“ARE you coming with us to the picnic tomorrow, Helen?” said Mary.
“No, I can’t leave home, for Mother must go out and Agnes would be alone,” answered Helen.
“It’s such a pity to spend a holiday in the house in this weather. Couldn’t someone else stay with Agnes?”
And Helen walked slowly home, thinking of the treat the other girls were to have the next day. She loved a picnic and the time of year was just right for on outing.
When her mother was preparing to leave for town the next morning, Helen mentioned the picnic and asked her mother if she might get Margaret Hill to stay with Agnes.
“No, Helen,” said her mother, “I’d rather you would stay today till I get home and besides, Margaret is busy today.”
So Helen took her work and sat down beside her sick little sister, but I’m afraid she wasn’t very pleasant company for her. She gazed out of the window at the sunshine and longed to be away in the woods with her friends.
“It seems a fine day, Helen,” Agnes said at last, “it’s too bad you can’t be out.”
“Oh, I don’t mind staying with you, Agnes, but I wish Mother had chosen some other day for going to town. This is the big picnic today, and Mary was so disappointed that I couldn’t go.”
“I’m very sorry,” sighed poor Agnes, “I spoil everyone’s pleasure, but you could still go, and I won’t want anything before you get back and I’ll try and not be frightened.”
“Oh, no, Agnes, I wouldn’t think of leaving you alone, but if Margaret Hill could sit with you awhile, I might go,” “That would be a good idea. Did you ask Mother?”
“She was afraid Margaret was busy today, but don’t you think I might run over and try? Mother often leaves you with her.”
“Yes, she’s very kind and she tells me such nice stories,” replied Agnes.
“Well, you won’t mind being alone while I go to the Hill’s house. If I can get Margaret I’ll send her here. If not I’ll come back myself.”
Helen ran off immediately and about half way there met one of Margaret’s brothers.
“Oh, Johnnie,” she said, “you can tell me what I want. Where is Margaret today?”
“At home. She’s not doing anything particular. If you’re coming to the picnic, it’s time we were off.”
“I can’t, unless Margaret stays with Agnes till Mother comes home from town,” replied Helen.
“Sure, she will. I’ll run across the fields and ask her. If you run, you’ll catch the other girls before they reach the woods.”
Presently Helen caught up with her friends, very pleased with herself for having arranged everything so nicely. Johnnie told her, when he arrived, that he had told his mother the message for Margaret. And so Helen set out to enjoy herself. But somehow she couldn’t keep her mind from straying back to little Agnes at home. She couldn’t get rid of an uncomfortable feeling deep down in her heart at having left her little sister alone.
When evening came, Helen turned her steps homeward and was just turning into her own lane when she met the doctor, coming out of the house, heart stood still with fear. Running to him she said, “Oh, sir, is Agnes worse?”
“Yes, poor child,” replied the doctor “she has had a bad fall,”
“A fall! Is she hurt much?”
“Yes, her back is seriously injured,” And the doctor hurried on.
Helen stood still, almost stunned by the terrible news, for in spite of her selfishness in the morning, she loved her little sister very much. Oh, how could she hear to go into the house, and meet her mother’s sorrowful face? Yet she longed to see poor Agnes and hear all. While standing in this way, a hand was laid on her arm and a voice said “What’s the matter? You look frightened,”
Helen started and almost screamed but turning around, she saw Margaret Hill. “Oh, tell me all about it. Is she in much pain?”
“Who?”
“Agnes, don’t you know? Haven’t you just come out of the house?” ask “I don’t know what you’re talking’ about. I’ve been at my aunt’s all day, helping her with some work. What’s wrong with Agnes?”
“Then she must have been alone, when I thought you were with her,” Helen said. “Didn’t your Mother give you the message I sent by Johnnie?”
“I got no message. I’ve been away from home since morning. Your Mother knew where I was. But what’s wrong with Agnes?”
“She’s had a bad fall. I can never go in and see any of them again. Do go in, Margaret, and find out what is going on, and come out and tell me. I’ll wait here.”
Poor Helen walked up and down, her heart full of sadness, for surely she had been the cause of all this sorrow and suffering. Then in the dark with the stars coming out one by one above her head, she knelt and told the Lord Jesus all about her disobedience and her naughty heart. She asked Him to cleanse away every spot in His own precious blood and to make her heart white and clean. She knew that “the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” And her prayer was heard and the Lord Jesus washed her heart whiter than snow.
Margaret soon returned, telling Helen that Agnes had fallen in trying to reach a glass of water, and her mother had found her lying unconscious on the floor when she returned from town. Helen went into the house and crept into her room, but not to sleep. Oh, what a sad, anxious night it was, as she lay listening to Agnes’ cries from time to time. Many, many months of weary suffering were to be Agnes’, and Helen’s feelings of sorrow and love for her little sister taught her many lessons. Whenever she was tempted to please herself, she always remembered the day of the picnic and she thought of the Lord Jesus who never pleased Himself.
ML-10/23/1960