Christie, the King's Servant / A Sequel to Christie's Old Organ""

rawn in, and the worn-out fishermen had come on shore. They knew nothing of the Mary Ann; they had lost sight of her soon aft

l we tell Pol

uld wait no longer, but had run down to the shore to hasten her husband up the hill. She was trembling from head

to Saltburn or Staithes maybe; these gales they drive

She stretched out her hands feebly

I can bear it

and there were very few dry eyes amongs

ed the bedroom I thought the little soul had passed away, but I bent

g but shake his head in the ominous way which doctors have when they feel a case is beyond their power

ad determined to watch with Polly beside little John, if he was still living. My young friends, Bob and Harry, joined m

Whatever the object was, it was coming rapidly shoreward; wind and tide were both with it, and it was being borne swiftly along. After a little time we could distinguish, even without the help of a

water to meet it. I do not think it was necessary to look at the name upon it as it was dragged out of the water: we

just behind me, when she read the name on the boat. I thought the shock and the sorrow had driven her mad,

e truth at once. She did not scream nor cry, but she looked as if she had been turned into stone. No word escaped her lips, not a tea

every movement. We tried to say a few words of comfort, but she did not seem even to hear our voices. Yet no moan, no

think they knew how tired I was, worn out more by feeling than by want of sleep, and they were very good to me. I do not think my own mother could have been more kind to me than Mrs. Christie was that ni

again, but she came and talked to me, and made me look from my sorrow to my little boy's gain,

st for all He had done for me, and I was very glad to be able to do any little thing to show my love to Him. It seemed to me then, and it seems to me still, that the way in which we can please Him best is by showing kindness to Hi

burning up, I cleared the table, carried the dirty plates and cups into the small back kitchen, found a tablecloth and a clean cup and saucer, and filled the kettle. As soon as the fire was hot enough I put the kettle on, and cutting a slice from the loaf I made some nice

f all, namely, to persuade Polly to come

ould not listen to my pleading words. Yet I could see that she was almost fainting, and I knew that she would ne

use to her, she must not refuse to go downstairs for a few minutes at least, and I promised her to watch little John very carefully, and

il-lamp which stood on the table, upon which had been placed the medicine and

ide in you, ye shall ask what ye wi

arly and distinctly as if the page had been lighted with electric light. 'Two conditions an

as fulfilling that condition. I humbly hoped I was; for, oh, I longed to be

as; for I felt that if Christ told me to go to the North Pole, or to an African desert, I would obey

the promise? I be

need. I felt very strongly that all power was in the hands of Christ, and that He who healed the sick on earth had lost none of His power, now that He was exalted to t

nd I heard the sound of sobbing. I was thankful to hear it; the tears had

t that had helped her to give way to the tears which were such a relief to her? It was a very simple thing. She had picked up from the floor a little toy, a tiny roughly-shaped boat, which Duncan had made for the child, and which had been little John's greatest treasure. There had come over her such a rush of memories of the happy days of the past, gone, as she believed, for ever, of the father whose fingers had so busily carved the boat for

don't lose heart; I believ

r eyes. 'I feel better now, a deal better, I do. You h

ke up the fire, and then I'll come a

I saw as she rose to go that the stony look had go

previous night. I was glad to see that Polly herself at length fell asleep in her chair; little John's hand lay in hers, and I knew she

t the door. It seemed a strange time for a visitor, but I thought probably it was some neighbour come to offer to help Polly in her long night watch, or perhaps it was Mr.

ee any man than I was that night to see Duncan, alive and uninjured, whilst all day long I had been picturi

me in to the fire, but at

'am I too late? Tell me the truth, sir; don

s, and he is asleep; and, Duncan, I

e said; 'thank

rebuked myself for this doubt, for I was clinging to the promise, and the word of the Lord was

as faint and exhausted. He leant back wearily for some time and seemed unable to speak. I ha

Polly and little John were still both fast asleep, I came ba

ny's the time since I was a boy that I've been near the dark valley, but this

he thinks you are dead. Your boat

lass!' he said;

she is asleep now, and she will be

ttle lad?'

uncan, so peacef

to go up, sir, but

and she was giving him some milk. Little John was quite conscious, and looked more like himself than he had done since his il

the father whom she believed to be dead; but I bent over the

at I meant his father's spirit was coming to fetch him, for she on

tle John?' she sprang to her feet and looke

the sound of a well-known footstep on the stairs,

I glanced back from the door as I went out, and I saw the little hands held out, and I heard Duncan so