Читать книгу Tales for the Bush - Mary Theresa Vidal - Страница 8

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THE next day Anne told every one who came to the shop that she intended to take in clear starching; and when Saturday night came she began to feel rather nervous and ridgetty. She put away all she could; hid the scales and weights, and removed as much as she could out of sight.

Tom looked on at these preparations rather gloomily; but Anne took courage and went on. She took out their Sunday clothes all in readiness as she used to do, and though tired when she went to bed late that night she felt lighter at heart than she had for some time. But when we have allowed ourselves to do wrong for any time, we must not expect that it will be easy and smooth for us to alter just when we please. It will be hard at first, nor shall we feel always that peace which the consciousness of doing right is expected to bring. This is our punishment, and we should receive it humbly.

The next morning Anne shut the door, and dressed herself and children for church. Soon came a dirty ragged little girl for a pound of candles. "The shop is not open to day my dear," said Anne quite boldly; and she could not help feeling how much better it was to have one's children clean and neat as her own were.

So far it was well, and little Johnny sat down and began saying over the commandments which he was learning for school.

Then came a knock at the door. "See who it is Tom," said Anne, who was in the bed-room tying on her bonnet. "It's Mrs. Harris, that's who 'tis better not offend her mind--she's out and out our best customer; always pays regular, and has long bills." Anne fidgetted at her bonnet strings. "Oh dear, dear, what shall I do, there she's knocking again, do speak to her, Tom." "Mrs. Thompson," called Mrs. Harris, "are you in?" "Yes," said Ann, stepping forward, "but, but--" "Why where are you going, hey? come, be quick, I want a lot of things to-day."

Tom went into the bed-room: he had promised Anne she should do as she liked; but he could not stand this.

"We have determined to shut up shop Sundays," said Anne timidly, "I was just going to church."

"To church! shut up shop! you astonish me! are you mad, woman? do you mean to lose all your business, just because you want to be my lady?"

"No," said Anne, "not to be a lady, but to go to church."

"Hoity toity, heard I ever the like;" and Mrs. Harris laughed loud and rudely: she looked red and angry too.

"Well, Mrs. Thompson, as you like; but I'm not going to be insulted: if you choose to refuse to serve me, you know what you lose. I consider I've been a pretty good customer, and this is what I call downright uncivil."

Here Tom put out his head, and with an expressive gesture, intimated his wishes to Anne.

Poor Anne! she stood in perplexity. It was a dear loss indeed if Mrs. Harris left them; her resolution began to waver; she was going on towards the counter, when, as she passed her children as they sat on the bench, she heard John saying to himself, "Remember that thou keep holy the sabbath day, &c." Then, quick as lightning came back her old mother's words; she could almost fancy she saw her standing before her. Had Anne refused to listen to her conscience then, it is awful to think what might have been the consequence; but she did listen: her little boy's voice, "Remember the sabbath day," rang in her ears; she stopped. "I'm very sorry, I hope you'll not take it ill in me, Mrs. Harris, but I cannot serve on Sundays any more."

The effort of saying this brought the colour into Anne's face--Mrs. Harris flounced out of the shop--Tom swore that her cursed nonsense had ruined them--and poor Anne sank on the bench in a flood of tears. Tom refused to go to church, so she set off very sorrowfully with the children. Mr. Martin was not there, so she had not even the comfort of feeling that he would observe she had minded his advice. The day was spent sadly, and Anne felt that it is far more difficult to climb up the hill again, after slipping down, than to go on steadily every day.