But during her absence, Mrs. Allison managed to get hold of the letter and to read the postscript, in which Mrs. Bradford advised her sister to "buy a black bonnet, as it would be most useful after."
Needless to say this piece of advice was the "last hair" which is so often said to break the camel's back. Mrs. Allison could not forget and did not forgive this heartless message, and her regard for Margaret was increased in proportion, when she saw that the advice had not been followed.
[CHAPTER XVI.]
STEPPING HEAVENWARD.
WE will not follow step by step what Adam Livesey did during his wife's absence. He had tasted of the heavenly gift, he had yielded to the blessed influence of the Holy Spirit, he was rejoicing in the "grace of our Lord Jesus Christ." He felt himself to be indeed a very babe in spiritual knowledge, but he was possessed with an intense desire to increase it.
He desired the sincere milk of the word, that he might grow thereby. Without neglecting the claims of work in the smithy, or of his children at home, he used every means in his power to learn more of that "love of God which passeth knowledge."
His hammer was still the last to sound at the works, his children received perhaps more attention and caresses than even before, for his heart was full of joy and thankfulness, and this inner gladness was reflected in the outer man, and made him brighter in his looks and more cheerful in his ways. But whenever he could go there, he was to be seen listening with eager face to the speakers at the Mission Room, and joining as best he could in the prayers and hymns of praise.
At home, during the silent hour when the young housekeeper and her little charges had gone to rest, Adam would sit poring over the great Bible, and realizing the scenes and doings it described, as only one of such a thoughtful nature could do.
Any one might have been touched to see the changes in that rugged face, as the man took in, bit by bit, the precious gospel story, the narrative of the life and death of Jesus. Thus, in thought, he followed the footsteps of the great Teacher, and drank in the words of that wondrous Sermon on the Mount!
How he tried to picture Him sending the message of healing to the sick servant by the centurion, and the joy of this man on returning to his home and finding that his faith had not been in vain!