Work and Reward

Chapter I. A Dark Home Picture

A little, low-ceiled room. Four walls.

Whose blank shut out all else of life,

And crow’ded close within their bound A world of pain, and toil, and strife.”

AN I do anything fci you, mother, before I go asked Edward Mason, in a low, tremulous voice, as . he bent tenderly over the white, emaciated face of his best earthly friend.

Nothing, my son, only to raise the curtain a little higher, so that the sunbeams will enter more freely into the room. There is something very cheerful to me in the bright sunlight, and I

8 A Dark Home Putu7^e.

half forget my sufferings when its beautiful radiance steals* in so peacefully through the little window. Sunshine and flow’crs are my especial favorites among the beauties of nature.’'

'' I know it, mother, and I’ll get a fresh bouquet of flowers before I go. There is a good supply of pansies, verbenas, and heliotropes in the garden this morning. Maggie can go and help me get a nice fresh bouquet of these grand flowers. I wish that you were able to go and see them in the garden. I tell you, mother, they are perfectly beautiful this morning.” I can think just how they look, Edward, even if I cannot see them,” answered Mrs. Mason, while a smile came over her white lips. I never expect to go into the garden again, but it is a pleasure to think of the bright beauties existing there. Pain and disease cannot confine thought in a room like this, even though they do my poor aching body/’

But, mother, don’t you think that you will at least become well enough again to sit in your chair by the window, and walk to the door, where you can look out into the garden, as you did early in the spring?” And the boy looked earnestly toward his mother, awaiting her reply.

She shook her head a little sadly, but answered, in a half-cheerful voice :

'' No, Edward ; I shall never walk to the door again, or even occupy the old rocking-chair by the garden window. I ^m much weaker than I was a month ago, and my cough is far more distressing and frequent. I did hope, all through the early spring days, that God would spare me another year ; but now I know that it cannot be. I do not speak of this to alarm you, Edward, but to quietly prepare you for the change that must surelo A Dark Home Picture.

ly come. I know that you will try to meet it bravely, as you ever have your dark life trials.’’

The mother had spoken very calmly and quietly, as though it was some ordinary event ; but Edward was not really prepared to accept the truth just then, and so he turned away with a strange, deathly feeling stealing over him, and unbidden tears streaming down his cheeks. He was about to pass out of the little room, when the mother gently said, “ Edward.”

He at once heeded the call, and turned again to the bedside of the sick mother. He tried to check the fierce storm of emotion, but the bitter tears would come in spite of all his efforts to keep them back.

Edward, it is only for the sake of my two children that I wish to live,” said Mrs. Mason, in a low, pleasant voice.

There is no other tie that binds me to

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this world of suffering. You know how bitter has been the cup of affliction which has been pressed for long years to my lips. Heaven is far brighter than earth, and its holy rest will be wondrous sweet to me after the sufferings of this present life. I repeat again, that it is only for your sake and little Maggie’s that I wish to stay. You are a true, noble boy, and I am not afraid to trust you in the world ; for I am sure that you will shun the paths of sin, and especially the dark way of intemperance. But your little sister needs a faithful guide for many a year, to lead her over the first rough paths of life. It is of this I wish to speak, for you must be her friend and guide until she understands the great principles of a true life. She will sadly miss her mother at first, but you must strive in every possible way to make up her loss. You v/ill have a

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few leisure hours, and these you rnust spend in her society until the shadow that death shall bring will partially have passed away.''

But I did not think that you would die so soon, mother," moaned Edward.

I thought that you might live a few years longer, if you were careful of your health and did not work too hard."

Freedom from work will not save me now, Edward," 'V^as the answer. ‘‘ It might have done so a year ago, but it is too late now. And as I cannot labor any more, it is undoubtedly far better for me to die. The little money that was laid by for a stormy day is surely wasting away, and I am afraid, by the time I am placed in the grave, there ill be none left for my children.

“ But I am earning wages, mother, and I can take care of Maggie," answered Edward, in a firm, manly tone.

“ It will be a hard task for you, my son, even though you should be well and fortunate in obtaining employment. Aunt Jane will undoubtedly assist you as much as her limited means will allow. I do not know just how you will get along after I am gone, but I trust in God to watch over your interests, and I leave you in his hands. Your father, I presume, will not assist you in any way.” And here a sad sigh came from the speaker’s lips.

If he will only keep away from here, and allow us to manage our own affairs, it will be all I will ask of him,” replied Edward, half resentfully.

If he would only turn from his evil ways, and become a true father to you, I should go from the world perfectly happy. Perhaps God in his own good time will bring this happy change about.” And here the sick woman turned her

T4 A Dark Home Pichi7X.

head, and seemed lost for a few momeats in thought.

Edward walked gently out of the room, and soon he and his little sister, wdio was playing with her white kitten in the garden, were busy in plucking the fresh, dewy flowers.

‘‘What is the matter, Eddie?’* asked little Maggie, as she chanced to catch' a glimpse of her brother’s sorrowful face. “ Has Daisy run away, or did Carlo bite you, Eddie?”

The brother smiled in spite of his sad thoughts, and then secretly wished that there were ho deeper sorrows in the world than little Maggie had known. She knew nothing of the sorrows that had silently taken up their abode in the drunkard’s home ; for, strange to say, the father never, by word or deed, had intentionally wronged his sweet child of five summers. It is true that he wronged her by his neglect and general mis-- conduct ; but to the child herself he betrayed a feeling of tenderness far above his rough, unloving nature. Even when maddened by strong drink, he never molested the little girl, although Mrs.. Mason and Edward often suffered from, his mad, wild freaks of dissipation.

‘‘.Daisy'' was a beautiful white lamb,, the almost constant companion of Maggie in her rambles by the roadside, aiia in the little green yard in front of the low, humble home. Once it had wandered away, and was gone for two long days, and the grief of the little girl at its absence knew no bounds. It was found at last, and its mistress was happy again. Carlo, a playful little dog, rightfully belonged to Aunt Jane, who resided only a short distance from Maggie's home ; but he had taken up his abode with the Mason family, and refused to stay with the lonely woman who had at first adopted him. His sharp teeth showed but little mercy when at play, and Maggie was often the victim. So the child really thought that the two greatest sources of misery in the world were ' Carlo's teeth or the absence of the white lambkin.

Edward did not answer the child, but, instead, enquired :

‘‘Don't you think that these flowers are very pretty, Maggie ?"

“Yes, Eddie; but you look so sorry that I did not think about the pretty flowers. They did not make you cry, Eddie?"

“No, Maggie; but I^was thinking about mamma. She is very sick, you kno\^."

“Yes," replied Maggie thoughtfully; “ but if we carry her such pretty flowers, and give her medicine, she will- get well again ; then Kitty White and I can play just as we used to do, and not have to keep so still in the house/'

Edward did not reply, but turned toward the door of his hurhble home. After arranging the flowers within reach of the invalid, he said :

I must go now, mother, and leave you in Maggie's care until Aunt Jane arrives. She will , be here in a little while. Mr. Cole requested me to come as early as possible, as one of the clerks will be absent to-day, and I shall have extra duties to perform. I will bring you a nice orange when I come for my dinner, or anything else that you wish for. Good-by, mother."

And the boy stooped gently over and kissed the white, pallid face of the siifferer. Then he hastened away, and left her with Maggie, who was very quiet and womanlike when in the presence of her sick mother. Mrs. Mason closed her eyes, and was soon lost to all things save the angel of slumber. Aunt Jane came, and, finding her sister sleeping, remained in the little kitchen, attending to the work that needed to be performed. She had been very kind to the sick sister, and day after day had visited the sad home, to look after the interests of its inmates. People called her an odd, half-crazy woman, and wondered why she betrayed so much sympathy and affection with her peculiar nature. But people do not always understand the great principles of human action, for the moving power is hidden in the souPs secret chambers. They judged Aunt Jane, as they do the rest of the world, from their own stand-point of outward observation, knowing nothing of the true soul of the lonely old woman who lived in her solitude. Her life had been made wretched by the common destroyer of the race — intemperance. A husband had fallen in the strength of his manhood, and two sweet children in those lonely years had been laid away in the grave, and so all of the pleasant home-ties were severed, A brother of her husband, who was a kind, wealthy man, feeling for her in her sorrows, secured to her for life a small yearly allowance, which saved her from hard toil and drudgery. People who had known her before her dark life trials began said that she was a noble, gentle woman, very much unlike the odd, peculiar being that she appeared to be in after-years.

For an hour Mrs. Mason remained sleeping, and little Maggie watching by her bedside, when Aunt Jane heard a noise that created a sensation of pain and dread in her heart. It was fragments of rough song, evidently from the

Ups of a drunken man some distance from the house,

“Jacob is coining home drunk/’ she said half aloud, “ and I must not allow him to go into Mary’s room in such a condition. She is too sick and weak to witness such a scene.”

The look of pity upon her face suddenly departed, and her eyes gleamed very strangely as she arose and walked swiftly* toward the road, evidently to stop the progress of the drunken man.

“ Keep quiet, Jacob Mason,” she said, in a voice that would have alarmed a sober man. “ Keep quiet, or you will frighten Mary.”

“Keep quiet yourself, -you crazy old fool,” returned the drunken man, rushing in his maddened fury past the old woman.

He was evidently in an unusual condition, for it was seldom that he refused

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to heed the commands of Aunt Jane; He ran as fast as possible into the house, singing and cursing in a strange, wild voice, and Aunt Jane swiftly following him. He rushed frantically to the bedside of his wife, pushing little Maggie aside — a deed that he never did before.

‘‘See here, old woman, just get up and go to work he exclaimed, in a commanding voice.

Maggie cried out in fear, and for once the father heeded not the beseeching voice of the child.

“ Get up, I say, or I’ll help you,” he said again, making a motion as thoifgh he would drag her from the bed.

“ See here, Jacob Mason,” exclaimed Aunt Jane, seizing him by the arm, while a strange, startling light gleamed in her eyes. “ Don’t you lay your wicked hands upon that sick woman, Stand back, I say.”

The man, drunk as he was, obeyea the fierce, pale woman before him, and at once stepped back, muttering to liimself, declaring that if he could not rule his own household, he would go off and let them all starve to death/'

“You had better go, you drunken brute, and I hope that you will never darken the door again. You are a curse to your family, as you have been for a dozen years. Go !" cried the half-maddened woman, springing fiercely toward him.

He started for the door like a detectedPl:riminal, making good time for a, man in his condition ; and not until he was fairly in the road did he begin to mutter curses upon “ Crazy Jane."

But she did not hear them, for she was bending tenderly over the fainting sister, whose weak body could not bear the exciting scene which had been

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2% enacted in the little room. Tenderly she bathed the white face, and applied the proper remedies to restore the fainting sister to consciousness. At last she was successful, for the blue eyes unclosed, and the pale lips whispered, It will soon be over.’'

Chapter II. The Death Angel

“ Put by at last beneath the lid

The exempted hands, the tranquil face ; Uplift her in her dreamless sleep.

And bear her gently from the place.’* that your poor mother has received serious injuries by the transaction. She has scarcely spoken since it occurred, and her cheeks are paler and eyes more bright and glassy than they were before.

T was a burning shame for him to come home and treat mother so!'' ex claimed Edward to his aunt, after he had heard the story.

Yes, it was a shame," answered the old woman ; for I am afraid

If I had not been here, I think the drunken wretch would have dragged her from the bed. I never saw him so wild and crazy before.*^

“ Father is growing worse all the time,’' said Edward. I wish that there could be something done to check him in his sad career. He will go to ruin if he keeps on in this Vay.”

He is not far from ruin now,” answered Aunt Jane. “The sooner he gets out of the world the better off it will be. He is a slave to a fierce, burning appetite, and human bloodhounds are upon his track. If away beyond the reach of temptation, he might overcome his inward enemy — appetite ; but with traps set by human hands all along his pathway, he never can be saved. I have seen human beings before who were thus surrounded by the powers of darkness, and their way to eternal life hedged

The Death Angel.

in with dark, overhanging mountains that mortal feet can never climb. I have seen the sad struggles of such imprisoned souls, and heard the despairing wail of anguish when hope at last died out in the sin-crushed heart. It is a sad sight, Edward, and I wonder that there are not more tear-dimmed eyes and breaking hearts than there are in this world of sorrow and suffering.^' And ». here the old woman wiped away a tear or two that appeared in her sunken eyes.

I will never touch a drop of the hateful poison, ‘and I’ll fight against the liquor traffic as long as I live. .Tom Jones and Dick Johnson violate the law every day. Mr. Cole says that they are two of the most desperate characters in the community, and yet these men are licensed by the law to sell liquor. I cannot understand it, Aunt Jane.*’ And a thoughtful, puzzled look came over Edward’s face.

There are many things hard to be understood in this world. When you get to be as old as I am, though, you will understand some of life’s mysteries better than you do now. But you will not be any happier with the knowledge that you gain by living a few years than you are now. .The wisdom that this world imparts is full of sorrow and bitterness.”

And saying this, Aunt Jane arose, and walked the little kitchen-floor in a hasty, excited way,

'' But there is a better life beyond,” replied Edward, in a low voice. “ We should live for that, my mother says, and not mind the sorrows of this world. She is always happy and cheerful, even though in the midst of trials and afflictions.”

The Death Angel.

I know it, I know it,’’ said the old woman. She looks at the events of life very differently from what I do. She sees beauty and brightness beyond, while I discovei; no rift in the dark clouds around my pathway. But she has not suffered in the way I have, and perhaps this makes the difference. Her children are spared to comfort her with the sweet words of love and affection, while my once bright-eyed darlings are sleeping in the dust of the valley. It was a darker life-trial than she ever knew; when I saw them perish by the destrciyer’s hand, and fade away like the sweet summer flowers when blighted by cold, harsh Vvdfids. Such a trial as that, I think, would have destroyed her calm, loving, trusting nature, and shaken her religious faith to the very centre.”

Religion rests upon the strong ‘ rock of ages,’ ” replied Edward, who under-

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stood the great principles of religion far better than did his half-sceptical old aunt. No storm or tempest can ever shake that/' he continued in an earnest voice. Mother trusts in Jesus, but I am sure that you do not, Aunt Jane; for if you did, you would not talk in such a strange, distrustful way."

I do not trust in anything, Edward. Everything has proved false to me, and I think that there is nothing Avorth trusting in. Yet I have wished that I had such a loving, trusting soul as Mary has." And here a long sigh came from Aunt Jane's lips.

Ed\^ard would have answered, but he understood by his aunt's actions that she did not wish to continue the conversation ; so he remained silent, secretly wishing that the lonely, distrusting old woman would learn the sweet lesson of faith in Jesus from his own dear mother.

A half-hour passed away in silence, which at last was broken by a faint call from the room of Mrs. Mason. It sounded like a voice far away in . the distance, and Edward could hardly believe that it really came from his mother’s lips. But he hastened into the little bed-room, and, as the lamplight fell upon his mother’s face, he was startled at the ghastly look that rested upon it.

The sick woman reached out her white hand, which Edward grasped at once, and then she said, in the same strange, hollow voice :

^‘1 shall not remain long with you, Edward, and the little that I have to say to you must be said now. You are partially prepared for the change that must shortly come over the old home ; but Maggie knows nothing about the loneliness that the death angel ever

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brings. Watch over your little sister, and cheer her heart with your love and sympathy. The shadow will soon pass away that shall darken her quiet childlife, but still she will need your love and protection. Aunt Jane will take you both to her little home, and care for you as far as possible. It would be better for her to come here and remain with you, but she is strongly attached to the lonely cottage upon the hill ; and then he, your father, will not molest you so much. Be kind and obedient to my poor, unfortunate sister, and strive to lead her to the rock of ages — Christ Jesus.'’

This was said in a low whisper, for the mother’s voice seemed to be growing weaker and weaker, and. her strength was fast departing. Aunt Jane might have heard the last sentence, however ; but if she did, she did not betray any emotion. Her face wore the same restless look as she appeared to be gazing out upon the glory of the beauteous summer evening. Perhaps the old woman was half convinced that there really was a blessed reality in the religion of Jesus; yet she clung to her faithlessness in such a trust, even while her sister was dying so happy in a Saviour’s love. No wonder that the poor woman was half deranged at times, while bearing her heavy life-burdens without the help of Jesus, the divine Helper.

^Hf she trusted in Jesus,” continued the dying woman, I should feel much better about leaving my children in her care ; yet I think that you are a Christian, Edward, although only fifteen summers have left their traces upon your face. You must teach her and Maggie the grand principles of religion, and cling to them yourself with all your

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might and power. While you trust in Jesus, you are safe, even in a world of sin and temptation ; but I could not leave you so willingly if you had not learned of Him who never suffers his children to be tempted above what they are able to bear. You will never, never touch a drop of anything that can intoxicate, or linger in the places where temptation exists,”

Never,” replied the boy, in a low, firm voice.

Perhaps God will in some way gratify the darling wish of your heart — to complete in some degree your limited education, so that you can take your true position in the world. Work and trust in Jesus, my boy, and you will certainly win. Perhaps your father will yet learn to trust in the strong Friend ; if so, he will yet overcome the enemy, and wear the victor’s crown. Work for this also, Edward, remembering that ‘ working and winning ' go hand in hand.’’

Here the mother seemed to lose her powers of speech, and so she turned her head upon the white pillow, and unconsciousness soon came over her. Edward still grasped the thin, cold fingers, whilehis hot tears fell upon them.

I will go for Mrs. Cole,” he said after a little while.

Aunt Jane bowed her head, and quiet ly took her place in the low chair by the bedside. He soon returned, and wa*s followed by his employer’s wife, who was a kind, Christian woman ; and together they watched as the summer night wore away.

Disease is finishing its Avork rathei suddenly,” whispered Mrs. Cole to the sister of the dying woman.

If he had only kept away, she might have lived several days longer,” was the quick reply.

The night passed slowly away to the faithful watchers, and they could discover no perceptible change in the unconscious woman. But just as the stillness of the night was broken by the sweet songs of the morning birds, the eyes were suddenly unclosed, and the cold hand extended for something. Mrs. Cole guessed what the mother wished for, and little Maggie was brought from her crib, and placed close by the form that was growing cold in death.

Kiss Maggie, mamma,” the child said, placing her red, warm lips against the cold ones of her .mother.

One long, clinging kiss was left upon the child’s sinless lips, and the little one was laid away again upon her ^pillow. Then the hands of Aunt Jane and Edward were grasped for a moment by the stiff, white fingers, and a sweet; trusting smile came over the mother’s face. Once more she ^raised her hand and pointed upward, and then the freed spirit went up among the pale morning stars to rejoice for ever in heaven’s eternal day.

Home at last,” whispered Mrs. Cole to the tearless old woman by her side. But there was no answer, save a sob from the lips of Edward.

There will be no sorrow or crying there,” Mrs. Cole said again; ‘‘and the rest of heaven will be wondrous sweet to her earth-weary soul.”

No answer came, for the seal of silence seemed to rest upon the lips of Aunt Jane.

The* day following there was a strange, unusual hush' in the little cottage upon the lawn at -the foot of the hill. As it Avas only a little distance from the vil-

The Death AiigeL lage, there were many visitors who came that day to look upon the white face of the dead ; yet, strange to say, they did • not break the deep silence of the lawn cottage. They walked in and out so softly that little Maggie was mystified by the unusual ways of the visitors. Poor child ! she did not understand the great mystery of death.

But there was one visitor, who came as the sun was sinking down behind the western hills, who was not so calm and unmoved as the others had been. Pie opened the door very softly, and was calm and composed until he lifted the white sheet that covered the dead forii\ of his own true, faithful wife ; then his bloated form became convulsed with emotipn, and scalding tears ran down his rough face.

Poor Maiy ! poor Mary!*' he moaned

See the work of your own hands, Jacob Mason/' said a voice in cold, unpitying tones by his side.

He started as a human voice fell upon his ear, and turned quickly away as he saw his wife's sister watching him with the old, strange light burning in her eyes.

Don't reproach me; Aunt Jane," he only said, passing out of the little room. But the old woman had no pity for him, even though she betrayed a deep affection for the two motherless children ; and so she said again :

‘‘You might do better if you would, Jacob Mason, but you never will ; so keep away from your children in the future."

She seemed far more unfeeling and uncharitable than when she had talked about the poor, wretched man to Edward the previous evening. The scene

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that she had witnessed did not make her any more pitying and forgiving.

The weeping man was about to pass out of the house, when one low word caught his ear, wl&h^_.arrQsted him at once. It was only *‘p^a,'' it agted;

like a charm upon him\ for li\: turned

V

about, and took the little^giTi in hisarms and pressed her lovingly to his heart. She folded her soft arms around his neck, and smoothed the tangled mass of hair that fell over his brow.

‘‘ Kiss Maggie,’' she said, in the same low voice in which she had spoken tothe dying mother.

Yes, darling,” he said, pressing his rough, polluted lips to the sweet, pureface.

In a moment more he was walking: swiftly toward the village.

‘‘ I wish that Aunt Jane would not speak to him in such a way,” said

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Edward to Mrs. Cole, who still kindly remained with the mourners.

‘^She had better be kind to him,'* answered Mrs. Cole; ‘‘but she is in one of her unfeeling moods to-day, and so it is no wonder."

“She is good to us, but strangely unkind to him. I wish that she were a Christian, and then she would always be kind," said Edward a little sorrowfully.

Chapter III. The Hill Cottage

Life is only bright when it proceedeth Toward a truer, deeper life above ;

Human love is sweetest when it leadeth To a more divine and perfect love.”

FTER Mrs. Mason was laid away in the green, rural churchyard of N , the lit-

tle lawn cottage was vacated, and Aunt Jane returned to her home, accompanied by Edward and Maggie. The , plain household furniture which belonged to the drunkard's home was removed, and all placed in the spare room " of the hill cottage."

The home of Aunt Jane was generally called by the villagers of N the hill

cottage," because it stood upon the highest elevation of land anywhere around the busy hamlet. It was an out-of-theway place at best ; for only a wood-path extended over the hill where the lonely house stood. The wood-choppers in the winter season, when the