read this story, you will find how many things even a child can do; for, believe me, where there is a will, there is no difficulty about the way. Even the ready way in which she laid aside her book when her mother spoke to her, and set about doing her bidding, might be a lesson to many older girls, who find it hard to leave their pleasures and amusements even for a moment. It may be, even with her, it was a little mastery achieved, a little battle won;' but if so, there were no lingering signs of regret or impatience visible, as she provided a meal for the orphan child. As Lucy followed her mother upstairs, her heart was full of kind thoughts, and her busy little head wondering what more she could do to help the poor little girl in the kitchen. 'Mightn't I give her a pair of shoes and stockings, mamma? Her poor feet look so cold and blue; do let me, mamma.' 'Certainly you may, my dear, if you know of anything you can spare.' |