RHODA GRANT. CHAPTER I. "Who hath the Father and the Son May be left, but not alone.'-KEBLE. HE clock of Southton Church had struck twelve on a foggy Saturday night towards the end of February. The whole village lay shrouded in the thick white vapour which began rising at sunset from the low water-meadows which surrounded it. The moon had risen, but her silver beams could scarcely penetrate the dense veil which would hang over lane and hedge and cottage-garden, till the stronger light of day came to drive it away. Except for the uncertain footstep of some tippler returning home from the public-house on the village green, and the barking of a farm-house dog at intervals, the village was silent, for most of its inhabitants had retired to rest. These sounds, and the striking of the church clock from hour to hour, were borne to the ear of a young girl who was lying sleepless and restless in a cottage at one end of the scattered parish. As she was ill, her bed had been brought down for convenience into the ordinary living-room, which was now deserted by the rest of the family, who were upstairs and asleep for the night. The embers were still glimmering on the hearth, but ere they died out one by one they gave a flicker now and then, which lighted up the interior of the cottage kitchen. This was not remarkable for neatness, and the uncertain light showed. the remnants of a potato supper, with unwashed dish and spoons, on the round table before the fire. Again, a glimpse was to be had of a clothes-line, with linen on it, across one end of the room, and a gun against the wall, and two rabbit-skins hanging from a nail in the ceiling beam. A worn-out curtain was drawn across the old-fashioned casement, and in the windowseat were strewn some children's clothes and shoes, and a few tattered books. A brighter flame from the fire showed the narrow curtained bed in one corner, and the thin flushed face and bright eyes of the young girl who was lying there. That face told a tale of consumption, and so did the hollow cough which kept her awake through so many of the night hours. She was feeling very restless now, and tried to gain ease by shifting her position; and at times stretched out her hand for a spoonful of cough-mixture, which did not seem to give her much relief. There was nothing for it but to wait with patience, hoping that before morning dawned she might have an hour or two's sleep. And now we will tell our readers something more about Rhoda Grant. She was seventeen, and the eldest of a family of seven children; and had now been lying in bed for three months, gradually dying of consumption, everybody thought. She had always been a delicate girl, and during the last autumn had caught a severe cold, which was neglected, till her constant cough and increasing weakness obliged her to give up work and take to her bed. She used to weave with many other girls at the silkfactory close by; but the work had been hard and the pay poor, and the early hours on dark winter mornings, together with thin clothing and worn shoes, had all been against her weak constitution. About two years ago, Rhoda had been persuaded by the district visitor to attend the Sunday-school; and though she had been discouraged, and even laughed at, by her father and brothers, she had begun to go, and by degrees it had grown to be a real happiness to her. From going to the Sunday-school she had gradually got into the habit of attending church regularly, and, through God's mercy, these Sundays had proved a great blessing to her. She had been brought to know and love the Lord Jesus Christ, and had been led to walk in the narrow way, and to set her affections on things above. She had received very little schooling in her childhood, and had only been a poor reader; but after she became interested in her Sunday teachings she improved rapidly, and was soon able to read easily to herself and intelligently to others. She began to attend a night-school, and being naturally quick, she applied herself with diligence to make up for the time lost in childhood. years old. ADVENT. means Coming.' During the four weeks immediately preced The motive of doing all to God's glory ADVENT means But God, in His all-wise providence, saw fit to remove her from her factory and school, and lay her low upon a bed of sickness. God moves in a mysterious way, and we cannot always read His dealings with men; but it seemed in this case that He had placed Rhoda where she was for the good of her poor father and mother, who were neither of them religious people. The family consisted of Grant and his wife and their seven children. Next to Rhoda came two sons, Richard and Tom, who were growing into great boys, and went to work with their father. Then came Sarah, aged eleven, a pale, delicate girl; and below her were three others, the youngest being an infant scarcely two ing Christmas, the Church teaches us to think about the two advents of our Lord Jesus Christ. His first, when He came into this world as an infant in great humility.* His second, when He will come as a Judge in power and glory.† What shall we all do during this Advent season? We will prepare, first, to keep the birth-day of the Infant Saviour with holy gladness; secondly, to meet.our Judge at His coming, not in fear and trembling, but with joyful hope. And how shall we prepare? By fighting manfully against all our sins, and even our little faults; against deceit and disobedience, ill-temper and unkindness, dishonesty and cowardice. So may we look forward to a joyful celebration of Christ's first coming, and to a glorious meeting with Him when He returns to judge the world. E. L. * See Luke, ii. 7. Matt. xxv. 31-33. |