Katherine's Sheaves Part 16

"Think that G.o.d was a very present help in time of need," returned Katherine, with sweet seriousness and a slight tremble in her own voice.

Miss Reynolds fell back upon her pillow, a thoughtful look on her face. But, presently, glancing at the clock, she said:

"Dear child, you must go for your breakfast, or you will be too late."

"I will; but what shall I bring you afterwards?"

"What may I have?"

"Anything you like."

"Truly?"

"Certainly; don't you remember what we were talking of last week-- man's G.o.d-given dominion over all things?"

"Well, it surpa.s.ses my comprehension, for I have always had to be careful what I ate after one of these attacks! But I am in your hands, Kathie--you may bring me what you choose, and I believe I am hungry," Miss Reynolds returned, in a tone of conviction.

"You shall have something very soon," Katherine a.s.sured her, and, having dressed her hair while talking, she now flew away to her own room to complete her toilet, a paean of praise thrilling her heart for the recent safe and triumphant pa.s.sage through the Red Sea of human fear and error, whose waves had so threatened to engulf her patient the night before.

Breakfast was nearly over when she reached the dining room; but she slid quietly into her place and made a hurried meal, after which she sought the matron and gave her order for Miss Reynolds, saying she would wait and take the tray up to her.

While she was waiting, Mrs. Seabrook espied her and came to inquire for her patient.

"She is more comfortable this morning," Katherine replied, and, thinking it wise not to say very much regarding the conditions upstairs.

Mrs. Seabrook appeared greatly relieved.

"I am thankful," she said. "I was very anxious about her last night, for I have never seen her so ill before. Poor Dorrie is not as well, either, this morning," she concluded, with a weary sigh.

A wave of compa.s.sion swept over Katherine's heart for this sweet, patient woman, who was so heavily burdened with her own cares, yet ever ready to do for others.

"Give my love to Dorrie," she said, adding: "And I will run in to see her this afternoon, if I may."

"Do, Miss Minturn," said her companion, eagerly. "You always do the child good, and she will have something pleasant to look forward to during the day."

Miss Reynolds enjoyed her breakfast, which she ate with perfect ease. Then she said she would like to be left alone to rest until noon, when Katherine might bring her a light dinner--"provided her breakfast did not hurt her."

Katherine pinned upon her door a slip of paper on which was written "not to be disturbed"; then went away to her own duties, which would be over at noon, it being Sat.u.r.day and a half holiday.

After eating her own dinner, she arranged a generous and tempting meal on a tray and took it to her teacher's room.

She found her up and dressed in her wrapper and seated in a comfortable rocker, reading "Science and Health," which she had left lying on the table.

Miss Reynolds looked up and nodded brightly as she laid down the book.

"Isn't this perfectly lovely? Aren't you astonished to find me up?" she inquired, as she bestowed a fond pat upon the girl who had drawn a small table to her side and was arranging her dinner upon it.

"Not in the least," said Katherine, bending to kiss the cheek nearest her.

"Aren't you? not the least bit? Why! I am simply amazed at myself!" her teacher exclaimed.

Katherine laughed out merrily.

"I suppose you have heard of the woman who, on being told that 'the prayer of faith would remove mountains,' prayed that G.o.d would take away the hill behind her house?" she queried, archly.

"Yes, and on looking out in the morning, said: 'It's just as I expected; I knew it would be here just the same!' I know the story, and I see your point on lack of faith," said Miss Reynolds, echoing the girl's laugh.

"But that is not the way Christian Scientists pray," Katherine observed. "Jesus said, 'All things whatsoever ye ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.' You are not quite like the woman who prayed for what she was sure she would not get; but you are 'amazed' because you have received that for which we asked; which shows that you did not really expect it."

"But I must have had some faith, Kathie, or I would not have trusted myself to your treatment."

"True; and that was your first step in Christian Science, which brought with it the proof of G.o.d's supremacy." "It certainly is a beautiful proof," Miss Reynolds earnestly returned, "for I have been subject to these attacks for many years, and have always been under the care of a physician from three to five weeks before getting back to my normal condition."

She went on with her dinner, but it was evident that she was thinking deeply, while Katherine moved softly about the room putting things in order.

"Katherine," the woman at length inquired, "what is this 'treatment' which you give the sick? Is it simply prayer?"

"Yes, and the understanding that G.o.d is all in all."

"Well, I would like to know the secret of it. I have been a prayerful woman during the greater portion of my life--at least, according to the common acceptation of the term; but I have never before known of a direct answer to prayer such has come to you or to me, through you. What const.i.tutes a Christian Scientist's prayer and understanding?"

"That question involves a great deal," said Katherine, smiling.

"Briefly, it is reaching out for and appropriating that which is already ours."

"'Appropriating?'"

"Yes, knowing that all good belongs by right to us, as G.o.d's dear children; and acting as if we knew it, by gratefully accepting it," Katherine explained. Then observing the puzzled look on her teacher's face, she went on:

"Let me ill.u.s.trate. You asked for your dinner. I have brought it and set it before you. All you have to do is to reach out and partake of it to satisfy your hunger. How inconsistent it would be if you should ignore these facts and keep on saying, 'Katherine, I want my dinner; please, oh, please give me some food, for I am starving.'"

"How ridiculous that sounds!" said Miss Reynolds, laughing. "I begin to comprehend what you mean and that the old way of praying is only a halfway prayer, while begging and supplicating G.o.d to keep His promises impugns His righteousness."

"Exactly," Katherine a.s.sented, then added: "Prayer is really twofold--asking and taking, praying and doing; knowing that G.o.d's promises mean what they say, and confidently expecting their fulfillment."

"Do you always have this confidence when you have difficulties to meet, Kathie? I should think it would not always be easy to 'know,'" thoughtfully observed Miss Reynolds.

"No, it is not always easy to have perfect trust; in that case every demonstration, or answer to prayer, would be instantaneous.

One needs to be patient and persistent, the same as one needs to go over a difficult mathematical problem many times before getting a correct answer, but never doubting that it will follow right effort," Katherine explained. "Of course, there is a great deal more that might be said about the subject," she added, "and if you will read the chapter on 'Prayer' in our text-book you will get a far better idea of it than I have given you."

"I will read it this afternoon if you are not going to use your book," Miss Reynolds replied.

"I have another copy, and you may keep this one for a while," and Katherine flushed with pleasure at the woman's manifest interest in her beloved Science.

"Thank you; and now"--glancing archly at the almost empty dishes before her--"don't you think I have done ample justice to the generous repast you brought me? I only hope it won't bring on the fever again."

"Oh, faithless and perverse generation!" quoted Katherine, with smiling reproof. "It will not," she added, positively; "remember your 'G.o.d-given dominion.'"

"I will try, dear; I am very grateful to you, Kathie, and to G.o.d, for the wonderful transformation of the last few hours," said Miss Reynolds, with starting tears. "If it were not for this feeling of weakness I believe I could dress and go down to supper to-night."