Words of Cheer for the Tempted, the Toiling, and the Sorrowing

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Arthur Timothy Shay. Words of Cheer for the Tempted, the Toiling, and the Sorrowing

PREFACE

AUNT MARY

THE DEAD

DO YOU SUFFER MORE THAN YOUR NEIGHBOUR?

WE ARE LED BY A WAY THAT WE KNOW NOT

THE IVY IN THE DUNGEON

THE GARDEN OF EDEN

HAVE A FLOWER IN YOUR ROOM

WEALTH

HOW TO BE HAPPY

REBECCA

LIFE A TREADMILL

ARTHUR LELAND

THE SCARLET POPPY

NUMBER TWELVE

TO AN ABSENTEE

THE WHITE DOVE

HESTER

THISTLE-DOWN

THE LITTLE CHILDREN

WHAT IS NOBLE?

THE ANEMONE HEPATICA

THE FAMILY OF MICHAEL AROUT

BABY IS DEAD

THE TREASURED RINGLET

HUMAN LONGINGS FOR PEACE AND REST

"BE STRONG."

THE NEGLECTED ONE

THE HOURS OF LIFE

MINISTERING ANGELS

OURS, LOVED, AND "GONE BEFORE."

OUTWARD MINISTERINGS

BODILY DEFORMITY, SPIRITUAL BEAUTY

THE DEAD CHILD

WATER

BEAUTIFUL, HAPPY, AND BELOVED

"EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING."

AN ANGEL OF PATIENCE

THE GRANDFATHER'S ADVICE

A HYMN OF PRAISE

AN ANGEL IN EVERY HOUSE

ANNIE

MOTHER

GREAT PRINCIPLES AND SMALL DUTIES

"OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN."

THE OLD VILLAGE CHURCH

"THE WORD IS NIGH THEE."

AUNT RACHEL

COMETH A BLESSING DOWN

THE DARKENED PATHWAY

LOOK ON THIS PICTURE

THE POWER OF KINDNESS

SPEAK KINDLY

HAVE PATIENCE

DO THEY MISS ME?

Отрывок из книги

A LADY sat alone in her own apartment one clear evening, when the silver stars were out, and the moon shone pure as the spirit of peace upon the rebellious earth. How lovely was every outward thing! How beautiful is God's creation! The window curtains were drawn close, and the only light in the cheerful room, was given by a night-lamp that was burning on the mantel-piece. The occupant, who perhaps had numbered about thirty-five years, was sitting by a small table in the centre of the room, her head leaning upon one slender hand; the other lay upon the open page of a book in which she had endeavoured to interest herself. But the effort had been vain; other and stronger feelings had overpowered her; there was an expression of suffering upon the gentle face, over which the tears rained heavily. For a brief moment she raised her soft blue eyes upward with an appealing look, then sunk her head upon the table before her, murmuring,

"Father! forgive me! it is good for me. Give me strength to bear everything. Pour thy love into my heart, for I am desolate—if I could but be useful to one human being—if I could make one person happier, I should be content. But no! I am desolate—desolate. Whose heart clings to mine with the strong tendrils of affection? Who ever turns to me for a smile? Oh! this world is so cold—so cold!"

.....

"Thank you, thank you," broke from Aunt Mary's lips; she pressed Alice's cheek with the ardent haste of love and gratitude; then yielding to the emotions that thrilled her heart, she burst into tears, and wept with a joy she had long been a stranger to. She felt that her life would no longer be useless, if she could live for Alice, and lift up to God her heart. How beautiful in its freshness, is the early day when the light of a good resolve breaks like a halo over the soul, and by its power, seeks to win it from its selfish idols! Earnest and strong is the hopefulness that bids us labour trustingly to become all we yearn to be—all we may be. How tremblingly Mary Clinton leaned upon her Saviour! experience had taught her the weakness of her fluttering heart; sorrow was familiar, yet she prayed not to shrink from it. How clear and vigorous was the mind of Alice—how shadowless was her unerring path to be—how all weakness departed before the sudden thought that rose up in her soul! How rich was the light that beamed from her steady eye—how calm and trusting the slight smile that parted her lips! How meek and confiding she was, and yet how full of strength! She was a young seeker after truth, and she realized not yet, that that same truth was the power to which she must bow every rebellious thing within her. Months rolled on, and the quiet gladness in her heart made it a delight to her to do anything and everything it seemed her duty to do. The unexplored world within opened to her gaze, and threw a glory upon creation. Infinitely priceless in her eyes, were the thousand hearts around her, in which the Lord had kindled the undying lamp of life.

One evening, at rather a late hour, Alice Clinton sought the chamber of her aunt and seated herself quietly beside her, saying in a subdued voice as she took her hand, "I am inexpressibly sad to-night, Aunt Mary. There is no very particular reason why I should feel so; no one can soothe me but you. Put your arms around me, Aunt Mary, and talk to me—give me some strength to go forward in the way I have chosen. I almost despair—I have no good influence, no moral courage. Perhaps, after all, my efforts have been in vain to become better, and I shall sink back into my former state. If all who are my friends were like you, it would be an easy thing to glide on with the stream. But I am in the midst of peril—I never knew until to-night that it was hard to speak with a cold rigour to our friends when they merit it. If I were despised, or neglected, I could more easily fix my thoughts on heaven. I dread so to hurt the feelings of any one."

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