Sunshine; or Cures for All Ills

Front matter

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Chapter I

open for competition on the most eligible terms, and that in consequence of certain particulars a lease would be granted by the proprietors, in the most obliging spirit, to any who might be so fortunate as to apply for the advantageous investment. Indeed, such was the notice, that it was surprising it had been allowed to stand a single day, — surprising that the advertisers had not been overwhelmed in the first twelve hours with inquirers and candidates ; at least it would have been so, but that it was not was explained by the fact that few walked or traveled that way, it being unpopular on account of a certain ill-savored stagnant pool, which occasionally interfered much with the breath — so fastidious people said ; and, moreover, it led to 66 nowhere and nobody,” therefore nobody sought it.

There had been 64 This house to let, at a moderate rent,” put up in the window of the building we have likened to a lodge in a garden of cucumbers ; and it had been there so long that the notice had grown quite brown and curly at the corners ; and no wonder, for who that could live anywhere else, in decency, would live there ?

It was a slip — not a house. There was a door, with an unusually narrow window beside

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it, and over the door was a window, and over that another with an attic, and a chimney at the top of all ; so it was not lowly in highf , as we have already remarked ; and if its brethren, No. 2 and No. 3, etc., had been associated in family union with it, it would have been respectably imposing.

Perhaps, as there is sometimes a charm in a name, the builder, who was stopped short in his work, thought to atone to the lonely No. 1 by painting on the corner, just under the middle window, “ Paradise Row.” Either No. 1 might live in hopes of the paradise that was thus promised to spring up around it, or it might enjoy the compliment of having all the beauties of it concentrated in itself, and consider itself as representing all ; but it looked like a forlorn elder brother in mourning for the rest of the family.

“ No. 1 is let, sir,” said the barber, while shaving a wealthy customer one morning.

So great was the surprise of the customer that a looker-on would have thought it was from an announcement of some great parliamentary intelligence, at least.

64 Let at last ! Well ! who has taken it ? ”

“ Can’t say, sir ; haven’t heard the gentleman’s name,” said the barber.

u Gentleman ! ” replied tlie customer, in rather a tone of contempt.

“ Well, sir, I was told it was took by a gentleman ; but every one’s a gentleman nowadays,” said the barber, laughing, apologetically.

Now this customer was not only rich, but he was a man of family. He lived in a large lonely house in the middle of shrubberies and lawns, and filled with all that it is thought necessary to fill a rich man’s house with, consisting in every part of an abundance of tilings that are never used. And he was proud of his name, — Sir Herbert Carteret ; and he was proud of his place, — “ The Hollies ” ; and he was proud of everything that belonged to him, and thought he was the most enviable man in existence, and fancied he was happy. He happy ? We shall see.

- The reader will wonder that Sir Herbert Carteret should know anything of the building ground and No. 1 ; but it so happened that the windows at the back of his house commanded a view of it ; and as he had very little to think of on his own account, he was in the habit of amusing himself by speculations on the affairs of his neighbors, and so he would look out to see if the boards were taken down

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every time he passed the building ground to go to his own house (for he could go to it that way), and would give a glance at No. 1 in Paradise Row, and smile at the thought of its ever inviting an occupant.

That spring he was laid up with a severe fit of the gout ; so that No. 1, or rather its inhabitants, had time to accommodate themselves to their circumstances, and become “ at home,” as it is called, before he caught a sight of them.

The first glance he got was on a warm, sunny Sunday, when, his doctor having permitted him to go to church, he chose to walk by the building ground. As he was not very quick in his movements, lie had left the Hollies early that he might have ample time for his walk, and, to his great satisfaction, just as he was wondering whether he should see them, the door opened, and the whole family came out in single file.

First was a matron, though still a younglooking one, followed by a little child, who was immediately lifted into the arms of a young servant-girl, who came next ; then followed six boys, the eldest looking as if he had some notions of approaching manhood. Last of all came the father, — a thin, tall, and rather cadaverous-looking man, of a very grave aspect, and, though scrupulously neat, not overwell dressed. He locked the door, put the key in his pocket, and taking the two least of the children, one in each hand, brought up the rear. They all passed before Sir Herbert, who looked at them most inquisitively, though they were not aware of it ; but upon the father himself it was that he fixed his most searching gaze. That, however, was quite lost upon the object of it, who gave his whole attention to guiding his two little companions safely through the difficulties of their path till they reached the causeway.

44 Seven children ! ” said Sir Herbert to himself ; 44 a man and his wife, seven children, and a servant ! How in the world can they all live there ? Surely the children must sleep in the chimney, or hang out of the windows, like canary birds in cages ! 99 And all that day, and many days after, he was continually reverting to the mystery, and trying to solve it, how ten human beings could live in that house.

On inquiring of his barber, who had inquired for the sake of his customer, Sir Herbert learned that his neighbor’s name was Terence ; that he was a clerk to some mining works ; that from his way of life he was considered to

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be very poor, but very respectable, and very little more was known about him.

The baronet found out that Mr. Terence left his house early every morning, and returned to it at about half-past four in the afternoon. He so shaped his afternoon walk as frequently to meet with him on his return, when he himself was going up to the Hollies to prepare for a late dinner. He had met him so often that he knew, at last, every line of his face, and although not aware of it, had taken a great fancy to it. It was a face with little pretension to beauty, either in color, form, or feature, and yet it pleased the baronet to look on it.

“ I never saw such a satisfied-looking fellow,” he would think to himself, as he passed him ; and every time he did so the impression strengthened. “ All those children — hard work every day, every week, and such a house to live in ! He’s a regular curiosity ; he looks as satisfied as if he had my fortune, no cares, and lived at the Hollies.” Had Sir Herbert been able to recognize the work of the Spirit in the peace that shone in the good man’s face, he would have been spared many of his after speculations concerning him ; but he was a stranger to such an art, though no

SUXSHIXE : OR, one in the least acquainted with it could have failed to see that it was inward spiritual light which outwardly shone on his countenance. He had Christ in his heart, and that was the secret of his happy contentedness.

Mr. Terence had been more than a year at No. 1, but beyond an intimate acquaintance with his physiognomy, Sir Herbert and he were strangers to each other; though it must be said also that the baronet’s person had made its impression on the mining company’s clerk ; but his mind was generally too full of his business and his family in the week, and of other things on Sunday, to allow him often to stray in his thoughts to matters so very irrelevant as the face of Sir Herbert. In the morning he had the interests of the firm on his hands, — how best to work, how best to arrange his work. Some matter of commercial importance, more or less, on which to ponder, would occupy him ; and he would walk on, as upright as a dart, briskly using his stick for its legitimate purpose, as if all the forces must now be called steadily to bear on the business of life ; but there was no care in his face, in the most serious of his mornings. When work was at its highest pressure, and he had most to dwell upon, he did not look as

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if he feared his work, or went to it in a grudging spirit. On the contrary, no Oxford student ever went forth to use his oars — no pleasure-hunter of any kind ever started with more appetite for his enterprise — than did Tertius Terence for his counting-house, every morning of his life from Monday to Saturday. When he returned from it, he walked more leisurely, at times looking over some small book, or pamphlet, or picture perhaps, which he was bringing for the delectation of his wife or children. His stick he was then apt to twirl with a free and careless air, and his face had gone into a restful expression, not weary, but satisfied with labor, and pleased with coming repose. Yet now and then, as we have said, he gave a glance at Sir Herbert. It was months before he knew who he was ; but every look he gave impressed him more and more strongly with the conviction that he was some old man very much to be pitied. His face was to him like a lantern with no light in it, — joyless ; and there was a yearning expression, that seemed to say, “ Oh, give me comfort, give me peace ! ”

“ Poor old man ! whoever he is, I am very sorry for him. I wish I could do anything to help him : I quite grieve to see his miserable face.” Thus he would think when he passed him. He was told at last that the old gentleman who was so fond of promenading before his house, and on the ridge of the building ground, was Sir Herbert Carteret, of the Hollies, — worth thousands a year, a widower, without children.

“ Poor man ! I do pity him indeed,” said Tertius ; a no children, and a widower! Oh,

I am sorry for him.” The Hollies, and thousands a year, did not stand out in his thoughts as competent consolations.

One day in March (the second that had seen No. 1 inhabited), the wind was doing “ the lion ” very vigorously, and when Tertius came home he had enough to do to keep his hat on, as he walked across the causeway that led from the road over the building ground to his house. Just as he had reached his door, a broadbrimmed hat came rolling towards him, and gave him a chase to prevent it from settling itself in a hole with a pool in it. Having caught it, his next object was to find the. owner : there he stood on the road, looking very rueful, with a large silk handkerchief tied over his head. Tertius with all speed hastened to him, and presented the reclaimed hat, with a profound bow. Sir Herbert (for

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he it was) returned it, with thanks ; and from that day, the ice being broken, words were interchanged as well as looks.

Summer came. The baronet had been greatly ruffled in his temper and spirits by a family occurrence, and had scarcely been seen walking out for more than a month. On his first emerging into the golden sunshine, he was to be seen pacing slowly before Paradise Row, with a more bilious skin and a heavier brow than ever. He had nearly finished his walk, when he saw Tertius Terence coming from the town path towards home. He hesitated ; he didn’t feel in a temper to speak ; he half turned back to give him time to get into his house before he wanted to pass. But Tertius had no mind to be cut : he walked briskly up, and putting some little parcels in whiteybrown paper, which had filled his hands, into his pocket, he took off* his hat, with the most courteous sympathy, and begged to know how Sir Herbert was after his long absence, which he was afraid had been from illness. The baronet was touched by the kindness, and gratified by the respect. He muttered something about not having been ill, but having had unpleasant affairs.

“ Oh, I am sorry,” said Tertius, — “ very sorry. What different experiences we have ! While you have been visited by affliction, I have received great mercy, which has been a well-spring of joy to me, I may say.”

44 Glad to hear it,” said the baronet. 44 I hope you have had a fortune left you.”

Tertius smiled, and shook his head. 44 Better than that,” he said, 44 I am quite sure.”

44 A better berth ? — rise in your office ? ”

44 Oh, no. I see you won’t guess, sir. How can you ? My dear wife has presented me with a daughter : all my others are sons ; but now I have a daughter, and I look forward to the great comfort she will be to her mother and me — if the Lord spare us — when she is grown up, and our days are declining.”

44 Humph ! ” said Sir Herbert ; “I should have thought you had had enough of such blessings already.”

44 Enough till divine goodness vouchsafed us another, sir,” replied Tertius, with reproving gravity.

64 You are a very odd man,” said the baronet. 44 Most people would consider a newcomer no advantage, in a house like yours.”

44 Like mine ! ” answered Tertius, turning and surveying No. 1 with an air of surprise.

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u Pray, may I ask, sir, wliat is the matter with my house ? ”

“ Rather small, isn’t it ? ” said Sir Herbert. “I only wonder how all of you ever got into it.”

“ Much larger, much better, sir, than falls to the lot of many a more deserving and larger family,” answered the clerk.

“ Well, well, it isn’t for me to put you out of conceit of it, of course,” said the baronet. Tertius laughed, as much as to say, “ You’d better try.”

“ I suppose you think that would be a difficult matter,” said Sir Herbert.

“ It ought to be,” replied Tertius ; “ and really, sir, I believe it would. You haven’t an idea of the capabilities of my house, — how every corner can be made available ; and then there are many advantages about it which make me congratulate myself continually on having met with it.”

“ I suppose all this round about it is one of them ? ” and Sir Herbert pointed round to the desolate, grass-grown heaps and water-holes, with the hillocks of dirt and rubbish.

“ Certainly, you are right, sir,” answered Tertius, earnestly ; “ and a great advantage 2 it is for a poor man, who can not pay high rent, and has a large family to house, to live without very close neighbors. I call this a remarkably healthy, open spot.”

Sir Herbert stared. “ And this undrained water,” he said ; “ perhaps you consider that an advantage,” and he smiled ironically.

“ Yes, it was ; for it lowered the rent. I don’t know that I could have afforded to pay the rent if there had been no drawback. And really it is far less unpleasant than people fancy ; and they are going to clear the pond, I am told, and that will remove the evil, which, however, is exaggerated greatly.”

“ You seem to have got the philosopher’s stone : you turn it all to gold,” said Sir Herbert. “ But I should think, although you don’t like close neighbors, a few trees about you would help to shelter you from the keen winds ; that day that you picked up my hat, for instance, — what a rattling of windows and shaking of your chimney you must have liad ! ”

“True, very true,” said Terence, reflectively ; “ but,” and he turned round to take in the house and all its bearings, “ trees too close are smothering. Now you see, sir, we have the full advantage of the grove up at the Hoi-

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lies, for there is nothing to intercept the view. I greatly prefer trees in the distance : so does my wife ; but that reminds me — my wife — she is expecting me, I know, and I have a few little delicacies here which I am in haste to take to her ; therefore you will, I know, excuse me. I rejoice to see you out, and am glad you have not been kept in by illness.”

So saying, with another deferential bow, he was about to leave, when the baronet cried out, u You ought to take out a patent for condensing. Eleven people in No. 1 ! I can’t get over it”

“ Take it thus, sir, and you will soon be able. We are truly eleven bodies ; but then we are all of one mind, and that is a capital help to comfort and convenience.” And without waiting for more, he turned towards the house.

“ So, an eighth child a blessing to a poor creature that has to work like a galley-slave for his bread; and No. 1 is full of conveniences ; and my trees at the Hollies are more valuable to them being at a distance, than to me being close ; and instead of looking more starved because he has an extra mouth to feed, he comes home with his pocket full of dainties for madam and the baby ! What a world it is ! I believe half the people are crazy, — this fellow among the rest.”

Nevertheless, when Sir Herbert Carteret sat in his splendid solitude that night, and looked down towards the building ground, and watched the twinkling of the light that trembled like a star of no magnitude from the attic window in No. 1, he had a misgiving that poor Tertius Terence was more enviable than the rich and titled owner of the Hollies.

Chapter II

It was not long before Sir Herbert Carteret was attacked by his old enemy, — gout ; and again did Tertius miss him in his daily walks. He often thought of him, and was tempted to go up to the Hollies to inquire after his health ; but being of a very unobtrusive spirit, he did not do it, lest the great man should not quite understand his motive. He asked the barber, however, whom he regularly met returning from his customer every morning as he went to the office. The barber gave full information, — far more full than Terence

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desired : it came out like water from a milldam, and almost overwhelmed him. Sir Herbert was ill : that was the only thing Tertius wished to ascertain ; but the barber told him besides that he was a very hard, churlish, singular man, full of prejudices and fancies ; he wouldn’t trust a valet to shave him ; he was fond of law, and had quarreled right and left with all his friends ; he was liberal where he took ; liked his place to be admired ; was proud of his name, and many other things, not one of which signified to Tertius ; and thankful was he when he turned the corner and took another street to gain his office. But the melancholy story he had heard affected his kind heart : he was sorry for the poor sick man.

That evening, Tertius resolved to walk up and inquire after him. Would it offend him ? Well, if it did, he should be innocent of giving intentional offense ; and the attention might soothe him. To be sure he had but little time ; but then so to use it could not be to waste it; he would go. And he went, and sent in a message by a livery servant to ask how Sir Herbert Carteret was. “ Mr. Terence, at No. 1 Paradise Row, had called to inquire, with best respects.”

The servant said carelessly he would deliver the message ; Sir Herbert was better ; and he looked with a sort of supercilious permissive expression, as if to say, 44 You may go, friend.”

It did not hurt Terence’s feelings, by any means ; he only repeated his request that his message might be delivered, and left the door, not sorry to be let off with so small a sacrifice of time. 44 He ought to have gone in,” he said to himself, 44 and returned with an answer from his master ; but it was not my fault that I did not wait ; so, altogether, I am glad.”

He was thus congratulating himself on the circumstance as he walked down the avenue, when a call to stop made him turn round. It was the same man who had treated him so cavalierly at the door. His tone was considerably changed, and with much respect he begged him to return. “ Sir Herbert would be glad to see him.”

44 This is kind — very kind, I take it so,” said Sir Herbert, as he entered the room. 44 I’m very glad to see you. Set a chair by the couch for Mr. Terence, and bring wine ; or perhaps you would prefer coffee.”

Tertius had had tea, and it never had fallen to his lot to take coffee after tea ; so, feeling not over strong after his work and walk, he chose the wine.

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“ Which do you drink ? ” asked the baronet.

Tertius smiled meekly, and said, “ Whichever I happen to get. All wines are good, I think, and very much alike in their effects on me. I can do without it, but a glass when I am tired seems to invigorate me greatly.’’

The baronet was much altered : pain had pulled him down ; and Tertius was shocked to see how emaciated he looked. “ You must have suffered a great deal,” he said, kindly, looking into his pallid face. I was afraid you were ill ; you cannot think how I have missed you, sir, from your evening walk.”

“ How’s the baby ? ” said the baronet, with a grim smile.

Tertius was charmed, not noticing the halfsarcastic look which accompanied the inquiry, and broke forth into a warm eulogium on his surprising little daughter.

“ The more babies the less wine,” said the baronet, in reply.

“ Makes no difference, sir,” said Tertius. “ It’s a thing I never buy, unless my wife happens to be ill and wants it.”

“ You ought to drink it every day,” said Sir Herbert.

“ Quite a mistake, sir, asking your pardon,” replied Tertius. “ I’ve often noticed that those who drink it every day get so used to it, it does them no good ; while I, having it but seldom, feel its benefits whenever I get it.”

A severe twinge of pain prevented Sir Herbert from replying ; and the look of intense pity with which Tertius regarded him went to the heart of the suffering man, who knew nothing of the sweetness of rendering or receiving the service of love. “ Let me — let me,” said Tertius, “ move the pillows ; surely they might be placed more comfortably.”

“ Oh, they don’t care how they place them,” said the baronet.

“ There, now,” said Tertius, having adjusted them to his satisfaction, after surveying them with a practiced eye. u I think they’re just at the right angle ; it wants some art, you see, to know how to support the limb without pressing on it. My poor father was a martyr to gout, and I passed an apprenticeship to nursing in his room, and my poor wife has kept my hand in. I consider it a great happiness to be able to be useful in a sick-room.” .

“ A happiness to those that want nursing,” said the baronet, when he could speak, “ to find any that are able and willing to help them to bear pain ; but these servants have no sense and no feeling.”

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“ Well,” said Tertius, laughing, “ then you can’t expect much of them.”

“ I expect little, and get less,” grumbled the baronet.

The change in his posture, however, had so soothed him, that, by degrees, they fell into conversation.

“ We’ve made vast improvements in No. 1, sir,” said Tertius, “ since you saw it. My second son has laid out a little garden at the back, and very ingeniously he has formed one of the rubbish mounds into what he calls 4 a rural ; ’ then the rose tree which we planted in the front, so long ago that we quite despaired of its blossoming, has come out most nobly, which I’m so glad of, for my wife is quite a child after flowers. So you see, sir, we are prospering.”

“ What are you going to do with your seven sons ? ” said the baronet.

“ Ha, ha ! ” said Tertius, laughing ; “ it’s more than you can expect of a man to provide for seven sons all in one breath. The two eldest are settled, however, and the third I hope to bring on to get into the same office with myself in time. The four little ones I can not take upon myself to think for at present, though little Bobby is the quickest child at figures you ever heard of; and my wife says she is sure that Tertius will make something remarkable. But I ask your pardon, Sir Herbert; I am talking away, and perhaps tiring instead of amusing you.”

“ Go on — go on,” said the baronet. “ I can’t think how you keep your spirits up, working all the week as you do. I’ve often wondered to see you.”

“ Work ! ” said Tertius ; “ yes ! well ! it certainly is a pull upon strength ; for, my situation being a confidential one, I never can get a holiday ; but then, there’s this to be said, I’m fond of work, and I’m fond of the kind of work I have to do, which I look upon as a remarkable blessing ; for you know I should be obliged to do it, whether I liked it or not ; and it’s very hard to go against the grain.”

“ But don’t you feel, now, sometimes,” said Sir Herbert, who seemed determined to make him yield to a complaint, “ on Saturday night that you have had enough, and that the burden is heavy on you ? ”

“ I think I should,” said Tertius, “ sometimes, — for the human heart is so foolish and unwise that it will quarrel, you may say, with its best bread and butter, — but, then, the thought of the Sabbath so near sheds a halo,

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you see, sir, upon tlie day before it ; in fact, I have always thought that the glory of Sunday runs over upon the Saturday and the Monday.” The baronet turned his leaden eyes upon him with a look that said, “ Man ! you are speaking riddles.” Tertius, however, took the look as inviting further praise of the Sabbath. “ Ah, sir ! ” he said, “ if I wanted it — but I don’t want it, for it shines around me wherever I turn — in my family, in my circumstances, in my heart, I see the goodness of God — 4 His loving-kindness, oh how great ! ’ But, if I saw it nowhere else, in that glorious display of it that the Sabbath presents, there is enough to fill us with gratitude to overflowing. It is an equal gift to the rich and poor, to the high and low, to the wise and foolish.” Tertius spoke with deep feeling on the subject nearest to his heart.