Dora
planted in hope, and now the precious shoot was caused to spring forth
by Him who giveth the increase. This precious shoot of moral strength,
ungainly, and without form or comeliness to the world, she watered,
tended, and watched, with earnest faith for the Husbandman, whose
pruning knife should convert it into a goodly tree. Emma sometimes came
to her friend with puzzling questions; among those most frequently
asked were the following:--
"How mamma could be 'not at home,' when she was in her chamber?"
"How she could be extremely glad to see people who, she said, were
'bores, and not to be endured?'"
"Why it was more impolite to tell people what was foolish in their
appearance, than to laugh about this appearance in their absence?"
It was difficult to answer these questions, without casting a shade
over those whom Dora wished the child to love and respect. Sometimes
she told the little girl that it would often hurt people's feelings and
make them very miserable, to know just what others thought of them. And
yet the child would reply: "You say that if we would listen to God's
little voice in our hearts, it would tell us all that is wrong. Why
does he want to hurt folks' feelings? You had me read in the Bible
about the truth, how, if we come to love it, it would make us free; but
mamma says it is often impolite to speak the truth."
Dora felt, as many under similar circumstances have felt, the earnest
question pressing upon her heart: "Who is sufficient for these things?"
and with greater trembling was it asked, as Emma grew in stature and
increased in knowledge; for she saw that with the good seeds thorns had
sprung up.
Pages:
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69