AN EVENING IN THE HUNTING LODGE
WHEN SUPPER WAS ANNOUNCED, THE Countess invited Mary to accompany them to the dining room. Mary would have modestly declined, but the Countess would take no refusal and she insisted on placing Mary at table between herself and her daughter.
When Mary was crossing the hall with the rest of the company to go to the dining room, she could not help thinking on the strange change that had taken place in her circumstances in so short a time. She had been dismissed in disgrace from the Pine Farm and thought unworthy to share in the laborers' supper, and she now found herself an honored guest at a nobleman's table. God can in a moment work these changes in the position of anyone. He casteth down, and he raiseth up. "He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of the people" (Psa. 1:1;3:7-81Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (Psalm 1:1)
7Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. (Psalm 3:7‑8)). Therefore let none despair, for God can raise them as suddenly as He cast them down; and let none murmur, because He has chosen their position for them, whatever it may be.
When the party were all arranged at table, the good minister asked a blessing. While Mary sat bewildered, wondering if it were not all a dream, her story was much talked of by the company.
Old Anthony was present among the servants in waiting. He had been brought by the Count on this occasion, because of his knowledge of the woods in the neighborhood, and his experience was required in settling the point in dispute. He was a privileged person, on account of his age and his long services, and he took more liberty than would have been permitted to anyone else. Even while waiting at table, he could not refrain from congratulating his old favorite Mary, in a low voice, on the happy change in her fortunes; and he showed his especial interest in her by keeping much behind her chair. He even ventured to whisper to her, "O that your worthy father had lived to see this day!"
The good minister overheard the remark, and feeling interested in the beaming, joyous face of the kindly old man, he indirectly replied to it.
"Mary's good father," said he, "would have rejoiced to hear her innocence publicly acknowledged; but we cannot, even for a moment, wish him back again among us. He is gone to be with Christ, which is far better. It has been God's will to take James away before any public atonement could be made to him for his sufferings; but God knows best and chooses the best for each of His people. What is any atonement that could have been made to him here, compared to the unfading glory, the unmixed joys of the paradise above?
"It pleases God, in some instances, to raise the afflicted even in this world from the dust, and to restore to them the cup of earthly happiness which has been dashed from their lips, as He did in the case of Job; but in other instances, it pleases him that the mourner should suffer during the whole of his pilgrimage below, as in the case of Lazarus. We know not why He so orders events; we only know that whatever He orders is wisest and best. We cannot understand this now. He Himself has said, 'What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter'; and this ought to answer every question on the subject that may arise in our minds.
"Perhaps," continued the minister, "I may be permitted to mention a curious coincidence which took place during James's last illness, which may show that though he was not permitted to live to see this happy day, he nevertheless died with the assured hope that it would come, and enjoyed it, if I may so speak, by anticipation.
"One day when I went to see him, he appeared even more than usually cheerful. His countenance was actually beaming with joy. 'I have slept little last night, sir,' he said, 'and I spent the sleepless hours in earnest prayer. I have been strengthened to pray as I never prayed before; and such peace has been shed abroad in my soul that every doubt and fear have vanished. Before this, I have sometimes had uneasy thoughts about my darling child, but now my mind is at ease. I have trusted her to God. I feel sure, quite sure, that her innocence will be publicly acknowledged and that God will raise up friends to her when I am gone; perhaps even the very friends we have lost, who will care for her and provide for her better than I could have done had I been spared to her.'
"It is a strange coincidence which I have traced since I came here tonight, that the storm which shook the pear tree and caused the finding of the ring, took place on the very night which my old friend spent in prayer. The Countess told me tonight the exact date; and from some circumstances which kept it in my mind, I remembered that this date was the same as that of James's prayer. It is a remarkable instance of the power of prayer. God hears the prayers of His people, and sometimes answers them, even while the suppliant is unconscious, except by faith in His promise, that the answer has been actually vouchsafed."
The Countess now gave the signal for rising from the table, and as she rose she said to the old minister, "After all that you have said of the efficacy of prayer, we must not separate without asking God's blessing and thanking Him for His goodness to us this day. If you will be so good as to accompany me, I shall order the household to be assembled in the library; our guests, I am sure, will join us, and I hope you will pray with us before you go home."
The good minister gladly consented, and thus the day was closed. He offered up an impressive prayer, and the party separated for the night.