CHAPTER XI.
"As out of a dream, paths impossible to sense and every day show plain and sudden transit into distant places, so from your shut souls widens out an entrance way into God's everlasting joy!"
--_A. D. T. Whitney._
At last the time came. She was to go for the last class in Marlow. Thelast problem as to what to be done while she was gone had been solved.The children were to be under the kind care of Anna, who agreed to doher best in looking after them.
Mrs. Hayden's wardrobe had received the necessary additions, thequestion of affording was not asked again, for it was like asking if shecould afford food or clothing.
It meant a great deal to her, going out in the world to get thiswonderful knowledge. It was a new way of seeking the kingdom of heaven,and it must surely teach the right knock that would open the door. Thelittle light that had already come to her proved that, for never beforein all her years of hungry longing had she been so well fed, so visiblynourished. Surely her soul could not be mistaken in thus dictating herquest.
"It seems too good to be true, John, that there _is_ a way and that I amgoing to find it," she said a few days before she went away.
"I am very glad, dear Marion, for your sake, that you are so happy inthis. It certainly is a beautiful religion as far as we can understandit."
"Yes, the very thing we tried so hard to find during all those years ofdarkness, and I have begun to actually feel thankful for ourmisfortunes, because it seems they have led us into this knowledge. Whatwould we have known or cared for Miss Greening, had we been living inthe mansion on the hill? Or what would we have believed, even if we hadread something about Christian Healing?"
"It is hard to tell, but if you are content I am, wifie, although Ishould like the old home again."
Like many others he was able to appreciate the material good things, butknew not that the material are but emblems or symbols of the spiritual.
"We shall possess something far better than all the palaces and kingdomsof the earth, if we get this 'pearl of great price.' I know now what itmeans for the rich to hardly enter the kingdom of heaven. It is becausethey are so satisfied in their rich possessions they feel they haveeverything worth having and need nothing more. That very indifferenceand apathy keeps them from getting spiritual treasures."
"How true that is, Marion," said her husband, stroking his mustachethoughtfully.
Just then the door bell rang and the girl presently ushered Grace andKate into the room.
"Why, how do you do? I am more than glad to see you," said Mrs. Hayden,warmly grasping a hand in each of hers.
"It is such a lovely evening that we felt we should like a walk, and aswe generally gravitate toward your house, here we are," said Kate,laying aside her hat.
"Do you know I am going to Marlow to take the Christian Healinglessons?" asked Mrs. Hayden, with a bright smile, as they were cosilyseated for their chat.
"Are you, really? I am so glad, Mrs. Hayden," said Grace. "When are yougoing?"
"Monday, on the afternoon train, and I shall be gone three weeks. Itseems a long time now, but I hope it will be so profitable and pleasantthat it will not seem long while it is passing."
Kate looked very grave. Finally she said: "Well, Mrs. Hayden, I am sorryyou are going."
"Why?" exclaimed Mrs. Hayden.
"Why?" echoed Grace, and the host looked the interrogation he did notverbally express.
"Because I am seriously afraid it is wrong. Just a few days ago I had atalk with the minister, and he is very decided in his denunciation ofit, saying it is plainly contrary to the teachings of the Bible, and Ihave been reading an article this afternoon that is very convincing inits arguments against it. No, Grace, you needn't shake your head. I havebeen cowardly and lazy long enough about my religion, now I shall standup for what I think is right, and I love Mrs. Hayden too well not towarn her of what I believe to be a most dangerous heresy."
She had evidently nerved herself to say this, but her voice trembledwith earnestness, and when she finished there were tears in her eyes.
"I thank you, dear Kate, for your sincere regard, and appreciate yourmotive most deeply, but of course, that can not change my mind now,"said Mrs. Hayden, much touched.
"That, of course, is for you to decide, but I have suddenly realized myreligious responsibility as never before, and have been earnestlyconsidering this matter. At first it seemed all right and verybeautiful, but I believe it is only the work of the devil to get peopleinto his net of wickedness."
Grace was too astonished for speech; now she understood what Kate hadmeant by her disinclination to talk on the subject since that night theyhad heard Miss Greening. _Now_ her thoughtful spells were explained, aswell as her eager desire to come here to-night.
"I do not see why the ministers should oppose it as they do," said Mr.Hayden, after a short silence.
"If you look back over the history you will find they opposed givingfreedom to the slaves; they opposed the temperance movement until it wasforced upon them. Many of them now oppose woman's suffrage, though theiraudiences are often composed almost entirely of women. It seems a greatmystery why they should oppose any of these good and necessary reforms,but I think it is because they are only mortal men, and have many mortalfaults and a great deal of mortal ignorance," said Grace, recovering hertongue at last.
"It seems to me if everybody would read the words of Jesus and followhis example they would never be harsh, or critical, or uncharitable, andabove all, they would not judge anybody or anything without a righteousreason. The whole burden of his teaching is expressed in the sentence:'Little children, love one another,'" was Mrs. Hayden's opinion. Katelooked at her gratefully.
"We would have a very different world if every one followed that law,and we have never heard a better one. The only difficulty is to know_how_ to follow it," added Mr. Hayden.
"We must know the whole truth if we would be free from all error, and wecan only get truth by earnestly seeking for it, is my firm conviction,"said his wife.
"If the truth makes us free, certainly we ought to search for it, and aswe get it we can not be moved from our position, for by the nature oftruth it is forever the same. Imagine anybody telling me two times twoare five. If they argued and talked forever they could not prove it, fora lie can never be proved true."
"That's capital reasoning, Grace," exclaimed Mr. Hayden, admiringly.
"Then if these ministers are in the right," she continued, "why shouldthey need to be so active and emphatic and malevolent, as they sometimesare, in their denunciation of what they call a lie, because if it is alie, won't it prove itself? And if their position is assured, and thetruth must necessarily be assuring, since that is the essence and natureof it, if their position is assured, why is there any need of suchresistance? Jesus plainly taught the _non_-resistance of evil, if I readmy Bible correctly this morning. I have been studying religion somewhat,too, the last few weeks," she concluded, glancing at Kate ratherapologetically.
"It would be well if we studied it a great deal more earnestly than wehave before," said Kate, flushing warmly.
"Well, Kate, isn't one of our best ways a thorough investigation of it?"
"Yes, of course."
"Then I intend to look into Christian Healing at my earliestopportunity, and see what there is in it. If there is nothing, it cannot hurt me. If there is something, it will prove _itself_, and I shallgladly accept the help it gives," and Grace rested on her oars.
"I have a suggestion to make," said Mr. Hayden, "and that is that Mrs.Hayden write us a report of each day's lecture, and you can come downand we will read them together, or I can hand them to you after I havefinished them."
"Capital!" exclaimed Grace. "Will you do that, Mrs. Hayden?"
"I will do the best I can, and be delighted. It will help me as well asyou; but they will be nothing but ordinary letters, for I would haveneither the time nor the ability to write lectures." Then she added,turning to Kate, "
You will read them, too, won't you, dear? for I dowant you to understand that this is the true Christ-religion, and asGrace says, if it is true it will prove itself."
"I do not object to reading your letters; indeed shall be glad of theprivilege," replied Kate, with a deprecatory gesture.
"You must be sure and give us the practical part, so we can learn bypractice as well as theory," said Mr. Hayden, playfully.
"Yes, and I will promise to be a faithful student, if that will be anyinducement," added Grace; "and I know Kathie will, too; won't you?"
"Don't say any more, please. You all know I want what is true and good,"she replied, huskily.
* * * * *
It seemed hard to say the good-byes, even to go on this little trip.Mrs. Hayden looked at the children and home through blinding tears asher husband helped her into the carriage. They did not say much as theydrove away to the depot, and both were deeply moved. There seemed such amomentous meaning in this journey.
"You must promise to write often, John?"
"Yes, dear Marion, and don't worry about us."
"I shall write every day, John, and I _do_ want you to grow with me.Read the lessons please, very carefully."
"Yes; good-bye."
A kiss, and he was off. She waved her hand as the train started.
Like a leaf on the rippling river, gently touching the stones or mossesin passing, but hurrying on to a broader outlook and a straighterpathway, we float in the varying current of life, now dallying withyouth's pleasures and playfully touching the problems before us, thensent adrift by a deep desire to _know_, we go out on a voyage ofdiscovery, and be the winds rough or gentle, we go on till harbored atlast.
Nor would we leave thee, gentle Truth. May thy voice guide andstrengthen and cheer; thy sweet knowledge be the lamp to our path; thywords of wisdom our armor and shield, and all the sweet enchantment ofthy presence be with us forevermore.