CHAPTER XIX
LITTLE SUSY'S LITTLE SERVAN7S,
CHAPTER XIX.
Tue next day was Sunday, and Susy and Robbie went to church and sat in the pew with their papa.
Susy observed that a plate was handed to everyone, and that when it came to her papa he putin some money.
So when they were walking home together she said:
"Papa! who was that money for that you put into the plate at church ?"
"Tt was for God," said her papa.
"How will they get it up to Him?" asked Robbie in great surprise, and looking up to the sky.
His papa smiled, and even Susy knew better than that.
"When Jesus was here on this earth," said their papa, "he sent good men, two and two at a time, to go about teaching people abont God and about heaven.
And such good men keep
LITTLE SUSY'S LITTLE SERVANTS.
going, even to this day. And that money was to help feed and clothe them while they are preaching, and so I said it was money given to God."
"T wish I had some money to give to God," said Susy.
"But I haven't a bit."
"God does not expect you to give him what you have not," said her papa.
"But you have other things beside money."
"T've got some dolls," said Susy.
"No, I don't mean dolls.
When we get home I will read something to you which will make you see plainly what you can give to God."
So after dinner they went to the library and Susy's papa took down a large book and began to turn over the leaves as if in search of something.
Before long he came to the place he was looking for, and he lifted Susy into his lap and showed her where to read.
"Read it aloud," said he, and Susy read.
"¢T have this day been before God, and have given myself—all that I am and have—to God; so that I am in no respect my own.
I have no right to this body, or any of its members; no
LITTLE SUSY'S LITTLE SERVANTS.
right to this tongue, these hands, these feet, these eyes, these ears; I have given myself clean away.' "
"These are the words of a great and good man, who is now in heaven.
Now you see what you have to give to God, my darling little Susy."
Susy looked at her hands and at her feet, and was silent.
At last she said, in a low voice, half to herself:
"T don't believe God wants them."
Her papa heard her.
"He does want them, and He is looking at you, now, to see whether you will give them to Him, or keep them for yourself.
If you give them to Him you will be careful never to let them do anything naughty, and will teach them todo every good thing they can.
And if you keep them for yourself, they will be likely to do wrong, and to get into mischief."
" Have you given yours to Him, papa 2"
" Yes, indeed, long ago."
" Are you glad 2"
"Yes, very glad."
LITTLE SUSY'S LITTLE SERVANTS.
Susy sat still silent.
She did not quite understand what it all meant.
"Tf you give your tongue to God," said her papa, "you never will let it speak angry, unkind words.
Or tell tales.
Or speak an untruth."
"T guess [ll give Him my tongue," said Susy.
" And if you give God your hands, you will watch them and keep them from touching things that do not belong to them.
You will not let them be idle, but will keep them busy about something, either work or play."
"Oh! will God let them play!" cried Susy in a joyful voice.
" Well! then Pll give Him my hands."
" And if you give Him your feet, you never will let them carry you where you ought not to go, but teach them to run quickly when mamma calls; and when you are old enough, they will carry you to visit and comfort poor and sick people."
" Yes, that will be nice!" said Susy.
"God shall have my feet,"
LITTLE SUSY'S LITTLE SERVANTS.
"Tf you give Him your eyes, you will never, never let them look at anything you know He would not like to look at if He were here by your side.
Not to read a book you would not read if He were looking over the page with you.
And to use them wisely and with great care."
"Could I cry with them !"
"Why, certainly."
"Mamma says I cry too much."
"T did not say you might cry too much with them."
"Well!—Ill give God my eyes some of the time, and some of the time Ill keep them."
"Oh! no! God will not like that, at all."
"Well, I might want to—let me see—I might want to look at something — and I couldn't.
And I should want to be naughty sometimes."
"A little girl who loves God want to be naughty !"
"I love Him, I do love Him," said Susy
LITTLE SUSY'S LITTLE SERVANTS.
"And He may have my eyes.
I guess I shan't want to look at anything naughty."
"T dare say you will, Susy, but if you give your eyes to God, you know He will help them not to do wrong."
"Then I will give them to Him and welcome," said Susy.
" And as to your ears, after you have given them to God you will not let them listen to a word that you think He would not like them to hear.
And you will take care to make them listen to people who try to teach you.
They have behaved very well to-day, and I am sure you will give them to God."
"Yes, papa, I will."
Then they knelt down together and Susy's papa prayed to God to hear all they had been saying, and to be so good as to accept all Susy had now promised to give Him, and to keep her from ever forgetting her promise, but to make it her rule in all she said and all she did, all she saw and all she heard, to remember,
"T am not my own."
And then he taught her the lines you will
LITTLE SUSY'S LITTLE SERVANTS.
find at the end of this book.
They were written nearly two hundred years ago, but are just as good now as they were then; and may
God help every child who reads about little Susy to live according to this prayer.
"Oh! that mine eyes might closed be To what concerns me not to see; That deafness might possess mine ear To what concerns me not to hear; That truth my tongue might ever tie From ever speaking foolishly; That no vain thought might ever rest, Or be conceived in my breast; That by each word, and deed, and thought
Glory may to my God be brought!
But what are wishes! Lord, mine eye On Thee is fixed, to Thee I cry— Wash, Lord, and purify my heart, And make it clean in every part; And when 'tis done, Lord, keep it so, For that is more than I can do!"
THE END.
ONE TRUE HEART
A PLEASANT, gentle-looking girl was seated under the shade of a great oak tree.
There was a wistful look in her brown eyes, as she followed the form of a handsome, dashing-looking fellow going down the path, with a brilliant little beauty hanging on his arm.
"Oh, I wish it was time to go!
I just hate picnics," she was saying to herself, when lounging, careless and free, came Tom Howard, and said:
"Everybody has paired off but you and me, Miss Grayson.
Oh, I'm not going 'to call you so.
My sisters call you Annie, and I think I might.
You are tired, I see, and the day not half spent.
Come!
I'm going to try and make myself agreeable, and perhaps the hours may be endured until the going-home time comes.
Now, Annie, I know what you were thinking about when I came up."
Annie shook her head, and said:
"Indeed you do not."
"Very well, if I'm right, you will own up?"
A smiling assent from Annie.
"You were hating picnics, because a certain handsome fellow is devoting himself to a would-be belle!''
Annie blushed so deeply that Tom said:
"That's all right.
I have a knack of reading looks.
I'm glad you are not an acknowledged beauty, Annie.
I detest having to talk to such girls.
One
One True Heart has got to keep, while with them, the same look of admiration on his face, and neither see nor hear anybody else.
It is really good to have a sensible girl to talk to."
"Indeed, I'd just like to be as pretty as Miss Oakley!
Just see how Harry keeps beside her.''
Annie's lips quivered just a little then.
Ah, she had let her secret slip out!
Tom felt as if he would enjoy giving Harry Cleveland a good thrashing.
He felt sure he had been trifling with the gentle girl's heart.
But Tom thought changing the conversation would help matters just then.
"Have you ever spent a winter in town, Annie?"'
Annie never had; but said:
"T would like to, ever so much."'
"Katie has mother's commands to either bring you, or the promise of your coming before Christmas," Tom said.
'And, then, I'll promise you the gayest time you ever had."
On and on Tom talked, telling of the "'time'' they had last season, and relating anecdotes and jokes, so that, notwithstanding an occasional sigh, when Harry came in sight, Annie was surprised when some one called:
"The boat is coming!"
Tom managed to catch Harry alone on the way home, and say:
"Cleveland, since I've been visiting down here I've heard your name connected with Miss Grayson's.
Now, I want to know if I will be trespassing on somebody else's ground?''
"No, indeed} not mine.
Annie is the dearest little
One True Heart
friend in the world.
That's all.
Possibly in time there is no knowing but I might have been rash enough to — well — ah! — excuse me, there is Miss
Oakley, beautiful and rich.
Good evening.
You have my best wishes."
"The consummate puppy.
He is not worthy of her.
Never mind.
My name's not Tom Howard if I don't change his tune in less than six months."
Annie Grayson and Tom Howard's sister were schoolmates.
A sweet, simple, country girl was Annie, never having been farther than the little town of P , where the seminary was.
Harry Cleveland had been visiting an uncle in the neighborhood for a few weeks, during which time he had amused himself with the gentle little Annie.
And she, poor girl, thought her heart must break when Harry left her to follow in the train with Miss
Oakley's admirers.
Annie's father was only a "well-to-do farmer."
And it cost him a considerable effort to give his daughter a suitable fit-out for a winter in town; but Annie had grown so sad he was glad to let her go.
Annie had not entirely cast Harry from her heart.
Some little hope of seeing him and winning him back lingered still when she arrived in B
, What Tom had been doing I cannot just tell, but somehow, to Annie's immense surprise, the evening of her arrival she found herself surrounded by a half dozen very pleasant young gentlemen, each ort seeming to vie with the other in attentions to her.
Engagements for the opera, concert and lectures were made for her.
In a few words, in less than a week after she reached B , Annie Grayson was an ac-
One True Heart knowledged belle.
No one called her a beauty.
But one raved over her ''bronze eyes;'' another, her charming naiveté; a third, her sylph-like form.
An artist friend of Tom's wanted to paint her picture.
He, of course, knew true beauty.
That was enough.
It was the fashion to have De Vere paint one's portrait; and so, in a few weeks, Annie Grayson's picture was on exhibition in De Vere's studio.
One would hardly have credited the change those weeks had wrought in the simple country girl, and for the better, too.
She was not spoiled at all — only pleased and happy.
She grew very easy and graceful in her manner.
Her eyes were brighter, and laughing.
She had gotten entirely over the wound made by Harry Cleveland, and was heart-whole and free for a while.
Frequently she met Miss Oakley with Harry, but no longer she sighed for her beauty.
Once or twice he had called, but finding Annie always with pleasant company, troubled himself no further.
What it was that first drew so many admirers around Annie, Tom knew best; but no one wondered that she endeared herself to a:. who knew her.
Whispers were afloat that Miss Oakley's riches were in the oil regions, and after a while that no oil was there, consequently no riches for her.
What it was I can't say; but Miss Oakley went home to ; and Harry did not follow.
About this time Harry's aunt came to town, bringing to Annie many little remembrances from home.
Of course Harry came with her — and somehow managed to get in the way of dropping in occasionally, much to the disgust of some of Annie's more persevering suitors.
Harry never could bear opposition.
One True Heart "
First, because he wanted to run others off; and, again, because Miss Grayson was 'the fashion'' then.
Harry began again his lovemaking.
Wooing the little rustic and wooing the calm, assured city belle were two different things.
Annie laughed at him, not believing, or feigning not to believe, a word he said.
At length — in perfect desperation, Harry sought Tom, and begged his help.
"Cleveland, months ago I came to you.
I would not have tried to win her from you.
You told me to go ahead, I had your best wishes.
I cannot understand this change—"'
"Nor I, Tom.
I only know I love her now —I do, upon my honor," said Harry.
"Has not the little piece of fun, the report of an uncle in India, whose heiress she is to be, had this powerful effect?'' Tom asked, a contemptuous smile curling his lips.
"No, no.
Of course I know better than that.
You remember my aunt's intimate connection with her family.
No, Tom, I love her — I'd marry her today, and work for her cheerfully all the days of my life."'
'And Miss Oakley—"'
'She — ah, well!
I only cmagined I was in love with her,'' Harry said, looking considerably embarrassed.
"Well, Cleveland, J am not one of Miss Grayson's suitors.
If you can win her I shall not oppose you."
One after another of Annie's lovers had to content themselves with her friendship.
Harry grew very hopeful, and Tom began to think his little game might
One True Heart not end just as he wished.
He could resign her to anyone sooner than to Harry Cleveland.
There was one young fellow to whom Tom had confessed his joke concerning the India wealth.
When he knew Annie was poorer than himself, he wooed her more earnestly.
In every way he was worthy of Annie.
Possibly, for a chance to learn the true state of her heart, Tom went to plead another's cause.
'""Annie, may I speak a word for Noble?
Can you not learn to love him?
Poor fellow! he quite worships you," Tom said, "and I wish—"
"T wish I was home again," Annie said; and, dropping her head, she sobbed like a grieved child.
"Why, Annie, how can you talk so?
What has worried you?
Everybody loves you.
You ought to be the happiest girl in the world," Tom said, trying to soothe her.
"T don't want everybody to love me, and everybody don't love me,'' sobbed Annie.
"Oh, you unreasonable little girl!
Six months ago I found your heart almost breaking for the love of just one.
You wanted to be beautiful for his sake.
And now that all you wished for is yours, you are not happy.
What more can you wish?"
"TI wish I'd never come to town!
I wish I just knew I possessed the love of one true heart.
What do I want with many?"'
"Annie, I truly believe Harry loves you, if it is about him you are troubled.
But I would sooner give you to Noble—'"'
She turned, with her eyes flashing.
What she would have said was interrupted by Harry's entrance.
Tom left the room.
A half hour after, with a heavy
One True Heart
step, the young man came forth, and joining Tom on the porch, said:
"It is all over with me, Howard.
I would give years of my life to recall the last six months.
Then I might have won her, and now she is lost to me forever!"
'Whom does she care for, I'd like to know?'' Tom asked.
Harry shook his head sadly, and passed out a wiser man.
Later that afternoon Tom found out.
"I wish I had tried to win her myself," he said.
"I shall never love another so well.
I wonder if her heart is free?
I've a mind to try."
Annie, Tom's sister, and a little brother sat out on the porch watching the sunset, when the loud report of a gun was heard in the house.
The little boy rushed in, and a moment after came flying back, crying:
"Oh, Tom is shot!
Tom is killed!"
All ran in — all but Annie.
Without a word she had fallen to the ground.
Ten minutes after, when they found her, she was still to all appearance lifeless.
It was so long before she opened her eyes that they had grown terribly anxious.
With a wild look at last she turned from one to the other.
Then her gaze rested on one nearest to her.
With a glad cry she put forth her arms.
Tom knew all, then, and kneeling beside her said, in a whisper low:
"My darling, my own, be sure of the love of one true heart.
Are you satisfied with mine, love?"'
"Are you hurt?" she asked, the warm biood returning to the pale face.
One 'True Heart "Not the least, only upset by the shock.
I would not have minded a considerable hurt for such a cure,"'
Tom said.
And then, when they were alone, he asked again:
"Are you happy now, Annie?"'
"Who would not be," she answered, '"'when sure of the love of one true heart?"'
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$7.99
Little Susy's Six Birthdays was written by Elizabeth Prentiss, author of Stepping Heavenward, Flower of the Family, as well as many other books and stories.
Mrs. Prentiss had written this story in one setting and with no corrections. She wanted the book for a few of her friends. It gave her pleasure to have people request the first book Whivo \ too write the compan- : "yan stories to be very fine readir.
"*"'; uur children. Mrs. Prentiss does not gloss over the failings of little children. She uses the characters in her stories to teach adults and children how to behave. Enjoy the humor, pathos, and love found in these delightful tales. May you be blessed by Elizabeth
Prentiss work; it was her desire.
The "Little Susy" books are just wonderful; very endearing stories for children, filled with spiritual insights. I'm glad to see them back in print.
Frances A. Robinson 9 | 881 il