Watch Work Wait | Page 4

himself. William's sketches, rude as they are, evince very extraordinary
talent, but I should sin were I to encourage him to pursue such a work. I
know too well how absorbing it is; how hard it is, when one's mind is
filled with pictures of the grand and beautiful, to work at a trade one
does not like. The boy, most likely, has genius; but even so, how is that
genius to be fostered? I know, too, how toilsome and difficult is the
early path toward the art, and how few, comparatively, ever gain
distinction and reward."
"That is true," said Margaret; "I now understand and see that you are
right."
"Yes, Margaret," washer husband's reply, "I think I am right; remember
that it is the Unerring who has allotted our condition, and I have no
higher ambition than to see my only child grow up an honest man,
diligent in his calling, whatever it may be. My first wish is, that my boy
may be a Christian: it will never trouble me that he must work hard and
be obscure; for if he is pious, honest, and happy in his own mind, he
will be a greater man than those who fill high stations without the
qualifications I have named."
"He is such a good child," said Margaret, "I cannot bear to give him
unnecessary pain."
"The proper discipline does no harm," said Raymond; "and the
Scripture tells us that 'no chastening for the present is joyous, but
grievous, but afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness
to them that are exercised thereby;' and as we are in the same place
commanded to 'make straight paths for our feet,' so in this instance I
have preferred giving my child present pain in order that he may escape

future and greater trials. Ah! Margaret, he may think I am harsh in this
case, as he cannot fathom my motive; and how often do we judge
hardly of the dealings of our kind heavenly Father when he thwarts us
in some favourite wish, or smiles not on our undertaking. Be assured
that only those who commit their way unto the Lord are safe; and as I
bear my boy daily upon my heart to the throne of grace, and offer up
the prayer of faith in the name of Him who hath promised to hear, so
truly am I assured that all that befalls us will be right, and that although
I may be removed from the earthly guardianship of my darling child, I
know that he will never want for any good thing. Wife, we must teach
him that his lot is to be a lowly one; but we must also teach him that
any station can be ennobled by the upright and conscientious discharge
of the duties belonging to it. But now, let us have our usual worship,
and then we will look in on William, and see if his trouble is not all
forgotten in sleep."
CHAPTER II.
TOILS AND TRIALS.
When William arose the next morning, he met his parents with as
smiling a face as if his father had presented him with a case of pencils,
instead of discouraging his attempts at drawing. Nothing was said on
the subject, and the weeks rolled on quietly and peacefully as before,
until William passed his ninth birthday, and the Christmas-time drew
near. This is a festive time with most; and it seems right that it should
be so, for can man ever be sufficiently thankful for the great gift of a
Saviour, whose birth was heralded by the songs of angels on that day?
All nations observe their peculiar ceremonies, but perhaps none are
more faithfully observant of them than the Germans in the little
community of M----, most of whose inhabitants at the time of which we
write were descendants of the original Dutch settlers. Many ceremonies
and customs, relics of a ruder age, and now nearly forgotten, were still
practised. The Raymonds, although pious, and more intelligent than
most of their neighbours, kept up many of the usages of Fatherland on
the Christmas occasion, perhaps more as wafting them back in
remembrance of early enjoyment in the home circle, than from any

present love of the festivity common at this period.
The joyful season drew nigh merrily, and in the watchmaker's family,
as in all others--for the very poorest look forward hopingly to it--there
was nothing but bright anticipations, which were for the present
realized. The Christmas cake was prepared in the most approved old
fashion; the dark-hued pine was duly ornamented, and occupied a
conspicuous place in the family room, and little William was made
most happy in the receipt of many gifts, although toy paints and pencils
were not among the number.
But what says