Part. 5
WHEN Geraldine had been a month at the seaside, her mother came down to Silver, sands for a few days to see how Geraldine was getting on. To Katie’s great glee, with her came Dr. Gray; and you can imagine how eagerly both children awaited the arrival of the train. It was indeed a happy family gathering, and Geraldine had so much to tell her mamma that it was late before the little ones could be coaxed off to bed.
The next few days were very bright ones. Lady L’Estrange and Barbara took-a mutual fancy to each other, and the quiet of Silversands was a most refreshing change to the former, after a round of city gaiety and bustle.
One beautiful moonlight night Lady L’Estrange said, “I really think there is no doubt now of Geraldine’s getting well and strong again, but I have not said much to Dr. Gray yet; what do you think of her?”
Barbara turned away her face and knew not how to answer. “She is certainly better now,” said she; “but —“Here the bright moonlight betrayed the tears that were fast gathering in her eyes.
Then for the first time the mother experienced “the nameless agony,” and Barbara felt helpless to comfort her. But an unseen Hand was guiding Lady L’Estrange, and had led her to one who was possessed of the hidden strength God gives to all His own, and Barbara, the quiet village maiden, was destined to be the mighty instrument in God’s hand of showing her the source of that strength, so that she could “say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God; in Him will I trust.”
Dr. Gray’s opinion was decidedly hopeful, but urged her mother not to take her back to town yet, as she had not gained strength as soon as he had expected.
So another month slipped happily away, and the children began to think sadly of having to go home.
“Oh, what pretty pink waves!” cried Katie one evening, as the children sat watching the sunset. “I like to look at the clouds best,” said Geraldine, “because I always see angels looking through. I would like to ride on one of those soft clouds and get some stars to play with.”
“I don’t think you could,” said Katy, “for they are the golden nails God has nailed the sky up with.”
“Who said so asked Geraldine.
“Oh, nobody,” answered Katie. “I thought so one night. But there comes Aunt Barbara; we will ask her.”
Barbara sat down on the rocks and took Geraldine on her lap.
“What are the stars, Aunt Barbara?” said Katie; “they look so very wee.”
“You will be surprised, then,” replied Barbara, “when I tell you they are all worlds in shape like the one we live on, and most of them a great deal larger.”
“Then,” said Katie, after a moment’s pause, “if the stars are so big, how very large the moon must be.”
“You are mistaken again, Katie; it is much smaller than any star you can see, but as it is a great deal nearer to us it looks larger.”
“How funny! Is there a fire in the moon, that it looks so bright?”
“No,” replied Barbara, “the moon is a Clark body like our earth, but it is by reflecting the sun’s light that it looks golden; I wonder if Katie can tell me why that is like Christ and his people?”
Katie thought for a minute, and then looking up brightly, said: “I think I can guess; in my text I said to you this morning Jesus is called ‘the Sun of Righteousness,’ and His people ought to be like the moon, shining by His light.”
“You are quite right, darling,” said Barbara, kissing her, “and we must try to shine brightly for Christ in the midst of a dark world, by making our lives as nearly like His as we can, and in this way we may perhaps show others the path to heaven, as the moon guides the traveler by her bright rays.”
“O! what beautiful thoughts about the dear moon,” exclaimed Katie; “I shall think about it all over again in bed tonight, when it shines into our nursery.”
Geraldine lay quite still in Barbara’s lap, listening to every word, though she seemed all absorbed in the bright clouds.
“I’m so sorry it’s nearly our last evening,” said Katie after awhile.
“Yes, darling, we have had a happy time, have we not?” answered Barbara; “and I hope you will both come again next year.” But Barbara’s heart smote her as she said the words, but she could not hear to cast a shadow over the sunshine of Katy’s life, and only added, “We must be going in now, as the sun has set.”
The morning for returning home arrived at last. Everyone at Silversands was sorry to lose the sweet little girls, who had brought so much brightness to the old house, and Geraldine slipped away to the beach to cry unseen.
And so the children departed, and many a wistful glance was directed towards Silversands as the train steamed off.
Aunt Barbara, too, turned sadly away from the little station, after looking till the last faint streak of curly smoke had vanished into air, and wondered when those bright little faces would shine on her again.
ML 02/06/1916