Thankful Rest | Page 9

eyes
wandered round it. Tom nudged her and whispered, "Nice little chapel,
Lucy;" at which Miss Hepsy held up a warning finger and shook her
head. Tom blushed and laughed, Aunt Hepsy looked so intensely
comical. Then she became very red in the face, and opening her
hymn-book, kept her eyes on its pages till Mr. Goldthwaite came in.
His eyes travelled straight to the Strongs' pew, and Lucy thought she
saw a kindly gleam of recognition in his eyes. Carrie was at the
harmonium. She, too, looked once or twice in their direction; and both
children found her face so sweet and pleasant that they could not lift
their eyes off it. The chapel was full, and the singing of the hymn was
so hearty and so sweet, that Lucy felt her eyes dim, she could not tell
why. But it seemed to remind her of her mother.
Mr. Goldthwaite preached only half an hour; but his sermon was so
beautiful and comforting, and so easily understood, that Lucy thought

Sunday would recompense her for all the troubles of the week. Tom's
eyes never left Mr. Goldthwaite's earnest face, and I believe that the
memory of his words remained with the boy for weeks after. He had
never heard a sermon in his life he had understood and felt like this one.
Uncle Josh snored rather noisily in the corner, and Aunt Hepsy nodded
occasionally over her Bible--the minister's message did not even reach
their ears.
When the service was over and they reached the church porch, they
found Miss Goldthwaite standing there. She had a nod and a smile for
every one, but her particular mission was with Tom and Lucy. She
shook hands with the uncle and aunt, and then bent her sweet eyes on
the children's faces.
"These be Hetty's children, Miss Goldthwaite," said Miss Hepsy. "Lucy
and Tom."
"Yes, I know," nodded Miss Goldthwaite. "I came round to see them. I
want them to take tea with me to-day, at my brother's special request."
Miss Hepsy did not look at all delighted. "They'll jes' bother ye, Miss
Goldthwaite," said she; "an' besides, 'taint no use visitin' on Sundays--I
don't like it."
"It's hardly visiting, Miss Hepsy," said the young lady in the same
pleasant voice. "And when they are at Pendlepoint you may as well let
them. We will bring them safely home. Come now, Miss Hepsy, you
know nobody ever refuses me anything."
"Let them bide, Hepsy," said Uncle Josh, remembering what trouble
and expense the minister had spared him, and not wishing to appear so
unmindful of it. "I guess they won't come to no harm at the parson's."
So Miss Hepsy was forced to grant a reluctant consent, and Miss Carrie
bore off the happy children in triumph. At the parsonage gate Mr.
Goldthwaite joined them, and gave them both a hearty welcome. Even
shy Lucy was at her ease immediately with Miss Carrie; for who could
resist that bright, caressing manner, and those beaming, loving eyes?
She carried Lucy off to her own pretty room to take off her hat, and
kept her there talking and showing her the beautiful view from the
window till Mr. Goldthwaite had to call to them to come to tea. What a
pleasant meal it was, and how the little company enjoyed themselves.
Then, when it was over, Mr. Goldthwaite took Tom to the garden, and
drew him on to talk of himself, of his hopes and ambitions, and

sympathized so heartily and cheerfully with him that Tom began to
think it was worth while coming to Thankful Rest, if for nothing else
than this pleasant hour at the parsonage. Meanwhile Carrie had opened
the piano, and sang low and softly one or two hymns; and when she
looked round, wondering why Lucy had moved from her side, she saw
her on the sofa with her face hidden. She rose, and sitting down beside
her, put her arm about her, and whispered gently,--
"My poor child, what is it?"
"Mamma, Miss Goldthwaite," sobbed Lucy. "She used always to sing
to us on Sunday evenings just so, and it makes me feel dreadful to think
she never will any more."
"Yes, Lucy, I understand," said Carrie; and the very sound of her voice
soothed the child's troubled heart. "But you know who has promised to
comfort the mourning heart if we will but ask Him? Our God is 'the
Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.'"
A quick smile broke through Lucy's tears. "If it were not for that, Miss
Goldthwaite," she said simply, "I should have died when mamma did."
"And just think, dear," went on the sweet voice, "of the glad time
coming when we shall all meet, please God, in a happier world