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Title: The pearl of charity
or, the chain and seals.
Author: Madeline Leslie
Release date: October 6, 2023 [eBook #71822]
Language: English
Original publication: Boston: A. F. Graves, 1868
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PEARL OF CHARITY ***
Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed.
[Illustration: MRS. LESLIE'S BIBLE PEARLS.]
The Pearl of Charity:
OR,
THE CHAIN AND SEALS.
BY MRS. MADELINE LESLIE.
"Above all things put on charity, which is the bond of
perfectness." COL. 3:14.
BOSTON:
PUBLISHED BY A. F. GRAVES,
20 CORNHILL.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by
REV. A. R. BAKER,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of
Massachusetts.
MRS. LESLIE'S
BIBLE PEARLS.
Series for Boys.
VOL. I. THE PEARL OF LOVE.
VOL. II. THE PEARL OF CHARITY.
VOL. III. THE PEARL OF OBEDIENCE.
VOL. IV. THE PEARL OF PENITENCE.
VOL. V. THE PEARL OF HOPE.
VOL. VI. THE PEARL OF PATIENCE.
MRS. LESLIE'S
BIBLE PEARLS.
Series for Girls.
VOL. I. THE PEARL OF FAITH.
VOL. II. THE PEARL OF DILIGENCE.
VOL. III. THE PEARL OF MEEKNESS.
VOL. IV. THE PEARL OF FORGIVENESS.
VOL. V. THE PEARL OF CONTENTMENT.
VOL. VI. THE PEARL OF PEACE.
To
FRANK RANDALL, RUTH, MAY, RANDOLPH MORGAN,
AND JAMES WALDINGFIELD,
CHILDREN OF
D. F. APPLETON, ESQ., NEW YORK,
THESE "BIBLE PEARLS" ARE AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED
BY THE AUTHOR.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. ORFORD BOYS
CHAPTER II. THE LOST CHAIN
CHAPTER III. FRANK'S FRIENDS
CHAPTER IV. WANT OF CHARITY
CHAPTER V. FRANK'S TROUBLE
CHAPTER VI. THE TEACHER'S WARNING
CHAPTER VII. CHARITY REVIVED
CHAPTER VIII. THE CHAIN RESTORED
CHAPTER IX. THE CHARITY CIRCLE
The Pearl of Charity.
CHAPTER I.
ORFORD BOYS.
"WHAT are you looking for, Frank?" called out Lionel Trask to his
school companion.
"I thought I dropped my slate-pencil," answered Frank, hesitating and
growing very red.
"Looking for a slate-pencil in that high grass! That's a good joke!
Come on, now; I'm going to the Common for a game of base ball."
"I wish I could," muttered Frank, speaking to himself, "but I can't,
no," he added, in a louder voice. "I haven't the time." And away he ran
without giving himself opportunity to be tempted.
"Hurrah, boys! That's cool," exclaimed Lionel.
But as there were no boys near to answer, he satisfied himself by a
long whistle to the tune of "Dan Tucker."
Frank darted off down the street, and presently leaped a wall without
touching it, and hurried across a well-trodden path to a cottage on the
opposite corner of the field.
Frank Jocelyn was an active, handsome lad of thirteen summers. He was
tall of his age, and expert at all the games that boys love. The side
he was on was sure to beat at ball, and his kite always flew higher
than that of any of his companions. Though the youngest in the "Orford
Boys," the name of the Orford boat-club, yet he was accounted one of
their best rowers.
But Frank had a great fault. He was proud, not exactly of his personal
appearance, though he received praise enough for that to spoil him;
but proud of being Frank Jocelyn, the smartest boy in Orford; proud of
being the first scholar in his classes, and always at their head in
spelling.
Two years before this time, Frank's father was considered to be in as
good circumstances as anybody in town except Squire Rawson, who owned
the large farm beyond Cedar Hill. But most unfortunately, he endorsed
his name on a note to oblige a neighbor. When the time for payment
came, the neighbor was missing, and, of course, Mr. Jocelyn had to foot
the bill.
It was a heavy loss, but he could have gone through with it, if he
had not taken it so much to heart. The disappointment preyed on his
spirits; he took cold, and could not readily throw it off. Fever
followed, and in less than three months, he was sleeping his long sleep
beneath the sods of his native valley.
When his business came to be examined, it was found to be in a bad
condition, and his wife, instead of having a competence for herself and
her two children, realized only a thousand dollars besides the house
and farm where they lived.
Everybody sympathized with the widow, and was indignant at the fraud
of their dishonest neighbor; but sympathy, though very soothing to the
feelings, does not fill the mouths of the hungry.
Mrs. Jocelyn, after satisfying herself that the reports of the executor
were true, made up her mind that she must earn her own bread. Whether
she able to have butter with it remained to be proved.
Beside Frank, she had a daughter May, as sweet and fair a girl as one
would wish to see. May was two years older than her brother, and loved
him with all her heart.
Mrs. Jocelyn, after making and rejecting a number of plans, at last
resolved that if she could take a few boarders to occupy her vacant
rooms, and thus continue her children at school, she should be very
grateful.
This was happily accomplished. The teacher of the high school, with his
wife and one child became inmates of her family, and recommended her to
their friends so earnestly that she had as many boarders as she could
accommodate.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER II.
THE LOST CHAIN.
BUT notwithstanding all her pains, the widow found herself unable to
meet her bills. Prices for every kind of groceries were so high, and
the cost of fuel so dear, she feared she should be obliged to give up
housekeeping. She confided her trouble to Mr. Monks, the teacher, who
at once proposed to pay more for his rooms; and this gave her means to
keep on for another year.
At the time our story opens, her funds had again become exhausted, and,
but for her children, she would have sunk at once.
One day she succeeded in making some root beer so superior a quality
that she resolved to offer it for sale at the store. It contained
sassafras, yellow dock, and sarsaparilla, and was considered very
conducive to health.
She succeeded to well in disposing of it that she used to sit up till
a late hour brewing and bottling it, ready for Frank to carry to the
store in the morning.
This he insisted on doing before any of his companions were out of bed,
for he was ashamed to have it known that he was reduced to such an
extremity.
It was Frank's business, also, to dig the roots for his mother, and
it was for this purpose he was searching behind the rocks when his
companion found him. To be sure, he did think he heard his pencil drop,
and felt among the grass to find it, otherwise he would not have told
Lionel; but he was a truthful boy, and the thought that he did not tell
the whole truth made his face burn like fire.
The next morning, as soon as it was light, he was back by the rocks,
and dug a fine basket of roots, enough to supply a week's demand.
Toward the close of the school, in the afternoon, Mr. Monks, the
teacher, requested his pupils to give him their attention for a minute.
"I have met with a serious loss," he said. "I speak of it now, that if
you hear of a watch chain with seals and key attached, you will claim
it for me. I had it in the morning, but probably lost it during a walk
I took across the fields by the rocks."
Lionel Trask started and colored violently as he glanced at Frank.
"I see you know something about it," remarked the teacher with a smile.
"No, sir, I,—I mean—I don't know—I only suspect."
"And what do you suspect?"
"I—I saw a boy behind the rocks yesterday afternoon. He was bending
over as if he had picked up something; and when I asked him what he was
looking for, he grew very red."
"Did he not answer?"
"Yes, sir! He said—I lost a slate-pencil.'"
"Is the boy present?"
"Yes, sir."
"I shall take it as a favor if he will rise."
Ever since Lionel began to speak, Frank's mind had been in a tumult. It
was his first impulse to get up and indignantly deny that he had seen
the chain; but then he must explain why he was in that place and what
he had been searching for. This he was too proud to do, and now he sat
still, painfully embarrassed.
This, of course, confirmed Lionel in his opinion that he had picked up
the chain and concealed it.
Mr. Monks waited a few moments for the boy to rise, then said kindly:
"I do not believe I have one pupil who would willfully keep a chain
found under such circumstances. Though the article was very valuable
from having been the gift of a friend, now deceased, yet I would far
rather lose it, than to suspect one who was not guilty. If any of you
have a word to tell me in private, I shall remain in my desk half an
hour after school."
When the scholars were dismissed, Lionel, with a hesitating glance at
Frank, who stood, cap in hand, in the entry, walked straight up the
aisle to the platform.
Frank, who had almost resolved to confide his explanation to his
teacher, who was also his mother's and his own best friend, stopped
short on seeing this, and saying to himself, "I can tell him better at
home," was rushing away, when he heard the words:
"Impossible! I can never believe it!"
He darted a defiant glance toward the spot where his companion stood,
and, with his head very erect, walked slowly away.
"A thief!" he exclaimed to himself. "Suspected as a thief! What would
my father say if he were alive? What a precious scamp that Lionel must
be! Why, I should never imagine such a thing of a companion. O, dear!
I'm sick of life! A thief, indeed! But Mr. Monks knows me too well.
I've handled hundreds of dollars of his money, for he always sends me
to the bank with his checks. Of course, he said, 'Impossible!'"
[Illustration: "Suspected as a Thief!"]
Still he was rather angry with his teacher for even listening to
Lionel's story, and, hearing a hasty step behind him, put on a haughty
air of indifference.
"Frank, stop a minute," called out the gentleman.
He turned, and looked Mr. Monks full in the face.
"Did you get the example right at last, my boy?"
This question was asked in so hearty a tone of friendship that Frank's
displeasure vanished.
"Yes, sir, I did; I understand the whole principle, now."
"Capital!"
They were entering the gate when the boy stopped short.
"Mr. Monks," he began, "don't you know that I've seen you wear that
chain every day for a year?"
"Yes."
"And that if I had found it, as Lionel suspects, and kept it to myself,
I should be a thief—the worst kind of thief, stealing from my best
friend?"
Mr. Monks answered, "Yes," with a smile.
Frank said no more, but walked off into the house.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER III.
FRANK'S FRIENDS.
"WHAT nonsense!" exclaimed Mrs. Monks, when her husband repeated to her
what had passed. "Why, I should as soon suspect Mrs. Jocelyn herself,
or Squire Rawson. But I wonder a little that Frank does not explain why
he was there."
The gentleman smiled. "I know Frank well enough to guess why he does
not. He is a proud fellow, and such a suspicion would cut him like a
knife."
Under the window they could hear the boy whistling, and, on looking
down, Mrs. Monks saw him sitting on the door-step listlessly breaking a
dry stick into pieces.
"Frankey," she called out, "don't you want Ida? she's been calling Ank,
Ank, this half hour."
He sprang to his feet, and answered:
"Yes, ma'am, I do," in an eager voice.
"I'll put on her sack, and bring her down to you. She can go to walk if
you have a mind."
Mr. Monks smiled archly, as he watched the handsome boy leading little
flaxen-haired Ida along the gravelled walk. His merry laugh and bright
face proved that, for the time, he had thrown all care to the winds,
while the pretty child, clinging so confidingly to his finger was
prattling in the sweetest tones.
"That was a happy thought of yours," said her husband, gazing archly
in her face; "women always do seem to understand how to manage these
matters better than men."
"Unless Frank confessed to me with his own lips, I wouldn't believe
such a story of him," she exclaimed, seating herself again at her work.
"Of course not! But there are some who have not your charity."
May Jocelyn, who also attended Mr. Monk's school, repeated to her
mother the account of her teacher's loss, and innocently wondered who
Lionel Trask meant.
"The scholars all love our teacher so dearly," she went on, "that they
would carry him the chain at once. I can't think of a boy so likely to
conceal it as Lionel himself."
"Charity thinketh no evil," repeated a manly voice from behind.
"Thank you for reminding me," she said, laughing. "But I do not really
suspect him. I happened to catch his eye while you were telling the
school of your loss, and could not help observing that he was startled
and confused."
"I don't think he looked more so than Frank; and yet we both are sure
he is innocent. Indeed, I have known many boys of quick conscience
and keen sense of honor, blush painfully with the mere dread of being
suspected. I am sorry to lose my chain and seals; but I am glad to
say I suspect no one in school or out. I find the ring of my watch is
broken, and no doubt, it slipped off during some of my walks."
May was thoughtful for a few moments. "Mr. Monks," she said at last,
"do you think anybody can, really and truly, obey the rule about
charity?"
"Let me answer your question by asking another. Do you think our Father
in Heaven would have commanded us to do anything which he knew we could
not do?"
"No, sir; on, no, indeed! I didn't mean that; but it is very hard
sometimes to have charity for everybody."
"It certainly is; but that is no reason why we should not strive to
'bear all things, believe all things, endure all things' rather than
fail of charity toward our fellow-men."
May looked archly into her teacher's face. "I think, Mr. Monks," she
said, "that you do keep the law of charity. With you, I believe,
'charity never faileth.'"
She was astonished at the spasm of pain which passed over his face.
"My dear child," he said, with great emotion, "in that respect I have
failed more than in all else. If I do try to bear all things, believe
all things, to suffer long and be kind, it is because I have had a
fearful lesson to teach me how unjust and cruel one may become who does
not aim to obey this inspired rule. Let us be thankful that there is
One,—even our divine Saviour, whose charity is not easily provoked, who
suffereth long and is kind."
His voice was so serious that her eyes filled with tears.
"I seldom speak of this, my child. It is too painful; but if it might
be a warning to you, I should not regret it."
[Illustration]
CHAPTER IV.
WANT OF CHARITY.
LITTLE did May realize how soon her schoolmates would have occasion for
charity toward one dear to her as her own right hand.
On her way to school, she met two or three of the girls of her own
class, who were talking, but who stopped as soon as she came within
hearing. She spoke to them in her usual pleasant tone, but perceived
that they were embarrassed, and, more annoyed than she liked to show,
she passed on alone.
Before she reached the Academy, she heard Lionel talking in a loud tone
to a group around the steps, and at last heard the words:
"How mean! I despise a thief."
"They have found out the guilty one," she thought, hastening forward.
But again, she was surprised that, on seeing her emerge from the field,
their loud tones ceased altogether.
"What can it mean?" she asked herself, her cheeks burning.
Usually her appearance was greeted with a shout of welcome; but now no
one ventured near her except little Annie Ross, one of the youngest
girls in school.
Annie caught her hand and pulled her into the recitation room, which
was quite deserted.
"It's a shame," she began in great excitement, "I shouldn't think
they'd treat you so, and for nothing at all."
"Why, Annie, what are you talking about?"
The little girl stared. "Why, don't you know? Lionel Trask says Frank
has the chain Mr. Monks lost; he told teacher he saw Frank pick it up:
but teacher wouldn't believe it. Lionel has made the scholars think so;
and they say he's a thief, and call him all sorts of names. Oh, it's
dreadful!"
"Does Frank know of this?" asked May, her lip quivering.
"I don't know; but, oh, dear! There's the first bell. I think Lionel
is the ugliest, meanest boy I ever saw. I dare say he found the chain
himself."
"Don't—oh, Annie! I'm afraid it's wrong for you to feel so."
May understood now why Mr. Monks had said, "you and I know that Frank
is innocent." He had heard this awful charge. "Oh, it is too cruel!"
she exclaimed, laying her head on the seat.
"I shouldn't think the big girls would act so," continued Annie.
"Sophy, and Maria, and Sarah Ann said, they shouldn't speak to you.
They called you sister to a thief; and Maggie said, like as not you
knew all about it. Everybody said you were awful poor now."
"Don't, don't, Annie; I can't bear it."
She sobbed as if her heart would break. "I must go home; I can't stay,"
she cried, holding her aching head.
The sound of many feet taking their places in their seats prevented her
rushing through the school-room, anywhere to get to her mother, away
from all these cruel eyes.
"Go, go, Annie. I can't; you must take your seat. There's Mr. Monks'
bell for devotion. Oh! I wish I could get out of the window. Where is
Frank?"
Annie peeped through the crack of the door, and said:
"He's in his seat, sitting up just like this," holding herself very
erect. "He looks real solemn, though. There, I can't go now, Mr. Monks
has begun."
Poor May! This was her first school trial. She dearly loved and trusted
her schoolmates. What had she done that they should treat her so
cruelly!
She tried to check her sobs, and devise some way of reaching home
without being seen; but crying had brought on a blinding headache, and
she had lost self-control. The room seemed to whirl around, growing
darker and darker every minute, until, with a groan, she fell to the
floor.
The bell for study to commence was just ringing when, with a shriek,
Annie rushed into the school-room exclaiming:
"She's dead! Oh come! Do come!"
Motioning the scholars to retain their seats, the teacher lifted the
poor, unconscious girl in his arms, and carried her, looking whiter
than a lily, to the window, directing Annie to bring some water in a
dipper.
A few drops sprinkled in her face restored consciousness, and she
opened her eyes in wonder.
Annie then in a breathless manner, began to relate what had passed.
Mr. Monks grew every moment more stern.
"Poor child!" he murmured, caressingly patting her head.
"Call Frank Jocelyn," he said to Annie.
"Your sister has had a fainting fit, and—"
"Who, May? Is that you, May?" And the brave boy, who would not show how
deeply his own heart was wounded, shed tears when told of his sister's
affliction.
"We must get her home. Look from the window and see whether Squire
Rawson's horse and buggy are still standing at the bank."
"Yes, sir."
"Annie, spread a shawl on the settee. Now, May, I will help you to lie
down. You'll feel better, presently."
She shook her head mournfully, and then caught hold of Frank's hand.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER V.
FRANK'S TROUBLE.
IN a few moments, Lionel, who had been sent away by the teacher,
returned with the Squire's horse; and May, assisted by her brother and
Annie, passed through the school-room to the front hall.
"Drive slowly," urged Mr. Monks, "and ask your mother to give her some
ammonia. You can return or not, as you please. No marks for absence
will be given to either of you."
Lionel started, when he saw May looking so pale and wan. "For the first
time," he reflected, "I may be mistaken. Frank certainly does not look
nor act like a thief."
Poor May laid her head on her brother's shoulder with a heavy sigh.
Their usual path across the field shortened the distance by one half.
Now they were obliged to take the road, and for a few minutes, neither
of them spoke. At last May murmured:
"Only this morning, I was so happy."
"Sis," exclaimed Frank, as if he could no longer control himself, "if
it wasn't for you and mother, I'd never go near that school again. I'd
run off and go to sea, or somewhere. I never can live here where they
think me a thief."
"Oh, sis! and Lionel too! Why I have helped him to keep his place in
the class by going over his lessons with him for a year. He knows I
didn't take the chain. He does it out of envy, because; though I'm
younger, I'm always above him."
He spoke bitterly, and poor May, who had been silently weeping, said
softly:
"Don't, Frank; don't feel so. I'm sure it isn't right. There's mother
at the window. She'll feel badly enough."
Mrs. Monks ran to the door to see what brought them home; and Ida held
out her arms to Frank begging to be taken to ride.
For almost the first time in his life, he took no notice of her
pleading voice. He hardened himself by thinking:
"Perhaps Mrs. Monks thinks I stole the chain."
He merely told his mother that May had fainted in the school, and the
teacher sent them home. Then jumping into the buggy, he rode away.
In the mean time, Mr. Monks returned to the recitation room and shut
the door.
"Shall I tell them of my own experience?" he asked himself. "Can I open
again the wound? They need a warning as to the danger of thinking evil
of those about them. A lesson on charity would have double force now.
But I cannot; no, such a confession is not required."
"Yet how can I see that noble boy and his tender, loving, pure-hearted
sister sacrificed. How bravely he bore up, till he saw her overcome!
From the moment he took his seat, I observed the marks of keen
suffering on his open countenance. Yes, I will; I will confess my
sin, my want of charity. For their sake, and as a warning to all my
scholars, I feel that I can do it."
When he returned to the school-room, the scholars started to see what
a pallor had taken the place of his usual ruddy color. He made not the
slightest allusion to what had passed, but called up one class after
another, hearing their recitations, and giving them their marks without
a smile. Only when Annie Ross stood by his side, he gazed in her face
a moment, put his hand gravely on her head, and repeated, as if to
himself:
"'Faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is
charity.'"
The moment school was dismissed, the pupils rushed into the yard, where
they could discuss the subject which occupied their thoughts.
"What made May faint? Why didn't Frank return to his class? He had
never been known to be absent before."
Little Annie was questioned over and over again, until she answered:
"The sobbing made her head ache dreadfully."
"But what was she crying for?"
"You know what made her cry, Sophy Lane. You'd cry yourself, if anybody
talked about your brother. I was awfully frightened; I thought she was
dead. Frank cried, too, when he saw how she looked."
"Frank cried!" exclaimed one of the large boys. "That's a good joke. I
thought he was even stiffer than usual. Ha, ha! He'll have to come down
off his high horse, a thief and cry baby."
"Boys!" cried out a loud, authoritative voice. "It is my request that
you suspend all comment or judgment on Frank Jocelyn until to-morrow."
[Illustration]
CHAPTER VI.
THE TEACHER'S WARNING.
THE bell for study to cease, rang a full hour earlier than usual. Mr.
Monks requested the school to give him their attention, in a voice so
very sad as to awaken the liveliest sympathy.
He opened the large Bible, and turning to the thirteenth chapter of
First Corinthians, read to them Paul's exhortation to Charity.
When he came to the words:
"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not, charity
vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up," he stopped, and after a moment
of painful hesitation said:
"I wish every one of you would ask, 'Have I such charity toward my
school-mate as this? Have I suffered long? Have I been really anxious
to believe the best? Have my thoughts of him been kind, forbearing, and
gentle; or have I been easily provoked, ready to believe the worst?
Have I, out of envy of his rich gifts, been pleased with the idea of
his falling into temptation? Have I vaunted myself, thinking I could
never have so disgraced my character? Have I been puffed up with a
belief of my own goodness?"
"Paul here says: 'Charity never faileth.' Has my charity failed? Have I
thought and hoped for the best, or the worst, of him whom I have called
friend? If it has failed, remember, unless you speedily repent, even
though you bestow all your goods to feed the poor, or give your body to
be burned, it will avail you nothing, in the solemn day when you will
be judged according to your deeds."
He stopped a moment, and covered his eyes with his hand. Presently in a
broken voice he went on:
"I am going to give you an account of a few months in my early life.
You will condemn me, but not half as much as I do myself. If the
recital will teach you to be more forbearing, to think no evil of your
neighbors, to hope for the best, to rejoice not in iniquity, but to
rejoice in good, then I shall be willing to endure the pain."
"I once had a brother. He was all that a brother could be: noble,
brave, generous, loving, faithful; aye, even till death. We loved
each other as few boys love; and when I, who was the oldest by eleven
months, entered a store as book-keeper, I was not happy until he
joined me in learning to be a merchant. I was called grave; and he was
mirthful. I heard my employers praise him. I saw them watch his active,
pleased endeavors to be useful, and the serpent of suspicion began to
steal into my breast. At last one of the clerks left, and Arthur was
promoted to a position higher than my own. At least, I thought so at
the time."
"Then came all the workings of an uncharitable heart. I was unkind to
my brother; I envied him his power of gaining the good will of others;
I vaunted myself on my own talents; I said I was older and better
fitted than he; I puffed myself up in my own goodness; I was easily
provoked; I thought the worst of him; I did not hope for the best."
"When conscience suggested that I was putting a false construction on
everything he did, I rejoiced in what I thought his iniquity, because
it gave me an excuse for treating him cruelly."
"I knew my conduct grieved him, wounded him to the heart; that he could
scarcely believe his ears when I returned a harsh word to his loving
caress. I saw his eye fixed mournfully upon me many times; but I would
not yield; I believed he was trying to supplant me, to gain a place as
partner in the firm; and though he often talked as of old, about the
time when we would establish ourselves together, I believed it was all
to blind me to his villany."
"At last, I was so given up to envy, jealousy, bitterness and all the
scorpions to which uncharitableness leads, that I requested my mother
to allow me a separate room for myself. Before this, we had always
slept together."
"She then for the first time remonstrated against my unkindness. She
said it cut her heart in two. She urged me to explain the change in my
manner; but I refused. Even then I knew my suspicions would not bear
examining. She turned from me with a look more of sorrow than of anger."
"One night, on leaving the store, I found Arthur had gone before me. On
reaching home, our family physician was there. My brother was ill in
bed. He had been earnestly calling my name; mother urged me to go to
his room at once, but not until I had leisurely eaten my supper, did I
go to his side."
"Even then I coolly expressed my regret at finding him ill, and then
excused myself, saying I was going to an evening lecture."
[Illustration]
CHAPTER VII.
CHARITY REVIVED.
MR. MONKS was here so overcome that he groaned aloud, seizing the chair
to support himself. It was several minutes before he recovered his
voice.
"If I have learned to be careful in judging others, to try and think
and hope for the best, instead of the worst," he went on at last,
"I acquired the lesson in a fearful school. That night, Arthur, my
beloved, my only brother, was seized with delirium. He lived ten days;
but the only opportunity to confess my injustice, to plead for his
forgiveness, had passed. He raved day and night about my altered looks;
he implored me by the love we used to bear each other to forgive him,
if he had unintentionally offended; he called me by every endearing
name; but not once did he recognise me."
"All this time, I never left him. I could neither eat nor sleep. My
love to my pure, noble brother had revived with ten-fold strength;
but conscience was aroused at last, and in a voice of thunder set my
sins in order before me. I wept, I entreated him by every name that
was tender, to live for my sake, to forgive my cruel suspicions. I was
answered either by an unmeaning laugh, or a heart-rending cry for me to
love him."
"The end came at last; came without one word to ease the anguish that
gnawed at my heart. For four months, my reason fled; when I slowly
recovered, I was in despair; but through the mercy of a crucified
Redeemer, I learned at last to hope that even my sins might be washed
away in atoning blood."
Not a sound could be heard except the sobs by which the scholars showed
their sympathy with their teacher, and presently, in a broken voice,
he asked God to teach them all, both instructors and scholars, to
cultivate charity which is the bond of perfectness.
He had intended to speak of Frank and his sister, to express his own
conviction of the lad's innocence of the charge laid to him; but his
voice failed.
He sat down until they had passed out into the hall, concealing his
face behind a book. He started to find a little hand pressed into his.
"Dear Mr. Monks," she said, choking back a sob, "I'm so sorry. I can't
help loving Arthur dearly. I know Jesus forgave you."
He caught her in his arms; and blessed tears came to his relief.
"You did not need the lesson," he faltered, at last. "You did have
charity for poor Frank."
"Oh, I knew he didn't take the chain! He isn't such a kind of boy. I'm
almost sure now the scholars wont treat him unkindly any more. I'm sure
they'll remember—"
She interrupted herself quickly as she saw him start, gave his hand a
kiss, and darted away.
Child that she was, her words had comforted him.
The school-room was now deserted, and leaning his head on his desk, he
poured out a prayer to God for a blessing on his endeavors to cultivate
a spirit of love and charity among his pupils. He prayed for Lionel,
for Frank and his sister, for the widowed mother, afflicted in her
children's affliction; and then he prayed humbly for himself, that the
sin of his youth might not rise up in judgment against him.
He was locking his desk, when he thought he heard a noise in the hall,
and presently Lionel came in, blushing painfully.
"I forgot my geography," he muttered, going toward his seat, "and oh,
Mr. Monks, I believe Frank is innocent! I'm sorry I said what I did. He
isn't such a kind of boy as that. He found my rubbers when I thought
they were lost; and he might have kept them if he'd been a thief; and
oh, Mr. Monks! If it hadn't been for Frank, I never could have kept
up with the class. He makes me study my lessons over and over, when a
great many times I think I can't do it; and I'd rather play."
"I tried to believe it," he went on, much confused, but resolved now
that he had begun, to confess the whole. "I told the boys I knew he'd
got it. I asked them what else he could be doing there. I told Sophia
Lane how he blushed when I asked him what he was looking for. I was
envious of him, Mr. Monks, and when you read that chapter, I thought
how it described all I had done."
"I tried to think badly of him, I didn't hope the best, I puffed myself
up that I wouldn't steal; but now I do want to have charity, sir."
"You see already its blessed fruits," answered the gentleman, kindly.
"First, you begin to think less of yourself, and then more of your
neighbor. You recall to mind all his good traits, which previously, you
forgot or put out of sight."
"Do you believe he'll forgive me, sir?"
"Go and ask him."
This was said with a smile, and Lionel darted away.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER VIII.
THE CHAIN RESTORED.
THE next morning, both Frank and May were in their seats.
Frank was paler than usual, and did not join his companions at recess.
He sauntered off with May and Annie, though he answered pleasantly when
Lionel told him they were getting up a new club for ball.
His sister had a look of meek sadness which cut Lionel to the heart.
Mr. Monks had requested them to attend school; and now he waited with
no little anxiety to see how their mates would receive them. He hoped
that the example of Lionel would be followed by all.
It was now so many days since the chain was missing that he despaired
of ever seeing it again, though he keenly regretted its loss. One
of the seals had been the last gift of Arthur, his deeply lamented
brother. For Frank's sake, too, he earnestly wished to know where it
had so suddenly disappeared. He felt sure nothing else would satisfy
the sensitive boy.
Two weeks passed, when one Saturday, Mrs. Jocelyn sent Frank to the
store. The merchant owed her quite a sum for root beer; and he called
to receive the pay.
While the man made change, he walked listlessly to the counter and took
up a paper. The first words on which his eye rested were these:
"FOUND: A valuable gold watch chain with three seals and a medal
of membership to the Phi Beta Kappa Society. Any person claiming
the same, can have his property restored to him by proving it to be his.
Call at — street, number twenty."
"Is this to-day's paper?" enquired the boy, his face all in a blaze.
"Let me see; no, it's an old one."
"May I have it, sir?"
"Certainly."
Frank folded it carefully, clutched the money without a word, and
started for home on the run.
"I wonder what he saw in the paper," said the merchant to his clerk.
When about two thirds of the way home, Frank saw Mr. Monks come out of
the front door, and take the opposite direction down the street to the
depot.
He redoubled his speed, and was soon within hailing distance of the
gentleman.
But when he reached him, he was too much out of breath to speak. He
could only hold out the paper pointing to the advertisement.
Mr. Monks gazed a moment into the sparkling eyes before him, then
turned to the paper, gave a joyful start, and clasped the boy's hands
warmly in his own.
"It's all right, you see," he exclaimed. "May I take the paper? I'll go
and get it to-day. I'm going to the city, you know."
"Yes, sir; and I was so afraid I should be too late to find you. Oh,
I'm so thankful! May will get better right away."
"You must tell Mrs. Monks all about it.'
"I had rather not, sir, till you come home. I had rather tell nobody
but May."
"Well, good-bye, then, take care of Ida till I come back."
Notwithstanding, it was the Sabbath, several of the scholars noticed
that outside of Mr. Monks' black vest, a chain and seals were exhibited
in a most conspicuous manner.
"He has made Frank Jocelyn give it up," whispered Sophia Lane to her
companion, Maggie.
"But Frank doesn't look one bit like a thief," was answered in the same
tone. "See him now. I never saw him look half so handsome; and how
lovingly May glances in his face. I wish I had such a handsome brother.
I believe I should be as proud of him as she is."
"I don't see anything to be proud of in a brother who is a thief,"
murmured Sophia.
The singing had just ceased, and the minister arose to announce his
text. There were others beside Sophia who started when he read:
"And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves;
for charity shall cover a multitude of sins."
Mr. Monks' eyes were fixed on the speaker during the whole discourse.
He asked God to let his own truth sink deep into the heart; and he
prayed that the words might be blessed to those who were so dear to him.
Monday afternoon, when the scholars were out at recess, and the teacher
was examining copy books, Annie came timidly toward him. The dear child
had regarded him with a kind of awe since the night she saw him weep,
and did not speak until he addressed her.
"What is it, Annie? Can I help you?"
"Yes, sir," she answered, clasping her hands, her eyes sparkling.
"We're going to do something splendid. May I tell you about it."
"Yes, yes, indeed."
"We're going to have a society; and we'll call it for charity. I mean
we're going to try and feel kindly to everybody; and if any boy or girl
speaks unkindly of any one, they'll have to be turned right out."
"Capital! I hope they'll admit me."
Annie laughed heartily. "Oh, you're a big man!" she said.
"Not very much taller than Joel Barnes."
"I should like you to belong," she said, "but I'm afraid the girls
wouldn't be willing; only they want to know, sir, whether you'll let
them meet here once a week."
"Once a day, if they will promise to keep up to their rules."
"And, Mr. Monks," said Annie, lowering her voice and growing very red,
"the girls didn't tell me to ask; but if you'd only say where you found
this," timidly touching his chain.
"Wait till to-night, my dear."
Once more, just before school closed, the kind teacher requested
attention.
"You will see," he said, "that I have recovered my chain and seals. It
is now nearly three weeks since a gentleman riding on the main road,
near the Academy, saw them lying in his path. He was in haste, and
could not stop to inquire for the owner; but he advertised them at
once. A copy of the paper was seen, and given me, and I identified them
as my property."
Then he dismissed the school, but called out after them to say, "I
heartily approve the object of your new society, and will give it all
the aid in my power."
[Illustration]
CHAPTER IX.
THE CHARITY CIRCLE.
"I AM so glad," exclaimed Lionel, overtaking Joel Barnes. "I knew that
Frank didn't take the chain; but he never would have felt right about
it, if it hadn't been found. Now I can forgive myself. You know, there
wouldn't have been any fuss, if I had had charity toward Frank as I
ought."
"That was an awful story," said Joel. "I wonder how Mr. Monks could
tell us. 'Tisn't every teacher would do so for his scholars."
"I'm sure I never shall forget it," murmured Lionel. "It makes me
ashamed every time I remember that little Annie Ross, the youngest girl
in school, was the only one who had charity for Frank, or the courage
to treat May kindly."
"Is she the little girl Sophy Lane calls a coward?"
"Yes; and she may be afraid to tread on worms, or caterpillars; or even
to kill flies; but she isn't afraid to do what she thinks is right."
"There come Frank and May behind us," said Joel. "Let's stop and see
what they have to say."
"Shall you join our Charitable Society, as Annie calls it?" asked May.
"I would like to join where they all would promise to think well of
me," answered Lionel, laughing, as he put his arm lovingly in Frank's.
"I should think it would be a good plan to have speaking on the
subject," remarked Joel.
"Yes," added May, "that is what we want, to have the boys declaim, and
the girls write their thoughts, which some one can be appointed to
read."
"Mr. Monks would approve of that," said Frank, "because it might be for
our benefit in many ways."
"Once in a while we could have a party or picnic, and celebrate our
Charity Circle," suggested May.
"That's a capital name," exclaimed a voice from behind; "and if the
rules contained in Corinthians are carried out, I prophesy that you
will revolutionize our whole town; and be voted the greatest public
benefactors that ever lived in it."
"We'll do it, Mr. Monks!" they all exclaimed. "At least we'll try."
[Illustration]
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