But, in the meantime, how were her parents feeling?
The cows returned early and were milked. Mrs.
Worthington wondered why Bessie did not come with
them, but thought she might have been delayed and would
come soon. She prepared supper; but when she
got it ready, Bessie was still absent.
“What can be keeping Bessie tonight?”
Mrs. Worthington said anxiously to her husband.
“She should have come home an hour ago.”
“Oh, I suppose she has stopped somewhere to
play,” said Mr. Worthington carelessly.
“No; I don’t think so,” replied
his wife. “Bessie always tries to be prompt,
and I’m afraid something has happened. If
she doesn’t come soon, you had better go to
look for her.”
“Well, wait until dark,” said Mr. Worthington;
“and, if she isn’t here then, I’ll
get some men and we’ll search in different directions.
Did you notice which way she went!”
“No,” answered his wife, “but I
think she went east.”
At dark Mr. Worthington started out with the searching
party. Mrs. Worthington tried not to worry; but
when nine o’clock passed and half-past nine
came, she felt a great anxiety creeping into her heart.
Many times she offered an earnest prayer for Bessie’s
protection. After putting Leroy to bed she stationed
herself in front of the house to watch.
About ten o’clock some one returned to say that
he could find no trace of Bessie.
With straining eyes, Mrs. Worthington looked in the
direction in which Bessie had gone, and at last thought
that she could see some one approaching. As the
figure drew nearer, she could see that it was her
child, and with a glad cry ran to meet her. “O
Bessie,” cried the mother, “what has happened
to detain you? Your father and a company of men
are out searching the woods for you. Dear child,
where have you been?”
Bessie was very tired and hungry; but she related
all that had happened and said: “I’m
sorry I couldn’t go farther; for I believe the
cows were just a short distance beyond the point where
I turned back. But I did not dare to cross the
swampy place and go into the woods on the other side.”
“Why, the cows have been home a long, long time,
Bessie; and that is what had made your delay seem
so strange,” said her mother. “But
were you not afraid, dear, when you found that you
were so far from home!”
Bessie explained how she had felt and how the Lord
had encouraged her and helped her to be brave.
“What time was that?” asked her mother;
and when she learned, she said, “Bessie, that
was when I was so earnestly praying for you. Surely
our God is a mighty God and one who is ever faithful.”
When the searching party returned, they were all glad
to know that Bessie was safe at home.
NOVEL-READING.
As Bessie approached her sixteenth year, Mrs. Worthington
became very anxious about her. The mother thought
that she could notice a change in her daughter’s
actions and disposition. Instead of being confiding
and happy, she seemed listless, forgetful, and nervous.
At first the mother could not understand this change;
but by close observation she found that her daughter
was indulging in light reading.
