The Little Missis Part 25

"That is very strange; I am sure you are given to inspire more terror than I am. To tell you the truth I felt nervous when I saw you come in,"

and then they both laughed. There is nothing like a laugh for putting people at their ease.

"Well, Mrs. Waring, I'd better go straight to the point at once. I like what you say to those men--indeed, I take most of it to myself, too. But that's not what I wanted to say. What are you going to do when the bad weather comes on?"

"Wear a macintosh," was the simple answer. How could she be so dense!

Surely here was the pointing Finger, yet she did not recognise it.

"Yes, yes; but that's not it. Where are you going to hold the meetings?"

Phebe grasped the arms of her chair to steady herself. She had caught sight of the Finger now. She lifted her eyes to the star--G.o.d was near!

Then, with her usual simple straightforwardness, she told him all that had been in her mind and how she had been waiting for guidance to know if it was right to spend the hundred pounds. "I can afford to do so now," she added, "much better than I could at the beginning of the summer."

"It would not be right to let you do it. I came here with the determination to offer you fifty pounds, if that would help you in any way, but I'll make it a hundred."

"Sir!" gasped Phebe, her breath fairly taken away.

"Yes, it's no more than I ought to do. I'm making a profit out of the men, and ought to do it; besides, I want to help you, too."

"Mr. Black," she said earnestly, putting her hand on his arm, "I'll accept fifty pounds thankfully, but no more. I must do some of it myself. And do you know, you are here as G.o.d's servant! We have prayed so much about this, and G.o.d has sent you with the answer."

"I'm not a religious man, Mrs. Waring. I don't want to sail under any false colours. I'm what you'd call 'a black sheep.'"

"Perhaps so, but for all that you are doing some of G.o.d's work, and some day you'll do it for G.o.d's sake."

"Do you think I shall?" and the man had quite a yearning look on his face.

"Yes, I do."

Then they talked of the best means of securing a second-hand iron building and the best place to put it. When they parted Hugh Black said: "Well, Mrs. Waring, if you will not accept more than the fifty for the building, I mean to help you in some other way."

"So you shall, if G.o.d opens up the way."

"Do you think that G.o.d wants me to do anything for Him?"

"I am sure of it. The very fact that you were led to make that offer proves it. Do believe it, Mr. Black, for it will help you to get near to G.o.d."

"I'll try." Then he shook hands with her, and, just as he was opening the door, turned round and said in a shaky voice: "Pray for me, Mrs.

Waring, will you? I was not always what I am now."

"I will, and G.o.d will answer." With another hearty shake of the hand he was gone.

How the sun did shine that day! The sunbeams did not glance from the fifty sovereigns, but from this signal proof of G.o.d-partnership in the work. There is a little bit of the Thomas spirit in us all. We do so like to see!

That day at dinner-time Phebe arranged that Bessie and Reynolds should be in at the same time. While Nanna was carving Phebe told her startling piece of news.

Nanna put down her knife and fork, and, starting to her feet, exclaimed, clasping her hands: "Praise the Lord! it's worth more than fifty pounds to feel Him so near."

"Glorious!" exclaimed Bessie; "let's sing the doxology."

And they did so, Reynolds as heartily as anybody, and Janie coming to the door to join in, though she knew nothing of what the praise was specially for.

"And another thing which is so fine," said Nanna, when they were quietly seated again, "is that all this proves G.o.d is working in that man's heart. We must all pray for him; we'll just pray him into the Kingdom."

Reynolds wanted very much to ask if he was going to enter that way too.

Nanna had certainly looked at him very significantly but said nothing.

After dinner was over, Nanna whispered to Phebe: "Dear heart, wasn't it worth the pain that letter brought you to have all this?"

"I should think so, a hundred times over."

"We must not forget another time a shadow falls that G.o.d never lets Satan have the victory in the end. It only means a little waiting, a little enduring."

The next Sunday afternoon Phebe startled the hearers by saying: "I want to correct a mistake which some of you have fallen into. You think I am not paid for my services here, but I am."

"Whew!" went from more than one pair of lips.

"I have had fifty pounds given me, and I have had other payments besides."

"Share round, missis, and then we don't mind," said one voice.

"Yes, I am going to share round, but perhaps not in the way you mean,"

and then she told them the whole of the story, of what her hopes had been, her difficulty, the watching for the Finger, and the gift of the fifty pounds. "Now," she exclaimed, joy lighting up her face, "who will say G.o.d is not watching over our little meeting?"

"Hip, hip, hurrah!" shouted one of the men, which was quite equal, in his mind, to "Hallelujah!"

The story had a splendid effect upon the men. The idea of a club-room all their own, of money being given for their special benefit, gave a decided impetus to the work, and the signal proof of G.o.d's near connection with them certainly led many a heart closer to G.o.d.

"I say, missis," one man exclaimed, "let us have some share in the paying for this room, won't you? Gentleman d.i.c.k," turning towards that individual, "hand round yer hat for a collection. You lazy fellow, stir yourself, do."

And before Phebe had time to say "Yes" or "No," twenty-one shillings were collected.

"This must be spent in something extra," said she, when she had collected her thoughts together, "so I propose you appoint Mr. d.i.c.k your treasurer." To which they all agreed.

It did not take long to secure the iron room, and before the autumn days had begun to show the touch of winter it was up, the floor was covered with linoleum, pictures were on the walls, and there were as many wooden arm-chairs as could be conveniently got in. Phebe's idea was that the room should be made as attractive as possible. The men's money was put to the chair fund.

Arrangements were made for the room to be open every dinner-hour and every evening. d.i.c.k was appointed custodian, and one of the women paid to give it a good cleaning every Sat.u.r.day. d.i.c.k thought he was quite equal to this latter duty, but Phebe was not quite so sure on that point.

There were about fifty women in the camp, living in the long rows of little wooden houses specially built for them, just like married quarters in some military camps. Phebe wanted specially to get into touch with these women.

In consulting with Mr. Black as to the best site for the room, Phebe happened to mention her ownership of the meadow on the other side of the line, wondering if that would be too far away. It was agreed that the room had better be as near the camp as possible, Mr. Black guaranteeing to be at the expense of its removal should it be found at any time necessary to do so, owing to any development of the railway work.

The opening meeting was made a special one. Bessie had got a special solo, with a very taking chorus, and then some of the men gave little testimonies. To Phebe's great surprise and intense joy, after a little pause when she had asked if any one else would like to speak, Reynolds stepped forward. "Friends, I think it is high time I opened my mouth."

His voice trembled very much when he first began, but gradually got steadier. "I've made up my mind to be a Christian. I gave myself to Jesus three weeks ago, and I made up my mind on the Sunday the room was opened to let this be known. It gave me a little courage to put it off a while. I was tempted this afternoon to put it off still longer, but I did not give in." ("Hear, hear!" said d.i.c.k, once the secret Christian himself.) "What I owe to my mistress here I can never tell you; she has made G.o.d so real to me." ("G.o.d bless her!" said Red Ribbon.) "That's all I have to say, as I am no speaker, but I thought I must let you know this."

Emboldened by Reynolds' example three other men made a like confession, and then they all stood up and sang the doxology. "For," said Phebe, "if you cannot all praise G.o.d for yourselves you can for others."

On the way home she grasped Reynolds firmly by the hand. "G.o.d bless you, Reynolds! This is a happy day. But always remember I am as much your debtor as you are mine. So, please, never praise me again. G.o.d only knows how much you have helped me, and what I owe to you. I should not be in the position I am to-day but for you."