RETURNING to his business, Isaac found everything as it should be. He had now an object to work for; he had not yet learned that the Christian's only object should be his God. However, all of us have very much to learn, and how God the Eternal bears with us! What a Teacher He is! What patience He has—teaching us line upon line, and precept upon precept!
If Isaac had given up his mercantile career now, he would have been saved many troubles; but God willed otherwise. However, until his granddaughter was of the age of eighteen, no change occurred in his circumstances; but at last a dreadful crash came. Houses of business which affected him failed, and he was a bankrupt. H e had no earthly helpers, for all his kindred had forsaken him. He was a man of honor, Gentile reader, if he were a Jew. He gave up all, even to the gold watch he wore. And on a winter evening Isaac and Rachel descended those steps, as Mark had done so many years before. Into the unknown future they went, with only five sovereigns at their command, which a creditor handed to him on leaving.
Isaac's faith was to be tried now; but blessed be the God of Israel, his faith did not waver. He walked in the footsteps of his father Abraham, and could say:—
'Tis well when joys arise,
'Tis well when sorrows flow,
And darkness seems to veil the skies,
And strong temptations grow.”
Caroline had been told of the change of circumstances, and that her services could now no longer be retained, and with real sorrow of heart she left that home. She was soon successful in finding another situation in a Christian family, and at last left for a home of her own.
When Caroline bade Rachel farewell, she reminded her of the letter contained in the packet that her mother had given her. It was a letter from Reginald Stevenson to Mark enclosing an address where letters would always find him; also telling him if he or his were ever in need of a friend, they might command him. Rachel deposited this letter in a safe place, and then sallied forth with her grandfather into the busy streets of London.
They entered a tram-car, which took them to Finsbury Park, where Rachel remembered that an old servant had taken a small lodging-house. They had not given her any notice of their arrival; at 8 P.M. they were at Sarah's door. The house was a medium-sized brick one, with a garden in front imagine the surprise of Sarah to behold her late master and her young mistress! She quickly invited them to enter The best room in the house was at their disposal at once—a small parlor with bay window, neatly and comfortably furnished.
Rachel, when an opportunity offered, told their faithful servant in few words what brought them there. She did not, however, tell her the whole circumstances, but Sarah guessed. Although Rachel had been brought up in the midst of wealth for all these years, she possessed a wondrous amount of perseverance and endurance that never until now had been called into action. She would now have ample scope for the exercise of these qualities. She had grown into a beautiful girl; her dark eyes wore a sweet expression underneath her long eyelashes. Her massive brown wavy tresses formed a coronet on her well-shaped head. She was attired in one of her plainest dresses, well-made, however, and fitting closely to her figure. A plain linen collar, and a gold brooch were all that this Jewish maiden, who had been accustomed to every luxury, wore on this eventful evening.
After she had returned from speaking to Sarah, she found her grandfather on the sofa; she came near and spoke to him, but he made no reply. His eyes were closed; Rachel feared the worst. He at last opened his eyes, and seeing her lips move, and hearing no sound, he asked her to speak louder. This she did, and then she found out that her grandfather was totally deaf. She was obliged to write to him. A doctor was called in, who said Isaac was suffering from nervous deafness, brought on by trouble, and that as he recovered from this nervous prostration, the deafness would decrease.
This was the case. In one week he heard again, but not as he had done before. He was left with a continuous noise in the ears, like the roaring of the sea—sometimes almost unbearable.
In a little while, however, he was enabled to take all from the hands of the God of Israel, and he sought grace from Him to bear this heavy trouble—from that One who said, "My grace is sufficient for thee." 'He was soon able to bear all with quiet meekness and submission; but this heavy affliction impeded the way to his getting anything lucrative for the support of himself and Rachel. He knew not what to do. God was going to relieve this poor distressed Hebrew. He was about to provide for him.
A few days afterward he was taken speechless at the dinner table. This proved to be a seizure. He was now confined to his room, from which he never more came out alive. Poor Rachel attended him to the last; she was so unselfish. The girl's heart was well-nigh broken; still she wore a smile to cheer her grandfather, who knew now that he was nearing the portals of the heavenly Jerusalem, and would soon leave her to wander here alone.
One week after he had entered Sarah's house, his happy spirit soared to his eternal home. Just before his departure, he told Rachel that he felt sure it would be well with her. How his faith was tried, when he had no earthly creature to leave her to. But he left her to the best Friend of all, who never forsook her.
We have not yet spoken of Rachel, as to her soul's salvation. She was a sweet, amiable girl. She delighted to read the word of God; she had been under Christian influence, as has been shown; but she was not a believer in the heart—only in the head. Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but God alone can give the increase. We can labor, we can pray, but God alone can convert the soul, and He takes His own way of doing it. That night Rachel retired to her room, tenderly cared for by Sarah; but the young Jewish maiden yearned to be alone, that she might pour forth her heart to the God of Israel. She felt now that only He could be her stay; she cried to Him to save her, to give her the joy of forgiveness of sins. This was not denied her. She heard in accents sweet:—
"Come, heavy-burdened one,
Come unto Me, and rest.”
She came, and found there, too, a sure foundation, even the Rock of Ages:—
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee,
While the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Are of sin the double cure,
Cleansing from its guilt and power.”
That night Rachel was a new-born creature. She had now to go out on the platform of life, but ere doing so the tender Shepherd was going to make her His own.
The next day was her birthday. Her dear departed grandfather had always remembered it, and given her some memento. Sarah knew what day it was, and came with some sweet flowers, and in the usual way, without thinking, wished her "Many happy returns of the day." Rachel also felt a weight at her heart, together with a mysterious feeling of heaviness. Presently all dawned on her. She remembered that her dead grandfather was in the room below, and burst into a flood of tears, which greatly relieved the pent-up feelings. Her new-found joy unfolded to her, too, and with it the calm of peace, which she had never experienced before: she felt also an unseen presence supporting her. At breakfast the poor bereaved girl ate for duty's sake of her lonely repast, and then began to meditate action. Sarah did not intrude on her; still, she acted in the warmness of her heart.
Rachel possessed now but one solitary half sovereign, so falling on her knees, she cried to her father's God, but could only say, "Lord, manage for me." Often had she heard Caroline sing a hymn, and now the words, bringing solace and comfort, came to her remembrance.
“Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah!
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Guide me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven!
Feed me till I want no more!”
She had scarcely finished the words when the hall door bell rang, and Sarah came to say that a gentleman wished to see her. Sarah was a Christian, and had attended a meeting of Christians; and when seeing her young friend so very heavily burdened, thought it right to acquaint a Christian gentleman who attended the meeting. She told him of the 'sad affair, but had mentioned no name.
The gentleman was ushered into Rachel's presence, and for a moment seemed to lose all self-possession. He had not expected to see so lady-like a form in such a position. He was a man of about forty years of age, with clear, open, intellectual brow, and a calm, heavenly expression. He fancied he had seen a face like Rachel's before, and so he had in the person of her departed father, but was unable to recall anything to his remembrance connected with that face. He had ever held Mark's memory dear. He saw at once he was in the presence of a lady, and felt embarrassed, and seemed not to know how to address her. At last he said, "Pardon me, but I heard of your bereavement, and would like to know if I can assist you in any way.”
Rachel now thought of her mother's packet, and she withdrew from her pocket Reginald Stevenson's letter, and handed it to her visitor in fullest confidence. She felt she could trust him. The reader of that note turned pale, and with great emotion told her that he was the one she was seeking. The poor girl had heard her mother speak of him in the warmest terms. He told her to leave all to him, that he would manage everything for her. The sorrow-stricken girl was only too glad to find so kind a friend to trust in.
Reginald Stevenson was now the principal of a high class gentleman's boarding school in another suburb of London, about twelve miles distant. He had married a Christian lady as devoted to the Savior as he was.
He asked for permission to see Isaac; so imagine, my reader, his feelings when he gazed on those features, that were now fixed in death. He well remembered that eventful evening when last he held con. verse with him, and thought also of many events which had transpired since then, and of the present issue of them.
Reginald told Rachel that he thought it would be advisable for her to be away from the present scenes, and prevailed on her to return with him. She accepted the invitation, and ere long arrived at the "Priory," Reginald's home. A lady, about thirty five years of age, opened the door to receive her husband, whom she saw stepping out of a cab and assisting a stranger to alight. Rachel was introduced by Reginald; and when his wife had been apprised of all the circumstances, this solitary girl found a home for a time, and in Mrs. Stevenson a more than elder sister.
The day for the funeral approached, and the precious dust of Isaac Barnard was committed to its last resting-place till the morning of the resurrection. Many from the Christian band joined the funeral cortege. He was laid in his last resting-place one beautiful afternoon in a cemetery in the suburb of London in 'which he died. Many strangers flocking, on hearing of the event, to see the remains of the converted Hebrew put into the grave. Isaac's forefathers were buried in a Jewish cemetery Hebrew inscriptions were on their tombstones; but this Hebrew was carried to the grave by devout men, and voices joined in singing:
"Forever with the Lord—
Amen, so let it be;
Life from the dead is in that word,
'Tis immortality.”
Some days after, Rachel by her expressed wish went to the grave; alone she knelt there and sobbed aloud. She planted a flower, and gave orders for it to be cared for. In after years she had a tombstone put there, bearing the inscription—
Isaac Barnard,
FELL ASLEEP IN JESUS.
"Jesus, the name I love so well,
The name I love to hear,
No saint on earth its worth can tell
No heart conceive how dear.”