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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/78109-0.txt b/78109-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c6b0cfd --- /dev/null +++ b/78109-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1250 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78109 *** + +Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed. + + + +[Illustration: "REMEMBER THIS IS GOD'S DAY."] + + + + Little Dot Series. + —————————————— + + + GRATEFUL PETER'S + + NEW YEAR'S GIFT. + + + BY + + RUTH LAMB + + AUTHOR OF "COMFORTABLE MRS. CROOK," ETC. + + + [Illustration] + + + THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY: + 56, PATERNOSTER ROW; 65, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD; + AND 164, PICCADILLY. + + + +[Illustration] + + + + [Illustration] + + CONTENTS. + + [Illustration] + +CHAP. + + I. AN UNEXPECTED PRESENT + + II. RUN OVER + + III. GLAD TIDINGS + + IV. NEW HOMES + + + +[Illustration] + + + + GRATEFUL PETER'S + + NEW YEAR'S GIFT. + + [Illustration] + +CHAPTER I. + +An Unexpected Present. + +[Illustration] ON the last evening of the year, the snow was falling +heavily, and the same shrill wind that howled and whistled through the +keyholes and roared in the chimneys was whirling the white flakes round +the heads of the few people to be found in the streets. + +What a night it was! That piercing wind laid hold of all the +passengers. Some it drove onwards, nearly lifting them off their feet; +others it forced backwards, making them fight for every inch of the way +through the snow which it flung in their faces. + +Umbrellas were of no use that night. Those who tried to use the frail +shelters of silk or alpaca saw them turned into playthings by that +unruly pitiless wind. Glad were they to furl them tightly again, though +in many cases they only managed to carry home a battered bundle of +broken ribs and silk. Nobody that could help it would be out of doors +at all. + +"I wish I weren't forced to be out," thought a little fellow called +Peter Grant, as, tired with battling against the wind, he leaned +against some railings to regain breath. "And it's little use stopping +out. I've only taken three coppers to-night. Who'd stay to buy baked +taters in this snow and wind? I've shouted myself hoarse, and nobody +stops to listen. If plenty of folks were out, the wind wouldn't let +them hear me." + +Peter Grant was twelve years old, and a baked-potato merchant. He had +a home—if that poor cellar in Number Three Court, Back Potter Street, +could be called one—and he possessed what all great and rich people do +not—a true friend. While Peter is leaning against the railings, I will +tell you his story, so far as he can remember it. + +Peter Grant was only a trotting thing of four years old when he lost +his father, and from the neat little home they had been accustomed to, +he and his mother were obliged to remove to one room in the court I +have mentioned. Peter's mother went out washing and working; but a day +came when she returned earlier than usual because she was too ill to +finish her work. + +Old Sally Graham, who lived in the cellar, used to take care of Peter +during his mother's absence. She loved the little fellow dearly, and +was Mrs. Grant's faithful nurse until, after a fortnight's illness, +Peter was left motherless too. There was a talk of taking Peter to the +workhouse, but his tears and Old Sally's pleadings induced the parish +officers to give her a little weekly sum. So he stayed on with the only +friend who loved him and could talk to him of his mother. + +Perhaps it would have been better for Peter if he had been taken to the +workhouse. There he would have had good plain schooling, and have been +put to some regular trade. As it was, he grew up very ignorant. + +Being a sharp lad, and eager to learn, he had somehow got to read +pretty well, partly taught by other lads, partly by old Sally. He +knew just so much of figures as a boy who sells small articles in the +streets and goes on errands must obtain by every-day practice. Sally +was too ignorant to teach Peter more than this. + +As to God, religion, the Bible, church, or Sunday-school, neither she +nor the boy ever looked on these things as concerning them at all. To +be sure, Peter heard the bells calling people to the house of God on +Sundays. And sometimes, when tempted out of Number Three Court into the +wider streets, where on other days, he cried "Baked taters," he could +see well-dressed folk going into the churches and chapels. But he only +looked wonderingly at their nice clothes, and never thought of taking +part himself. + +Sunday! What was Sunday to Peter? I'll tell you, children. It was +the day on which Peter had a clean shirt, and on which he often went +without a jacket while Sally mended it, and he played at marbles out in +the court with other lads. Sunday! Well, there was a little difference +between it and other days. They had a bit of warm meat for dinner when +they could, and Peter did not go out selling. + +At one time, Peter plied his trade on Sundays the same as on other +days. But on a particular Sunday evening in early autumn, as he was +shouting to the passers-by to purchase "rosy apples three a penny," a +gentleman said something to him which stopped his Sunday trading. Peter +always remembered that gentleman's face. It was kind, though grave, +and his hair was white, but his eyes were bright and his cheeks ruddy. +Peter had pushed his hand full of apples in front of the gentleman, +and, in his bold way, asked him to buy. + +"No, my boy; I do not buy, and you should not sell, on Sundays," was +the answer. "Do you not know this is God's day?" + +Peter stared open-mouthed, and the gentleman went on speaking. "I was +once a poor boy, and I believe I should be a poor man now if I had not +been content to work on six days, and give the seventh part of my time +to God. You have a ragged jacket. Do you expect to buy a good coat out +of money earned on Sundays?" + +Peter looked ruefully at his ragged jacket as the gentleman named it. +He had been long vainly trying for a new one. + +"I didn't know, sir," he stammered out; "I'm an honest lad, sir. I work +hard for my living, and other lads and men too work o' Sundays as well +as me." + +"Did you not know it was wrong to sell and tempt people to buy on +Sundays? If other people do wrong that does not make you right. You may +be honest to your fellow-creatures, but you are robbing God of the day +that belongs to Him. Do you go to school?" + +"Can't afford it, sir." + +"What is your father?" + +"Haven't got one, sir; nor mother neither. I live with old Sally +Graham, and she's a very good friend, sir. She always says I must never +steal nor tell lies, nor do anything to get took up by the police." + +This was about the sum of Sally's moral teachings. + +Poor Sally! She could not tell him of the loving Father in heaven, +who has said He is "a Father of the fatherless." Neither had Peter +ever heard of that dear Saviour who held out His tender arms for the +children whom Jewish mothers brought to seek His blessing. Sally could +not repeat the sweet invitation, "Suffer the little children to come +unto Me, and forbid them not," or tell him that he too might go to the +same dear Saviour, and be sure of a welcome. + +The gentleman seemed to understand Peter's position from these answers +of his. He was one who had been raised from poverty to a high and +honourable position, and he delighted to help others. + +So he thought, "I will do something for this lad. Poor, ignorant, +fatherless, motherless, living without hope and without God in the +world, where could I find a better object to work on?" + +Turning to Peter, he said, "Where do you live, my boy?" + +"At Number Three Court, Back Potter Street—end house, sir, right-hand +side." + +"And what is your name?" + +"Peter Grant; and I live with Sally Graham." + +The white-haired gentleman wrote down Peter's name and address on a +slip of paper, which he put into his purse for safety, and then said, +"Do you think you would make sixpence more by selling apples to-night?" + +"Oh dear no, sir; maybe twopence or threepence at most." + +"Then take this sixpence. Go home, and try to remember this is God's +day." + +"Yes, sir," said Peter. + +"I shall keep this paper, and you will most likely see me again." + +"Thank you, sir," said Peter, and he touched his cap as the gentleman, +with a kind good-night, turned away. + +Peter at once started homeward, resolved that this unexpected windfall +should buy an extra good cup of tea and a quarter of lump sugar for old +Sally. + +Poor and ignorant as Peter was, he was a truly loving grateful lad. He +was not able to do much in return for his friend's kindness, but he did +what he could. + +Is it so with you, dear child-readers? Are you grateful to the parents +who load you with so many marks of tenderness? Do you give them ready, +joyful obedience, or deny yourselves for their sakes? And when you keep +Christmas, feasting on good things, or delighting in your pretty gifts, +while you watch the blazing lights on the Christmas-tree, decked by +loving hands, what is your chief thought? Do you think of the gifts, or +the Chief Giver? Of the pretty presents, or of Him who gave His dear +Son that you, believing in Him, might have pardon and life? + +Old Sally was standing at the end of the court when Peter returned home. + +"You're home soon, Peter; are you sold out?" she asked. + +"No; but a gentleman gave me sixpence, and said I mustn't sell on +Sundays. And he wrote my name on a paper, and said I should see him +again." + +Sally asked many questions, considering that a person who bestowed +sixpence without being asked for it, and held out hopes of future +favours, was worth inquiring about. Peter told her all that had passed, +described his appearance, from his gold-rimmed spectacles down to his +quick firm step, and finished by saying, "He told me he was once a poor +boy, too." + +"That made the gentleman give you sixpence. When folks have known what +it is to work for their money, they think about others; they know how +hard it is to make ends meet if they keep honest." + +"He had the sort of face you say it does you good to look at; and I +should like to see him again," said Peter. + +"I hope you will, then. But oh, dear me! Gentlefolks often promise +things and forget all about 'em. I daresay they mean to keep them, but +other things come in the way, and they forget." + +"But this gentleman did not look as if he would." + +"Maybe not. To my mind, they're much of a muchness, as the saying is. I +never saw one I could altogether trust to." + +(No, Sally; because the eyes of your understanding have not yet been +opened to see Him whose "word is truth," and who, having promised, is +ever faithful to perform.) + +Peter gave Sally all the money he had taken, but kept back the +sixpence. Though short of many things, she did not ask for it, but +hoped he would save it towards the price of a new jacket. But he only +thought of her comfort. He would have gone then to buy the tea and +sugar, but he remembered that if it were not right for him to sell +apples on Sunday, neither was it for others to sell tea and sugar. + +It was hard work to keep the sixpence, when he saw how few grains of +tea were left in the wide-necked bottle which did duty as a caddy. But +he did keep it. + +On Monday morning, he bought with it an ounce of tea, a quarter of +sugar, and a bloater. He had the happiness of seeing his old friend +enjoy her breakfast, though she exclaimed, "Eh, Peter, you'll never get +a jacket if you spend all your money for me." + +The boy ran off to his business, very happy at the thought of Sally's +good breakfast. Many times he wondered if the white-haired gentleman +would find Back Potter Street; it was such an out-of-the-way place. And +then the question, "Will he try?" suggested itself. + +He pictured again the kind face, answered the question, "Yes, I'm sure +he will," then made extra haste to be home early. + +He reached home out of breath, and gasped out, "Has the gentleman been?" + +"No, Peter," answered Sally; "and if I was you, I wouldn't think too +much about him. If he comes, it will be all right; and if doesn't, you +will be less disappointed." + + +So many a day passed, and no gentleman came. Peter's heart sank within +him when days grew into months. + +And old Sally said, "I told you how it would be, Peter; there's no +trusting to anybody's promises." + +Peter sadly confessed that Sally was right, adding, "If that gentleman +could go and say a thing just to disappoint a poor lad, I wouldn't +trust anybody." + +Still, the gentleman's words influenced Peter almost without his +knowing it. He did not go to church or school, but, on the other +hand, he neither bought nor sold on Sundays. It was not so much the +words about God and the Sabbath that lingered in his mind. But he did +remember the question, "Do you ever expect to earn a good coat with +what you get by selling on Sundays?" + +Of respect for God's day Peter knew nothing. But the ever-present need +of a new jacket in place of his ragged one made every word relating +to it of great importance. Somehow he felt that if he were to work +on Sundays, he should have no luck. On the other hand, he looked for +the new jacket as a reward which he deserved for giving up his Sunday +business. + +He was confirmed in the belief when his own and old Sally's combined +savings did amount to enough for the purchase of a warm suit of +second-hand clothes. In these garments, he was clothed on that cold +December night—the last of the year—when we left him standing against +the railings, amid the falling snow and piercing wind. + +We must go back to him now. It is well he does not really stand there +expecting us, is it not, dear children? Or he would be weary with +remaining so long in the cold. + +[Illustration] + + + +CHAPTER II. + +Run Over. + +[Illustration] THROUGH snow and wind, various sounds reached Peter's +ears that New Year's Eve. He was not far from a large church—and oh, +how merrily the bells were ringing! He knew what they were pealing so +joyously for, and he meant to sit up and let in the new year to their +poor cellar in Number Three Court, Back Potter Street. + +Peter had been very anxious to do business that night, for he had been +saving a penny at a time to buy old Sally a woollen comforter as a +new year's gift. It was nearly paid for at the little shop where they +dealt, and he meant it for a grand surprise. + +As he turned over his few coppers, he rejoiced that he had enough for +that; and he knew the morrow's wants were supplied already. But Peter +heard other sounds between the pealing of the church bells. There was a +children's party inside the house, and, as he stood leaning against the +railings, their merry voices came ringing in his ears. + +The little potato merchant felt inclined to envy the happy youngsters +as he heard their pattering feet rushing from dining-room to hall and +back again. The happy children meanwhile cared nothing for piercing +cold or fast-falling snow outside. How should they? The fire was +blazing cheerfully for them, kind friends had prepared a feast to +gratify their childish appetites, and were even now adding to the sport +by joining in it. + +Papa, hot and panting, is playing the "blind man," and is dragged about +by the arms, the coat-tails—anything, in fact, that can be laid hold +of—while perhaps one tiny thing, contrary to all the rules of the game, +is pushing herself in front of him, and shouting,— + +"Please, catch me!" + +Mamma, just as useful, plays tunes that set the little feet drumming on +the floor, or does "Magic music" better than anybody else. And all the +while, her motherly eye is on the alert to watch against accident to +any of the young guests. All these knew nothing, or thought nothing of +other little ones, just as able to enjoy these pleasures as themselves, +but shut out by poverty from them all. + +Of course, nobody could have guessed that little Peter Grant was +leaning against the railings outside, shivering, in spite of his +improved clothing, and very down-hearted because the storm was +interfering with his trade, and he should carry home an unsold stock +and very little money. + +The boy lingered longer than he intended. In spite of himself, he was +fascinated by those merry voices, which raised a longing in his mind to +form one amongst such a company. But at length there came a lull, and +he could hear nothing. The truth was, the youngsters were all sitting +down to table to enjoy the nice things provided for them, though +Peter could not see them through the closed shutters. Only a line of +ruddy light strewing through a narrow chink hinted at the warmth and +brightness within. + +If Peter had waited a little longer, he would have heard the voices +again, louder than ever, when the blazing dish of "snap-dragon" came +in, and the crackers began to explode. And, later still, he would have +heard the young voices rise in a simple hymn of praise to Him who had +brought them all in peace and safety to the threshold of the new year. + +But Peter did not stay long enough for these things. Slowly, for he had +to face the wind, the boy started on his way to Back Potter Street. +He had hard work to keep his footing, and at the crossings it was far +worse. He made a rush to pass one of these, holding his basket tightly +on one arm, and clutching his cap with the other hand. + +Poor lad! His was unlucky haste. He felt a sudden shock, a blow that +knocked him down, and sent his basket with its contents flying in all +directions. Then he knew no more. He lay still and senseless on the +ground, while the blood, streaming from a cut on his forehead, tinged +the newly-fallen snow. Knocked down and run over! That was Peter's +case. In his haste to cross the street, he had not noticed a rapidly +advancing cab; and now he was lying with a cut face, a large bump at +the back of his head, and a broken leg. + +Now, I know as well as possible that all the children who read this +story will be very sorry for Peter. They will think how very miserable +it must be to have such hurts to end the old year and begin the new one +with. Well, these things are not very pleasant. But cheer up, little +friend readers. I will give you a peep into Peter's future—only a peep. +You must wait and read the story through for particulars. + +This accident, sad and painful as it may seem, is to be the beginning +of a new and a brighter and better life for the orphan boy. It will +bring him friends, and be the means, by God's blessing, of leading +him to that best of all friends, the One that "sticketh closer than a +brother." + +Peter did not lie long upon the cold white snow. The gentleman who was +the only passenger in the cab jumped out instantly, and bent over the +injured boy. He was the father of a little girl, one of that merry +party in the next street, to whose voices Peter had listened as he +leaned against the railings. He was on his way to fetch home the child. + +"Poor boy!" said he, as he leaned over Peter. "He is quite senseless. +We must take him to the hospital without losing a moment. I was going +to fetch home my little girl, but she must wait." + +As tenderly and carefully as possible, the injured lad was conveyed to +a neighbouring hospital. There he was soon restored to consciousness—a +knowledge of pain present, and more to be endured in binding up his +hurts and setting his broken limb. + +It was over at last, and medicine given to soothe the boy to rest. But +amongst all his pain, the lad thought of his old friend in the poor +cellar and of the anxiety she would feel as she watched and waited for +him. + +The nurse saw that Peter was troubled and restless, and kindly asked if +she could make him more comfortable. + +"No, thank you, ma'am," said Peter. "I am troubled about old Sally that +I live with; she'll be sitting up, not knowing what's got me." + +"It is too late to send now. The gentleman that brought you here would +have told your friends, only you did not come to yourself soon enough. +Sally shall be told in the morning, and shall come to see you, too?" + +"But she'll be in trouble about me all night." + +There was no help for it. It was now just past midnight, and soon the +pealing bells that had rung the old year out and the new year in would +cease their pleasant clamour. Peter must content himself as well as he +could. But when he at last sank to sleep, there were tears on his pale +cheeks, caused not by his own bodily suffering, but by the thought of +his old friend's lonely watchings, and of the fears she would have for +his sake. + +Children, when you lay your heads on soft pillows in comfortable rooms, +are your thoughts ever turned in real gratitude towards the Heavenly +Father whose kind hand bestows every blessing? + +It would be of no use for us to read the story of what this poor boy +did and felt, unless we were to learn something from his example. He +thought of the poor earthly friend who loved him, and was grieved at +the thought of grieving her, even though he was not to blame for what +caused her anxiety. Do you, dear children, ere you sleep, think whether +your actions will please your Heavenly Friend? Are your eyes ever moist +with tears, shed because you have been ungrateful to Him who has done +all for you? + + +When Peter awoke on the morning of the new year, he scarcely understood +where he was, or how he had come into this strange place. He saw that +he was lying in a very clean bed, in a long room where there were other +beds, each with its pale-faced tenant. + +He tried to move, and became aware that his leg was held stiff and +straight in wooden splints. There was pain in it too, and his head +ached and throbbed. By degrees, Peter recollected what had happened the +night before, and then thought of his old friend waiting and watching +in vain. + +It was a relief when the boy saw the kind face of the nurse who came to +bring him some tea. He drank eagerly, but did not feel well enough to +eat anything. The nurse bathed his face and made him as comfortable as +possible, but she noticed the tears trickling down her young patient's +cheeks. + +"Does your leg hurt you much?" she asked. + +"It hurts me, but I don't care so much about that. I was thinking about +old Sally, and wondering how I could sleep when she was watching for +me." + +"It is very well you did sleep, poor boy," said the nurse. + +She was a tender-hearted woman, and the sight of so much suffering had +not hardened her, as custom does some people. She thought about a boy +of her own far away at sea, and in her motherly fashion, she bent down +and kissed poor Peter's cheek, saying, "Happy New Year to you; here's +wishing you may soon be running about again." + +How astonished she was when Peter broke out into a violent fit of +sobbing. + +"What is the matter?" she said in alarm. + +"Have I hurt you? Don't cry, or you will be worse, and what will Dr. +Turner say when he comes? It is his morning, and he'll be here in +half-an-hour—now, don't fret, there's a good boy." + +It seemed as though every kind word made matters worse, and the nurse +became alarmed at Peter's continued sobbing. She was on the point of +leaving him to seek some remedy, when he said, "Please, don't, go—you +didn't hurt me. Only nobody ever kisses me, and—and I was glad." + +"Bless the dear lad!" said the nurse. "Is that it? Well, I couldn't +have believed. Then while you are my little patient, I shall kiss you, +and you'll get used to it." + +The nurse had now to leave Peter to look after other hurt and helpless +people in the same room. + +And, in the meanwhile, Peter tried very hard to give up sobbing. He had +just succeeded when the nurse returned, bringing with her a gentleman +to the boy's bedside. + +"Well, my boy," said the gentleman, "how do you feel this morning? I +have been kept awake by thinking about you. You will not remember me; +but you were unfortunately knocked down by the cab in which I was going +to fetch my little daughter home from a party." + +"Was it in Kay Street, sir?" asked Peter. + +The gentleman smiled at the question, and replied, "Yes." + +"I'd been listening to them outside for ever so long. They were jolly," +said Peter, recalling to mind the merry sounds that had so fascinated +him. + +"They were indeed, until I went in and told them of the poor boy who +had got hurt and been taken to this place. It seems you had been +feeling with them in their mirth, and then they felt for you in your +pain and trouble. My little girl is in a cab outside now, and when you +are well enough, I will bring her to see you. Now what can I do for +you?" + +"Please, sir, go and tell old Sally Graham where I am, and ask for her +to come and see me. And, sir, if you would—" + +"Would what? I will do anything I can for your comfort, either of mind +or body." + +"Well then, sir, will you please go to Robinson's shop, corner of +Potter Street—it's on your way to our place—and ask them to let you +have a woollen comforter that Peter Grant has been paying for. There's +threepence in my trousers pocket that 'll make up all the money. I +meant to give it Sally for a new year's gift, and I should so like to +have it here ready when she comes to see me." + +"Never mind the threepence!" said the gentleman. "I can put the rest to +what has been paid." + +"Please, sir, that wouldn't be me giving it." + +So the nurse was appealed to, the coppers were taken from Peter's +pocket, and the gentleman started on his errand, much struck with the +unselfish spirit of the boy. + +He found "Robinson's" easily enough, obtained the comforter, and by the +guidance of the shopkeeper was soon at the entrance of the cellar in +Number Three Court, Back Potter Street. + +Old Sally Graham was on the look-out. She had not slept, and now with +heavy heart and anxious face, she was straining her eyes in the hope of +catching a glimpse of her boy coming home. It would be a sorrowful new +year for Sally unless she knew that Peter was safe. + +All Back Potter Street, and Number Three Court in particular, was in a +state of astonishment when a gentleman descended from a cab and entered +the latter. + +Everybody in the court knew of Peter's absence and Sally's watchings; +and when the visitor approached her abode, they somehow connected his +coming with the boy's non-arrival. The general opinion was that "Peter +had got hisself into trouble," and that the gentleman had something to +do with the police. + +It was not often that the presence of a visitor in Number Three Court +was connected with good news. + +"Your name is Graham, I think?" said Sally's visitor. + +"Yes, sir; please, is it anything about my lad Peter?" + +"Yes, it is. Don't be uneasy. He has had an accident, but he is in good +hands, and will, I hope, soon be all right again. He has been very +anxious about you, and wants to see you this afternoon." + +"Eh, bless him! I am glad it isn't anything as he's done wrong. He's +been a good lad to me, but I got afraid when he didn't come home. Where +is he hurt, sir? How was it? Where is he? When may I go?" And a host of +other questions were poured out so fast that the gentleman had enough +to do to answer. + +However, he did answer. And before he left Number Three Court, he gave +Sally a little sum of money, promising that she should have the same +weekly until Peter was able to help her again. + +Then Mr. Russell went back to the hospital, and cheered Peter by giving +him the comforter, and telling him that old Sally would be there in the +afternoon to see her boy and receive her new year's gift. + +[Illustration] + + + +CHAPTER III. + +Glad Tidings. + +[Illustration] A LITTLE while after the departure of Mr. Russell, +Peter's first visitor, two more gentlemen came towards his bed. The +younger of the two was the house-surgeon, who had set his leg the night +before, and he heard him call the other gentleman "Dr. Turner." + +"Have you any new cases?" asked the latter. + +"Two or three. One, a boy of twelve, was knocked down and run over by a +cab last evening." + +"Much hurt?" + +"Left leg broken, forehead cut, and a few bruises. Quite a poor lad—a +baked-potato seller, I believe." + +"Poor fellow! This is the one, I suppose. Well, my boy, how do you feel +yourself this morning? Why, bless me! I declare I must know this lad's +face. Look at me, boy. Did you ever see me before?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Peter, feebly; for in Dr. Turner, he instantly +recognised the gentleman for whose visit to his cellar home he had so +long watched and waited in vain. + +Yes, there by Peter's bed stood the white-haired ruddy-faced gentleman +who gave him the sixpence, and whose words, though little understood, +were the means of his giving up selling on Sundays. + +"I thought so," said Dr. Turner. "You are the boy whose name and +address I wrote down, and I promised that I would call to see you +again. This is a nice new year's start for you." + +"But you never came to see me, sir," said Peter, going back to his old +disappointment, and speaking in a reproachful tone. + +"I never did, Peter. You see I remember your Christian name. And what +did you think of me for not keeping my promise?" + +"I kept looking and looking for you, for I believed you would come. But +Sally told me that gentlefolks often promise to do things, and first +they put off, and then they forget altogether. So at last, I thought +you were just like all the rest." + +"Then you really believed I had forgotten all about you, Peter?" + +"If I hadn't seen you write down my name, and where we lived, I should +have thought you'd forgot them. And if I hadn't seen you put the paper +in your purse, and the purse into your pocket, I might ha' fancied +you'd lost it. I couldn't think anything but that you didn't care about +coming, after all. And I was so disappointed." + +"I don't wonder, Peter; yet I was not to blame, after all. What should +you say if were to tell you my purse was stolen from me, with the paper +in it?" + +"Was it really, sir? I'm so glad!" + +"Well, Peter, you're a nice fellow to say that—to be glad that I was +robbed, and that some person was a thief—on Sunday night too." + +The lad looked distressed, and his pale face became a bright crimson. +"I didn't mean that, sir. I'm sorry you lost your purse; but I'm glad +it wasn't because you forgot all about me that you never came, as you +promised to do." + +"I understand you, Peter. I did not miss my purse till Monday morning; +and then, though I tried hard, I could not recollect your name or the +place where you lived." + +"You have come to see me, after all," said Peter, with a wan smile at +his little attempt at a joke. + +"Yes; and I want to help you to get better, which I shall not do if I +talk. Beside, I have ever so many more patients to see; for doctors +don't get a holiday even on New Year's Day. But, Peter, it is a blessed +thing if, by giving up a little of our own ease, we can give comfort +and rest to the suffering. I shall see you again to-morrow, and never +fear but you'll do finely; only you must keep quiet." + +"Sally's to come and see me, sir," put in Peter. + +"It would be better not. Well, never mind—don't fret—she shall come, if +it will make you happier." + +Dr. Turner took Sally's address again, and put it in his waistcoat +pocket. "Not in the purse this time, Peter; though, if I were to lose +it, I should be able to find 'you' for a few days to come." + +"Yes, sir," replied Peter, fully appreciating a bit of fun, though at +his own expense, as he lay there helpless; "I shan't run away yet." +Then he added, "I never sold anything on Sundays after that night you +talked to me." + +"That's a step on the right road, my lad. And now, as you lie there, +don't be sad. Listen to those bells that are chiming so sweetly. They +are telling the tale of the new year. + +"And the sun is peeping in, and casting a bright streak upon your +quilt, Peter; and I believe—I really do—that you will have a happy new +year, though you have begun it here on your back, and are likely to +stay there for the present." + +Away went the doctor, and carried with him kind words as well as skill +to other bedsides, and Peter lay contented, happy, hopeful, in spite +of his hurts. Then the motherly nurse brought his medicine, and told +him he looked so bright that he was like another lad; and the pleasant +chime of bells, wafted on the wind, came with their music to his ears, +and at last lulled him to rest again. + +While Peter was sleeping, Mr. Russell paid a second visit, and left +the parcel containing the "comforter," ready for Peter to present. He +also brought nice fresh grapes for the lad, and there they were like a +perfect picture when, hours after, he awoke. + + +In the meanwhile, too, Sally Graham had spent an unusually long time +in "tidying herself" for the afternoon visit to the hospital, and had +informed the inhabitants of Back Potter Street, and Number Three Court +in particular, of all that had befallen "her lad," as she called Peter. + +The neighbourhood was astonished for the second time that day by the +presence of a second gentleman, who came in a real carriage of his +own—not a cab—and called on Sally Graham. This was Dr. Turner, who in +a few words told the old woman about his first meeting with Peter, the +reason he had failed in his promise, and all that has already been +related. + +By dint of half soothing, half scolding, he made the old woman dry all +her tears; and then, finding how clean and neat she had made herself, +in spite of poor clothing, the doctor said, "I may as well save your +legs a long walk. You are not quite so young as you once were, any more +than I am, so you shall ride along with me. I have to make another call +at the hospital." + +Sally was almost overwhelmed at the thought of going in the doctor's +own carriage. + +And after it had disappeared from view, the inhabitants of Back Potter +Street and its courts did little else but talk about what had happened +and what else was likely to follow. Everybody prophesied all sorts of +good luck to Peter and Old Sally, now gentlefolks had begun to take +notice of them. They quite overlooked the fact that Peter was lying +with a broken leg, and would be able to do nothing towards earning +bread, for some time to come. They settled it quite comfortably that +the gentlefolks would make it all right, and that the happiest of new +years had just begun for Sally and Peter. + +These neighbours did not know that a message was on its way to Peter—a +sweet message of love and peace and mercy, which he had never heard, +but which has been spoken to you, dear child-readers, many and many a +time. + +A message? Yes; one meant for the ears of all mankind, for old and +young, for rich and poor—the message that angels sang in the astonished +ears of the Bethlehem shepherds as they watched their flocks by night, +little dreaming that the Shepherd of Israel was so near at hand, in the +form of a newborn babe. The "glad tidings" have not yet reached Peter; +but they will come, borne on the lips of a little child. + +There was a touching meeting between Peter and old Sally, who, however, +behaved very well, considering. Sally was terribly afraid that the +doctor would not let her come again unless she was very quiet. This +made her control her feelings as far as possible, cheering the boy with +hopeful words about himself and Mr. Russell's kind help in the way of +money "to keep things going at home." + +As to the "comforter" of bright scarlet wool, her new year's gift, +Sally did not know how to admire it enough. Peter insisted that she +should put it on at once, and his face was almost as bright as Sally's +smart present when she declared it was "a comforter both by name and +natur'." + +Then Sally went home again, to shed in secret the tears which she had +so bravely restrained while in Peter's presence, and to realise more +than ever how very dull was the cellar in Number Three Court without +her lad to brighten it. + +After two or three days, when Peter's head had somewhat recovered from +the effects of its bumps and bruises, Mr. Russell brought his little +daughter Alice to see the boy. She was a warm-hearted little thing +of nine years old, and thoughtful beyond her age. She had been very +carefully and lovingly taught by a good mother, and her great desire +was to be of some use in the world. Alice was very anxious to see +Peter, of whom her father had told her a great deal, and at last she +had leave to come and sit by him for a while. + +"I am very sorry you had so much pain," said the little girl. "Are you +better now, Peter?" + +"My leg often hurts me a good deal, but my head does not ache. Still, +you know, it isn't very pleasant to lie here always, when I've been +used to run about the day through." + +"No, it isn't; but I hope you will get quite strong before very long. +Papa says you were standing outside that house in Kay Street Where the +party was on New Year's Eve." + +"Yes; I stood ever so long. Eh, but you were laughing and making a +noise. I wished I was inside." + +"I daresay, for it was so cold and windy outside. I don't know how you +could stand at all. I should have had a cold and cough, and I don't +know what beside, if I had stood there even a little while." + +"But then, miss, I'm used to being out in all sorts of weather, and it +does not hurt me." + +"Papa says you go out selling things; but he has been talking to Dr. +Turner about you, and he wants you to learn something better. I do hope +you will." + +The lad's face brightened, and he said, heartily, "Don't I wish I'd a +chance!" + +"You will have one, I know. Papa never forgets anything, and he says +he'll help you. And see, Peter, here is some cake mamma has sent you, +and two oranges. And now shall I read to you?" + +"Yes, if you please, miss; and thank your mamma for sending me the +things." + +"What shall we read about?" + +"Just what you like, miss," said Peter, rather amused at the question. + +"Well, I've got something here. It is called 'The Old, Old Story.' +Perhaps you have read it, though?" + +Peter shook his head. + +"Then I'll read it first. It's all about Jesus; and, as Christmas is +only just over, it will be nice. Had you a merry Christmas, Peter?" + +The boy smiled. He could understand how little the child knew of "his" +world, so he just answered, "Middling, miss. But please read to me +about Jesus. I don't know that story at all, I'm sure." + +If ever a face expressed astonishment, that face was Alice Russell's. +But, fortunately, she remembered that her papa had told her Peter was +very ignorant, with no parents to teach him. So she thought it best +just to read the "Old, Old Story," and let it speak for itself. + +Very slowly and solemnly the child read the wondrous tale— + + "Of Jesus and His glory, + Of Jesus and His love." + +Peter listened—how he did listen! And, as the child's clear voice +sounded in the long ward, other eyes were turned towards her, sounds +ceased, and pale faces were lighted up as the words of that story which +"always seems so new" reached their ears. + +The little girl's thoughts were, however, absorbed in her story and him +for whom specially she was reading. As she finished the tale of man's +fall, of God's love for sinners, which made Him give His own dear Son +to die as "the remedy for sin," she looked at Peter, while her own eyes +were filled with tears. + +Her young hearer was as much stirred as herself. As she closed the +leaves of her little book, he said, "Miss, I never heard such a story +as that before. It isn't true, is it?" + +"Oh yes, Peter, it is. Why, it's in the Bible, and everything in the +Bible is true. Mamma taught me about it when I was such a little girl; +and I thought everybody knew, except the poor heathen in countries a +long way off, where the missionaries go. But the next time I come, I'll +bring my Bible, and read about it there." + +"Will you come again to-morrow, miss? I do so want you to read again, +and bring that story too." + +"I'll leave it with you, Peter. It is not like a big book. You can +read, I know, and the print is large, so you will hold it and read it +easily. If papa will let me, and the doctors will not be angry, I will +come again to-morrow. Now, good-bye. Papa is beckoning me away." + +The child went to her father, who was in conversation with Dr. Turner. +In reply to their questions, she told them what she had been reading, +and that Peter had not heard of Jesus until she read him "The Old, Old +Story." + +"He wants me to come again to-morrow," she said. "Papa, you will bring +me, will you not? And you will allow me to come in, sir, won't you?" + +Dr. Turner smiled, and told the little girl she should come every day, +if her papa liked. + +"And I am to bring my Bible the next time. Peter has no Bible. Papa, I +thought everybody in this country knew about Jesus." + +"I wish it were so, my child," replied Mr. Russell. "But here, in +Christian England, there are thousands of heathens who know nothing of +Christ. Peter Grant has had no loving mother to teach him, and there +are many who grow up just as ignorant. My little Alice will be very +happy, and begin this year with gladness, if she should be permitted +to bring the 'glad tidings of salvation' through Christ to the ears of +this poor boy. And we will pray, little one, that God may bless you, +and bring home the precious truths to this poor lad's heart by the +teaching of His Holy Spirit." + +[Illustration] + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +New Homes. + +[Illustration] MR. RUSSELL and Dr. Turner had soon found out how +extremely ignorant Peter was. In the neighbourhood of his poor home, +the name of God was seldom used except in blasphemy. That name Peter +knew, and that was almost all. They were anxious to teach him better +things, and now that he was obliged to lie quiet, they wished to sow +the precious seed of God's Word, in the hope that it might take root +and bring forth fruit to God's glory and Peter's eternal good. + +"I believe a child would be the best teacher for Peter," said Dr. +Turner. "Let your little girl come and read to him. She is sure to +repeat her mother's lessons in the boy's ears, and we can guide her as +to what she should read." + +Little Alice knew nothing except that she was to be allowed to read to +the poor boy in the hospital, but she was delighted to go and ask her +mamma for a copy of "The Old, Old Story," first to read to, then leave +with Peter. This was readily given to her, as we have seen. + +To Peter the little book was a great treasure. He read it again, +and the more he read, the more he wondered. He wished for his child +visitor's return, and his face flushed with pleasure as he saw her +coming softly towards his corner of the ward. + +"I've read the story three times over," he said, without waiting for +any greetings from Alice. + +"And you like it, don't you?" + +"Yes, only I don't understand what it means." + +"I've brought my Bible, and that will tell you. Doesn't it seem strange +to have such a big book to make us understand that little thing? But +you see that 'Old, Old Story' is just Bible story turned into verses." + +It would take too long to tell the particulars of Alice's lessons +to Peter. She was eager to tell, and he to learn. He asked endless +questions, and she began by reading first the story of Adam and Eve, +and then other portions of Scripture, so that he might learn about +Jesus. + +How the lad was charmed with the account of the Babe of Bethlehem, +cradled in a manger! Then of the Great Physician healing all manner of +sickness, and enabling the lame to walk, all in a moment, the blind to +see, and the dumb to speak. + +He learned that Christmas, with its gaily-decked shops, its ruddy +holly-berries and shining mistletoe, its good cheer and kind wishes, +had a deeper better meaning. He saw that it was a remembrance of +the time when the angels came with their song, "Glory to God in the +highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men." + +He, lying there helpless, realised as few can do, what joy it would be +to hear the Saviour say, "Arise, take up thy bed and walk." And he, +who had often known what hunger was, seemed to see the bountiful Giver +blessing the loaves and feeding the hungry multitude in the wilderness. +He wanted to know what had become of Jesus. Where was now this Saviour? + +So, day by day, little by little, Peter heard the whole story, not only +of the life, but the death of Christ, and of His being now exalted "a +Prince and a Saviour" at the right hand of God. He lay and thought of +these wondrous things—so old a story, yet to him so new. And then he +said, "Surely He could not die for me. I was not living then." + +Then the elders came in to little Alice's aid as teachers, and strove +to make plain what she could not. When Peter understood at last that +he too had a share in that great Saviour, his heart was filled with +grateful gladness and a wish to do something to show his gratitude. + +Many read the story without a thought of love to this dear Saviour. +But, to the poor lad who now heard it for the first time, it seemed +wonderful that anybody could help loving Jesus. + + +Time sped, and Peter continued to recover steadily. He wondered +whether, after all, he should have to go back to Number Three Court, +Back Potter Street, and begin his old trade again. He shrank from the +thought of it. He had had a glimpse of a new and better life, and he +longed to see more. The hospital had been to Peter a precious ark +of refuge. He would never think of it as the scene of his pain and +suffering, but of healing and peace for soul and body. + +Back Potter Street and its courts had dirt and squalor, rough, coarse +actions, and impure words as their constant surroundings. And even old +Sally, with all her love, had been able to tell him nothing of that +love "which passeth knowledge." He wanted to go on learning himself, +and that his old friend should become a scholar too. How was this to be +brought about? + +The day drew near when Peter would be discharged cured. While anxious +to work, he was almost afraid to think about going out into his world +again. He would have to bid farewell to the motherly nurse who had been +so tender and kind; to the doctors, whose skill had been the means of +his cure; and, above all, to the child-teacher who had first brought to +him the message of the gospel. Why, in leaving the hospital, he would +turn his back on the best home he had ever known. Peter's fears and +doubts were soon set at rest. His friends had been busy for him, and, +after having shown so much kindness, would not now leave him to battle +with the world alone. + +"So you are to go out to-day, Peter," said Dr. Turner, on the morning +fixed for the lad's discharge. + +"Yes, sir," answered Peter. "I told Sally about it last time she was +here." + +"That is all right enough; but we are not going to let you out of our +hands altogether yet. We have a nice place belonging to the hospital, +a few miles away in the country. It is called a 'Convalescent Home,' +and it is for patients to go to, who, like you, are well, but not very +strong. You are to go there for three weeks to get up your strength and +learn something about flowers and fields and green trees." + +Peter could hardly believe his ears. What, go away into the country, +where little Alice told him the sky was so blue and the air so fresh, +and filled with the smell of flowers and the song of birds! + +"By the way," said the doctor, "it will be rather early for flowers, +but the air of spring time is sweeter than any. You will come back with +checks like roses." + +The boy tried to speak his thanks, but broke down in the attempt, and +then said something about what old Sally would do without him. + +"She has managed so far, Peter, and you may safely trust her to Mr. +Russell and me. She is coming to see you before you go to the 'Home.'" + +Peter said good-bye to his old friend, and was a little surprised to +see her in such good spirits. + + +What a delightful three weeks was that which followed. All was new, +strange, and beautiful. Peter's delight was only equalled by his wonder +at the marvellous works of God. Peter saw Dr. Turner two or three +times, and that kind friend promised that, at the appointed time, he +would take him home. And so he did. + +Was it to the poor cellar in Back Potter Street, Number Three Court? +No, indeed. The doctor took him to a neat little cottage with just two +rooms—one of a long row, and farther out of the town, and there he saw +his old friend Sally Graham. + +"Eh, my boy!" shrieked the old woman, as she seized his hand, her eyes +overflowing with gladness. "See what the doctor and Mr. Russell have +got for me; this nice little house, and I'm to have it as long as I +live, and a bit of money to keep me in victuals, too. And you 'are' +looking red and stout! Who'd have thought such luck would come out of +your broken leg on New Year's Eve?" + +Who, indeed? But there was more "luck" still, as Sally called it. The +two gentlemen had exerted themselves so well that they had gained a +place for Peter in an excellent school, where he would be fed, taught, +lodged, and clothed almost free of cost. + +This arrangement would not allow Peter to live under the same roof +with his old friend, and at first she could scarcely bear the idea of +parting with him. But the school and the almshouses in which Sally was +to find a home belonged to the same institution. + +She would see her lad often, and he could spend his weekly half-holiday +there. Beside, it would be "a grand thing for the lad;" and this +conquered all objections. + +What a change it was both for the boy and the old woman! Instead of +the racket, the dirt, and the evil habits and language of Back Potter +Street, were quiet, order, cleanliness, and decent behaviour. And, +instead of jacket-mending by old Sally, and marble-playing in the court +for Peter, they both sat on Sunday in the same church, learning more of +that old, yet ever new story of "Jesus and His love." + +With all Peter's desire to do his best and show his deep gratitude to +the kind friends who had been so good to him, he found it very hard at +first to obey rules and learn lessons. After the free, uncontrolled +street life to which he had been accustomed from infancy, it was a most +difficult matter to sit still for any length of time. But Peter fought +against inclination, because he knew restraint was for his good; and +his friends encouraged him to persevere. Above all, Peter had by this +time learned another, and very precious lesson—he had learned to pray; +and when the battle was too much for him to fight alone, he sought +strength from God. + + +Peter was, of course, a very backward scholar, and had to sit side by +side with boys not much above half his age for a time. But a boy who +works and prays is sure to get on, and Peter made fair progress. When +three more New Years' Days had passed, there was a consultation between +Dr. Turner and Mr. Russell as to what Peter must do to earn his living. +No boy could stay in that school after sixteen years of age; and if +Peter had not been so very backward to begin with, he must have left +earlier still. + +"I like the lad," said Dr. Turner; "and I would take him to learn +my own profession, but he began his education so late that it would +require many years of study beyond the ordinary time to fit him for it." + +"Peter is cut out for a tradesman," said Mr. Russell. "His early +experience and natural sharpness will come in well behind a counter, +though a hard student he could never be." + +[Illustration: PETER'S NEW MASTER.] + +The doctor agreed to this, and Peter was apprenticed to a grocer. He +gained great favour from his master, and repaid it by doing "with his +might" whatever his hand found to do. + +Old Sally lived to see her lad prospering in the world. Amongst the +lady customers whom Peter served with his own hand was one whom he +first knew as the little girl—Alice Russell—that read to him the "Old, +Old Story" as he lay helpless in the hospital, many years before. We +may be sure that it was with willing service, he supplied her wants at +all times. + + +Twenty years after Peter was apprenticed, and longer still after that +New Year's Eve which was the turning-point in his life, he sat at his +desk writing a letter. + +It was the last evening of the year, and his thoughts were going back +to that stormy December night when he was carried, hurt and senseless, +to the hospital. What changes these four and twenty years had brought! + +Here was Peter Grant, once a seller of baked potatoes, and living in a +cellar, now the prosperous and wealthy tradesman. He had followed kind +Dr. Turner to the grave with a heavy heart, several years before. Yet +his good friend had not forgotten the lad whom he had helped to lift +out of vice and poverty. He had no son of his own, or any very near +relative, so he left Peter a sum of money, which enabled him to become +a partner in the business. He is sole master now, for his old employer +and partner has retired. + +And Peter has little children of his own, and a bright home, and he +is "Mr. Grant" to everybody. He has heard that the hospital which +sheltered him is in want of more help than usual; that there is not +room enough, and that if one thousand pounds could be given, and a new +wing built, the sick and poor might find shelter enough and to spare. + +Peter was a grateful lad; he is a grateful man now he has the means to +do good. And as he writes the letter I spoke of, there is a happy look +on his pleasant face. + +The children are drumming at the countinghouse door, for "father" has +promised to come and romp with them. He always gives the little folks +a party on New Year's Eve, and enjoys inside the shutters a repetition +of those sounds to which he once listened while leaning against the +railings outside, amid the falling snow. + +"I will come directly, children," he says. And while he answers, he +seals his letter, first enclosing a slip of paper torn out of a book, +to which he adds some writing. + +Then father joins the children and the romp begins anew. + + +On New Year's Day, the treasurer of the hospital received a letter, and +after reading it, he went with a joyful face to tell some good news. + +"A gentleman," said he—"I am not to tell his name, or any +particulars—has sent a note enclosing a cheque for a thousand pounds +to build the new wing we want so much. He writes that, as a poor +boy, he received shelter, healing, and, what is better than all, +the first sound of those 'glad tidings' that the angels brought at +Christmas-tide, while he was under the roof of the hospital. And now +God has prospered him, and he desires to impart to others the same +benefits so freely bestowed on him many a year ago." + +There were many, dear children, who had no idea where that letter and +the money came from. But I can tell you that the thousand pounds which +paid for building the new wing to the hospital was nothing else but +Grateful Peter's New Year's Gift. + + God will take care of you. All through the day + Jesus is near you to keep you from ill, + Waking or resting, at work or at play. + Jesus is with you, and watching you still. + + He will take care of you, All through the night + Jesus the Shepherd, His little one keeps; + Darkness to Him is the same as the light, + He never slumbers, and He never sleeps. + + He will take care of you. All through the year + Crowning each day with His kindness and love, + Sending you blessings, and shielding from fear, + Leading you on to that bright home above. + + He will take care of you. Yes, to the end + Nothing can alter His love for His own; + Children, be glad that you have such a Friend; + He will not leave you one moment alone. + + + + [Illustration] + + + + ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————— + LONDON: KNIGHT, PRINTER, MIDDLE STREET, ALDERSGATE, E. C. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78109 *** diff --git a/78109-h/78109-h.htm b/78109-h/78109-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..34d8597 --- /dev/null +++ b/78109-h/78109-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1486 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + Grateful Peter's New Year's Gift │ Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/image001.jpg" type="image/cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + font-size:12.0pt; + font-family:"Verdana"; +} + +p {text-indent: 2em;} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +h2 {font-size: 1.17em;} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} + +.w100 { + width: auto + } + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +.container{ + display:flex; + } + +.container img{ + width: 300px; + height: 200px; +} + +.container p{ + margin:0; +} + +p.t1 {text-indent: 0%; + font-size: 125%; + text-align: center + } + +p.t2 { + text-indent: 0%; + font-size: 150%; + text-align: center + } + +p.t3 { + text-indent: 0%; + font-size: 100%; + text-align: center + } + +p.t3b { + text-indent: 0%; + font-size: 100%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center + } + +p.t4 { + text-indent: 0%; + font-size: 80%; + text-align: center + } + +p.poem { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + padding: 20px 0; + text-align: left; + width: 555px; + } + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78109 ***</div> + +<p>Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed.</p> +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image001" style="max-width: 33.8125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image001.jpg" alt="image001"> +</figure> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image002" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image002.jpg" alt="image002"> +</figure> +<p class="t4"> +<b>"REMEMBER THIS IS GOD'S DAY."</b><br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p class="t1"> +Little Dot Series.<br> +<br> +——————————————<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<h1>GRATEFUL PETER'S<br> +<br> +NEW YEAR'S GIFT.</h1> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> +BY<br> +</p> + +<p class="t1"> +RUTH LAMB<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +AUTHOR OF "COMFORTABLE MRS. CROOK," ETC.<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image003" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image003.jpg" alt="image003"> +</figure> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> +THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY:<br> +</p> + +<p class="t4"> +56, PATERNOSTER ROW; 65, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD;<br> +AND 164, PICCADILLY.<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image004" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image004.jpg" alt="image004"> +</figure> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image005" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image005.jpg" alt="image005"> +</figure> + +<p class="t3b"> +CONTENTS.<br> +</p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image006" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image006.jpg" alt="image006"> +</figure> + +<p><br></p> + +<p>CHAP.</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p><a href="#Chapter_1">I. AN UNEXPECTED PRESENT</a></p> + +<p><a href="#Chapter_2">II. RUN OVER</a></p> + +<p><a href="#Chapter_3">III. GLAD TIDINGS</a></p> + +<p><a href="#Chapter_4">IV. NEW HOMES</a></p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image007" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image007.jpg" alt="image007"> +</figure> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p class="t2"> +<b>GRATEFUL PETER'S</b><br> +<br> +<b>NEW YEAR'S GIFT.</b><br> +</p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image008" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image008.jpg" alt="image008"> +</figure> + +<p><br></p> + +<h2><a id="Chapter_1">CHAPTER I.</a></h2> + +<p class="t3"> +<b>An Unexpected Present.</b><br> +</p> + +<div class="container"> +<figure id="image009"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image009.jpg" alt="image009"> +</figure> +<p> +<br> +<br> + ON the last evening of the year, the snow was falling +heavily, and the same shrill wind that howled and whistled through the +keyholes and roared in the chimneys was whirling the white flakes round +the heads of the few people to be found in the streets.<br> +<br> + What a night it was! That piercing wind laid hold of all the +passengers. Some it drove onwards, nearly lifting them off their feet; +others it forced backwards, making them fight for every inch of the way +through the snow which it flung in their faces.<br> +<br> + Umbrellas were of no use that night. Those who tried to use the frail +shelters of silk or alpaca saw them turned into playthings by that +unruly pitiless wind. Glad were they to furl them tightly again, though +in many cases they only managed to carry home a battered bundle of +broken ribs and silk. Nobody that could help it would be out of doors +at all.</p> +</div> + +<p>"I wish I weren't forced to be out," thought a little fellow called +Peter Grant, as, tired with battling against the wind, he leaned +against some railings to regain breath. "And it's little use stopping +out. I've only taken three coppers to-night. Who'd stay to buy baked +taters in this snow and wind? I've shouted myself hoarse, and nobody +stops to listen. If plenty of folks were out, the wind wouldn't let +them hear me."</p> + +<p>Peter Grant was twelve years old, and a baked-potato merchant. He had +a home—if that poor cellar in Number Three Court, Back Potter Street, +could be called one—and he possessed what all great and rich people do +not—a true friend. While Peter is leaning against the railings, I will +tell you his story, so far as he can remember it.</p> + +<p>Peter Grant was only a trotting thing of four years old when he lost +his father, and from the neat little home they had been accustomed to, +he and his mother were obliged to remove to one room in the court I +have mentioned. Peter's mother went out washing and working; but a day +came when she returned earlier than usual because she was too ill to +finish her work.</p> + +<p>Old Sally Graham, who lived in the cellar, used to take care of Peter +during his mother's absence. She loved the little fellow dearly, and +was Mrs. Grant's faithful nurse until, after a fortnight's illness, +Peter was left motherless too. There was a talk of taking Peter to the +workhouse, but his tears and Old Sally's pleadings induced the parish +officers to give her a little weekly sum. So he stayed on with the only +friend who loved him and could talk to him of his mother.</p> + +<p>Perhaps it would have been better for Peter if he had been taken to the +workhouse. There he would have had good plain schooling, and have been +put to some regular trade. As it was, he grew up very ignorant.</p> + +<p>Being a sharp lad, and eager to learn, he had somehow got to read +pretty well, partly taught by other lads, partly by old Sally. He +knew just so much of figures as a boy who sells small articles in the +streets and goes on errands must obtain by every-day practice. Sally +was too ignorant to teach Peter more than this.</p> + +<p>As to God, religion, the Bible, church, or Sunday-school, neither she +nor the boy ever looked on these things as concerning them at all. To +be sure, Peter heard the bells calling people to the house of God on +Sundays. And sometimes, when tempted out of Number Three Court into the +wider streets, where on other days, he cried "Baked taters," he could +see well-dressed folk going into the churches and chapels. But he only +looked wonderingly at their nice clothes, and never thought of taking +part himself.</p> + +<p>Sunday! What was Sunday to Peter? I'll tell you, children. It was +the day on which Peter had a clean shirt, and on which he often went +without a jacket while Sally mended it, and he played at marbles out in +the court with other lads. Sunday! Well, there was a little difference +between it and other days. They had a bit of warm meat for dinner when +they could, and Peter did not go out selling.</p> + +<p>At one time, Peter plied his trade on Sundays the same as on other +days. But on a particular Sunday evening in early autumn, as he was +shouting to the passers-by to purchase "rosy apples three a penny," a +gentleman said something to him which stopped his Sunday trading. Peter +always remembered that gentleman's face. It was kind, though grave, +and his hair was white, but his eyes were bright and his cheeks ruddy. +Peter had pushed his hand full of apples in front of the gentleman, +and, in his bold way, asked him to buy.</p> + +<p>"No, my boy; I do not buy, and you should not sell, on Sundays," was +the answer. "Do you not know this is God's day?"</p> + +<p>Peter stared open-mouthed, and the gentleman went on speaking. "I was +once a poor boy, and I believe I should be a poor man now if I had not +been content to work on six days, and give the seventh part of my time +to God. You have a ragged jacket. Do you expect to buy a good coat out +of money earned on Sundays?"</p> + +<p>Peter looked ruefully at his ragged jacket as the gentleman named it. +He had been long vainly trying for a new one.</p> + +<p>"I didn't know, sir," he stammered out; "I'm an honest lad, sir. I work +hard for my living, and other lads and men too work o' Sundays as well +as me."</p> + +<p>"Did you not know it was wrong to sell and tempt people to buy on +Sundays? If other people do wrong that does not make you right. You may +be honest to your fellow-creatures, but you are robbing God of the day +that belongs to Him. Do you go to school?"</p> + +<p>"Can't afford it, sir."</p> + +<p>"What is your father?"</p> + +<p>"Haven't got one, sir; nor mother neither. I live with old Sally +Graham, and she's a very good friend, sir. She always says I must never +steal nor tell lies, nor do anything to get took up by the police."</p> + +<p>This was about the sum of Sally's moral teachings.</p> + +<p>Poor Sally! She could not tell him of the loving Father in heaven, +who has said He is "a Father of the fatherless." Neither had Peter +ever heard of that dear Saviour who held out His tender arms for the +children whom Jewish mothers brought to seek His blessing. Sally could +not repeat the sweet invitation, "Suffer the little children to come +unto Me, and forbid them not," or tell him that he too might go to the +same dear Saviour, and be sure of a welcome.</p> + +<p>The gentleman seemed to understand Peter's position from these answers +of his. He was one who had been raised from poverty to a high and +honourable position, and he delighted to help others.</p> + +<p>So he thought, "I will do something for this lad. Poor, ignorant, +fatherless, motherless, living without hope and without God in the +world, where could I find a better object to work on?"</p> + +<p>Turning to Peter, he said, "Where do you live, my boy?"</p> + +<p>"At Number Three Court, Back Potter Street—end house, sir, right-hand +side."</p> + +<p>"And what is your name?"</p> + +<p>"Peter Grant; and I live with Sally Graham."</p> + +<p>The white-haired gentleman wrote down Peter's name and address on a +slip of paper, which he put into his purse for safety, and then said, +"Do you think you would make sixpence more by selling apples to-night?"</p> + +<p>"Oh dear no, sir; maybe twopence or threepence at most."</p> + +<p>"Then take this sixpence. Go home, and try to remember this is God's +day."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Peter.</p> + +<p>"I shall keep this paper, and you will most likely see me again."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," said Peter, and he touched his cap as the gentleman, +with a kind good-night, turned away.</p> + +<p>Peter at once started homeward, resolved that this unexpected windfall +should buy an extra good cup of tea and a quarter of lump sugar for old +Sally.</p> + +<p>Poor and ignorant as Peter was, he was a truly loving grateful lad. He +was not able to do much in return for his friend's kindness, but he did +what he could.</p> + +<p>Is it so with you, dear child-readers? Are you grateful to the parents +who load you with so many marks of tenderness? Do you give them ready, +joyful obedience, or deny yourselves for their sakes? And when you keep +Christmas, feasting on good things, or delighting in your pretty gifts, +while you watch the blazing lights on the Christmas-tree, decked by +loving hands, what is your chief thought? Do you think of the gifts, or +the Chief Giver? Of the pretty presents, or of Him who gave His dear +Son that you, believing in Him, might have pardon and life?</p> + +<p>Old Sally was standing at the end of the court when Peter returned home.</p> + +<p>"You're home soon, Peter; are you sold out?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"No; but a gentleman gave me sixpence, and said I mustn't sell on +Sundays. And he wrote my name on a paper, and said I should see him +again."</p> + +<p>Sally asked many questions, considering that a person who bestowed +sixpence without being asked for it, and held out hopes of future +favours, was worth inquiring about. Peter told her all that had passed, +described his appearance, from his gold-rimmed spectacles down to his +quick firm step, and finished by saying, "He told me he was once a poor +boy, too."</p> + +<p>"That made the gentleman give you sixpence. When folks have known what +it is to work for their money, they think about others; they know how +hard it is to make ends meet if they keep honest."</p> + +<p>"He had the sort of face you say it does you good to look at; and I +should like to see him again," said Peter.</p> + +<p>"I hope you will, then. But oh, dear me! Gentlefolks often promise +things and forget all about 'em. I daresay they mean to keep them, but +other things come in the way, and they forget."</p> + +<p>"But this gentleman did not look as if he would."</p> + +<p>"Maybe not. To my mind, they're much of a muchness, as the saying is. I +never saw one I could altogether trust to."</p> + +<p>(No, Sally; because the eyes of your understanding have not yet been +opened to see Him whose "word is truth," and who, having promised, is +ever faithful to perform.)</p> + +<p>Peter gave Sally all the money he had taken, but kept back the +sixpence. Though short of many things, she did not ask for it, but +hoped he would save it towards the price of a new jacket. But he only +thought of her comfort. He would have gone then to buy the tea and +sugar, but he remembered that if it were not right for him to sell +apples on Sunday, neither was it for others to sell tea and sugar.</p> + +<p>It was hard work to keep the sixpence, when he saw how few grains of +tea were left in the wide-necked bottle which did duty as a caddy. But +he did keep it.</p> + +<p>On Monday morning, he bought with it an ounce of tea, a quarter of +sugar, and a bloater. He had the happiness of seeing his old friend +enjoy her breakfast, though she exclaimed, "Eh, Peter, you'll never get +a jacket if you spend all your money for me."</p> + +<p>The boy ran off to his business, very happy at the thought of Sally's +good breakfast. Many times he wondered if the white-haired gentleman +would find Back Potter Street; it was such an out-of-the-way place. And +then the question, "Will he try?" suggested itself.</p> + +<p>He pictured again the kind face, answered the question, "Yes, I'm sure +he will," then made extra haste to be home early.</p> + +<p>He reached home out of breath, and gasped out, "Has the gentleman been?"</p> + +<p>"No, Peter," answered Sally; "and if I was you, I wouldn't think too +much about him. If he comes, it will be all right; and if doesn't, you +will be less disappointed."</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p>So many a day passed, and no gentleman came. Peter's heart sank within +him when days grew into months.</p> + +<p>And old Sally said, "I told you how it would be, Peter; there's no +trusting to anybody's promises."</p> + +<p>Peter sadly confessed that Sally was right, adding, "If that gentleman +could go and say a thing just to disappoint a poor lad, I wouldn't +trust anybody."</p> + +<p>Still, the gentleman's words influenced Peter almost without his +knowing it. He did not go to church or school, but, on the other +hand, he neither bought nor sold on Sundays. It was not so much the +words about God and the Sabbath that lingered in his mind. But he did +remember the question, "Do you ever expect to earn a good coat with +what you get by selling on Sundays?"</p> + +<p>Of respect for God's day Peter knew nothing. But the ever-present need +of a new jacket in place of his ragged one made every word relating +to it of great importance. Somehow he felt that if he were to work +on Sundays, he should have no luck. On the other hand, he looked for +the new jacket as a reward which he deserved for giving up his Sunday +business.</p> + +<p>He was confirmed in the belief when his own and old Sally's combined +savings did amount to enough for the purchase of a warm suit of +second-hand clothes. In these garments, he was clothed on that cold +December night—the last of the year—when we left him standing against +the railings, amid the falling snow and piercing wind.</p> + +<p>We must go back to him now. It is well he does not really stand there +expecting us, is it not, dear children? Or he would be weary with +remaining so long in the cold.</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image010" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image010.jpg" alt="image010"> +</figure> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<h2><a id="Chapter_2">CHAPTER II.</a></h2> + +<p class="t3"> +<b>Run Over.</b><br> +</p> + +<div class="container"> +<figure id="image011"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image011.jpg" alt="image011"> +</figure> +<p> +<br> + THROUGH snow and wind, various sounds reached Peter's +ears that New Year's Eve. He was not far from a large church—and oh, +how merrily the bells were ringing! He knew what they were pealing so +joyously for, and he meant to sit up and let in the new year to their +poor cellar in Number Three Court, Back Potter Street.<br> +<br> + Peter had been very anxious to do business that night, for he had been +saving a penny at a time to buy old Sally a woollen comforter as a +new year's gift. It was nearly paid for at the little shop where they +dealt, and he meant it for a grand surprise.<br> +<br> + As he turned over his few coppers, he rejoiced that he had enough for +that; and he knew the morrow's wants were supplied already. But Peter +heard other sounds between the pealing of the church bells. There was a +children's party inside the house, and, as he stood leaning against the +railings, their merry voices came ringing in his ears.</p> +</div> + +<p>The little potato merchant felt inclined to envy the happy youngsters +as he heard their pattering feet rushing from dining-room to hall and +back again. The happy children meanwhile cared nothing for piercing +cold or fast-falling snow outside. How should they? The fire was +blazing cheerfully for them, kind friends had prepared a feast to +gratify their childish appetites, and were even now adding to the sport +by joining in it.</p> + +<p>Papa, hot and panting, is playing the "blind man," and is dragged about +by the arms, the coat-tails—anything, in fact, that can be laid hold +of—while perhaps one tiny thing, contrary to all the rules of the game, +is pushing herself in front of him, and shouting,—</p> + +<p>"Please, catch me!"</p> + +<p>Mamma, just as useful, plays tunes that set the little feet drumming on +the floor, or does "Magic music" better than anybody else. And all the +while, her motherly eye is on the alert to watch against accident to +any of the young guests. All these knew nothing, or thought nothing of +other little ones, just as able to enjoy these pleasures as themselves, +but shut out by poverty from them all.</p> + +<p>Of course, nobody could have guessed that little Peter Grant was +leaning against the railings outside, shivering, in spite of his +improved clothing, and very down-hearted because the storm was +interfering with his trade, and he should carry home an unsold stock +and very little money.</p> + +<p>The boy lingered longer than he intended. In spite of himself, he was +fascinated by those merry voices, which raised a longing in his mind to +form one amongst such a company. But at length there came a lull, and +he could hear nothing. The truth was, the youngsters were all sitting +down to table to enjoy the nice things provided for them, though +Peter could not see them through the closed shutters. Only a line of +ruddy light strewing through a narrow chink hinted at the warmth and +brightness within.</p> + +<p>If Peter had waited a little longer, he would have heard the voices +again, louder than ever, when the blazing dish of "snap-dragon" came +in, and the crackers began to explode. And, later still, he would have +heard the young voices rise in a simple hymn of praise to Him who had +brought them all in peace and safety to the threshold of the new year.</p> + +<p>But Peter did not stay long enough for these things. Slowly, for he had +to face the wind, the boy started on his way to Back Potter Street. +He had hard work to keep his footing, and at the crossings it was far +worse. He made a rush to pass one of these, holding his basket tightly +on one arm, and clutching his cap with the other hand.</p> + +<p>Poor lad! His was unlucky haste. He felt a sudden shock, a blow that +knocked him down, and sent his basket with its contents flying in all +directions. Then he knew no more. He lay still and senseless on the +ground, while the blood, streaming from a cut on his forehead, tinged +the newly-fallen snow. Knocked down and run over! That was Peter's +case. In his haste to cross the street, he had not noticed a rapidly +advancing cab; and now he was lying with a cut face, a large bump at +the back of his head, and a broken leg.</p> + +<p>Now, I know as well as possible that all the children who read this +story will be very sorry for Peter. They will think how very miserable +it must be to have such hurts to end the old year and begin the new one +with. Well, these things are not very pleasant. But cheer up, little +friend readers. I will give you a peep into Peter's future—only a peep. +You must wait and read the story through for particulars.</p> + +<p>This accident, sad and painful as it may seem, is to be the beginning +of a new and a brighter and better life for the orphan boy. It will +bring him friends, and be the means, by God's blessing, of leading +him to that best of all friends, the One that "sticketh closer than a +brother."</p> + +<p>Peter did not lie long upon the cold white snow. The gentleman who was +the only passenger in the cab jumped out instantly, and bent over the +injured boy. He was the father of a little girl, one of that merry +party in the next street, to whose voices Peter had listened as he +leaned against the railings. He was on his way to fetch home the child.</p> + +<p>"Poor boy!" said he, as he leaned over Peter. "He is quite senseless. +We must take him to the hospital without losing a moment. I was going +to fetch home my little girl, but she must wait."</p> + +<p>As tenderly and carefully as possible, the injured lad was conveyed to +a neighbouring hospital. There he was soon restored to consciousness—a +knowledge of pain present, and more to be endured in binding up his +hurts and setting his broken limb.</p> + +<p>It was over at last, and medicine given to soothe the boy to rest. But +amongst all his pain, the lad thought of his old friend in the poor +cellar and of the anxiety she would feel as she watched and waited for +him.</p> + +<p>The nurse saw that Peter was troubled and restless, and kindly asked if +she could make him more comfortable.</p> + +<p>"No, thank you, ma'am," said Peter. "I am troubled about old Sally that +I live with; she'll be sitting up, not knowing what's got me."</p> + +<p>"It is too late to send now. The gentleman that brought you here would +have told your friends, only you did not come to yourself soon enough. +Sally shall be told in the morning, and shall come to see you, too?"</p> + +<p>"But she'll be in trouble about me all night."</p> + +<p>There was no help for it. It was now just past midnight, and soon the +pealing bells that had rung the old year out and the new year in would +cease their pleasant clamour. Peter must content himself as well as he +could. But when he at last sank to sleep, there were tears on his pale +cheeks, caused not by his own bodily suffering, but by the thought of +his old friend's lonely watchings, and of the fears she would have for +his sake.</p> + +<p>Children, when you lay your heads on soft pillows in comfortable rooms, +are your thoughts ever turned in real gratitude towards the Heavenly +Father whose kind hand bestows every blessing?</p> + +<p>It would be of no use for us to read the story of what this poor boy +did and felt, unless we were to learn something from his example. He +thought of the poor earthly friend who loved him, and was grieved at +the thought of grieving her, even though he was not to blame for what +caused her anxiety. Do you, dear children, ere you sleep, think whether +your actions will please your Heavenly Friend? Are your eyes ever moist +with tears, shed because you have been ungrateful to Him who has done +all for you?</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p>When Peter awoke on the morning of the new year, he scarcely understood +where he was, or how he had come into this strange place. He saw that +he was lying in a very clean bed, in a long room where there were other +beds, each with its pale-faced tenant.</p> + +<p>He tried to move, and became aware that his leg was held stiff and +straight in wooden splints. There was pain in it too, and his head +ached and throbbed. By degrees, Peter recollected what had happened the +night before, and then thought of his old friend waiting and watching +in vain.</p> + +<p>It was a relief when the boy saw the kind face of the nurse who came to +bring him some tea. He drank eagerly, but did not feel well enough to +eat anything. The nurse bathed his face and made him as comfortable as +possible, but she noticed the tears trickling down her young patient's +cheeks.</p> + +<p>"Does your leg hurt you much?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"It hurts me, but I don't care so much about that. I was thinking about +old Sally, and wondering how I could sleep when she was watching for +me."</p> + +<p>"It is very well you did sleep, poor boy," said the nurse.</p> + +<p>She was a tender-hearted woman, and the sight of so much suffering had +not hardened her, as custom does some people. She thought about a boy +of her own far away at sea, and in her motherly fashion, she bent down +and kissed poor Peter's cheek, saying, "Happy New Year to you; here's +wishing you may soon be running about again."</p> + +<p>How astonished she was when Peter broke out into a violent fit of +sobbing.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" she said in alarm.</p> + +<p>"Have I hurt you? Don't cry, or you will be worse, and what will Dr. +Turner say when he comes? It is his morning, and he'll be here in +half-an-hour—now, don't fret, there's a good boy."</p> + +<p>It seemed as though every kind word made matters worse, and the nurse +became alarmed at Peter's continued sobbing. She was on the point of +leaving him to seek some remedy, when he said, "Please, don't, go—you +didn't hurt me. Only nobody ever kisses me, and—and I was glad."</p> + +<p>"Bless the dear lad!" said the nurse. "Is that it? Well, I couldn't +have believed. Then while you are my little patient, I shall kiss you, +and you'll get used to it."</p> + +<p>The nurse had now to leave Peter to look after other hurt and helpless +people in the same room.</p> + +<p>And, in the meanwhile, Peter tried very hard to give up sobbing. He had +just succeeded when the nurse returned, bringing with her a gentleman +to the boy's bedside.</p> + +<p>"Well, my boy," said the gentleman, "how do you feel this morning? I +have been kept awake by thinking about you. You will not remember me; +but you were unfortunately knocked down by the cab in which I was going +to fetch my little daughter home from a party."</p> + +<p>"Was it in Kay Street, sir?" asked Peter.</p> + +<p>The gentleman smiled at the question, and replied, "Yes."</p> + +<p>"I'd been listening to them outside for ever so long. They were jolly," +said Peter, recalling to mind the merry sounds that had so fascinated +him.</p> + +<p>"They were indeed, until I went in and told them of the poor boy who +had got hurt and been taken to this place. It seems you had been +feeling with them in their mirth, and then they felt for you in your +pain and trouble. My little girl is in a cab outside now, and when you +are well enough, I will bring her to see you. Now what can I do for +you?"</p> + +<p>"Please, sir, go and tell old Sally Graham where I am, and ask for her +to come and see me. And, sir, if you would—"</p> + +<p>"Would what? I will do anything I can for your comfort, either of mind +or body."</p> + +<p>"Well then, sir, will you please go to Robinson's shop, corner of +Potter Street—it's on your way to our place—and ask them to let you +have a woollen comforter that Peter Grant has been paying for. There's +threepence in my trousers pocket that 'll make up all the money. I +meant to give it Sally for a new year's gift, and I should so like to +have it here ready when she comes to see me."</p> + +<p>"Never mind the threepence!" said the gentleman. "I can put the rest to +what has been paid."</p> + +<p>"Please, sir, that wouldn't be me giving it."</p> + +<p>So the nurse was appealed to, the coppers were taken from Peter's +pocket, and the gentleman started on his errand, much struck with the +unselfish spirit of the boy.</p> + +<p>He found "Robinson's" easily enough, obtained the comforter, and by the +guidance of the shopkeeper was soon at the entrance of the cellar in +Number Three Court, Back Potter Street.</p> + +<p>Old Sally Graham was on the look-out. She had not slept, and now with +heavy heart and anxious face, she was straining her eyes in the hope of +catching a glimpse of her boy coming home. It would be a sorrowful new +year for Sally unless she knew that Peter was safe.</p> + +<p>All Back Potter Street, and Number Three Court in particular, was in a +state of astonishment when a gentleman descended from a cab and entered +the latter.</p> + +<p>Everybody in the court knew of Peter's absence and Sally's watchings; +and when the visitor approached her abode, they somehow connected his +coming with the boy's non-arrival. The general opinion was that "Peter +had got hisself into trouble," and that the gentleman had something to +do with the police.</p> + +<p>It was not often that the presence of a visitor in Number Three Court +was connected with good news.</p> + +<p>"Your name is Graham, I think?" said Sally's visitor.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; please, is it anything about my lad Peter?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is. Don't be uneasy. He has had an accident, but he is in good +hands, and will, I hope, soon be all right again. He has been very +anxious about you, and wants to see you this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Eh, bless him! I am glad it isn't anything as he's done wrong. He's +been a good lad to me, but I got afraid when he didn't come home. Where +is he hurt, sir? How was it? Where is he? When may I go?" And a host of +other questions were poured out so fast that the gentleman had enough +to do to answer.</p> + +<p>However, he did answer. And before he left Number Three Court, he gave +Sally a little sum of money, promising that she should have the same +weekly until Peter was able to help her again.</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Russell went back to the hospital, and cheered Peter by giving +him the comforter, and telling him that old Sally would be there in the +afternoon to see her boy and receive her new year's gift.</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image012" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image012.jpg" alt="image012"> +</figure> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<h2><a id="Chapter_3">CHAPTER III.</a></h2> + +<p class="t3"> +<b>Glad Tidings.</b><br> +</p> + +<div class="container"> +<figure id="image013"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image013.jpg" alt="image013"> +</figure> +<p> +<br> + A LITTLE while after the departure of Mr. Russell, +Peter's first visitor, two more gentlemen came towards his bed. The +younger of the two was the house-surgeon, who had set his leg the night +before, and he heard him call the other gentleman "Dr. Turner."<br> +<br> + "Have you any new cases?" asked the latter.<br> +<br> + "Two or three. One, a boy of twelve, was knocked down and run over by a +cab last evening."<br> +<br> + "Much hurt?"<br> +<br> + "Left leg broken, forehead cut, and a few bruises. Quite a poor lad—a +baked-potato seller, I believe."</p> +</div> + +<p>"Poor fellow! This is the one, I suppose. Well, my boy, how do you feel +yourself this morning? Why, bless me! I declare I must know this lad's +face. Look at me, boy. Did you ever see me before?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Peter, feebly; for in Dr. Turner, he instantly +recognised the gentleman for whose visit to his cellar home he had so +long watched and waited in vain.</p> + +<p>Yes, there by Peter's bed stood the white-haired ruddy-faced gentleman +who gave him the sixpence, and whose words, though little understood, +were the means of his giving up selling on Sundays.</p> + +<p>"I thought so," said Dr. Turner. "You are the boy whose name and +address I wrote down, and I promised that I would call to see you +again. This is a nice new year's start for you."</p> + +<p>"But you never came to see me, sir," said Peter, going back to his old +disappointment, and speaking in a reproachful tone.</p> + +<p>"I never did, Peter. You see I remember your Christian name. And what +did you think of me for not keeping my promise?"</p> + +<p>"I kept looking and looking for you, for I believed you would come. But +Sally told me that gentlefolks often promise to do things, and first +they put off, and then they forget altogether. So at last, I thought +you were just like all the rest."</p> + +<p>"Then you really believed I had forgotten all about you, Peter?"</p> + +<p>"If I hadn't seen you write down my name, and where we lived, I should +have thought you'd forgot them. And if I hadn't seen you put the paper +in your purse, and the purse into your pocket, I might ha' fancied +you'd lost it. I couldn't think anything but that you didn't care about +coming, after all. And I was so disappointed."</p> + +<p>"I don't wonder, Peter; yet I was not to blame, after all. What should +you say if were to tell you my purse was stolen from me, with the paper +in it?"</p> + +<p>"Was it really, sir? I'm so glad!"</p> + +<p>"Well, Peter, you're a nice fellow to say that—to be glad that I was +robbed, and that some person was a thief—on Sunday night too."</p> + +<p>The lad looked distressed, and his pale face became a bright crimson. +"I didn't mean that, sir. I'm sorry you lost your purse; but I'm glad +it wasn't because you forgot all about me that you never came, as you +promised to do."</p> + +<p>"I understand you, Peter. I did not miss my purse till Monday morning; +and then, though I tried hard, I could not recollect your name or the +place where you lived."</p> + +<p>"You have come to see me, after all," said Peter, with a wan smile at +his little attempt at a joke.</p> + +<p>"Yes; and I want to help you to get better, which I shall not do if I +talk. Beside, I have ever so many more patients to see; for doctors +don't get a holiday even on New Year's Day. But, Peter, it is a blessed +thing if, by giving up a little of our own ease, we can give comfort +and rest to the suffering. I shall see you again to-morrow, and never +fear but you'll do finely; only you must keep quiet."</p> + +<p>"Sally's to come and see me, sir," put in Peter.</p> + +<p>"It would be better not. Well, never mind—don't fret—she shall come, if +it will make you happier."</p> + +<p>Dr. Turner took Sally's address again, and put it in his waistcoat +pocket. "Not in the purse this time, Peter; though, if I were to lose +it, I should be able to find 'you' for a few days to come."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Peter, fully appreciating a bit of fun, though at +his own expense, as he lay there helpless; "I shan't run away yet." +Then he added, "I never sold anything on Sundays after that night you +talked to me."</p> + +<p>"That's a step on the right road, my lad. And now, as you lie there, +don't be sad. Listen to those bells that are chiming so sweetly. They +are telling the tale of the new year.</p> + +<p>"And the sun is peeping in, and casting a bright streak upon your +quilt, Peter; and I believe—I really do—that you will have a happy new +year, though you have begun it here on your back, and are likely to +stay there for the present."</p> + +<p>Away went the doctor, and carried with him kind words as well as skill +to other bedsides, and Peter lay contented, happy, hopeful, in spite +of his hurts. Then the motherly nurse brought his medicine, and told +him he looked so bright that he was like another lad; and the pleasant +chime of bells, wafted on the wind, came with their music to his ears, +and at last lulled him to rest again.</p> + +<p>While Peter was sleeping, Mr. Russell paid a second visit, and left +the parcel containing the "comforter," ready for Peter to present. He +also brought nice fresh grapes for the lad, and there they were like a +perfect picture when, hours after, he awoke.</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p>In the meanwhile, too, Sally Graham had spent an unusually long time +in "tidying herself" for the afternoon visit to the hospital, and had +informed the inhabitants of Back Potter Street, and Number Three Court +in particular, of all that had befallen "her lad," as she called Peter.</p> + +<p>The neighbourhood was astonished for the second time that day by the +presence of a second gentleman, who came in a real carriage of his +own—not a cab—and called on Sally Graham. This was Dr. Turner, who in +a few words told the old woman about his first meeting with Peter, the +reason he had failed in his promise, and all that has already been +related.</p> + +<p>By dint of half soothing, half scolding, he made the old woman dry all +her tears; and then, finding how clean and neat she had made herself, +in spite of poor clothing, the doctor said, "I may as well save your +legs a long walk. You are not quite so young as you once were, any more +than I am, so you shall ride along with me. I have to make another call +at the hospital."</p> + +<p>Sally was almost overwhelmed at the thought of going in the doctor's +own carriage.</p> + +<p>And after it had disappeared from view, the inhabitants of Back Potter +Street and its courts did little else but talk about what had happened +and what else was likely to follow. Everybody prophesied all sorts of +good luck to Peter and Old Sally, now gentlefolks had begun to take +notice of them. They quite overlooked the fact that Peter was lying +with a broken leg, and would be able to do nothing towards earning +bread, for some time to come. They settled it quite comfortably that +the gentlefolks would make it all right, and that the happiest of new +years had just begun for Sally and Peter.</p> + +<p>These neighbours did not know that a message was on its way to Peter—a +sweet message of love and peace and mercy, which he had never heard, +but which has been spoken to you, dear child-readers, many and many a +time.</p> + +<p>A message? Yes; one meant for the ears of all mankind, for old and +young, for rich and poor—the message that angels sang in the astonished +ears of the Bethlehem shepherds as they watched their flocks by night, +little dreaming that the Shepherd of Israel was so near at hand, in the +form of a newborn babe. The "glad tidings" have not yet reached Peter; +but they will come, borne on the lips of a little child.</p> + +<p>There was a touching meeting between Peter and old Sally, who, however, +behaved very well, considering. Sally was terribly afraid that the +doctor would not let her come again unless she was very quiet. This +made her control her feelings as far as possible, cheering the boy with +hopeful words about himself and Mr. Russell's kind help in the way of +money "to keep things going at home."</p> + +<p>As to the "comforter" of bright scarlet wool, her new year's gift, +Sally did not know how to admire it enough. Peter insisted that she +should put it on at once, and his face was almost as bright as Sally's +smart present when she declared it was "a comforter both by name and +natur'."</p> + +<p>Then Sally went home again, to shed in secret the tears which she had +so bravely restrained while in Peter's presence, and to realise more +than ever how very dull was the cellar in Number Three Court without +her lad to brighten it.</p> + +<p>After two or three days, when Peter's head had somewhat recovered from +the effects of its bumps and bruises, Mr. Russell brought his little +daughter Alice to see the boy. She was a warm-hearted little thing +of nine years old, and thoughtful beyond her age. She had been very +carefully and lovingly taught by a good mother, and her great desire +was to be of some use in the world. Alice was very anxious to see +Peter, of whom her father had told her a great deal, and at last she +had leave to come and sit by him for a while.</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry you had so much pain," said the little girl. "Are you +better now, Peter?"</p> + +<p>"My leg often hurts me a good deal, but my head does not ache. Still, +you know, it isn't very pleasant to lie here always, when I've been +used to run about the day through."</p> + +<p>"No, it isn't; but I hope you will get quite strong before very long. +Papa says you were standing outside that house in Kay Street Where the +party was on New Year's Eve."</p> + +<p>"Yes; I stood ever so long. Eh, but you were laughing and making a +noise. I wished I was inside."</p> + +<p>"I daresay, for it was so cold and windy outside. I don't know how you +could stand at all. I should have had a cold and cough, and I don't +know what beside, if I had stood there even a little while."</p> + +<p>"But then, miss, I'm used to being out in all sorts of weather, and it +does not hurt me."</p> + +<p>"Papa says you go out selling things; but he has been talking to Dr. +Turner about you, and he wants you to learn something better. I do hope +you will."</p> + +<p>The lad's face brightened, and he said, heartily, "Don't I wish I'd a +chance!"</p> + +<p>"You will have one, I know. Papa never forgets anything, and he says +he'll help you. And see, Peter, here is some cake mamma has sent you, +and two oranges. And now shall I read to you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, if you please, miss; and thank your mamma for sending me the +things."</p> + +<p>"What shall we read about?"</p> + +<p>"Just what you like, miss," said Peter, rather amused at the question.</p> + +<p>"Well, I've got something here. It is called 'The Old, Old Story.' +Perhaps you have read it, though?"</p> + +<p>Peter shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Then I'll read it first. It's all about Jesus; and, as Christmas is +only just over, it will be nice. Had you a merry Christmas, Peter?"</p> + +<p>The boy smiled. He could understand how little the child knew of "his" +world, so he just answered, "Middling, miss. But please read to me +about Jesus. I don't know that story at all, I'm sure."</p> + +<p>If ever a face expressed astonishment, that face was Alice Russell's. +But, fortunately, she remembered that her papa had told her Peter was +very ignorant, with no parents to teach him. So she thought it best +just to read the "Old, Old Story," and let it speak for itself.</p> + +<p>Very slowly and solemnly the child read the wondrous tale—</p> + +<p class="poem"> +<br> +"Of Jesus and His glory,<br> + Of Jesus and His love."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p>Peter listened—how he did listen! And, as the child's clear voice +sounded in the long ward, other eyes were turned towards her, sounds +ceased, and pale faces were lighted up as the words of that story which +"always seems so new" reached their ears.</p> + +<p>The little girl's thoughts were, however, absorbed in her story and him +for whom specially she was reading. As she finished the tale of man's +fall, of God's love for sinners, which made Him give His own dear Son +to die as "the remedy for sin," she looked at Peter, while her own eyes +were filled with tears.</p> + +<p>Her young hearer was as much stirred as herself. As she closed the +leaves of her little book, he said, "Miss, I never heard such a story +as that before. It isn't true, is it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, Peter, it is. Why, it's in the Bible, and everything in the +Bible is true. Mamma taught me about it when I was such a little girl; +and I thought everybody knew, except the poor heathen in countries a +long way off, where the missionaries go. But the next time I come, I'll +bring my Bible, and read about it there."</p> + +<p>"Will you come again to-morrow, miss? I do so want you to read again, +and bring that story too."</p> + +<p>"I'll leave it with you, Peter. It is not like a big book. You can +read, I know, and the print is large, so you will hold it and read it +easily. If papa will let me, and the doctors will not be angry, I will +come again to-morrow. Now, good-bye. Papa is beckoning me away."</p> + +<p>The child went to her father, who was in conversation with Dr. Turner. +In reply to their questions, she told them what she had been reading, +and that Peter had not heard of Jesus until she read him "The Old, Old +Story."</p> + +<p>"He wants me to come again to-morrow," she said. "Papa, you will bring +me, will you not? And you will allow me to come in, sir, won't you?"</p> + +<p>Dr. Turner smiled, and told the little girl she should come every day, +if her papa liked.</p> + +<p>"And I am to bring my Bible the next time. Peter has no Bible. Papa, I +thought everybody in this country knew about Jesus."</p> + +<p>"I wish it were so, my child," replied Mr. Russell. "But here, in +Christian England, there are thousands of heathens who know nothing of +Christ. Peter Grant has had no loving mother to teach him, and there +are many who grow up just as ignorant. My little Alice will be very +happy, and begin this year with gladness, if she should be permitted +to bring the 'glad tidings of salvation' through Christ to the ears of +this poor boy. And we will pray, little one, that God may bless you, +and bring home the precious truths to this poor lad's heart by the +teaching of His Holy Spirit."</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image014" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image014.jpg" alt="image014"> +</figure> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<h2><a id="Chapter_4">CHAPTER IV.</a></h2> + +<p class="t3"> +<b>New Homes.</b><br> +</p> + +<div class="container"> +<figure id="image015"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image015.jpg" alt="image015"> +</figure> +<p> +<br> +<br> + MR. RUSSELL and Dr. Turner had soon found out how +extremely ignorant Peter was. In the neighbourhood of his poor home, +the name of God was seldom used except in blasphemy. That name Peter +knew, and that was almost all. They were anxious to teach him better +things, and now that he was obliged to lie quiet, they wished to sow +the precious seed of God's Word, in the hope that it might take root +and bring forth fruit to God's glory and Peter's eternal good.<br> +<br> + "I believe a child would be the best teacher for Peter," said Dr. +Turner. "Let your little girl come and read to him. She is sure to +repeat her mother's lessons in the boy's ears, and we can guide her as +to what she should read."<br> +<br> + Little Alice knew nothing except that she was to be allowed to read to +the poor boy in the hospital, but she was delighted to go and ask her +mamma for a copy of "The Old, Old Story," first to read to, then leave +with Peter. This was readily given to her, as we have seen.</p> +</div> + +<p>To Peter the little book was a great treasure. He read it again, +and the more he read, the more he wondered. He wished for his child +visitor's return, and his face flushed with pleasure as he saw her +coming softly towards his corner of the ward.</p> + +<p>"I've read the story three times over," he said, without waiting for +any greetings from Alice.</p> + +<p>"And you like it, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, only I don't understand what it means."</p> + +<p>"I've brought my Bible, and that will tell you. Doesn't it seem strange +to have such a big book to make us understand that little thing? But +you see that 'Old, Old Story' is just Bible story turned into verses."</p> + +<p>It would take too long to tell the particulars of Alice's lessons +to Peter. She was eager to tell, and he to learn. He asked endless +questions, and she began by reading first the story of Adam and Eve, +and then other portions of Scripture, so that he might learn about +Jesus.</p> + +<p>How the lad was charmed with the account of the Babe of Bethlehem, +cradled in a manger! Then of the Great Physician healing all manner of +sickness, and enabling the lame to walk, all in a moment, the blind to +see, and the dumb to speak.</p> + +<p>He learned that Christmas, with its gaily-decked shops, its ruddy +holly-berries and shining mistletoe, its good cheer and kind wishes, +had a deeper better meaning. He saw that it was a remembrance of +the time when the angels came with their song, "Glory to God in the +highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men."</p> + +<p>He, lying there helpless, realised as few can do, what joy it would be +to hear the Saviour say, "Arise, take up thy bed and walk." And he, +who had often known what hunger was, seemed to see the bountiful Giver +blessing the loaves and feeding the hungry multitude in the wilderness. +He wanted to know what had become of Jesus. Where was now this Saviour?</p> + +<p>So, day by day, little by little, Peter heard the whole story, not only +of the life, but the death of Christ, and of His being now exalted "a +Prince and a Saviour" at the right hand of God. He lay and thought of +these wondrous things—so old a story, yet to him so new. And then he +said, "Surely He could not die for me. I was not living then."</p> + +<p>Then the elders came in to little Alice's aid as teachers, and strove +to make plain what she could not. When Peter understood at last that +he too had a share in that great Saviour, his heart was filled with +grateful gladness and a wish to do something to show his gratitude.</p> + +<p>Many read the story without a thought of love to this dear Saviour. +But, to the poor lad who now heard it for the first time, it seemed +wonderful that anybody could help loving Jesus.</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p>Time sped, and Peter continued to recover steadily. He wondered +whether, after all, he should have to go back to Number Three Court, +Back Potter Street, and begin his old trade again. He shrank from the +thought of it. He had had a glimpse of a new and better life, and he +longed to see more. The hospital had been to Peter a precious ark +of refuge. He would never think of it as the scene of his pain and +suffering, but of healing and peace for soul and body.</p> + +<p>Back Potter Street and its courts had dirt and squalor, rough, coarse +actions, and impure words as their constant surroundings. And even old +Sally, with all her love, had been able to tell him nothing of that +love "which passeth knowledge." He wanted to go on learning himself, +and that his old friend should become a scholar too. How was this to be +brought about?</p> + +<p>The day drew near when Peter would be discharged cured. While anxious +to work, he was almost afraid to think about going out into his world +again. He would have to bid farewell to the motherly nurse who had been +so tender and kind; to the doctors, whose skill had been the means of +his cure; and, above all, to the child-teacher who had first brought to +him the message of the gospel. Why, in leaving the hospital, he would +turn his back on the best home he had ever known. Peter's fears and +doubts were soon set at rest. His friends had been busy for him, and, +after having shown so much kindness, would not now leave him to battle +with the world alone.</p> + +<p>"So you are to go out to-day, Peter," said Dr. Turner, on the morning +fixed for the lad's discharge.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," answered Peter. "I told Sally about it last time she was +here."</p> + +<p>"That is all right enough; but we are not going to let you out of our +hands altogether yet. We have a nice place belonging to the hospital, +a few miles away in the country. It is called a 'Convalescent Home,' +and it is for patients to go to, who, like you, are well, but not very +strong. You are to go there for three weeks to get up your strength and +learn something about flowers and fields and green trees."</p> + +<p>Peter could hardly believe his ears. What, go away into the country, +where little Alice told him the sky was so blue and the air so fresh, +and filled with the smell of flowers and the song of birds!</p> + +<p>"By the way," said the doctor, "it will be rather early for flowers, +but the air of spring time is sweeter than any. You will come back with +checks like roses."</p> + +<p>The boy tried to speak his thanks, but broke down in the attempt, and +then said something about what old Sally would do without him.</p> + +<p>"She has managed so far, Peter, and you may safely trust her to Mr. +Russell and me. She is coming to see you before you go to the 'Home.'"</p> + +<p>Peter said good-bye to his old friend, and was a little surprised to +see her in such good spirits.</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p>What a delightful three weeks was that which followed. All was new, +strange, and beautiful. Peter's delight was only equalled by his wonder +at the marvellous works of God. Peter saw Dr. Turner two or three +times, and that kind friend promised that, at the appointed time, he +would take him home. And so he did.</p> + +<p>Was it to the poor cellar in Back Potter Street, Number Three Court? +No, indeed. The doctor took him to a neat little cottage with just two +rooms—one of a long row, and farther out of the town, and there he saw +his old friend Sally Graham.</p> + +<p>"Eh, my boy!" shrieked the old woman, as she seized his hand, her eyes +overflowing with gladness. "See what the doctor and Mr. Russell have +got for me; this nice little house, and I'm to have it as long as I +live, and a bit of money to keep me in victuals, too. And you 'are' +looking red and stout! Who'd have thought such luck would come out of +your broken leg on New Year's Eve?"</p> + +<p>Who, indeed? But there was more "luck" still, as Sally called it. The +two gentlemen had exerted themselves so well that they had gained a +place for Peter in an excellent school, where he would be fed, taught, +lodged, and clothed almost free of cost.</p> + +<p>This arrangement would not allow Peter to live under the same roof +with his old friend, and at first she could scarcely bear the idea of +parting with him. But the school and the almshouses in which Sally was +to find a home belonged to the same institution.</p> + +<p>She would see her lad often, and he could spend his weekly half-holiday +there. Beside, it would be "a grand thing for the lad;" and this +conquered all objections.</p> + +<p>What a change it was both for the boy and the old woman! Instead of +the racket, the dirt, and the evil habits and language of Back Potter +Street, were quiet, order, cleanliness, and decent behaviour. And, +instead of jacket-mending by old Sally, and marble-playing in the court +for Peter, they both sat on Sunday in the same church, learning more of +that old, yet ever new story of "Jesus and His love."</p> + +<p>With all Peter's desire to do his best and show his deep gratitude to +the kind friends who had been so good to him, he found it very hard at +first to obey rules and learn lessons. After the free, uncontrolled +street life to which he had been accustomed from infancy, it was a most +difficult matter to sit still for any length of time. But Peter fought +against inclination, because he knew restraint was for his good; and +his friends encouraged him to persevere. Above all, Peter had by this +time learned another, and very precious lesson—he had learned to pray; +and when the battle was too much for him to fight alone, he sought +strength from God.</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p>Peter was, of course, a very backward scholar, and had to sit side by +side with boys not much above half his age for a time. But a boy who +works and prays is sure to get on, and Peter made fair progress. When +three more New Years' Days had passed, there was a consultation between +Dr. Turner and Mr. Russell as to what Peter must do to earn his living. +No boy could stay in that school after sixteen years of age; and if +Peter had not been so very backward to begin with, he must have left +earlier still.</p> + +<p>"I like the lad," said Dr. Turner; "and I would take him to learn +my own profession, but he began his education so late that it would +require many years of study beyond the ordinary time to fit him for it."</p> + +<p>"Peter is cut out for a tradesman," said Mr. Russell. "His early +experience and natural sharpness will come in well behind a counter, +though a hard student he could never be."</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image016" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image016.jpg" alt="image016"></figure> +<p class="t4"> +<b>PETER'S NEW MASTER.</b><br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p>The doctor agreed to this, and Peter was apprenticed to a grocer. He +gained great favour from his master, and repaid it by doing "with his +might" whatever his hand found to do.</p> + +<p>Old Sally lived to see her lad prospering in the world. Amongst the +lady customers whom Peter served with his own hand was one whom he +first knew as the little girl—Alice Russell—that read to him the "Old, +Old Story" as he lay helpless in the hospital, many years before. We +may be sure that it was with willing service, he supplied her wants at +all times.</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p>Twenty years after Peter was apprenticed, and longer still after that +New Year's Eve which was the turning-point in his life, he sat at his +desk writing a letter.</p> + +<p>It was the last evening of the year, and his thoughts were going back +to that stormy December night when he was carried, hurt and senseless, +to the hospital. What changes these four and twenty years had brought!</p> + +<p>Here was Peter Grant, once a seller of baked potatoes, and living in a +cellar, now the prosperous and wealthy tradesman. He had followed kind +Dr. Turner to the grave with a heavy heart, several years before. Yet +his good friend had not forgotten the lad whom he had helped to lift +out of vice and poverty. He had no son of his own, or any very near +relative, so he left Peter a sum of money, which enabled him to become +a partner in the business. He is sole master now, for his old employer +and partner has retired.</p> + +<p>And Peter has little children of his own, and a bright home, and he +is "Mr. Grant" to everybody. He has heard that the hospital which +sheltered him is in want of more help than usual; that there is not +room enough, and that if one thousand pounds could be given, and a new +wing built, the sick and poor might find shelter enough and to spare.</p> + +<p>Peter was a grateful lad; he is a grateful man now he has the means to +do good. And as he writes the letter I spoke of, there is a happy look +on his pleasant face.</p> + +<p>The children are drumming at the countinghouse door, for "father" has +promised to come and romp with them. He always gives the little folks +a party on New Year's Eve, and enjoys inside the shutters a repetition +of those sounds to which he once listened while leaning against the +railings outside, amid the falling snow.</p> + +<p>"I will come directly, children," he says. And while he answers, he +seals his letter, first enclosing a slip of paper torn out of a book, +to which he adds some writing.</p> + +<p>Then father joins the children and the romp begins anew.</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p>On New Year's Day, the treasurer of the hospital received a letter, and +after reading it, he went with a joyful face to tell some good news.</p> + +<p>"A gentleman," said he—"I am not to tell his name, or any +particulars—has sent a note enclosing a cheque for a thousand pounds +to build the new wing we want so much. He writes that, as a poor +boy, he received shelter, healing, and, what is better than all, +the first sound of those 'glad tidings' that the angels brought at +Christmas-tide, while he was under the roof of the hospital. And now +God has prospered him, and he desires to impart to others the same +benefits so freely bestowed on him many a year ago."</p> + +<p>There were many, dear children, who had no idea where that letter and +the money came from. But I can tell you that the thousand pounds which +paid for building the new wing to the hospital was nothing else but +Grateful Peter's New Year's Gift.</p> + +<p class="poem"> +<br> +God will take care of you. All through the day<br> +Jesus is near you to keep you from ill,<br> +Waking or resting, at work or at play.<br> +Jesus is with you, and watching you still.<br> + <br> +He will take care of you, All through the night<br> +Jesus the Shepherd, His little one keeps;<br> +Darkness to Him is the same as the light,<br> +He never slumbers, and He never sleeps.<br> + <br> +He will take care of you. All through the year<br> +Crowning each day with His kindness and love,<br> +Sending you blessings, and shielding from fear,<br> +Leading you on to that bright home above.<br> + <br> +He will take care of you. Yes, to the end<br> +Nothing can alter His love for His own;<br> +Children, be glad that you have such a Friend;<br> +He will not leave you one moment alone.<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" id="image017" style="max-width: 25.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/image017.jpg" alt="image017"></figure> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p class="t4"> +————————————————————————————————————————————————————————<br> +LONDON: KNIGHT, PRINTER, MIDDLE STREET, ALDERSGATE, E. C.<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78109 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/78109-h/images/image001.jpg b/78109-h/images/image001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..55297a4 --- /dev/null +++ b/78109-h/images/image001.jpg diff --git a/78109-h/images/image002.jpg b/78109-h/images/image002.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f5e9227 --- /dev/null +++ b/78109-h/images/image002.jpg diff --git a/78109-h/images/image003.jpg b/78109-h/images/image003.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0aaa449 --- /dev/null +++ b/78109-h/images/image003.jpg diff --git a/78109-h/images/image004.jpg b/78109-h/images/image004.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9952903 --- /dev/null +++ b/78109-h/images/image004.jpg diff --git a/78109-h/images/image005.jpg b/78109-h/images/image005.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bb1b7d7 --- /dev/null +++ b/78109-h/images/image005.jpg diff --git a/78109-h/images/image006.jpg b/78109-h/images/image006.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..355e7c1 --- /dev/null +++ b/78109-h/images/image006.jpg diff --git a/78109-h/images/image007.jpg b/78109-h/images/image007.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ce061a1 --- /dev/null +++ b/78109-h/images/image007.jpg diff --git a/78109-h/images/image008.jpg b/78109-h/images/image008.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d62cde2 --- /dev/null +++ b/78109-h/images/image008.jpg diff --git a/78109-h/images/image009.jpg b/78109-h/images/image009.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4e5ce92 --- /dev/null +++ b/78109-h/images/image009.jpg diff --git a/78109-h/images/image010.jpg b/78109-h/images/image010.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4321576 --- /dev/null +++ b/78109-h/images/image010.jpg diff --git a/78109-h/images/image011.jpg b/78109-h/images/image011.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..547feec --- /dev/null +++ b/78109-h/images/image011.jpg diff --git a/78109-h/images/image012.jpg b/78109-h/images/image012.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..deeba91 --- /dev/null +++ b/78109-h/images/image012.jpg diff --git a/78109-h/images/image013.jpg b/78109-h/images/image013.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d07b851 --- /dev/null +++ b/78109-h/images/image013.jpg diff --git a/78109-h/images/image014.jpg b/78109-h/images/image014.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..791a1e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/78109-h/images/image014.jpg diff --git a/78109-h/images/image015.jpg b/78109-h/images/image015.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..001188e --- /dev/null +++ b/78109-h/images/image015.jpg diff --git a/78109-h/images/image016.jpg b/78109-h/images/image016.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..239e6a9 --- /dev/null +++ b/78109-h/images/image016.jpg diff --git a/78109-h/images/image017.jpg b/78109-h/images/image017.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..69db0d7 --- /dev/null +++ b/78109-h/images/image017.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c72794 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This book, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e729560 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for eBook #78109 +(https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/78109) |
