THE sea-shore had great charms for Nellie Barker. As the spring days became warm and bright, she spent all her spare time on the beach. But her greatest pleasure was to go for a walk with Joe when his day's work was over.
She would watch for him in the lane, and when she saw him in the distance run to meet him. Mrs. Woods would look up and welcome them with a smile as they came in hand in hand, and would bustle to get the tea ready. And sometimes when the meal was over she would be persuaded to put on her bonnet and accompany them in their evening walk.
Hetty was a constant visitor at the cottage, and her appearance was always hailed by Nellie with great delight.
Though the child had become very much attached to her foster-mother, she always looked upon Hetty as her first friend. It was she who had comforted her when she had gone amongst strangers, and had brought her to live with Joe. And Hetty would have long talks with Joe; from him she learned all about that memorable night, when he was first taught of God's love.
And very interested she was to find that the so-called parson of Joe's story was none other than Mr. Austen's son, of whom she had heard so much.
About six weeks after Hetty's return home, her cousin and Connie Weston arrived at Eastdown for their promised visit. Connie's holidays were only for three weeks, and then she must return to her work; but Hetty had told Edith that she should not let her go for at least two months. Hetty was surprised in the change in Connie's appearance, she looked quite bright and cheerful.
“Well, Connie, how have you been getting on?" she asked, as she took them for their first walk on the beach.
“Oh, very well, miss. You cannot think how kind Miss Edith has been to me. It is good of her to take so much trouble with me.”
“Oh, what nonsense," laughed Edith. "Why, I like your company. I am not half so dull as I used to be. We have had such splendid walks, Hetty, Connie and I, and have become such fast friends.”
Connie flushed with pleasure, her's was a different life now to what it had been a month or two before. But though she had grown very fond of Edith, she did not forget that all her present happiness was owing to Hetty. Neither did Edith.
“I shall always be thankful that you came to stay with us, Hetty," she said.
“If it had not been for you I might have been now thinking of no one but myself, and be as miserable and dissatisfied as I used to be. But you taught me how really to be happy by trying to make others happy. And, dear, you brought me to Jesus, and I am trying now to bring others to Him. I really think some of the girls do love Him.
“Oh! Hetty, I can never thank you enough for what you taught me.”
“I only told you what Mr. Austen talked to Fanny and me about. See, Edith, here is the very place, we were sitting on this great stone when he came up. Shall we rest here a minute?”
The girls sat down in silence, they were all busy with their own thoughts. Presently Hetty began to sing in a low voice the hymn that had become so dear to her since the first time she read it nearly a year ago on that very spot.
When He cometh, when He cometh,
To make up His jewels,
All His jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.
Like the stars of the morning,
His bright crown adorning,
They shall shine in their beauty,
Bright gems for His crown.
All three girls sprang to their feet as the chorus was taken up by a man's voice.
“It's Mr. Austen!" cried Hetty, as she darted forward to meet him. "Oh, I am so glad, so very glad to see you again.”
After the first greeting was over Mr. Austen sat down beside them.
“I am pleased to find you so occupied in singing of the Lord's return. Oh! what a glorious day that will be ‘when He cometh to make up His jewels.' Will you be there?" turning to Edith, "and you?" to Connie.
“Oh! children, if you belong to Him, if you are His jewels, let your life be spent in bringing others to Him.”
“Keep that day in view, and labor for it. Labor diligently, labor unceasingly, and let your constant prayer be that God would make you ready both in body and soul to cheerfully accomplish those things which He would have done. The God of all grace has called you unto His eternal glory.
“Oh! call others, say to others 'come,' that they may share the glory. Oh, teach others to fear the Lord, to speak of the Lord, and to think upon His name; that the Lord may hearken and write their names in His book of remembrance, ‘and they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.'”
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