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MILDRED AT HOME
A LIST OF THE ELSIE BOOKS AND OTHER POPULAR BOOKS
BY
MARTHA FINLEY
ELSIE DINSMORE. ELSIE'S HOLIDAYS AT ROSELANDS. ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD. ELSIE'S WOMANHOOD. ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD. ELSIE'S CHILDREN.
ELSIE'S WIDOWHOOD. GRANDMOTHER ELSIE. ELSIE'S NEW RELATIONS. ELSIE AT NANTUCKET. THE TWO ELSIES. ELSIE'S KITH AND KIN.
ELSIE'S FRIENDS AT WOODBURN. CHRISTMAS WITH GRANDMA ELSIE. ELSIE AND THE RAYMONDS. ELSIE YACHTING WITH THE RAYMONDS. ELSIE'S VACATION. ELSIE AT VIAMEDE.
ELSIE AT ION. ELSIE AT THE WORLD'S FAIR. ELSIE'S JOURNEY ON INLAND WATERS. ELSIE AT HOME. ELSIE ON THE HUDSON. ELSIE IN THE SOUTH. ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS.
MILDRED KEITH. MILDRED AT ROSELANDS. MILDRED'S MARRIED LIFE. MILDRED AND ELSIE. MILDRED AT HOME. MILDRED'S BOYS AND GIRLS. MILDRED'S NEW DAUGHTER.
CASELLA. SIGNING THE CONTRACT AND WHAT IT COST. THE TRAGEDY OF WILD RIVER VALLEY. OUR FRED. AN OLD-FASHIONED BOY. WANTED, A PEDIGREE. THE THORN IN THE NEST.
* * * * *
MILDRED AT HOME;
WITH SOMETHING ABOUT HER RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.
A SEQUEL TO MILDRED'S MARRIED LIFE.
BY
MARTHA FINLEY,
Author of the "Elsie Books," "Mildred Keith," "Mildred and Elsie," "Signing the Contract," etc., etc.
NEW YORK: DODD, MEAD & COMPANY, Publishers.
Copyright, 1884, by Dodd, Mead & Company.
Chapter First.
"A word spoken in due season, how good is it!"--Prov. 15:23.
"I'm to be dressed in white, mammy, with blue sash and ribbons, papasays, and to go back to him as soon as you are done with me."
"Is you, honey? but co'se you is; you mos' neber wears nuffin but whitewhen de warm days comes; an' massa can't do widout his darlin' pet, nowall de res' am gone."
"No; nor I without him," Elsie said, tears springing to her eyes. "Oh,don't these rooms seem lonely, mammy? Don't you miss Annis?"
"Co'se, honey, co'se I dose; but tank de Lord, I'se got my own darlin'chile lef'."
"And I have you and papa left," returned the little girl, smilingthrough her tears, "and that's a great deal; papa alone is more thanhalf of all the world to me, and you know I could never do without you,mammy."
"Yo' ole mammy hopes you'll always tink like dat, honey," said Chloe,taking out the articles needed for the little girl's toilet. "'Pearslike ole times come back," she remarked presently, combing a glossyringlet round her finger; "de ole times befo' we went up Norf and massagot married to Miss Rose."
"Yes; and oh, mammy, papa has said I may be with him all day long, fromthe time I'm up in the morning and dressed, till I have to go to bed atnight. Isn't it nice?"
"Berry nice plan, honey; 'spect it keep bofe you and massa from feelin'mos' pow'ful lonesome."
"Yes," Elsie said; "and I like it ever so much for a little while, butI wouldn't for anything be without mamma and Horace all the time."
Aunt Chloe was still busy with the ringlets. She took almost as muchpride and delight in their beauty and abundance as the fond fatherhimself, and was apt to linger lovingly over her task. But Elsie,though wont to endure with exemplary patience and resignation thesomewhat tedious and trying ordeal of combing and curling, nevercomplaining, though now and then compelled to wince when the combcaught in a tangle and mammy gave a pull that was far from pleasant,would sometimes have been glad to have them cut off would papa onlyhave given consent.
"Dar, honey, dat job am done," Aunt Chloe said at length, laying asidethe comb and brush. "Now fo' de dress and ribbons, an' den you kin goback to massa."
"I want to just as soon as I can," said the little girl.
"What goin' be done 'bout pourin' de tea to-night?" asked Aunt Chloepresently, rather as if thinking aloud than speaking to Elsie.
"Why," queried the little girl, "won't Mrs. Murray do it as usual?"
"Dunno, chile, she hab pow'ful bad headache."
"Has she? How sorry I am! Oh, I wonder if papa would let me try!"
"'Spect so, honey, ef you axes him," said Aunt Chloe, giving a finaladjustment to the bows of the sash and the folds of the dress.
"So I will," cried the little girl, skipping away. But the nextinstant, coming to a sudden standstill and turning toward her nursea face full of concern, "Mammy," she asked, "do you think I can doanything to help poor Mrs. Murray's head?"
"No, chile, she ain't wantin' nuffin but to be let 'lone till desickness am gone."
"I wish I could help her," sighed Elsie, in a tenderly pitying tone;"I'm very sorry for her, but hope she will be well again to-morrow."
Two gentlemen were sitting in the veranda. Each turned a smiling,affectionate look upon the little girl as she stepped from the opendoorway, the one saying, "Well, daughter," the other, "How are youto-day, my little friend?"
"Quite well, thank you, Mr. Travilla. How are you, sir?" she said,putting her small white hand into the larger, browner one he held outto her.
He kept it for a minute or two while he chatted with her about thecousins who had just left for their Northern home, after spending thewinter as guests at the Oaks, and of her mamma and baby brother, whowere travelling to Philadelphia in their company.
"I dare say the house seems very quiet and rather lonely?" he remarked,inquiringly.
"Yes, sir; especially in my rooms," she said, glancing round at herfather, who was silently listening to their talk; "but papa haspromised to let me be with him all the time during the day. So I shallnot mind it so much."
"Was not that a rather rash promise, Dinsmore?" asked Mr. Travilla,with mock gravity. "Well, if you tire of her company at any time, we ofIon shall be delighted to have her sent to us."
"Thank you," Mr. Dinsmore said, with a humorous look at his littlegirl; "I shall certainly send her to you directly I tire of hersociety."
Elsie glanced searchingly into his face; then with a happy laugh ran tohim, and putting her arm about his neck, said, "I'm not the least bitfrightened, papa; not at all afraid that you will want to be rid of me.I hope I'm not quite so silly as I was once when Mr. Travilla made methink you might give me away to him."
"But it was only a loan I was asking for this time, my little friend,"was Mr. Travilla's pleasant rejoinder.
"Yes, sir; but if you borrow me you'll have to borrow papa too for thesame length of time," Elsie said, with a merry laugh. "Won't he, papa?"
"I think he cannot have you on any easier terms," Mr. Dinsmoreanswered; "for I certainly cannot spare you from home while I stay herealone."
"A very satisfactory arrangement to me, provided we are allowed to keepyou both as long as we wish," Mr. Travilla said, rising as if to takeleave.
But an urgent invitation to stay to tea induced him to resume his seat.
Then Elsie preferred her request.
It was granted at once, her father saying, with a pleased look, "Ishould like to see how well you can fill your mamma's place; and ifyou show yourself capable, you may do so always in her absence, if youwish."
"Oh, thank you, papa," she cried in delight. "I'll do my very best. ButI'm glad there are no strangers to tea to-night to see me make my firstattempt. You are a guest, Mr. Travilla, but not a stranger," she added,with a bright, winsome look up at him.
"Thank you, my dear," he said; "it would be a grief of heart to me tobe looked upon in that light by the lit
tle girl whose affection Ivalue so highly."
"You are very kind to say so, sir," she returned, with a blush and asmile, "and I believe I'm every bit as fond of you as if you were myuncle. I have often heard papa say you and he were like brothers, andthat would make you my uncle, wouldn't it?"
"Yes," her father said; "and so good and kind an uncle would besomething to be thankful for, wouldn't it? Ah," rising and taking herhand, "there is the tea-bell. Now for your experiment. Will you walkout with us, Travilla?"
Both gentlemen watched the little girl with loving interest while shewent through the duties of her new position with a quiet grace anddignity that filled her father with proud delight, and increased theadmiration already felt for her by his friend.
On leaving the table they returned to the veranda, where the gentlemensat conversing, with Elsie between them.
But presently Mr. Dinsmore, hearing that some one from the quarterwished to speak to him, left the other two alone for a while.
"Elsie," Mr. Travilla said softly, taking the little girl's hand inhis, "I have something to tell you."
Her only reply was an inquiring look, and he went on: "Somethingwhich I am sure you will be glad to hear. But first let me ask if youremember a talk we had together one morning at Roselands, the firstsummer after your father and I returned from Europe?"
"You were so kind as to talk to me a good many times, sir," Elsieanswered doubtfully.
"This was the morning after your fall from the piano-stool. I foundyou in the garden reading your Bible and crying over it," he said."And in the talk that followed you expressed great concern at thediscovery that I had no love for the Lord Jesus Christ. A text youquoted--'If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathemamaranatha'--has since come very frequently to my recollection, andtroubled my conscience not a little."
Elsie was now listening with intense interest. Mr. Travilla pausedfor a moment, his face expressing deep emotion; then resumed: "Ithink God's Holy Spirit has thoroughly convinced me of the exceedingsinfulness of unbelief; of refusing or neglecting His offeredsalvation through the atoning blood of His dear Son; refusing to giveto the Lord Jesus the poor little return of the best love of my heartfor all He has done and suffered in my stead. This is what I had totell you, my dear little friend. I have found Jesus--have given myselfunreservedly to Him, to be His for time and for eternity, and I havebeen led to do this mainly through your instrumentality."
Tears of joy filled the little girl's eyes. "I am so glad, Mr.Travilla, so very glad!" she exclaimed. "It is the best news I couldpossibly have heard."
"Thank you, my dear," he said, with feeling. "I can now understand youranxiety for my conversion, for I myself am conscious of a yearningdesire for the salvation of souls, especially of those of my friendsand acquaintances."
"And now you will join the church, won't you, sir?"
"I don't know, Elsie; that is a question of duty I have not yetdecided. There are so many of its members who are a disgrace to theirprofession, that I fear I might prove so also. What do you think aboutit?"
"I'm only a little child, not half so wise as you are, sir," sheanswered, with unaffected modesty.
"Still, I should like to hear your opinion."
After a moment's hesitation and silent thought she lifted a veryearnest face to his. "God tells us that He is able to keep us fromfalling. And don't you think, Mr. Travilla, that it's what the Biblesays we should be guided by, and not what somebody else thinks?"
"Yes; that is quite true."
"'To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to thisword, it is because there is no light in them,'" she quoted.
"You have studied the Bible so much longer than I," he said, "can youtell me where to look for its directions in regard to this matter? Doesit really give any?"
"Yes, sir; oh, yes! Is not joining the church confessing Christ beforemen, owning Him as our Master, our Lord, our God?"
He nodded assent.
Elsie called to a servant lounging near, and sent him for her Bible.
"Can you find the texts you want without a concordance?" Mr. Travillaasked, regarding her with interest as she took the book and opened it.
"I think I can," she answered, turning over the leaves; "I have readthem so often. Yes, here--Matt. 10:32, 33--is one: 'Whosoever thereforeshall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Fatherwhich is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will Ialso deny before my Father which is in heaven.'"
She gave him a questioning, pleading look.
"Yes," he said, in a subdued tone, "I think that is to the point;at least, if we grant that joining the church is the only way ofconfessing Christ."
"Oh, don't you see? Don't you think, Mr. Travilla, that if we love Himwith all our hearts we will want to confess Him everywhere and in everyway that we can? Won't we want everybody to know that we belong to Him,and own Him as our Master, our Lord, our King?" she exclaimed witheager enthusiasm, her voice taking a tone of earnest entreaty.
"I believe you are right," he said; "that would be the natural effectof such love as we ought to feel--as I am sure you do feel for Him."
"I do love Him, but not half so much as I ought," she answered witha sigh, as again she turned over the leaves of her Bible. "I oftenwonder how it is that my love to Him is so cold compared to His for me.It is as though I gave Him but one little drop in return for a mightyocean." A tear fell on the page as she spoke.
Then again she read: "'The gift of God is eternal life through JesusChrist our Lord.' 'The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and inthy heart'--that is, the word of faith which we preach; 'that if thoushalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thineheart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Forwith the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouthconfession is made unto salvation.'"
Looking up at him, "Oh, Mr. Travilla," she said, "shall we refuse tobe soldiers at all because there are some traitors in the army? Isn'tthere all the more need of brave, true men for that very reason? plentyof them to fight the Lord's battles and conquer His enemies?"
"Yes; but cannot one do that without becoming a member of a church?"
"Wouldn't that be a queer kind of an army where there was no concertof action, but every man fought separately in the way that seemedbest to himself?" she asked, with modest hesitation. "I've read aboutthe armies and battles of our Revolution and other wars, and I don'tremember that there was ever a great victory except where a good manymen were joined under one leader."
"Very true," he replied, thoughtfully.
"And if you love Jesus, Mr. Travilla, how can you help wanting to obeyHis dying command, 'Do this in remembrance of me'? And that we cannotdo unless we are members of some church."
"I should not hesitate, Elsie, if I were but sure of being able to holdout, and not disgrace my profession," he said.
Mr. Dinsmore returned to the veranda and sat down again by Elsie'sside, just in time to hear his friend's last sentence.
"It is a profession of religion you are speaking of, I presume," hesaid, half inquiringly. "Well, Travilla, we must be content to takeone step at a time as we follow our Leader; to put on the armor andgo into battle trusting in the Captain of our salvation to lead us onto final victory. He bids us 'fear not; I will help thee.' 'As thydays, so shall thy strength be.' 'He keepeth the feet of His saints.''Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?... We are more thanconquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neitherdeath, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor thingspresent, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any othercreature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is inChrist Jesus our Lord,' for His chosen, His redeemed ones are kept bythe power of God through faith unto salvation. For 'He is able to keepyou from falling.'"