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heart was still too sore to enter into the half…playful manner by
which he sought to give a less gloomy cast to her thoughts。
〃Some years ago；〃 said Mr。 Eltinge； resuming his seat； 〃we had a
night of darkness and violent storm like that through which you；
poor child； have just passed。 The garden fence was blown down；
and some stray cattle got in and made sad havoc。 This pear…tree
was a little thing then； and when I came out in the morning it was
in a bad plight； I can tell you。 The wind had snapped off the top；
and it lay withering on the ground。 Worse than this； one of the
cattle had stepped on it； bruising it severely； and half breaking
it off near the root。 I don't know which of the young men you
have named this unruly beast typifiesboth of 'em； I'm inclined
to think。〃
Here Ida shook her head in protest against Van Berg being classed
with Sibley； and at the same time could not forbear the glimmer of
a smile at the old man's homely imagery。
〃Well； according to my creed；〃 continued Mr。 Eltinge； 〃'while there's
life there's hope；' so I lifted up the poor； prostrate little tree；
and tied it to a stout stake。 Then I got grafting wax and covered
the bruises and broken places； and finally tied all up as carefully
as I used to my boys' fingers when the cut them； sixty odd years
ago。 And now mark； my child； I had done all that I could do。 I
couldn't make the wounds heal or even a new twig start； and yet
here is a stately young tree beginning to bear delicious fruit。
Nature took my sorry…looking little case in hand； and slowly at
first； but by and by with increased vigor and rapidity； she developed
what you see。 I have an affection for this tree； and like to lean
against it； and sometimes I half fancy it likes to have me。〃
〃I should think it ought to；〃 said Ida； heartily； with tears in
her eyes； but a smile on her lips。
〃Well； now； my child； to go on with my parable； what nature was
to this pear…tree； nature's God must be to you。 We cannot find in
nature nor in the happiest human love that which can satisfy our
deep spiritual need； but we can find all in him who came from heaven
in our behalf。 Jesus Christ is the patient； helpful Friend you
need。 He brings more than joyeven the peace and rest that follow
full trust in One pledged to take care of us and make everything
turn out for the best。 He says of those who come to him； 'I give
unto them eternal life； and they shall never perish。' If you will
take this life from him it will never be a burden to you； and it
will always be a blessing to others。〃
〃I fear I don't quite understand you； Mr。 Eltinge。 What is this
'eternal life'this new； added life which you say Christ offers；
and which I'm sure I'd be very glad to take if I knew how？〃
〃Let Jesus answer you himself； my child。 He said plainly： 'This
is life eternal； that they might know thee the only true God； and
Jesus Christ； whom thou has sent。' Perhaps I can make our Lord's
words clearer from your own experience； if you will permit me to
refer to your feelings toward the man who； whether worthy or not
has won your love。 Suppose he is all you imagine； and that he
lavished on you the best treasures of his heart； would not life
at his side seem life in very truth； and life elsewhere but mere
existence？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Ida； with bowed head and pale cheeks。 〃I begin to
understand you now。 It seems to me that I could welcome sorrow；
poverty； and even death； at his side； and call life rich and full。
But as it isoh； Mr。 Eltinge； teach me your faith； lest I give
way to despair again！〃
〃Poor child！ poor child！ Don't my white hairs teach you that I
am on the threshold of the home in which 'God shall wipe away all
tears'？〃
〃I envy you；〃 cried Ida； almost passionately。 〃Think how far I am
from that home！〃
〃Well； you are not far from the Divine Friend who leads to that
home； and when you come to KNOW him and his love your life will
begin to grow richer and sweeter and fuller to all eternity。 This
is eternal life。 It's know the God who loves us and whom we have
learned to love。 It's not living on and on forever in a beautiful
heaven； any more than the earthly life you crave is living on and
on in a pleasant home such as the man of your heart might provide。
The true life is the presence of the loved one himself； and all
that he is to us and all that he can do for us； and if a mortal and
finite creature seems to you so able to impart life； how infinitely
more blessed will the life eventually be which comes from a God of
boundless power and boundless love！〃
〃Alas； Mr。 Eltinge； God seems too boundless。〃
〃Did God seem too boundless to the little children whom he took in
his arms and blessed？〃
〃Oh that I had been one of them！〃 said Ida； with a sudden rush of
tears。
〃Come； my dear young friend； do not expect too much of yourself
to…day。 You cannot take in all this truth at once； any more than
this young pear tree could take all the dew and sunshine； cold
and heat （for autumn frosts are needed as well as spring showers）
that nature had in store for it； but its life was assured from the
moment it was able to receive nature's restoring influences。 So
with greater certainty a happy； useful life is assured to you
as soon as you receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour； Teacher； and
Life…giver。 'As many as received him； to them gave he power to
become the sons of God；' and I assure you the Great King will look
after his children right royally。 But you don't know him very
well yet； and so cannot have the life which flows from his fulness
of life。 Suppose you come here mornings； and we'll read together
the story of Jesus； just as it is told in the New Testament； and
I don't believe it will be long before you will say to me that my
Friend is yours also。 Now； come up to the house and I'll introduce
you to my sister。 You think me a saint； but I'll show you what a
human appetite I have。〃
〃I hear a brook near by；〃 said Ida； 〃may I not go to it and bathe
my face？〃
〃Yes； do what you like best while here。 Would you rather bathe in
the brook than at the house？〃
〃Yes； indeed。 Everything seems sacred here； and I can imagine the
brook yonder to be a rill from the Jordan。〃
〃Don't be superstitious and sentimental；〃 said the old gentleman；
shaking his head gravely。 〃The life of a Christian means honest；
patient work； and Christ's blood alone can wash us till we are
whiter than snow。〃
Ida's face grew earnest and noble as she stepped to the symbolic
tree and placed her hand on one of its lower branches。
〃Mr。 Eltinge；〃 she said gently and gravely； 〃as this broken； wounded
tree received all the help nature gave it； so I； more bruised and
broken； will try to receive all the help Christ will give me to
bear my burden and live a life pleasing to him。 I shall be very
glad indeed to come here and learn to know him better under your
most kind and faithful teaching； and as I learn； I will try to do
my best； but oh； Mr。 Eltinge； you can't realize how very weak and
imperfecthow ignorant and full of faults I am！〃
〃Just so the poor little tree might have spoken if it had had a
voice。 Indeed I thought it WOULD die。 But now look at the fruit
over your head。 You shall take some of it home； and every pear
will be a sermon to youa juicy one； too。 If you will do as you
say； my child； all will be well。〃
She bathed her tear…stained face in the brook； and came back looking
fairer than any flower in the garden。 Then they went up to the
old…fashioned house。
〃My dear； this is my sister； Miss Eltinge；〃 he said； presenting a
white…haired old lady； who still was evidently much younger than
her brother。 Then； turning suddenly around in comical dismay； he
said； 〃Why； bless you； my child； I don't know your name！ Well；
well； no matter！ I know YOU。 There are people whose names I've
known half my life； and yet I don't know them and don't trust 'em。〃
〃My name is Ida Mayhew；〃 said the young girl simply。 〃I heard Mr。
Eltinge speak at the prayer…meeting last night in such a way that
I wanted to see him and ask his help and advice； and he has been
very； very kind to me。 He can tell you all。〃
〃Yes； if he chooses；〃 said the old gentleman with a laugh。 〃Sister
knows me too well in my character of father confessor to expect me
to tell everything。〃
They made her at home as the simple and well…bred only can do。
After dinner Miss Eltinge tried to entertain her for a while； but
at last said； with appreciative tact：
〃My dear； I think you will best enjoy yourself if you are left to
range the old house and place at will。 After my brother has rested
he will join you again。〃
Ida was glad to be alone。 She had made a promise of far…reaching
and vital import that morning。 Life was taking on new aspects that
were so unfamiliar that she was bewildered。