CHAPTER XII.

THE BEAUTIFUL SECRET.

The mother’s talks about her own Christian experience enabled Bessie to understand the beautiful secret of salvation—­an influence that was to beautify her character and to mold her whole subsequent career.  Bessie’s developing mind was able to grasp firmly the golden thread of religious truth, which, unraveling from the tangle of sectism, had guided her faithful mother into the fulness of divine truth.

Thus it was—­

    In the gentle hush of evening,
      When the sun sank in the west;
    When the little bird was nestling
      In its quiet, sheltered nest;
    When the stars were brightly shining
      From the lofty sky above,
    Bessie learned the lovely secret
      Of her Savior’s perfect love.

    In the twilight’s deep’ning shadows,
      At her loving mother’s feet,
    Sat she often on a hassock,
      Hearing words of counsel sweet. 
    Sacred season was this hour
      To the twain in waiting there,
    Each the burden of the other
      Sought to know and ofttimes share.

    As the loving mother listened
      To the record of the day,
    To the questions of her daughter—­
      Spoken oft in childish way,
    She in tenderness instructed
      With the wisdom of the Lord,
    Gained by prayer and careful study
      Of his precious, holy Word.

    There the character was strengthened;
      Bessie’s heart was made to feel
    Greater love for her Creator,
      For his work a deeper zeal. 
    And she saw God’s plan for pardon,
      To the feet of Jesus came,
    And was able, like her mother,
      Full salvation then to claim._

    Ah! fond mother, learn the secret
      That will win thy children dear;
    Draw them gently to thy bosom,
      Ever seek their hearts to cheer. 
    From thy home exclude all worry,
      Fretful cares, and sad’ning gloom;
    But God’s sunshine bid a welcome,
      Let it shine in ev’ry room.

    As a spring within a desert,
      Thou mayst water each plant small;
    But the plant itself must blossom—­
      Thou canst tend it, that is all. 
    Tiny human plants will flourish
      In an atmosphere like this,
    And will yield good, fruitful blossoms
      That will bring true happiness.

    Children always thirst for knowledge,
      And ere long ’tis surely gained;
    If not from a faithful mother,
      ’Tis from evil source obtained. 
    Blameless never is the mother
      Who will not the trouble take
    To instruct her precious children,
      Close companions of them make.