AS soon as Dora and Grace found themselves alone in a shady lane, Grace, passing her arm through Dora's, said, “I have something to tell you, Dora; you know, dear, our holidays begin on the 24th, and mother has given me permission to invite a dear friend from B. to spend the vacation with me.”
A slight shadow seemed to pass over Dora's face, and for a few moments she remained silent. Her companion noticed her changed manner, and drawing her closer to her side, said tenderly, "Why, Dora, darling Dora, please do not be vexed with me; I would have told you all about it yesterday, only I was not quite sure.
“But mother knew I wished very much to have Clara here for a few weeks, so without saying a word to me, she wrote to a friend of hers at B., asking her to arrange everything, and the answer to her letter only came after you had left our house last evening. It is all settled, and the Lord willing, Clara will be with us on Thursday evening.
“But, Dora, is it possible you are jealous? Do you think my heart is so very small it can only hold one person at a time? I am sure you will be interested in Clara Wilson when I tell you that she is deaf and dumb.”
The clouds had all gone from Dora's face, though tears were in her eyes, as she answered, "Please forgive me, Grace, I know I am selfish; but I had hoped we were going to have so many pleasant times together during the vacation, and I must own I felt a little disappointed to find you would not be free for all the rambles in woods and fields I had planned. I am sorry, very sorry, for your friend; it must be so dreadful to be deaf and dumb. But I cannot quite understand her being a companion for you. It must be very dull. I once saw two deaf mutes moving their fingers about very quickly, and mamma said they were talking to each other. But I could not understand them at all.”
“That was only because you had not learned their language, Dora," Grace replied with a smile; "I think I must give you a few lessons before Clara arrives, then you will be able to join in our conversations. You know B., where we used to live, is a large town, and we have quite a number of deaf and dumb friends there. Mother takes a great interest in them, and used to invite them to the gospel preaching and other meetings, and she was always so pleased to interpret for them. Sometimes they would sit round her like a class in Sunday school, and watch her fingers while she repeated to them what was being said.
“Several times in the year mother used to have them at our house to tea, and you have no idea how interesting it was to be with them. After tea we always had a short Bible reading. Father can talk on his fingers, but not so quickly as mother, so he used to ask her to interpret what he said. Sometimes the deaf and dumb would ask questions. Once I remember a young man asking mother to tell him the meaning of the word ‘propitiation.' Not a very easy one to explain on one's fingers, is it? Mother told him its real meaning was mercy-seat, or meeting-place. But she saw he did not understand, so she went on to tell him how the Jews were commanded by God to offer many lambs, always one in the morning and another in the evening, and how those lambs were types or shadows of the Lord Jesus and His death upon the cross; and then she showed him a verse, I think it is in the ninth chapter of Hebrews, but I cannot remember the exact words, only I know it says the blood of Christ is of more value than the blood of bulls and goats. And he seemed so interested, and asked quite a number of questions.”
“Oh, Grace, how delightful it must be to be able to carry the sweet gospel message to those who cannot hear it for themselves. But you have not told me yet how you learned to talk on your fingers.”
“I think it is about six years since Clara came with her widowed mother to live with a married sister, not far from B. She had brought the address of our meeting with her, and found her way to it the very first Sunday she spent in her new home.
“We were all so sorry for her, and mother, who had learned the finger-alphabet when she was quite young, began to interpret for her at once. She was not able to tell her much the first time, and one day when we were talking about it she told me she felt almost afraid to begin. But as soon as she looked to the Lord for help, such a beautiful verse came into her mind. It was, ‘And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.' (Matt. 28:1818And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (Matthew 28:18).) Mother said it seemed almost as if the voice of a risen, loving Christ really spoke to her. For all fear was gone in a moment, and she felt so glad and thankful that the Lord had given her a little service for Himself.
“Of course I wanted to learn to talk to Clara, too, and as we became great friends, though she is several years older than I am, I soon began to make progress. Sometimes I made a great many mistakes, and one day—I remember it quite well—I felt as if I could almost give up trying; but Clara said to me on her fingers, 'Only love can give patience. You must persevere, for there are many deaf and dumb, and some of them have very dark, sad lives, for they do not know Christ, and the Lord may use your fingers to tell some of them about His love.'
“One afternoon Clara came to our house, and told mother she wished very much she would go with her to see some deaf mutes who were living at B. Mother went with Clara, and they invited all the deaf and dumb they found, to come and have tea with us, and father wrote to ask an old friend of his, Mr. M., if he would come and preach the gospel to them.
“Mr. M. wrote such a kind letter in answer, saying how much he should enjoy being with us, only he feared his coming would be of very little use as he did not know how to talk on his fingers, and there would not be time for him to learn, as it only wanted a few days to the time fixed for the meeting. So it was arranged that he should come and speak just as he would to people who could hear, and mother would interpret for the deaf and dumb, telling them on her fingers just what he said. And I cannot tell you what a happy evening we spent together.
“But I must not go on talking about the deaf and dumb or we shall be at your house before I have told you anything about Clara. You are a good listener, Dora.”
“I have been so interested in hearing about your deaf and dumb friends, dear; but please tell me about Clara now. I should like to know her story, then I shall not feel as if she were quite a stranger when I meet her for the first time.”
“Clara was not deaf from her birth, but when she was about four years old she took scarlet fever. After her recovery her mother noticed that she did not seem to take any notice of what was said to her. At first her friends thought that her deafness might have been caused by a severe cold, but as weeks passed on, and her hearing did not improve, they became anxious, and took her to see a doctor, who made a careful examination of her ears, and gave as his opinion that poor Clara was quite deaf, and he said he could not hold out any hope of cure.
“It must have been a great trial to her mother, who had always seemed so fond and even proud of her bright, merry little daughter. I do not think she really meant to be unkind to Clara, but from that time she always treated her afflicted child with far less tenderness than her sisters. So that Clara's childhood was far from being a happy one.
“But though Clara could not hear, she was quick to observe and understand, and got on so well at school that there was some thought of educating her as a teacher of the deaf and dumb. But, as she had repeated attacks of severe illness, it was decided that she was not strong enough to follow teaching as an occupation by which she might support herself; so, after leaving school, she lived sometimes with her mother, sometimes with one of her married sisters.
“When she comes I will ask her to tell you how it was that the Lord brought her to Himself. You know we break up on Thursday, and as father has kindly promised to take me as far as T. Junction, on Friday afternoon, to meet Clara, you may expect an early visit from us.”
“Thank you, Grace, I am sure mother will be almost as pleased as myself to see Clara. But will you really teach me how to talk to her on my fingers? I am afraid you will find me very slow.”
“Have a little patience, Dora, and then I shall be quite proud of my pupil; when you know the finger alphabet you will find it good practice to take your Bible and read a few verses on your fingers two or three times a day.
“But we must say good-bye now.”
“Good-bye, Grace; I shall be quite ready to take your first lesson after school to-morrow.”