Elsie on the Hudson Part 25

"Yes," he said; "but our guests must feel entirely free to attend our services or not as they feel inclined."

"This one will feel inclined to attend," said Walter.

"This one also," added Evelyn; "she will esteem it a privilege to be allowed to do so."

"As I do," said Lucilla. "Father always makes a Bible lesson, and any kind of religious services, interesting and profitable."

"I always enjoy them," said Violet, "and I know Grace and the little folks do. Is not that so, Elsie and Ned?" Both gave a prompt a.s.sent, and Grace said: "There is no kind of service I like better. So I do not feel tempted to fret over the stormy weather."

"Ah," said the captain with a smile, "I am well content with the views and feelings expressed by my prospective audience. We will hold our services in the saloon, beginning at eleven o'clock."

Accordingly, all--including the crew--gathered there at the appointed hour, listened attentively to the reading of an excellent sermon, and united in prayer and praise.

In the afternoon they gathered there again, each with a Bible in hand, and spent an hour in the study of the Scriptures.

As in the morning service, the captain was their leader.

"Let us take the sea for our subject," he said, "and learn some of the things the Bible says of it. Cousin Ronald, what can you tell us or read us on the subject?"

"There is a great deal to be said," replied the old gentleman. "It is spoken of in the very first chapter of the Bible--'the gathering together of the waters called the seas.' In the twentieth chapter of Exodus we are told, 'In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is'; and in the fifth verse of Psalm ninety-five, 'The sea is his, and he made it.' The Hebrews called all large collections of waters seas. The Mediterranean was the Great Sea of the Hebrews.

"In the Temple was a great basin which Solomon had made for the convenience of the priests; they drew water out of it for washing their hands or feet, or anything they might wish to cleanse.

"The Orientals sometimes gave the name of sea to great rivers overflowing their banks--such as the Nile, the Tigris, and the Euphrates, because by their size, and the extent of their overflowing, they seemed like small seas or great lakes. The sea is also taken for a mult.i.tude or deluge of enemies. Jeremiah tells us the sea is come up upon Babylon. But I am taking more than my turn. Let us hear from someone else."

"From you, Cousin Annis," the captain said, looking at her.

"No, I have not studied the subject sufficiently," she said, "but doubtless Cousin Elsie has."

"Let me read a verse in the last chapter of Micah," responded Grandma Elsie, and went on to do so:

"'He will turn again, he will have compa.s.sion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.'

"What a gracious and precious a.s.surance it is!" she said. "What is cast into the sea is generally supposed to be lost beyond recovery--we do not expect ever to see it again; so to be told that our sins are cast there imports that they are to be seen and heard of no more."

"Because Jesus died for us and washed them all away in his precious blood?" asked Little Elsie softly.

"Yes, dear, that is just what it means," replied her grandmother.

Evelyn's turn had come, and she read: "'And before the throne there was a sea of gla.s.s like unto crystal.' Cruden says," she continued, "that it probably signified the blood of Christ, whereby our persons and services are made acceptable to G.o.d; and that it was called a sea in allusion to the molten sea of the Temple. Also that it is represented as a sea of gla.s.s like unto crystal, to denote the spotless innocence of our Lord Jesus Christ, in his sufferings; that his was not the blood of a malefactor, but of an innocent person."

"One suffering not for his own sins, but for the sins of others,"

sighed Grandma Elsie. "What wondrous love and condescension; and, oh, what devoted, loving, faithful servants to him should we ever be!"

"We should, indeed," said the captain, then motioned to Lucilla that it was her turn.

"'He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth,'" she read. Then turning over the leaves, "That was in the Psalms," she said; "and here in Zachariah the prophecy is repeated in almost the same words, 'And his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.' The dominion of Christ, is it not, father?"

"Certainly; it can be no other," he said. "Now, Grace, it is your turn."

"Mine is in the New Testament," she said--"the eighth chapter of Matthew, beginning with the twenty-third verse. 'And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And behold there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him and awoke him, saying, Lord save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him.'"

"It is such a pretty story," said Little Elsie. "How kind Jesus was never to get angry, though they waked him out of his sleep when he must have been so very, very tired. He might have scolded them, and asked didn't they know they couldn't drown while he was with them in the ship."

"Yes," her father said; "and let us learn of him to be patient, unselfish, and forgiving."

It was Walter's turn, and he read: "'And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them; and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have pa.s.sed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out; for they all saw him and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.'"

"This is mine," said Elsie. "'And he went forth again by the seaside: and all the mult.i.tudes resorted unto him, and he taught them.'"

It was Ned's turn, and he read: "And he began again to teach by the seaside: and there was gathered unto him a great mult.i.tude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole mult.i.tude was by the sea on the land.'"

"I think this was a very nice lesson," Elsie said as they closed their books. "I shall think of it often while we are on the sea. This--Lake Erie--is as much of a sea as the Lake of Tiberias or Sea of Galilee, isn't it, papa?"

"I think so," he said; "and in a few days we are likely to be on a real sea--the great Atlantic Ocean."

"And G.o.d can take care of us there just as well as anywhere else, can't he, papa?" asked Ned in a tone that was half inquiry, half a.s.sertion.

"Certainly, my son, he is the creator of all things, the ruler of all the universe, and 'none can stay his hand or say unto him, What doest thou?'"

"Papa," said Ned, "mightn't I ask him to stop this storm, so we could go right on home?"

"You can ask him, son, to do it if he sees best, but you must be willing that he should not do what you wish if he does not see best.

G.o.d knows what is best for us, and we do not, but often desire what would be very bad for us."

"Well, papa, I'll try to ask that way," said the little boy. "But I'm very tired of these dark, rainy days, and of staying still in one place where we don't see anything, and I hope our Heavenly Father will let us start away to-morrow."

"Neddie, dear," said his grandmother, "don't forget what a blessing it has been that we had this safe harbor close at hand when the storm was coming, so that we could run right into it. If we had been away out upon the lake our vessel might have been wrecked."

"Yes, grandma, I am glad and thankful for that," he said; "I'm afraid I was grumbling just now, but I don't intend to do so any more."

"I'll be glad when good weather comes again," remarked Elsie, "but I have really enjoyed myself right well these days that we have had to spend in the cabin; Cousin Ronald has made a great deal of fun for us."

"Yes, indeed!" exclaimed Ned earnestly, and laughing as he spoke; "it was lots of fun to hear people talking and animals barking and squealing when they weren't really here at all. Now, what are you all laughing at?" he asked in conclusion.

"At your animals," said Lucilla. "I understood that all the barking and squealing you talk about was the doing of a very nice old gentleman."

"Yes," said Ned a trifle shamefacedly; "but please don't be hurt or affronted, Cousin Ronald; I didn't know how to say it any better."

"No, sonny, and you meant it all right," the old gentleman answered pleasantly. "I am very glad to be able to furnish amus.e.m.e.nt for so good and lovable a bit of a kinsman as yourself."

"Thank you, sir. I like that word--kinsman," said the little boy, regarding Mr. Lilburn with sparkling eyes. "It means a relation, doesn't it?"

"Yes, just that, laddie. Your grandmother and mother are of my kin, and that makes you so too. I hope you are not ill-pleased to own so auld a cousin?"

"No, indeed, sir," said Neddie earnestly; "and I'll try to behave so well that you won't ever feel ashamed to own me for your kin."

"It will be a great surprise to me if ever I do feel my relationship to you and yours a disgrace, laddie," the old gentleman said with a smile. Then, turning to Violet, "Could not you give us a bit o' sacred music, cousin?" he asked. "It strikes me 'twould be a fitting winding-up of our services."