The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-11-24

So great is "the rarity of Christian char
ity under the sun
One morning Mr.. Herbert, usually al
acquiescent gentleman, had announced hi
intention of going cunning, expecting t.
be absent all day. His wife had objected
but he had persisted, and when thes,
usually acquiescent gentlemen undertake
to persist in anything, if you never knew
before, reader mine, let me inform you. they
generally persist in persisting. So Mr.
Herbert went cunning, and Mrs Herber
went at once into very unsatisfactory statt
of mind
1t had been charming day. and towards
evening a gentleman had called and in
yited Rosa, and, to my great delight, alsc
invited me, to a hop on the green at the
side of the hotel. Rosa had accepted the
invitation, but as to poor me, oh dear
Aunt Phoebe would never consent in the
world, / felt sure she wouldn't. But tc
my surprise and joy, my worldly-wise
auntie consented; with some show of re-
luctance, it is true, and | believe she was
a traly religious woman, but Rosa paid
good board, and by no means proved the
Objectionable person as to her manners that
Aunt Phoebe had anticipated she would
besides, later in the season her parents were
expected as boarders, so she quieted her
conscience with the observation that 'sif it
was to be in the house she wouldn't con-
sent for anything" she allowed me to go.
| suppose the inference was that to dance
on Gods carpet was not quarter part the
sin it would be were it made by wicked
man. She need have felt no fear on nv
account, however, for as a Christian never
danced, although not disposed at all to con-
denim others who might differ from me in
the matter.
At the tea table Mrs. Herbert, who had
been rather testy all day, turned suddenly
toward Rosa and observed, tartly::
$50 you are going to dance tonight ?
| understood you were a church member,
and my church manual forbids such ex-
cesses on the part of protesting Christians. -
Now Rosa had as much spirit as it is
proper for any young lady to possess; she
made no reply, only noticed that her
neck curved a little more to the right, and
the naturally lofty pose of her stately head
became triAe more apparent. 1t was this
same curve and pose of her neck and head,
I think, which made Aunt Phoebe so pro-
nounced as to cher aristocratic ways.
But God has so ordained that some
members of his exquisitely moulded lily
family so carry and away their graceful
blossoms on their slender stalks, one might
imagine they fancied themselves the queen
of all flowers. But there is no pride in
the heart of lily; it curves and waves, and
displays its matchless charms, just as God
made it to.
But there was to be no dance for either
of us that night. As Mrs. Herbert was
sweeping sullenly from the dining-room
she paused at a window in passing, and
the next minute exclaimed, with more
alarm than elegance
"Oh, my goodness gracious what does
this mean, | wonder ?"
All hurried to the window, and at first
could only discern motley crowd approach
ing the house, but moment more and it
became apparent that some one was being
borne along on some kind of pallet An
instant later it was only too plain. Poor
Mr.. Herbert, like many another luckless
sportsman, had himself proved the game of
his intended pleasure.
[ need not describe the excitement and
hustle which followed. For one thing we
were all thankful enough. The pleasant,
easy-going man was still alive The doctor
entered the house at the same time Mr.
Herbert was brought in, disfgured, soiled
and bleeding. He sharply ordered "ban-
dages, plenty of them; quick, too" Mrs.
Herbert was of no assistance whatever, she
could only wiring her hands in real anguish,
and implore every one to save him, her
"dear, good, kind husband, oh, save him =
Aunt Phoebe ran for old linen, and quick
as fash [ saw Rosa tear her delicate cam
bric handkerchief in two, and hand it to
the doctor, who tightly bound it about one
bleeding wrist. All that night Aunt
Phoebe, Rosa and | watched and bathed,
and carefully tended the poor sufferer.
The next day, however, other boarders
arrived, and Aunt Phoebe could not spend
many moments in the sick room. 1t was
impossible to find trustworthy nurse in
the town, and for a whole long, stifingly
hot week, Rosa and | shared the vigils of
the wonderfully softened woman, who sat
and watched by the bedside of her dearly
loved husband.
One day witnessed scene which sent
me rushing to my room, to give way to If
repressible sobs. The doctor had pro-
nounced Mr.. Herbert out of danger, adding
to his wife, "and you can greatly thank
your young friends here, who have rendered
you such wonderfully good assistance in
this time of need, particularly that young
princess who stood by you day and night.
She needs rest now Her eyes are heavy
with something beside their own splendor. "
Happening to go to Rosa's room on some
trifing errand, | saw Mrs. Herbert standing
before her, and at once she threw her arms
around Rosa's neck, exclaiming:
"Oh, you lovely Christian I've spurned
you because [ thought you dressed too
much; I've ridiculed the idea of your pro-
Tossing religion, because being young and
beautiful you have adhered with natural
pleasure to customs of the fashionable So
ciety in which you have been reared. But
God Almighty has shown me that it is by
their fruits His children are to be known,
and you are one of the Lords own. Oh,
forgive me, dear child :!
But l could wait to hear no more. L
only rushed away as l have described; but
all barriers were swept away on that sum-
mer night. | had my own little confession
to make, MT only to Rosa, but to my own
heart and the lesson | learned from con-
tact with this beautiful girl was most
wholesome one know now it does not
follow that the rich and fashionable are
necessarily proud or ungodly. Neither are
they the heartless creatures we are too
prone to imagine them.
[ was surprised 1 must own, when, at
the end of the season, our talented young
minister" begged of Rosas parents the
privilege of offering his love to their beau
tiful daughter, she turned from the prof
fered gold which wealthier suitors ardently
urged upon her acceptance, and took the
pure love of good Mr.. Spencer.
She has been one of us for years now
for l spend my summers still with Aunt
Phoebe, | and mine. 1t is true she Is al
xuo1-O fa,,ltIoe,l,, - ic har nature To