The saddest of the year.”
ALL nature seemed to be resting in a quiet dreamy slumber2. The bee had well nigh laid up its winter store, and many of the birds were preparing to leave for more genial3 climes in the sunny south. All these were but the harbingers of the cold storms that were lingering behind the snow-covered mountains of the north. Indian summer, the season of romance, like the life of a humble4 Christian5, [14] leaves its loveliest scenes to its departing hours. It was in the midst of these balmy days that you might have seen a traveler with a worn satchel6 in one hand and a staff in the other coming up a narrow lane leading to the home of a prosperous Western settler. He walked slowly, for he had left behind him many weary miles; his countenance7, though calm, was pale and languid; yet his eye seemed to bespeak8 the hope that here he might find the much-needed rest.
Two men were standing9 beside the gate at the end of the lane when the stranger came up. The one was a kindly10 disposed person with but little force of character, and deficient11 in moral courage, whom we shall know as Mr. Kerr. The other, whose name was Steele, was the owner of the premises12.
He was a large man, selfish and resolute13, a conceited14 formalist, bigoted15, exceedingly headstrong, and greatly prejudiced against all Christian zeal16.
[15]No sooner did Mr. Steele notice the approach of the stranger than he turned to Mr. Kerr and exclaimed: “There, I’ll bet you, comes that Sunday-school, temperance loafer I’ve heard so much of lately. I reckon he expects to get in here; but I tell you, sir, my ‘shanty’ don’t hold the like of him, while I’m boss here, ‘that’s said!’” This was uttered with emphatic17 bitterness. To this passionate18 outburst Mr. Kerr ventured a little palliation by the remark that he had heard that in the other settlement the people seemed to like the missionary19 very well.
“You would have nothing to do with his nonsense, would you?” retorted Mr. Steele with a look of scorn.
“No,” feebly and insincerely muttered Mr. Kerr, “we have got along so far without it, and I guess we can get along without it a little further.”
“That’s my ticket,” sharply added Mr. Steele.
[16]By this time the stranger had reached the gate. A calm, pleasant smile lit up his pale countenance; and he accosted20 them with,
“Good evening, friends.”
“Good evening, sir,” responded Mr. Kerr.
“How d’ye do, sir,” thundered out Mr. Steele.
“This has been a very pleasant day,” ventured the traveler.
“Yes, sir,” curtly21 replied Mr. Steele.
“I am very tired,” continued the stranger; “could I stay with you to-night?”
“You are the fellow who goes about lecturing on temperance, and getting up Sunday-schools, aint you?” sarcastically22 rejoined Mr. Steele, his face reddening.
“That is my calling,” meekly23 added the man of God.
“Then you don’t stay all night in my house; I don’t harbor fellows who are too lazy to work,” sneeringly24 answered the excited Mr. Steele.
[17]“But I am very tired, and my head aches badly; I’ll pay you well.”
“Cant help it. The sooner you make tracks the better,” retorted the unfeeling man.
“I am afraid it will storm to-night,” continued the missionary, pointing to a dark cloud which was looming25 up in the west.
“You might have stayed at home and minded your own business, instead of minding other people’s, and kept out of this trouble,” replied Mr. Steele, with a look so severe that the poor wanderer lost all hope of any comfort or favor from this seemingly inhospitable dwelling26; so he inquired how far it was to the next house.
“That depends entirely27 upon which way you go,” mockingly answered the hard-hearted man, with a wink28 to Mr. Kerr, and a conceited smile at the unfeeling wit he had displayed.
“I expect to continue my labors29 westward,” gently added the missionary.
[18]His soul was grieved at the hardness of this man’s heart, and for a moment he felt like looking upon his persecutor30 with anger. But he remembered that even his Lord and Master was mocked and derided31; that “when He was reviled32, He reviled not again; but as a lamb before his shearers is dumb, so He opened not his mouth.” And the humble follower33 of the Man of Sorrows in silence offered up the prayer, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”
The door of common humanity being closed against him, he made up his mind to continue his journey, let the dangers and privations be what they might. An angel seemed to whisper, “I will lead thee in the way in which thou shalt go;” so he took courage.
Being thirsty, he ventured to ask for a drink of water.
“You can go to the spring,” was the abrupt34 answer, and the cruel man turned upon[19] his heel, and in company with Mr. Kerr passed on to the barn, leaving the suffering one standing by the gate alone.
But George, a lad of about ten years, and Mary, a little flower of seven summers, had looked on and listened with the curiosity common to children. Their hearts were filled with pity toward the poor man; and, when even a drink of water was denied him, the inherent kindness, implanted in all our natures, was instantly awakened35.
In a moment, as the missionary turned the corner of the yard, the two children met him each with “a cup of cold water.” “Here is good fresh water, please drink,” said the little ones. His heart was melted at this unexpected exhibition of kindness; and invoking36 a blessing37 upon the dear children, he raised the cup to his lips and was refreshed. He then opened his satchel, and gave each child a picture card and Sunday-school paper, also cards for the men, together with a neat little[20] tract38 for their mother. Bidding them good-by, he with a sigh resumed his lonely journey.
The children, happy in having done a kindness, hurried to their mother, and were soon showing and admiring the papers and cards; she, mother-like, very naturally shared their pleasure, but thought of the stranger with a pang39 of regret, for she feared that he would take the road leading into an unsettled region, infested40 with wild beasts and roving Indians. After admiring the pictures, she told the children all she knew of the Sunday-school, for which these beautiful things were made, at the same time hoping that her husband’s opposition41 to them might be removed.
“I wish there was Sunday-school here,” said George.
“Won’t there be Sunday-school here, mother?” exclaimed both at once.
“I’m afraid not,” said their mother, sorrowfully, knowing the hostility42 of many of the neighbors toward anything of the kind.
[21]“Why not, mother?” innocently asked the children.
This was one of those questions children often ask, and which it is so hard to answer.
“I don’t know,” she replied, evasively, adding, “go give your father and Mr. Kerr their cards. They are at the barn.”
Hurrying out, their noisy delight soon arrested the attention of the men.
“What in the world is up now?” wondered their father.
“See here, father, see here!” exclaimed the children, holding out the cards.
“Who gave you these?” said he, reaching out his hand for the gifts, and suspecting the source.
“The man at the gate; we gave him a drink, and he gave us these (showing their cards) and a little book for mother, and this one for you and that one for Mr. Kerr.”
Looking for a moment at the engraving43, he read, “For I was an hungered, and ye gave[22] me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in.”
Instantly the terrible reproof44, associated with these words, awakened the man’s slumbering45 conscience. Writhing46 under its force he tried to construe47 the innocent gift into an insult; then flinging it to the ground he stamped his foot upon it.
At this exhibition of anger all the joy of the children vanished.
Mary began to cry, and George wondered what there was about the card to offend his father.
In the meantime, Mr. Kerr had read his card. The words were, “And these shall go away into everlasting48 punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.”
“What have you got?” sneeringly asked Mr. Steele, of his companion. Mr. Kerr read the text with some emotion.
“Just what I expected! he thought to give[23] us a cut,” said the angry man, at the same time adding many abusive words.
Mr. Kerr tried to assent49 to the remarks, but the words upon the card had touched his heart; and he felt like hating himself for having yielded, against his convictions, to the unreasonableness50 of his neighbor toward an unoffending stranger. Putting the card in his pocket, he was compelled to be an unwilling51 listener to the tirade52 of a would-be Christian (for Mr. Steele was a member of church) against prayer-meetings, temperance societies and Sunday-schools.
As soon as practicable, Mr. Kerr left for home; his conscience still at work, accusing him of cowardice53, and partaking of another’s sin. “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment,” like a poisoned arrow was festering in his heart, until his guilty imagination conceived that the card contained his eternal doom54.
Meeting his wife at the door of his house, he handed her the fatal card.
[24]“Oh, the kind stranger gave you this!” she exclaimed with animation55. “He was here this afternoon, and gave each of us one of the same kind, and left one for you. And then he prayed with us. I wish he would settle here and get up a Sunday-school, of which he talked so much. I believe he is one of the best of men.”
“I wish so too;” involuntarily broke from the full heart of the stricken man; “I believe he is a good man. He came to Mr. Steele’s a few hours ago, but was turned off.”
“Why didn’t you bring him home with you?” she asked.
“Well, I know I ought to have done so; but I was afraid of Mr. Steele, who you know hates all such people.” To avoid any more questions on the subject, he asked to see what the man had left for him. The card was soon handed him, and he read: “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.”
[25]This was another arrow from the quiver of the Almighty56. His wife soon detected the change that had come over him, and with becoming solicitude57 endeavored to find out the cause; but in this her efforts were evaded58.
“I was afraid of Mr. Steele,” thought he, “who would not even dare to kill my body—whilst I did not fear Him who is able to destroy my soul.” Leaving him in his sorrow, we will return to Mr. Steele.
The children, mortified59 and discouraged, had left the barn, and gone to their mother for consolation60 in their disappointment. This was always afforded them; for never was a mother more kind to her little ones, and yet more decided61 in her endeavors to train them in the right way.
Mr. Steele, being conscious of having done wrong, tried to rid himself of his unpleasant feelings, by bustling62 about, doing first this, then that, for relief. It was late before he entered the house, and lest he should be suspected of regretting what he had done, he confronted his wife with, “I wonder what kind of trash that loafer left here with you and the children to-day? I guess he wants to set up an agency here.”
“They are in the bureau drawer, there,” said his wife, “shall I get them for you?”
“No, I don’t want to see any more of the trash;” and, going into another room, he sat down to read a political speech. But it failed to interest him. The coming darkness, the looming up of heavy clouds in the distance, the stranger out in the pathless wilds, the abused privilege of doing good to—perhaps, after all—one of the followers63 of the Redeemer; the text on the card with its indirect reproof, were thoughts which crowded themselves upon his mind. For a moment he wished that he had given the stranger shelter; but prejudice had too long held sway to be thus easily set aside. He had taken a stand, and he would maintain it, let the consequences be what they would.
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1
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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3
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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6
satchel
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| n.(皮或帆布的)书包 | |
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7
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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8
bespeak
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| v.预定；预先请求 | |
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9
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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10
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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11
deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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12
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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13
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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14
conceited
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| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
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15
bigoted
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| adj.固执己见的，心胸狭窄的 | |
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16
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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17
emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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18
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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19
missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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20
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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21
curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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22
sarcastically
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| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
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23
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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24
sneeringly
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| 嘲笑地，轻蔑地 | |
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25
looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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26
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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27
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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28
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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29
labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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30
persecutor
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| n. 迫害者 | |
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31
derided
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| v.取笑，嘲笑( deride的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
reviled
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| v.辱骂，痛斥( revile的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
follower
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| n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒 | |
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34
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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35
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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36
invoking
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| v.援引( invoke的现在分词 )；行使（权利等）；祈求救助；恳求 | |
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37
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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38
tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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39
pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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40
infested
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| adj.为患的，大批滋生的（常与with搭配）v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的过去式和过去分词 )；遍布于 | |
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41
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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42
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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43
engraving
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| n.版画；雕刻（作品）；雕刻艺术；镌版术v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的现在分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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44
reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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45
slumbering
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| 微睡，睡眠（slumber的现在分词形式） | |
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46
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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47
construe
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| v.翻译，解释 | |
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48
everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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49
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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50
unreasonableness
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| 无理性； 横逆 | |
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51
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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52
tirade
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| n.冗长的攻击性演说 | |
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53
cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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54
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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55
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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56
almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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57
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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58
evaded
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| 逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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59
mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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60
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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61
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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62
bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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63
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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