Part III
It was not easy, in those times of persecution, for a person to read the Bible long without being discovered. Edmund and Anne had been charged by their mother, on no account to talk to their young companions, or indeed to any person, of what they had read, or to hint to anyone that they had a New Testament in the house. They were obedient children, and took care to keep the secret. But their mother had quite forgotten little Maude, and through her the priest discovered that Master Croft possessed a New Testament.
You may imagine the priest was not very long in giving information to the officers whose duty it was to search the houses of those who were suspected of having New Testaments in their possession.
That very day, as Mistress Croft was sitting quietly at her spinning-wheel, her husband came into the room with a troubled look.
“Wife,” said he, hurriedly, “it is as I feared by some means or other, the search-officers have got to know that we have a testament—they will be here in half an hour—the nurse is just come in, and says that her brother, who is one of the officers, gave her a hint of their intentions, so the good creature hurried back to warn us. Where shall we hide it? Come—think.”
“Oh, then you will not give it up!”
“Give it up! no, indeed, not as long as there are holes and corners to hide it in.
I must say, I like the book; and, if I did not, I would not give it up at the bidding of a meddling priest; and as for my lord, the king, why, I think he should make up his own mind what to believe, before he punishes his faithful subjects for not being able to change their notions as fast as he does himself.”
Meantime, Mistress Croft was not idle—she had thought of a place in which to hide) the precious book. Without saying a word to her husband, she took it from its usual hiding place, put it in her capacious pocket, and with a plate of bones in her hand, went out to the court-yard where there was a large mastiff chained to a kennel. Neptune barked with joy at seeing his mistress. She caressed him a little, and then taking the treasured volume from her pocket, placed it on the straw inside his kennel, saying—”Mind it, Neptune—mind it, good dog!” and then gave him the bones she had brought, and left him. She knew that the book was as safe under his keeping as it would have been if guarded by a file of soldiers; for, clumsy and ugly as he was, he knew very well what she meant, and would have torn any one to pieces that had attempted to take it from him.
His good mistress then returned to the house, and informed her husband, she had found a safe hiding-place, but she would rather not tell him where, unless he wished it; so she and the dog had the secret between them.
Presently the men came to search the house.
“I have had information against you, Master Croft,” said the foremost of them, handing him a warrant, “that you have in your house, contrary to the express prohibition of his gracious highness, one of those injurious, dangerous, and heretical books—a New Testament. I ask you if this is true?”
“Save your fine speeches, sir; and spare yourself the trouble of asking questions which will not he answered. If I understand it rightly, your warrant authorizes you to search, but not to question and examine your betters. Do your work, sir.”
The man bit his lip, mortified at being unable to show off his self-importance; he and the others set to work, and examined every part of the house, but unsuccessfully. Corners into which a mouse could scarcely have squeezed itself, were eagerly looked into. Beds, pillows, and cushions, got many a rough shake; but it was all of no use, and the men were getting quite impatient. They had ransacked every part of the house, the shop, and the warehouse; as a last effort, they went into the court-yard to examine the out-buildings. Neptune seemed to consider this a most impertinent invasion of his territory, and saluted the intruders with his most angry growls and barks.
“Do you see that dog, how he is placed close against the stable?” said one of the men. “I’ll warrant now, that’s the place where these heretics have hid their book.”
“Ay, then we’ll cheat them, that will we” said the leader—”Ho, there! down, sir! he down, brute!”
Neptune had no notion either of lying down, or of letting them pass him; but when his master made his appearance, and ordered him to be quiet, he durst not but obey, and sat at the mouth of his kennel, showing his teeth most fiercely, and with low, deep growls saying to himself that, for once, he knew better than his master, and would very much like to make the intruders keep their distance.
Of course, the search was unsuccessful. The men were obliged to go away disappointed and Neptune barked in triumph till he was hoarse. It was quite plain he knew he had done his duty well, for when his mistress (who had watched all from an upper window) came to take the book from him, and patted his rough, shaggy head, he wagged his tail, and looked the happiest of dogs. “Ah, Neptune,” said she, as she went back to the house, “thou little knowest what thou hast saved!”
(To be continued.)
Messages of God’s Love 9/13/1908