He do you think is coming to-day, Hilda? you do not know, do you? and I do not believe you could guess, so I may as well tell you—Aunt Fanny is coming to stay for two whole weeks. Mother says so, she told me herself, so I know it is true." And in his delight, Wilfrid Gray capered round the playroom, upsetting two chairs and a wooden horse as he went.
Hilda, who was a very tidy little girl, left the blocks with which she had been building a toy house, picked up the chairs and put them in their places, stabled the horse comfortably under the window, then went over to Wilfrid, who was beginning to quiet down a little, saying, as she did so, "I am glad! Dear aunt Fanny, I do love her so much. How pleased she will be to find we can say almost all the texts and hymns she taught us when she was here last year, and perhaps she will tell us true stories, and explain Bible verses. You like aunt Fanny's stories, do you not, Wilfrid?”
“Oh yes, Hilda; but last year we had all those nice times out in the garden. Now I do not think mother will say Yes to our being out much, as you have had a sore throat, and the evenings are getting cold and damp.”
“Never mind, Wilfrid, I will tell you what we can do: we will ask aunt Fanny to come here to our very own playroom, and tell us about the boys and girls she knows in London, and about all the poor deaf and dumb and blind people she goes to visit; aunt Fanny often reads the Bible to the blind, you know, and one day she told me about a poor blind girl she is teaching to read. At first I could not understand how any one not able to see could learn to read; but aunt Fanny showed me a card with marks almost like letters standing up all over it, and she said it was an alphabet card in raised type for the blind, and then I shut my eyes very tight and tried if I could tell the difference between the letters by passing my fingers over them. I could just feel they were not all quite alike, but I told auntie I was afraid I should be a long time learning to read by touch, as it is called.”
“I do not remember seeing the alphabet card, Hilda; do you think I was here?”
“No; it was when you were away at school at Deal, and aunt Fanny came here just for a few days to rest, mother said, because she had not been well. But I do not think she did rest much, for she seemed to be always thinking of others and trying to comfort or help somebody. But here comes mother, and I know she is just as well pleased aunt Fanny is coming as we are.”
Both children ran into the hall to welcome Mrs. Gray, who had been out shopping. Wilfrid took the parcel, while Hilda helped her mother to untie her bonnet and unfasten her shawl, then carried them upstairs. When she returned it was to ask a question: "Please, mother, will you tell us why all of us love aunt Fanny so much?”
Mrs. Gray smiled at Hilda's question, then said in a low voice, almost as if speaking to herself: "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness" (Prov. 31:2626She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. (Proverbs 31:26)); then seeing her little daughter was still waiting for an answer, said: "I think, Hilda, the reason why every one loves aunt Fanny is because she loves the Lord Jesus Christ. When aunt Fanny was quite a little girl, about your age, Hilda, she listened to the loving voice of the Lord Jesus, saying to her, in His word, ‘Come unto me, and I will give you rest.' (Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).) And as a lost and sinful child she came to Jesus, and now she is a grown-up woman she is still learning of Him who said, ‘Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.' (Matt. 11:2929Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:29).) And it is the love of God shed abroad by the Holy Ghost in aunt Fanny's heart that makes her so loving and unselfish.”
“Aunt Fanny is not really your own sister, like aunt Clara, is she, mother?" Wilfrid asked, after a short silence.
“Yes, Wilfrid, aunt Fanny is my sister, though not in the same way as your aunt Clara; she is my sister in Christ. But I think Hilda does not quite understand what I mean. Get your Bible, darling, and read a verse I will show you. Here it is: ‘For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.' (Gal. 3:2626For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26).) Now, Hilda, can you tell me what the children of one family are always called?”
“Yes, mamma, I know—brothers and sisters. Wilfrid is my brother and I am his sister, because we have the same father and mother.”
“Quite right, Hilda, and the verse you have just read says that all believers are the children of God, so those who have the same Father are brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus. The family of God is a very large one and a very loving one, too.”
“Did you know aunt Fanny when she was a little girl, just like our Hilda, mother?”
“No, Wilfrid, aunt Fanny and myself had both left school when we first met. We had, through the mercy of God, given our hearts to the Lord, and, as we wanted very much to tell others about our Savior, we had each a class in the Sunday school, and very precious times we used to have telling ‘The old, old story' to the poor little children who used to be so pleased to come and hear about the Lord Jesus; and Fanny Dale has been my much loved friend and sister ever since. When Hilda and yourself were very little children, almost before you could speak plainly, you began calling her aunt Fanny, and I think she was pleased, for her life has been a very lonely one, she has no brothers or sisters, nephews or nieces of her own. Indeed I do not think she has any relations, as she was left an orphan when very young, and she has often told me she was an only child.”
“Poor aunt Fanny," Hilda said gently, with quite a troubled look clouding for a moment her bright young face; "how sad it must be to be quite alone in the world, and yet I do not think she is lonely or unhappy.”
“No, Hilda, aunt Fanny is not lonely, for a Friend, One whom her heart has learned to trust and love, though her eyes have not seen Him yet, is always by her side. The Lord Jesus is the Friend I mean, and she finds no time to be unhappy, her hands are too full of happy, busy work for the good Master she serves.
“About what time may we begin to look out for aunt Fanny?" was Wilfrid's next question.
Mrs. Gray took a letter from her pocket and read aloud: "I hope, God willing, to be with you at H—, by the 3:30 train. Please tell Wilfrid and Hilda, with my love, that I have a small present for each of them, something, I think, they will be pleased with.”
"Now, children," Mrs. Gray continued, as she replaced the letter, "I want you to be kind and thoughtful; aunt Fanny is not very strong, and will, I am sure, be tired by the time the train gets to H—; do not tease her with questions, or ask her to show you anything, till she has had some tea, and a rest after her journey.”
Both children were quite ready to promise, and, better still, did not forget, even in the pleasure of meeting aunt Fanny, that they had an opportunity of showing love by waiting patiently till she was at liberty to attend to them.
Tea had been over some time when aunt Fanny, turning to Wilfrid, asked him if he would like to do an errand for her? His answer was, "Yes, aunt Fanny, you know I should; I would not mind going all the way to Boneton for anything you wanted.”
Aunt Fanny laughed and said, "You are very kind, Wilfrid; but I am not going to give you a three miles' walk to-night; my errand is only as far as the hall table, where you will find a parcel wrapped in white paper and tied with pink string.”
Wilfrid was off in a moment and soon returned. Aunt Fanny opened it, and taking out a very interesting book, quite full of pretty pictures and true stories, gave it to Hilda, telling her it was her present. Hilda was much pleased, and thanked aunt Fanny warmly; meanwhile a Scripture Text Roll, printed in red and blue, quite delighted her brother.
“A text for every day for a whole month! Oh, aunt Fanny, how I do wish you were going to stop with us four weeks instead of two," he exclaimed; "but if Hilda and I learn a text every day as long as you are here, will you talk to us, and help us to understand the meaning of what we learn?”
“And please will you come to our playroom?" Hilda added, before aunt Fanny had time to reply to Wilfrid's question.
“To both questions yes, if the Lord will," aunt Fanny answered, with a very earnest look and loving kiss for both children, who, hearing their father's step in the hall, ran away to show him their new treasures.