Book: Aunt Harding\'s Keepsakes
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AUNT HARDING'S KEEPSAKES:
OR, THE TWO BIBLES
REVISED BY DANIEL P. KIDDER.
1851.
[Illustration A: Frontispiece]
CONTENTS.
I. GUESSING
II. THE PRESENTS
III. USE OF THE KEEPSAKES
IV. TWO CHARACTERS
V. LETTERS FROM INDIA
VI. TROUBLE BETWEEN SISTERS
VII. AUNT HARDING'S LETTER
VIII. USE OF MONEY
IX. AUNT HARDING'S RETURN
AUNT HARDING'S KEEPSAKES.
CHAPTER I.
GUESSING.
"Can you guess," said Louisa to her sister, as they sat at their work
in the summer-house, "can you guess what aunt Harding will give us, as
a keepsake, before she goes away?"
"No, I have not thought about it," said Emma; "and aunt has lately
given us so many pretty things, that we can scarcely expect any more
for a long time to come. There is my doll and its cradle, you know,
and your baby-house and furniture, how much money they cost! No, I do
not think aunt intends to give us anything else."
"But I am quite sure she will," replied Louisa; "for I was going past
mamma's dressing-room this morning, when the door was a little way
open, and I heard aunt Harding say, 'I should like to give the dear
girls something really useful, which they may value as they grow
older.' I did not hear anymore, because mamma has always told us it is
not right to listen, and so I came away as fast as I could."
"Well, I wonder what the present will be?" said Emma, now quite
convinced.
"What should you think of two handsome work-boxes--or, perhaps, as I
am the eldest, of a work-box for yourself, and writing-desk for me?"
"That would be charming!" said Emma; "and I would let you use my
work-box, and you could lend me your writing-desk sometimes."
"I will not make any promises," said Louisa; "you know you are very
careless, and I should not like my nice new desk to be stained with
ink, or, perhaps, scratched with the point of a pin."
"But mamma says I am growing more careful," said her sister; "and I do
not think I am so heedless about other people's things, though I often
spoil my own."
"Remember my wax doll," said Louisa, "which you left in the garden
through that heavy shower of rain, so that I could never play with it
again."
"O, that was such a very long time ago!" said Emma, looking a little
vexed.
"Perhaps it will not be a writing-desk nor a work-box that aunt
Harding will give us," said Louisa; "there are many other things which
we should like. I wish she would ask us to choose."
"So do I," added Emma; "but there is nothing that I should like better
than a work-box."
Louisa thought of many other things which she should be glad to have;
for she was apt to indulge in a foolish habit of wishing for what she
was not likely to possess. It is a bad thing to give way to this
failing; for by doing so we may often make ourselves unhappy, without
any good or real cause. People who do so should think of the words of
St. Paul: "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be
content." Philip. iv, 11. And children, who have kind parents or
friends to provide for all their wants, should learn that it is very
sinful to let the thoughts be often dwelling upon things that they
cannot have, and do not really need. Pray for a grateful heart, that
you may rejoice in the blessings that surround you, and be thankful to
your heavenly Father, who gives you all things richly to enjoy.
CHAPTER II.
THE PRESENTS.
Mrs. Harding, the aunt of these little girls, had been paying a
farewell visit to their mamma, before going with Mr. Harding to India,
where it was likely that they would remain for some years. She had
kindly given many little presents to her nieces during her stay with
them; but they were such as Louisa and Emma would cease to value when
they became old enough to "put away childish things;" and being a
person of piety and judgment, she wished her last gift to be one which
might be worthy of their regard in youth and in age, and through all
the changes of life. It did not take any long time to determine what
this parting gift should be.
The evening before she went away, she called Louisa and Emma into the
room. They both looked round upon the table and chests of drawers, but
no sign of a present was to be seen; no parcel neatly wrapped up in
brown paper, nor anything like a work-box or a desk. But, to do them
justice, the thought of what they might receive was not then uppermost
in their mind; for their heart was full of grief at the prospect of
parting with their aunt, whom they dearly loved, and who was going so
very far away.
"Sit down beside me, dear children," said their aunt Harding, "and let
us have a little talk together, quietly by ourselves. I wish to give
you a few parting words of advice. I am sure that you will not forget
me when I am gone; and when you think of me, I hope that the good
things which I have tried to teach you will also come into your mind."
Both Louisa and Emma said, again and again, that they could never
forget her, and they promised to remember her advice.
"Your mamma will often write to me concerning you," said aunt Harding,
"and I cannot express the joy that it will afford me to hear that you
are learning to hate sin more and more, and to live like children of
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I shall be glad to find that you
are improving in your studies, and I hope that every letter will bring
me an account of your progress in useful knowledge; but I shall be far
more anxious to hear of your being good and dutiful to your parents;
and, above all, I shall long to know if you seek in earnest for the
pardon of your sins, through the blood of Christ, and whether there is
any proof in your conduct that your evil hearts have been changed by
the grace of the Holy Spirit."
"If mamma sends you a good account of us," said Louisa, "please to
remember, aunt, that you promised to write to us when that was the
case. And you will write to me first, because I am the eldest, you
know."
"Since you claim to be thought of first," replied her aunt, "because
you are a year older then your sister, I hope you intend to take the
lead by setting before her a good example, that it may be well for her
to imitate you in every respect."
Louisa blushed, and was silent. "We will try our very best, dear
aunt," said Emma, "that mamma may send you good news, and then you
will write to us both. And, perhaps, before you come back, we shall be
grown such good girls, that you will not be able to find fault with
either of us."
"I am afraid that is not very likely," said Louisa; "for it seems as
if we could not help being naughty sometimes. I am sure I have often
said to myself, 'Mamma shall not have to reprove me once to-day,' and
yet, directly after, something has been amiss."
"O! that is quite true," said Emma, with a sigh.
"The reason is this," their aunt replied; "you were born with an evil
nature, which loves sin and leads you to do wrong, so that you cannot
be good and dutiful of yourselves. When you have made such resolves,
it has been in your own strength, without your having asked for help
from God; and this being the case, it was not possible that you should
keep from sin. The only way to lead a holy life is to put no trust in
ourselves, to have a constant sense of our need of divine grace, and
to pray earnestly that it may be given to us for Christ's sake."
"But you talk of my return," added she, "as if it were certain that we
should meet again; yet how many things may happen to prevent it!
Nothing can be more uncertain than the future, though young people are
apt to think that all will fall out just as they wish. I may not live
to come back; or if I should be spared to do so, who can tell that you
will be here to meet me? Long before that time you may be laid low in
the narrow grave. 'For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that
appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.' James iv, 14."
Before their aunt Harding had done speaking, both the children were in
tears; for the thought that they might never see her again was more
than they could bear. Seeing that their hearts were softened to
receive the word of instruction, she went on to talk to them in a kind
and earnest manner on the great importance of preparing for another
world, showing them their awful state without the Saviour, and urging
them to seek him at once by faith and prayer; then, further to impress
her advice upon their minds, she unlocked a little cabinet which stood
near her, and taking out two handsome Bibles,[A] gave one to each of
her nieces, telling them that as it was the best present she could
give them, so she hoped they would value it, not only for her sake,
but because it was the word of God, and taught the way of eternal
life. After this, she desired them to kneel down with her, while she
offered a fervent prayer that God would bless them, and that they
might be led by the Holy Spirit into the fold of Christ, who died to
take away their sins. And she also prayed, that if they should never
more see each other in this world, they and all whom they loved might
meet again and be happy for ever in heaven.
[Footnote A: See frontispiece.]
Now I will not say that when the sisters were alone together, and
looked at their handsome Bibles, a thought of the work-box and the
writing-desk never crossed their minds; but it is certain that there
was not a word said upon the subject, and each seemed to be greatly
pleased with her present, admiring the rich purple binding, and
opening the book with care, to look at the name which had been nicely
written by their aunt on one of the blank leaves at the beginning. In
Louisa's Bible, just under her name, was the text, "Open thou mine
eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law," Psa. cxix,
18; and in Emma's, in the same place, was written, "I love them that
love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." Prov. viii, 17.
CHAPTER III.
USE OF THE KEEPSAKES.
The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away,
and to those who were left behind. The children could talk of little
else than their uncle and aunt Harding. They asked their mother many
questions about the journey they had begun, and the country to which
they were going. When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very
sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not
tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each
chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment. Louisa began to
arrange the furniture in her baby-house, and Emma brought a piece of
brown silk from her drawer of treasures, and set about making a cover
for her new Bible.
"Why, Emma, what are you about?" cried Louisa, after watching her
sister for a moment; "surely you are not going to use that beautiful
book?"
"Yes, I am," said Emma, quietly; "I mean to read a little in it every
day. Ah! I see that you think it will soon be torn and soiled; but I
assure you I intend to be very careful; and look, what a nice cover
this will make!"
"I am afraid," said Louisa, laughing, "you will never be careful as
long as you live. To think of so soon beginning to use that handsome
book! I have made up my mind to read a chapter every day, but not out
of my new Bible. I think the old one, that lies in the school-room,
will do just as well."
"So it would," returned Emma; "and I thought of that myself last
night, when aunt Harding told us how much she wished us to be good,
and to love the Scriptures: but then the school-room Bible is not
always in its place, and that might sometimes hinder me from reading
at all. Now I shall keep this book in my little drawer in our room,
where I can find it in a minute."
"You must please yourself, I suppose," said Louisa; "but I will ask
mamma whether it is better to use aunt Harding's Bible or the old
one."
Mrs. Western heard what her little girl had to say, but did not give
just the answer that Louisa expected. "You are right," she said, "in
supposing that it does not signify whether you read in an old Bible or
a new one. It is from the divine blessing upon what we read, and not
from the book itself, that we must look for benefit to our souls. If
you pray for this blessing with all your heart, you will find the way
of salvation as plainly declared in the worn-out school-room Bible as
in your aunt Harding's keepsake, with its purple binding and shining
gilt leaves. But yet I approve of Emma's wish to use her new Bible
from this time, and advise you to follow her example. For though it
ought to be our great delight to read the Scriptures, yet we have such
sinful hearts, so ready to put off doing what is right for any poor
excuse, that even such a little thing as having to look for the Bible,
when it happens to be mislaid, will be likely to prevent you from
reading it so constantly as you intend."
To this Louisa made no reply. She had wrapped up her beautiful book in
silver paper, and laid it carefully in a box, under lock and key, and
she did not mean to disturb it, except perhaps now and then for a few
moments, that it might be looked at and admired. As for Emma, she went
on fitting the brown silk cover as neatly as she could; and hoping
that, if she prayed for the divine blessing, as her mother and aunt
had told her, she might learn from her precious Bible the way to be
good and happy.
CHAPTER IV.
TWO CHARACTERS.
It is time that I should tell you the age of these two little girls.
Louisa was just turned of ten, and Emma was one year younger. I have
no doubt that although you know so little about them, you already like
Emma better than her sister; and the reason of this is plain. No one
could be long with Louisa without finding out that she was a selfish
child; while Emma, though she had many faults, of which carelessness
was the chief, was of a kind, good-natured disposition, always ready
to oblige. Louisa, too, was often willful, and would not give up her
own way; while Emma was humble-minded, knowing that she had much to
learn, and thankful to be taught. Both of these children were sinners,
like all who are born into this sinful world: but Louisa cared little
about the concerns of her soul; while Emma had begun to pray in secret
for pardon through Christ her Saviour, and for the new heart which is
the gift of his Holy Spirit.
Reader, you too are a sinner, and by nature far from God. Do you ever
consider what is your present state? Have you been brought near to him
by the blood of Christ, the new and living way? You may have heard of
these things before, but without giving heed to the salvation of your
own soul, or seeking to prepare for the world to come. If this has
been the case, pause now, and ask yourself whither you are going, and
what must be the end, if you do not repent and turn from sin. There
are many awful texts in the Bible concerning those who trifle with the
offers of divine mercy, and harden their hearts against the Saviour's
gracious call. O! pray that you may not be one of this unhappy number.
Seek the Lord while he may be found, before the day of grace is past.
God has said that his "Spirit shall not always strive with man," Gen.
vi, 3; and if you will not repent to-day, to-morrow may be too late.
Emma's Bible was nicely covered, and laid in her own little drawer;
and every morning she read a chapter before she went down stairs. She
prayed that God would teach her by his Holy Spirit to understand what
she read; and though her prayers were very simple, and she scarcely
knew what words to use, yet she felt sure that he would hear her,
because he has promised to do so, for the sake of his dear Son. And by
degrees, as she began to love her Bible more and more, she learned a
habit of going to their little room alone, once in each day, to read a
few verses in private, and to offer a short prayer to her "Father who
seeth in secret." Matt, vi, 6. She found a great blessing in this; and
it often happened that the thought of a text of Scripture which she
had been reading in her room alone would come into her mind when she
was afterward tempted to say or do something wrong, and thus help to
keep her from sin.
It was not so with Louisa. The Bible was often wanted in the
schoolroom--for the children had a governess who came to teach them
every day; and Louisa soon found it too much trouble to take the book
up stairs at night, and to carry it down again the next morning.
Besides this, she did not always rise from her bed in time to read a
chapter, so that it was often put off till after breakfast, and then
it commonly happened that she had other things to do, and did not read
it at all. Emma would sometimes gently remind her that her Bible
reading had been forgotten; but this made Louisa so cross that she
left off doing so at last. The truth was, that this poor child had no
real love for the Scriptures; and as she did not seek for grace to
help her, the good resolves that she had made passed away quickly from
her mind.
The difference between the sisters was seen in their outward conduct;
for Emma's reading of the Bible would have been in vain if the effects
had not been shown in her temper and daily life. I do not mean to say
that she never went wrong; for Emma had still an evil nature, and a
sinful heart, often leading her to forget the commands of God. But she
was truly sorry when this had been the case, and would ask to be
forgiven with many tears; and she also prayed for divine grace, that
she might try to be more watchful for the time to come. Louisa, on the
other hand, thought too highly of herself to be easily convinced of a
fault; and as she seldom received reproof in an humble and proper
manner, she made but little progress toward improvement.
CHAPTER V.
LETTERS FROM INDIA.
Some months passed before there came a letter from Mrs. Harding; for
India, as you know, is many thousands of miles from here, and it takes
a long time for a ship to sail over the wide sea which lies between.
But great was the joy of the children and their mother when at last
the good tidings came that, through the mercy of God, their friends
had reached that distant country, safe and well. Louisa danced and
clapped her hands; and Emma felt very happy, sitting beside her
mother, and looking up in her face, while she read the letter through
tears of pleasure.
Mrs. Harding had written a few lines to the children, which their
mother read aloud to them, and then allowed them to look at for
themselves. The words were these: "I often think of you, dear Louisa
and Emma, and pray for divine blessings upon you both; and I hope to
hear that you are giving yourselves to the Saviour, who died upon the
cross for you. You know the love of Jesus for the young; his kindness
to them when he was upon earth; and the tender way in which he still
invites them to come to him. Go, then, to Christ without delay: ask
him to be your friend, and you will be happy for evermore."
A few weeks after this letter had been received, Mrs. Western's
birthday arrived, when it was usual for her children to have a holiday
and a little treat. On the morning of this day, as Emma was running up
stairs, her mamma called to her from her dressing-room, and desired
her to come in, and to shut the door. Emma did as she was bid; and
then Mrs. Western, with a smile on her face, told her to look round,
and try if she could discover anything in the room that she had not
seen before.
Almost before her mother had done speaking, the little girl fixed her
eyes upon a handsome work-box, standing upon the table with the lid
open, and showing a lining of pale blue silk, edged with silver; while
within were scissors and thimble, an abundance of needles and cotton,
everything, in short, that Emma had long been wishing for in vain.
"It is yours, my dear," said her mamma; "it is a present from your
aunt Harding, who, in her letter, requested me to choose for you on my
birthday something that you would like, if your conduct should have
been such as to deserve a token of our approval. I am happy to see
that you strive to amend your faults, and I trust that you will still
go on trying to improve."
"O, mamma, how beautiful! and how kind in aunt Harding! Indeed I will
try to deserve it." And the little girl went close to the box, and
looked at its contents, but without venturing to touch them; then
gently closing the lid, she stood gazing upon it with silent delight.
"But, mamma," said Emma, looking up with a sudden thought, and casting
her eyes round the room as if in search of something which was not to
be seen, "where is Louisa's present? She would like a writing-desk, I
know; for the old work-box which she has had so long is not yet worn
out, because she is so very careful."
"I am sorry to say," returned Mrs. Western, "that Louisa is not
deserving of any present, and therefore it would have been wrong to
provide one for her."
At hearing this, Emma changed color, and looked almost ready to cry.
"Dear mamma," said she, "do pray have pity on poor Louisa. I cannot
bear to show her my beautiful box, if she is not to have a present
too. She would be so much grieved."
"My dear," said Mrs. Western, "do you not perceive that it would be
unjust and contrary to your aunt's wish, if, while Louisa gives way to
her faults, I were to treat her as though she were seeking to overcome
them? It is quite as painful to me as to yourself to make this needful
difference between you; but in all our actions we must think of what
is _right_, and not of what it would be _pleasant_ to do. When I see
any sign of improvement in your sister, I shall gladly provide her
with a writing-desk; but not till then."
Emma paused for a moment; her eyes filled with tears, and the color
rose to her face. "Then mamma," said she, "I will wait, if you please,
for my work-box, until you think proper to give Louisa her desk.
Please to put it away in some safe place, and I will not say anything
about it. I can do very well without the box a little while longer,
you know."
When Mrs. Western found that Emma was willing to deny herself a
pleasure rather than give pain to her sister, she consented to her
wish, because she desired to encourage kind and tender feelings
between them; and she knew it would be easy to find some other way of
showing Louisa that her friends were grieved and displeased by her
conduct. So the work-box was safely put away for the present; though
Emma had her hopes that the time would soon come when, with the
promised writing-desk, it might be again brought forward.
CHAPTER VI.
TROUBLE BETWEEN SISTERS.
I have told you that Emma was not without her faults; and whether she
was a little lifted up by her mother's approval, so that she became
less watchful over herself, and felt less her need of the grace of
God, I cannot say: but so it was, that on the very same evening of
their mother's birthday, the sisters had a quarrel, which would
certainly have been worse, if Mrs. Western had not been sitting by.
Louisa was the first to blame; but, on the other hand, Emma did not
behave like a meek and Christian child.
It was about Louisa's old work-box that this quarrel took place. Emma
wished to have the use of it for a short time, as Louisa did not want
it herself: but Louisa, as you have seen, was not very willing to
lend; and some sharp and unkind words passed between them, such as
children too often use when they give way to angry and sinful
passions. No doubt the thought of her own work-box was in Emma's mind
when she said, "You are selfish and ill-natured, Louisa, and do not
deserve that people should give up any pleasure for you."
While she was speaking, she saw her mother's eyes turned toward her
with a look of surprise and sorrow; and at the same moment the words
of Scripture, "Be kindly affectioned one toward another," came into
her mind. She blushed and looked down while Mrs. Western reproved them
both, and told them of the grief which, she felt on account of their
sinful conduct, reminding them also of the example of the meek and
lowly Jesus, who has commanded us to live in love. Emma was soon
brought to tears, and went out of the room to weep alone, and ask
forgiveness, for her Saviour's sake, from the holy God whom she had
displeased by her sin: but Louisa, as usual, was inclined to be
sullen, and did not think that she had been at all in the wrong. Upon
this, her mother pointed out to her the unkindness of refusing so
small a favor to her sister; and in the hope of bringing her to a
sense of her fault, she told her what had passed in the morning, and
made known to her the whole affair of the work-box. Louisa was so much
struck by this proof of Emma's love, that her heart was quite
softened, and she not only owned that she had done amiss, but ran to
seek her sister, and asked her to forget their quarrel and be friends.
Emma was very glad to agree to this, and was also ready to take her
share of blame, saying that she had been very wrong in speaking so
unkindly, and she hoped never to be so naughty again. It was pleasant
after this, to see Louisa's desire that her sister should use the old
work-box, and what care Emma showed in keeping all its contents nicely
in their place.