God's Answers Part 3

Family wors.h.i.+p closed this day of sweet service.

"The next morning our kind host studied the various Concessions in which our children had been located, and soon the 'democrat' (a peculiar carriage suited for this country) was brought to the door, and the doctor, and his sister accompanied us for the day's drive.

"The day was balmy, like one of our bright June days, and beeches and maples, firs and cedars, were beautiful to behold in their autumn loveliness.

"Our first call was at Mr. V---'s. He was a widower, and, finding his home lonely, had sought at Marchmont for a little one to love and cheer him. He had taken the twin-like brothers, Freddy and Tommy, whose sweet little faces bore some resemblance to his own. We found the children at school, looking hearty and happy in the playground as we pa.s.sed the schoolhouse. Mr. V--- was from home, but his mother, a pious woman, received us most kindly, and spoke affectionately of the children. She took us to see her lovely flowerbeds of annuals, all laid out with taste in front of the wooden house, and tended by her own hands when house-work was over. My heart longed for the joy of telling the happiness of these children to the aged pious grandmother pining away in want and sickness, and forsaken by her own son, the father of these boys.

"Pa.s.sing onwards, we drove past a rosy-cheeked little fellow climbing a bank. A month in the fresh air had so changed him from the delicate, pale, thin boy, that we looked again ere we recognised Alfred Bonkin. His widowed mother will sing for joy to hear of his being thus educated, clothed, and fed, and growing up to an honest life.

"Alfred was 'fixed up' (to use a Canadian term) with two others of our children in a family settlement. One was a grown-up lad, employed in farm work, and the other a little matchbox-maker. The venerable couple who had adopted them had won our hearts when calling upon us at the Home. They were both over eighty years of age, had thirty grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, and yet room to love our little ones, and not miss the 'bite and the sup.' It was was.h.i.+ng-day; but the old lady left her tub 'right away,' and hoped we would not be 'scared,', by her being in a bustle, but just 'take off,' and she would soon spread the table? We spoke of our long round of calls, and with difficulty we got away, not before we had been laden with a basket of the finest apples we had ever seen, and had promised to come and pay a long visit next time. From all we witnessed, we could not but rejoice in the way G.o.d had opened homes and Christ-loving hearts to receive our peris.h.i.+ng little ones."

"Peace and plenty smiled on every hand. Tears came as a relief when fondling little Annie Parker took my hand, saying, 'Tome and see my father's new house!' The memory came back of Mr. Morgan, Mr. Holland, and a few friends meeting with me in John Street to form a 'Little Girls' Home.' Two years have now pa.s.sed since Annie and her whole family were carried to the Fever Hospital. Both the parents died; the four girls took a room, and lived by matchbox-making. Annie and Maggie were the youngest, starved and ragged beyond description.

Since that time they have both been cared for, have learnt their letters, and can now read and write. Surely the most inveterate opponents to emigration could not but approve of and seek a blessing on such a change. Where in all England could we have found, in a few weeks, hearts and homes for forty adoptions? These families are thrifty and homely--spinning, weaving, knitting, knowing what small means with a blessing can do, and are the very people to train up our children for a common-sense battle with the difficulties of life."

"We were interested in observing the forethought displayed in laying up stores for the winter; apple being peeled, quartered, strung upon strings, and dried either in the sun, or over the kitchen stove; pumpkins cut into parings and dried, &c."

"All that remained at this late season (October) in the fields was the buckwheat. When this is cut and placed in stacks, its red roots are exposed, affording a pleasant contrast to the dark green of the up-springing fall-wheat. More immediately around the houses, lay the immense yellow pumpkins, still attached to their dying stems."

The time for Miss Macpherson's return to England now drew near, and with a heart filled with thankfulness for the mercies they had already experienced Miss Bilbrough offered to remain at Marchmont, to brave alone the first Canadian winter, and with Mr. Thom's help to watch over any case of difficulty that might arise among those who had come out; for as yet the work was an experiment.

A CANADIAN PASTOR'S STORY.

"Annie and Maggie, the children before mentioned, were taken out to Canada by Miss Macpherson, and were at first unavoidably placed in families residing at some distance from each other. The younger one was brought back to the Marchmont Home on account of a peculiar lisp, which her master's children were acquiring from her. Almost immediately another farmer called for a girl to a.s.sist his wife in the care of her little ones. He saw little Maggie, cared nothing for her lisp, and would have her away with him. On taking down his address, it was found that he lived on the farm next to that where the elder, sister was placed. It was near the end of the week, and on the next Sabbath morning an unexpected meeting occurred, feelingly described in the following verses. The incident was related to Miss Macpherson by the pastor himself."

Come now, a story, dear papa, Now find a knee for each; You said, papa, that once you heard Two little sisters preach

A better sermon far than you: Jane says that cannot be.

We want to know, so tell us now, Before they bring the tea.

Come then, my darlings, you must know, Beyond the wild deep sea, In London's streets, these sisters grew In want and misery.

Their parents died, and they were left, Poor girls, in sore distress; Ah! dear ones, may you never know An orphan's loneliness!

But kindly hearts, which G.o.d had touched, Felt for them in their grief; He taught them too the surest way To give such woes relief.

Away from London's crowded streets, They bade the sisters come, Within our brave, broad Canada, To find a pleasant home.

A pleasant home for each was found, But far apart they lay; And thus apart the sisters dwelt While long months rolled away.

Poor little girls! 'twas very sad; They were too young to write; And no one guessed the quiet tears Poor Annie shed at night.

Among our Sabbath-scholars soon I learned to watch her face; A quiet sadness on her brow I fancied I could trace.

One summer's morning, Sabbath peace Filled all the sunny air, And all within G.o.d's house was hushed, To wait the opening prayer;

When up the aisle a neighbour came, With hushed but hasty tread; And by the hand with kindly care A little girl he led.

A sudden cry ran through the church, A cry of rapture wild; And starting from her seat we saw Our quiet English child.

"Sister! my sister!" was the cry That through the silence rung, As round the little stranger's neck Her eager arms she flung.

And tears and kisses mingling fast, She pressed on lip and cheek; For silent tears can sometimes tell What words are poor to speak.

Then soft o'er cheek, and brow, and hair, Her trembling fingers crept; Then heart to heart, and cheek to cheek, Those loving sisters wept.

Nor they alone, for strong men sobbed; Women stood weeping by; And little ones looked up amazed, And asked what made them cry.

Oh, broken was the prayer we prayed, Scarce could we raise the hymn; And when G.o.d's holy book I read, My eyes with tears were dim.

And yet we felt the Saviour there, Right in our midst that day; "Will you not love my little ones?"

We almost _heard_ Him say.

No need of laboured words that day Long hardened hearts to move; Well had the sisters' meeting preached The lesson, "G.o.d is Love."

His heart had felt their childish grief, The while they mourned apart; His loving-hand had wrought the plan, To bring them heart to heart.

S. R. GELDARD.

CHAPTER III.

1870-1871.

Workers' meetings at home of industry--Training home at Hampton opened--Personal experiences--Welcome in Western Canada--Help for a Glasgow home--Scottish ferryman--"Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings."

Before the close of the year Miss Macpherson had returned from Canada, and at the usual monthly meeting for workers was again enabled to tell of the goodness and mercy that had followed her.

One of the great needs of the East End which has already been mentioned, was that of some central spot where Christian workers might meet for prayer and counsel. This need was abundantly met at the Home of Industry, open at all times, with a welcome and words of cheer ready for the servants of the Lord from every part of the world. The workers' meetings, once a month, have given opportunities for hearing tidings of the spread of the gospel in the "regions beyond." Those who had hitherto been standing idle have been aroused, and many who have long borne the burden and heat of the day have been refreshed. It would be difficult to reckon the number of those who have in the Home of Industry first heard the summons from the Lord to "go forth," as "messengers of the glory of Christ," and are now toiling in distant lands.

The difficulty of keeping a number of active restless spirits within the hounds of a house in the position of the Home of Industry, without one inch of yard or playground, and in the midst of streets in which it was unsafe for one of these boys to be seen, can hardly be imagined. It was a subject of the greatest astonishment to a descendant of Immanuel Wichern's that in such circ.u.mstances Miss Macpherson was enabled to keep them under control. It was, however, most desirable to find some place where their active energies could be employed in some sort of training for the Canadian out-door life.

Miss Macpherson thus refers to her thankfulness that such a spot was found:--

"Those who share with us the burdens of this work will rejoice to hear that we have now a Home in the country, where we can cultivate a few acres, and where the children can become efficiently trained for Canada under the superintendence of Mr. and Mrs. Merry. It is situated near the village of Hampton and is now being furnished. This will enable me to rescue another hundred from street-life at once.

What a boon from the Lord Whom we serve!"

It proved to be just what was needed, as is shown by the testimony of another friend:--

"The Training Home at Hampton bids fair to be a most valuable addition to Miss Macpherson's scheme for rescuing these dear children if only for their health's sake; the pure air, the early hours for rising, the outdoor and spade exercise, the plentiful supply of real milk, are all good; and the absence of all noise and excitement gives a much fairer chance of seeing what the boys really are, and the probability of their taking to Canadian life."

The next party was arranged to leave for Canada by the "Prussian" on the 4th of May, and on this occasion one who had the privilege of accompanying them thus wrote:--"I feel it as impossible to convey to friends in England a true idea of the kind welcome accorded to our poor little ones, as it is to give to dear Canadian friends any adequate idea of the crowded misery of our own dens and alleys.

"It has scarcely been credited by some that so many hundreds of little travellers could have crossed the Atlantic in many successive voyages and not have experienced one storm. How we realised the power of Him 'who stilleth the noise of the sea, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people!' for on this voyage, as on every other, it has been remarkable that no discord has arisen among her many young charges. The work begun on land was carried on at sea, and many young hearts were blessed of the Lord ere they left the s.h.i.+p. It was pleasant to hear many testimonies in their favour among the pa.s.sengers and crew; pleasant also to hear testimonies of thankfulness for Miss Macpherson's presence in the s.h.i.+p; for she laboured unceasingly among the crew and steerage pa.s.sengers as well as with her own special charges.

"Kind letters of welcome were received off Quebec. For a few hours we were detained at Point Levi, waiting for the emigrants' train, and watching with delight the sun descending and streaming with splendour on the cliffs and magnificent river; some of the heights bare, others clothed with firs, all picturesque and grand. The evening star shone before us as we were carried westward; one of the little orphan girls said it looked as if watching over us to help us; and in the morning we reached Montreal Junction, where one of the warm Canadian friends who have welcomed Miss Macpherson so cordially entered the cars, and spoke very encouraging words to the young travellers, telling them how he had himself been as dependent on his own exertions as any of them could be, and how by perseverance in the situation he had first entered, he had risen from the humblest post to the highest, and had long been in a position to help others. This friend is the superintendent of a large Sunday-school, and his scholars have undertaken the support of an English child.