Part 17 (1/2)
”And you think you love Jesus to-night, Kitty?”
Kitty felt a great awe for the minister, and her ”Yes, sir,” was low, and spoken in a timid voice.
”What makes you think so?”
”I--I don't know; only I pray, and He hears me, and I like to.”
”Well, now, Kitty, almost the first thing which people think of after they have found Jesus, is something to do for Him; they begin to look around to see what they can find. What are you going to do?”
”I don't know, sir; I haven't got anything I can do.”
”Ah, that's a mistake! you can find plenty of work if you look for it; only don't look too far, because it is the little bits of things which come right in your way that Jesus wants you to do. When you brush up the room, and set the table neatly, and brighten the fire, and do little thoughtful things that help your mother, then you are pleasing Jesus, doing work for Him. Isn't it pleasant to think that in all those little things He is watching over you, and that you make Him glad when you do them well? Do you know that one of G.o.d's commands is, 'Honour thy father and thy mother'?”
”No,” said Kitty softly.
”It is; those are the very words; Edward can find them for you in the Bible; and honour means more than obey; it means, try to please them in the very smallest things.”
They were very near the corner where Mr. Holbrook must leave them. He laid his hand gently on Tip's shoulder, as he said, ”Speaking of Bible verses, Edward, I have one for you this evening, in the Saviour's own words: 'Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father which is in heaven.' Good-night.”
Tip understood him, and there was a bright look in his eyes. The two walked on in silence for a little. Presently Kitty said, ”I guess Mr.
Holbrook don't know just how mother is, or he wouldn't talk so.”
”Yes, but,” said Tip quickly, ”G.o.d knew all about it always, you know; and yet He said that verse.”
”So He did,” answered Kitty gravely.
CHAPTER XVII.
”Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth.”
”Bah,” said Will Bailey, ”you're fooling, Howard Minturn!”
”As true as I live, I'm not,” answered Howard earnestly; ”you can ask Mr. Burrows.”
”What's up?” inquired Ellis Holbrook, joining the two.
”Why, Howard is telling the biggest yarn you ever heard: he says Tip Lewis went to prayer-meeting last night and made a prayer.”
”Tip Lewis!” and Ellis Holbrook's voice was full, not only of surprise, but scorn; ”I should like to hear him.”
”Well, it's true,” repeated Howard. ”My father told us about it this morning, and he said it was a good prayer too; he said, Ellis, that your father couldn't keep the tears out of his eyes when he heard him; and Mr.
Burrows walked up town with father, and told him that Tip had changed wonderfully, that he was one of the best boys in school.”
”Well,” said Will Bailey, ”if Tip Lewis has turned saint, I'll give up.
Why, he's the meanest scamp in town; my father says he's had enough for anything.”
”Oh, well now,” answered Ellis, ”there's no use in being stupid enough not to see that what Mr. Burrows says is true. I never saw any one change as he has in my life, but I'll be hanged if I like him as well as I did before he was so awful good; he's too nice for anything now-a-days.”