A Little Pilgrim eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 97 pages of information about A Little Pilgrim.

A Little Pilgrim eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 97 pages of information about A Little Pilgrim.

“This is for another book, to show how the grace of the Father was beautiful in some homes and families.  It is not the great history, but connected with it; and there are many who love that better than the story which is more great.”

Then the Pilgrim looked in his face and said,—­

“What I want most is, to know about your homes here.”

“It is all home here,” he said, and smiled; and then, as he met her wistful looks, he went on to tell her that he and his brothers were not always there.  “We have all our occupations,” he said, “and sometimes I am sent to inquire into facts that have happened, of which the record is not clear; for we must omit nothing; and sometimes we are told to rest and take in new strength; and sometimes—­”

“But oh, forgive me,” cried the little Pilgrim, “you had some who were more dear to you than all the world in the old time?”

And the others all looked up again at the question, and looked at her with tender eyes, and said to the man whom she questioned,—­“Speak!”

He made a little pause before he spoke, and he looked at one here and there, and called to them,—­

“Patience, brother,” and “Courage, brother.”  And then he said, “Those whom we loved best are nearly all with us; but some have not yet come.”

“Oh,” said the little Pilgrim, “but how then do you bear it, to be parted so long—­so long?”

Then one of those to whom the first speaker had called out “Patience” rose, and came to her smiling; and he said,—­

“I think every hour that perhaps she will come, and the joy will be so great, that thinking of that makes the waiting short:  and nothing here is long, for it never ends; and it will be so wonderful to hear her tell how the Father has guided her, that it will be a delight to us all; and she will be able to explain many things, not only for us, but for all; and we love each other so that this separation is as nothing in comparison with what is to come.”

It was beautiful to hear this, but it was not what the little Pilgrim expected, for she thought they would have told her of the homes to which they all returned when their work was over, and a life which was like the life of the old time; but of this they said nothing, only looking at her with smiling eyes, as at the curious questions of a child.  And there were many other things she would have asked, but refrained when she looked at them, feeling as if she did not yet understand; when one of them broke forth suddenly in a louder voice, and said,—­

“The little sister knows only the little language and the beginning of days.  She has not learned the mysteries, and what Love is, and what life is.”

And another cried, “It is sweet to hear it again;” and they all gathered round her with tender looks, and began to talk to each other, and tell her, as men will tell of the games of their childhood, of things that happened, which were half-forgotten, in the old time.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
A Little Pilgrim from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.