“Yes, mother does. I’ve had a long talk with her, and, though we keep a public-house, she has seen so much of the misery and ruin that have come from the drink, that she says she’ll never stand in the way of her child being an abstainer.”
“Bless her for that; she’ll never regret it,” said Thomas.
So the book was brought out, and the signature taken; and then both knelt, while Bradly commended his young friend to that grace and protection which could alone secure her stability.
“And what else can I do for you?” he asked, when they had risen from prayer.
“Please, Mr Bradly, I want you to help me get some situation at a distance from Crossbourne, where I can earn my own living as a teacher. Mother is quite agreeable to my doing so; indeed, she sees that our house is not a safe and proper place for me now, and she’ll be very thankful if I can get a situation where I shall be out of the reach of so much evil as goes on more or less in a place like ours.”
“I’ll do that too, with all my heart,” said the other, “as far as in me lies. I’ll speak to the vicar, and I know he’ll do his best to get you suited. You’ve had a good education, so he’ll be able to find you summat as’ll fit, I’ve no doubt.—And now I’m going to ask you, miss, just to accept a little Bible from me, instead of that one which you’ve helped to send back to its right owner; and I want you to make it your daily guide.” So saying, he took from a shelf, where he kept a little store of Scriptures, a new Bible, and sitting down, wrote Lydia Philips’s name within the cover, and his own beneath it as the giver; and then, below all, the two texts, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee;” and, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” These he underlined with red-ink. “Now,” he said, “you’ll keep this little book, I’m sure, to remind you of our meeting to-night. Read it with prayer, and you’ll soon find peace, if you haven’t begun to find it already.”
The young woman received the little gift most gratefully, and said, “I will keep it, and read it daily, Mr Bradly; and I do think that I am beginning to see my way to peace. Poor Ned Taylor’s words have not been in vain; and what you have said to-night has helped me on the way. I know I am not worthy to be called God’s child, but I think, nay, I feel sure, he will not cast me out. I have wandered far, very far, from the fold; but now I really feel and understand the love of Jesus, and that he has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
When his visitor was gone, Bradly spent a few minutes alone in earnest prayer and thanksgiving, and then, with a bright face, entered his cozy kitchen, and drew his chair close to Jane’s.
“Another little link,” he said, “or, perhaps, one of the old ones made a little stronger.” She looked smilingly at him, but did not speak. Then he told her of Lydia Philips’s visit and conversation with himself. “You see,” he continued, “Lydia fully confirms poor Ned Taylor’s story; but then she brings us no nearer the bag. However, the Lord can find it for us, or show us as there’s something better for us than finding it, if that be his will.”
“True, Thomas,” said his sister; “and now ‘the next thing’ is for you to see the vicar about Lydia Philips and her situation.”