CHAPTER XXI.--JOYFUL NEWS FROM ELOISE.
Miss Desmond gladly acceded to Carol's desire, and wrote to Mrs. Burtonat once to bring her little girl to stay with her.
They left for Devonshire the following week. A month passed beforeCarol received the promised letter from Eloise. During the time MissDesmond wrote to him as usual, but beyond mentioning the pleasure it wasto her to have his friends staying with her, and what a dear interestinglittle girl she found Eloise, she did not give any details of theirvisit. At the end of the month the postman brought one morning adelightfully "fat envelope" addressed to Carol in a round, childishhand. He knew at once it was the long promised letter from Eloise.There was also a shorter one enclosed from Mrs. Burton.
Carol read Eloise's letter first.
"WILLMAR COURT, S. DEVON.
"_My dear Carol,_
"I did not forget I had promised to write soon to you. Miss Desmondseemed to wish me not to write just at first. She said you wouldunderstand. I think she wanted everyone at Mandeville to forget for alittle while all about me. She called it taking their thought off me.
"Now I have so much to tell you. I do not know how I shall get it allin one letter. Dear Carol, I am just the very, very happiest little girlin all the world. I _can walk_. More than that, I can _run_. Isn't itlovely--wonderful! One night I dreamed that I was walking, and when Iawoke in the morning the dream seemed so real, I felt it must be true.So I just got out of bed, and I _could walk_. I walked to Mother'sbedside. She was so glad and happy. When we saw dear Miss Desmond atbreakfast time, and I wanted to thank her, and tell her how much I lovedher, she took me to her room, and pointed to a portrait on the wall.Such a sweet, loving face, with white, wavy hair. 'That, dear Eloise,'she said, 'is the portrait of the one you must love. I could not havetaken you to the Fountain of Truth to be healed, had she not first shownme the way.' And oh, Carol, I do love dear Mrs. Eddy. How I wish Icould tell her so!
"Just for a few days, my legs were so shaky, and I had to keep sittingdown. I only walked about a room. Then I was able to go downstairs.At the end of a week Miss Desmond and Mother took me the walk you firsttook, and I sat down to rest just where you rested on the stump of theold tree. We waited quite a long time, hoping Birdie would come. Andhe did, but he stayed only a minute, chirping--'So glad--so glad.' (Itwas just like that.) Then he flew away as if he were in a great hurry,and that was all he had time to tell us.
"Miss Desmond said: 'Birdie is always busy about his Father's business.'Mother looked puzzled, and I too. We could not understand. Then MissDesmond said to me, 'God is Birdie's Father too, dear Eloise. Birdie isa spiritual idea; he has no life apart from God. He has his appointedwork to do in God's Kingdom. All God's ideas reflect Him--reflect Life,Truth, Love, Goodness. Perhaps Birdie's work is just to voice a note ofjoy, of harmony.'
"That made me think, Carol, if even a little bird has his appointedtask, I, too, must have mine--some work to do for God. I am waiting forit to be made plain to me. Now I have the desire to do it, Miss Desmondsays, the work is sure to come. Even if it is only a very little thingat first, I shall be glad to do it.
"Dear Carol, we are so enjoying staying here, Mother and I. I am sofond of all your pets, and feed them every day, and talk to them aboutyou. Before I could walk, Bob used to take me round the grounds in yourpony-carriage, and he always talked so much of you, and the time when heused to take you about. He will be so glad when you come home again.All the servants like to hear about you. They love you so much. I havehad to tell them ever so many times about the bull, and how you stoodand faced him, and did not run away. They are so proud of you. 'Theyoung Master' they call you. I tell Mother, Willmar Court is like alittle kingdom, and you the exiled prince.
"Father is coming next week to take us home. Until he sees me walking,I think he cannot quite believe it. He says he wants to have a longtalk with Miss Desmond.
"With many loving thoughts, dear Carol, I am,
Your affectionate little friend ELOISE BURTON.
"P.S. Mother has helped me just a little with this letter, and now sheis writing to you herself."
----
Carol could not wait to read Mrs. Burton's letter before giving thejoyful news to Mrs. Mandeville. With both letters in his hand, he ranto seek his aunt in her morning-room.
"Auntie, Auntie!" he cried excitedly--"such news! Eloise can walk--morethan that, she can run. Isn't it beautiful?"
"Really, Carol? Is it really true?"
"Yes, Auntie, _really_. Will you read Eloise's letter? And oh, may Itell my cousins?"
"Tell them that Eloise can walk? Why, certainly, dear."
"But more than that, Auntie; they will ask what has made her walk, whenevery one believed she could never walk again. Mayn't I tell them,Auntie, Christian Science has done what the doctors couldn't do?"
"I will think, dear, what you may tell them. Let me see Eloise's letter.Whilst Mrs. Mandeville read the little girl's letter, Carol opened andread Mrs. Burton's.
"WILLMAR COURT, S. DEVON.
"_My dear Carol,_
"Eloise herself has written the glad news to you that the use of herlegs is perfectly restored. My joyful gratitude is more than can beexpressed in words. Yet it even seems that the blessing of thiswonderful physical healing is small in comparison with the knowledge wehave gained of the Truth, which Jesus said should make us free. Here,amidst the lovely surroundings of your beautiful home, I have lost myold concept of God, and gained instead an understanding of Him, asever-present Love: infinite Life, Truth, Love.
"It seemed so soon after I was able to see and realize this that mylittle girl was healed. And oh, Carol, the kindness and gentleness withwhich dear Miss Desmond has led us up to this understanding, neverletting us for a moment cling to her, pointing always away frompersonality to divine Principle. We must be and are very grateful forher faithful instruction and example, for her life, so consecrated toGod that the promised signs are given: 'They shall lay hands on thesick, and they shall recover.' I did not at the time understand yourown marvellous recovery from the effects of the encounter with the bull.I do now, and I feel, dear boy, we owe you intense gratitude. It wasyour steadfast faith in the Christ, Truth, which led me to seekspiritual healing for my little Eloise. The words come to me: 'I, if Ibe lifted up, will draw all men unto me.' For me the Christ was liftedup, and I was drawn unto Him. May my life henceforth so testify thatothers may in the same manner be drawn unto Him.
"Please convey my very kind regards to Mrs. Mandeville. She will, Iknow, rejoice with us.
"Believe me always, dear Carol,
Yours lovingly, M. K. BURTON."
"It is indeed wonderful and beautiful, Carol," Mrs. Mandeville said asshe returned the little girl's letter. I sincerely rejoice with Dr. andMrs. Burton. I know what a sad trial Eloise's paralysis has been tothem."
Then Mrs. Mandeville became aware that Carol was looking up withanxiously expectant eyes, awaiting an answer to a question.
"Dear boy," she said, "if you told your cousins that Christian Sciencehas made Eloise to walk, they would not understand what you meant.Indeed, I do not quite understand, myself--yet. I will come to theschool-room with you, and perhaps we can explain to them that Eloise hasbeen healed by faith in the power of God."
With that Carol had to be satisfied, though he longed to explain that itwas not faith alone, but faith with understanding: the understanding ofGod as All-in-all, Omnipotent, Omnipresent Love.