In addition to there being two Sunday-schools and one Temperance Society firmly established, the Christian5 Church under various names was most effectually aroused—many of its members being abundantly blest and their spiritual strength renewed; backsliders[124] were reclaimed6, and sinners awakened7 and converted: there were also prayer-meetings held in the different houses among the people.
A general contest, however, was kept up between those opposed to these institutions, and their defenders8. As soon as it was generally known that the missionary had left, the rum-sellers and their adherents9 became bold in their opposition10; they appeared to think that, if the shepherd had gone, the sheep would be scattered11. Even some of the ministers would not come out boldly on the side of this reformation.
Well did Isaiah prophesy12, “For the leaders of this people cause them to err13; and they that are led of them are destroyed. Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is a hypocrite, and an evil doer, and every mouth speaketh folly14.”
The Temperance Cause met with the most[125] opposition; and some who stood faithfully by the Sunday-school could not give up old habits; although they did not particularly oppose the Cause, their support was weak and doubtful. Those who took no interest in the Sunday-school were decidedly against temperance. Thus the people became more and more divided—and the stinging truths of Mr. Truman seemed to set everything on fire; and the Saviour’s prediction respecting a house being divided against itself, seemed to be literally16 fulfilled. Every demonstration17 of truth was met with increased hostility18; and, like Herod and Pilate, even enemies were made friends in condemning19 Christ. This, however, only drove the faithful few nearer to the Rock of Ages, which was their “stronghold in the day of trouble;” it made them “search the Scriptures” more, and more vigilant20 in prayer; relying upon God for help. Hence they maintained their ground, and in time were able to make inroads into[126] the enemy’s country, taking captives and plucking brands from the eternal burnings. Those of the opposition, in order to fully15 carry out their principles, were driven to indorse and defend the lowest morality, and the coldest and most formal type of Christianity—and were compelled to yield to the caprices of the ungodly by excusing their faults.
In order more fully to impress the truth upon the heart, we will now give a brief narrative of the characters and lives of two families—representatives of the parties formed through the labors of the missionary. The circumstances bringing him to our notice, also introduce us to the family of Mr. Steele—the other family is that of Mr. Brown, of the same neighborhood. Through the former will be illustrated21 the effects of opposing religious training as carried on in the Sunday-school; and through the latter will be shown the inestimable blessings22 resulting from[127] such training, and the value of vital godliness.
Mr. Steele, as we are already aware, had two children, George and Mary—also a wife, who was naturally a most excellent person; but the influence of her cold-hearted husband was not without its effect upon her life. He claimed to be a church member, but he had only a “name to live.” After years of constant association with such a person, we need not wonder that she quietly submitted to him.
Mr. Brown and family, also consisting of a wife and two children, had always been on terms of intimacy23 with Mr. Steele’s family. On Saturday afternoon, previous to the opening of the Sunday-school at Clear Creek24 Settlement, George and Mary Steele went to Mr. Brown’s on an errand, and received permission to spend an hour with their friends, Henry and Eliza; the Sunday-school was the all-absorbing topic of conversation, and although George and Mary knew that their[128] father was opposed to anything of the kind, they still hoped that they would be allowed to go on the following day. No sooner had they reached home, than they began to tell their mother, in a very excited manner, about the Sunday-school. Just as their excitement was about at its height, their father entered the room, and in a very gruff manner asked, what “all this fuss” was about. As the song of the robin25 ceases at the crack of the rifle, so suddenly ceased the story and the joy of these children. They looked to their mother for help; she had no hope of a patient hearing, so she merely said:
“The children were telling about the Sunday-school, and”——
“Sunday-school! yes, they were over there at Brown’s, and have had their heads filled with nonsense—have they?”
The mother’s lips were sealed. The humility26 and silence that greeted him only vexed27 him the more; so, seeing no opposition[129] offered, he commenced again on the aggressive. Addressing his wife in tones of haughty28 reproach, he said:
“I’d like to know whether you and these little brats29 are going to side with every whining30 loafer that comes about?”
Then turning to the children, who were crying, he said:
“I’d like to know what you are bawling31 about? If you don’t soon shut up you’ll wish you had.”
The children again looked at their mother; but as she was still silent, George stammered32 out, “We want to go to Sunday-school, father.”
Little Mary, with her eyes sparkling in tears, now ventured with,
“Do, father, let us go—won’t you, father?”
This was said with such a beseeching33 voice and hopeful look, that for the instant the storm was lulled34; and had the mother joined her children in their petition, perhaps a[130] limited privilege might have been obtained for them. But she failed! The precious moment went by unimproved, and all was lost!
The father would not listen to what his better feelings suggested; so he told the children decidedly that they should not go to the Sunday-school, and if they did not stop crying he would punish them severely35. After he left the house, their mother endeavored to console them; but they felt that they had been unjustly treated, and wished to know why they could not go to Sunday-school. Their mother did not attempt to give the reason; for she, too, felt that they had been wronged.
Supper-time came, but the children’s grief had taken their appetite, so their mother excused them from coming to the table. Their father, finding that they were not coming, and knowing the reason, whipped them severely and forced them to come; they sat down and tried to eat, but every mouthful seemed to[131] choke them. The mother’s eyes were dim with tears, and the meal was eaten in silence. The father’s face was flushed, and he hurried through his supper, being anxious to get away from the presence of those whom he had wronged. When he had gone out, the mother again tried to soothe36 the children, but their father’s absence only gave them the liberty to sob37 aloud; their mother, fearing that he might return and hear them, bade them go out to the barn and hunt the eggs, and be good children.
“We want to go to Sunday-school and learn to be good,” said they. Every word of this went straight to the heart of the mother. The children went and did what their mother had desired; as they staid out longer than she thought necessary, she became troubled and started in search of them. Hearing George’s voice, she listened and found that he was praying, and Mary was repeating the words after him. A consciousness of having[132] failed in the performance of her duty filled her heart with anguish38, and she went into the barn and joined them in prayer; but her faith was weak—she feared her husband more than God. She resolved, however, to make the attempt to plead in behalf of the children; going into the house, she found her husband trying to find something to interest him in an old newspaper. Her heart beat between hope and fear; taking a seat she commenced her petition.
“Is your head turned too?” he sneeringly39 asked. “I guess, the next thing I know, you’ll have an agency and the pretty loafer lounging around here. But let him come,” he continued; “just let soap-stick come; I’ll kick him out of my house so quick, that he won’t know what hurt him.”
The wife’s heart was too full for utterance40, so she said nothing. Construing41 her silence into contempt, he resumed fiercely.
“You’ve been poking42 this stuff into the[133] children’s heads yourself, have you? I’ll beat it out of them, mind you!” said he, shaking his fist in the air. The mother’s resolution was gone, and she meekly43 replied, “No, I have not said anything.” She yielded all for the sake of appeasing44 her husband. After berating45 the missionary and making some threats about “this fuss in the family,” Mr. Steele went to bed.
Had this father but consented to “prove all things,” as the apostle had recommended, all of the unhappiness now existing in his family might have been avoided.
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1
missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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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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3
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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4
transpired
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| （事实，秘密等）被人知道( transpire的过去式和过去分词 )； 泄露； 显露； 发生 | |
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5
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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reclaimed
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| adj.再生的；翻造的；收复的；回收的v.开拓( reclaim的过去式和过去分词 )；要求收回；从废料中回收（有用的材料）；挽救 | |
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7
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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8
defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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9
adherents
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| n.支持者，拥护者( adherent的名词复数 )；党羽；徒子徒孙 | |
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10
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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11
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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12
prophesy
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| v.预言；预示 | |
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13
err
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| vi.犯错误，出差错 | |
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14
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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15
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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19
condemning
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| v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地 | |
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20
vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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illustrated
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| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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22
blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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23
intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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24
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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25
robin
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| n.知更鸟，红襟鸟 | |
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26
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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27
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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28
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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29
brats
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| n.调皮捣蛋的孩子( brat的名词复数 ) | |
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30
whining
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| n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚 | |
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31
bawling
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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32
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
beseeching
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| adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 ) | |
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34
lulled
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| vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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35
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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36
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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37
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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38
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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39
sneeringly
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| 嘲笑地，轻蔑地 | |
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40
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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41
construing
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| v.解释（陈述、行为等）( construe的现在分词 )；翻译，作句法分析 | |
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42
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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43
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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44
appeasing
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的现在分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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45
berating
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| v.严厉责备，痛斥( berate的现在分词 ) | |
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