Ex Libris
I C. K. OGDEN
CHLOE LANKTON;
OB,
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS.
A STORY -OF REAL LIFE.
PHILADELPHIA:
AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION,
1122 CHESTNUT STREET.
New York i Bonton I
599 BROADWAY. I 141 WASHINGTON St
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by the
AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION,
in Oie Clertfs Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of
J'tnnsylvania.
iff- No books are published by the AMERICAN SUNDAY- Scnoot
UXION witliout the sanction of the Committee of Publication, consisting
of fourteen members, from the following denominations of Christians,
viz.: &;ptist, Mttliodist, Congregational, Episcopal, Presbyterian,
Lutheran, and Reformed Dutch. Not more than three of the membert
can be of the same denomination, and no book can bepublisited U> which
any member of the Committee shall object.
PREFACE.
THE following simple story is neither myth noi
fiction, but a true, unvarnished tale, without com-
ment or colouring. Chloe Lankton still lives and
suffers in her lowly home among the hills, in the
town of New Hartford, Litchfield county, Connec-
ticut.
That the story of a life of sorrow and trial made
happy and joyous by a clear and uplooking faith,
and the effect of pure religion in making rich the
growth of heart and soul, might be given to the
world, and perhaps shed light upon the darkened
path of some bewildered one, the present book was
written. Upon it rests Chloe's benediction; and
with it goes her blessing upon all stricken hearts,
and her prayer that to such it may prove a minis-
tering angel, pointing them upward to Him who has
ever given her strength and comfort in time of
sorest need.
H. G. A.
, CT., May, 1859.
38
COjN'l'JiiJN J.C3.
PAOl
I. Chloe and Beulah 9
II. The Cloud and the Sun...., 18
III. The Removal 35
IV. Their New Home 44
V. Clouds again : 54
VI. They visit Familiar Scenes 65
VII. Duty done 75
VIII. Rena's Death 84
IX. A Funeral and a Journey 93
X. The Father's Visit and the New Bell 102
XL The Ride to Hartford 112
XII. Sadness 122
XIII. Rachel's Departure 132
XIV. Dr. Moody 142
XV. The Deep Cloud 152
XVI. The Light Beyond 160
XVII. "Out of the Shadow into the Sun"... ...167
CONTEXTS.
PAflB
XVIIL Near the Grave 178
/
XIX. Pleasant Incidents 185
XX. The Mother's Illness 194
XXL Mary's Ducks 202
XXII. Golden Wedding, and Chloe's Removal 210
XXIIL Providences 220
XXIV. Afflictions 226
XXV. Sweet and Bitter 239
XXVI. A Visit to Chloe .... 247
CHLOE LANKTON;
OB,
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS.
I.
CHLOE AND BEULAH.
UPON the outskirts of one of our New
England towns, in the year 18 , stood a
brown house, a small brown house, contain-
ing only a kitchen and two bedrooms, besides
a low-roofed chamber above, that had a little
square window at each end. In front of the
house was a level, grassy mound, with three
rude stone steps down to a path that wound
along by the side of the road, leading to the
pleasant village beyond.
The kitchen-door opened upon the green
10 CHLOE LANKTON; OK,
mound; and on a warm summer day, as it was
standing open, one looking in might have seen
a girl about twelve years of age sitting in an
old-fashioned, straight-backed chair, busily
knitting, and a little, black-eyed girl frolicking
around her. A frown darkened the elder
one's face as she gathered up and wound upon
a ball the dishevelled yarn, and she exclaimed,
" Chloe, you're never still a minute ! Now sit
down and be still ! If you don't, I'll make day-
light shine through you!"
In an instant Chloe was perfectly sobered,
and sat down with folded hands, looking ti-
midly and demurely up into her sister's face,
thinking if she made the least move, that day-
light would certainly "shine through her."
It was so unusual a circumstance for her to
be silent, and she sat so long and so fixedly in
one position, that her mother at length, fear-
ing the effect it might have upon her, said,
" Chloe, put on your bonnet and run out and
feed the chickens."
She looked up into her sister's face, doubt-
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 11
ing even then whether it would be quite safe
for her to go ; but, creeping stealthily around
behind her chair to the table, she seized her
calico sun-bonnet, and, gaining the door, gave
one bound into sunshine and freedom again.
She was going around to the hen-coop, when
she caught sight of a little blue calico dress
coming down the road. She stood still and
shaded her eyes with her sun-burnt hand, in
order to see more distinctly. "Oh!" she
cried, "'tis Beulah!" and in a moment the
chickens were all forgotten, as she bounded
down the steps to meet her.
"Did your mother say you might come,
Beulah?"
"Yes, and I'm going to stay a whole hour!"
"Oh, what a long while! Won't we have
a good time ? Let's go down into the orchard :
it's always so nice and shady there."
So they clambered over the stone wall, and
their flying feet made a path through the
grass down to the apple-tree that stood close
to the wall, and whose spreading branches,
12 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
now loaded with fair, nice-looking early apples,
swept the green bank nearly to the road. The
summer breeze lovingly lifted the hair from
the two sunny brows upturned to catch the
sunlight between the leaves, and wafted the
fragrance of the mown hay that the workmen
in the meadows near were turning with rakes
or loading into carts.
"Oh, a'n't it nice?" said Chloe. "How sweet
the hay smells! I do love to be out doors:
don't you, Beulah?"
" Yes, I do. Don't you wish we could live
out-doors all the time?"
" We should have to, if we didn't have any
home."
"Well, we could: we could eat strawberries,
you know, and sorrel ; and when it rained we
could go into the cider-mill."
" So we could. But where should we sleep,
Beulah?"
" I don't know," sighed Beulah. " God would
take care of us, I s'pose, if we didn't have
any father and mother, or any home."
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 13
"Yes, if we were good children he would.
Did you ever hoar God speak, Beulah?"
"No: nobody ever did."
"Yes, they did. You've heard him speak,
and so've I. Thunder is God's voice. Sister
Nancy told me so."
"What's the lightning, then?"
"I don't know: I guess it's when he winks
his eye."
"God don't wink," said Beulah. "Don't
you know the man in the Sunday-school said
God was a Spirit, and didn't have eyes like
our's?"
"Well, I don't know what 'tis, then. Oh,
there's a carriage full of folks! Let's hide be-
hind the wall and see 'em pick these splendid
apples!"
The carriage was drawn by a fine span o f
horses, and contained a gentleman and lady,
a girl about fourteen years old, her fair face
shaded by long ringlets, and a boy younger.
"What beautiful apples!" exclaimed the
lady.
14 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
"Oh, father," cried the girl, "do pick us
some ! I am so thirsty, and they look .so nice
and juicy!"
"Oh, yes, father! do!" said the boy, clap-
ping his hands and smacking his lips.
The indulgent father reined up his horses,
reached out and picked off several and tossed
them into his daughter's lap.
"Here, mother," said she, distributing
them, "here, Johnny, here, father: you
must have your share of this nice treat."
But Johnny, who had made a deep bite into
his apple, made a wry face, and threw it far
over into the orchard.
"What's the matter, Johnny?" said the
father.
"Taste and see."
"Oh, dreadful!"
"Who would have thought it?" said they,
as one after another the apples went rolling
on to the ground.
Then Chloe and Beulah clapped their hands
and laughed loud ?,nd merriiy; and the hay-
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 15
makers in the meadow near joined long and
heartily, while the carriage disappeared ra-
pidly down the road.
"Wasn't it fun to see them so fooled?" said
Chloe.
"Yes," said Beulah: "only I couldn't help
feeling sorry for that girl."
"So did I; but 'twas real fun, after ail.
There ! Mother told me to feed the chickens ;
then you come, and I forgot all about it."
"I'd like to see the chickens," said Beulah.
So they walked across the orchard, and got
over the fence into the little yard where the
hen-coop was. Here they stayed, feeding and
admiring the tender, white chickens, until
Beulah's hour was more than spent and her
sister came to take her home. Chloe went
with her around to the stone steps to bid her
good-night. She then went into the house,
and found her supper waiting for her on the
ound-leaved table; and soon after she crept
up into the low-roofed chamber, to the sweet
slumber and beautiful dreams of childhood.
16 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
Chloe's previous history is very much the
same as a great many of our little New Eng-
land girls. Her father was a shoemaker, and
it was by the hard work of his hands that he
earned the bread for his family. Her mother,
too, toiled early and late; for these parents
were poor, poor in worldly goods, though
rich in mutual affection for their children.
She was the youngest of four girls. There
had been six in all; but two of them the
mourning parents had yielded to the embrace
of death and seen them laid side by side in
the village graveyard.
Little Chloe was always singing and happy.
She liked to be running out in the sunshine ;
she loved the birds, the flowers, the waving
trees, and all that makes the summer so beau-
tiful; and when the autumn came she heard
music in the sad-toned winds and saw
beauty in the bright-coloured leaves. The
white, falling snows of winter Brought her a
great many pleasures; but no sooner was the
ice and snow all melted away than her hand
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 17
was the first to pluck the sweet wild flowers
that came with the early spring. Her own
glad heart was the medium which made every
thing look bright: so through all the year
little Chloe was singing and happy.
True, she was a heedless child, always run-
ning in and throwing down her bonnet on a
chair, table, or anywhere but the proper
place; then she was sure to be always playing
around in some one's way, and, " Chloe, you're
always losing your things!" "Chloe, you're
always under foot!" greeted her every hour
of the day. But these were childish faults.
She had a mild temper and loving disposition,
which endeared her to all and made her a
pure, sweet light in the lowly home by the
wayside.
B 2*
18 CHLOE LANKTON; on,
II.
THE CLOUD AND THE SUN.
So the years passed over the little brown
cottage by the roadside until Chloe was ten
years old, years of labour to the father, who
worked at shoemaking, to the mother, who
toiled early and late, and to the older sisters,
who had learned, one to spin, another to
weave, each thus contributing her mite to the
yearly income. But they were beautiful years
to Chloe and Beulah. Every day these two
little girls walked to school hand in hand, sat
upon the same seat and learned the same les-
sons. When the school was closed in the
afternoon, they either stopped to play at the
frog-pond, near the school-house, by the road,
ttrayed away over the fields and meadows,
ir most favourite resort in the spring-time
was a sunny hill-side, where was a miniature
t
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 19
"Sibyl's Cave," a rock, slightly hollowed on
one side, covered with moss, that was always
green, and dripping with the water that
poured over the rock and dashed down the
hill in a little musical brook. Here they
found the blue and white violets and the
drooping anemones. In June they knew
where to look for the erimson strawberries in
the meadow; and as the summer advanced
they rambled over the fields and wandered
through the woods in search of blackberries
and whortleberries. Chloe and Beulah were
always happy together, because they loved
each other so much. If either had been un-
kind or quarrelsome, it would have spoiled
much of their happiness ; but they loved each
other so much that never an unkind word
passed between them.
Chloe's father. was at work one day on his
shoemaker's bench, in a corner of the kitchen,
and near him her mother sat with her knit-
ting-work.
"I don't know what ails Chloe," said she:
20 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
"I'm afraid something is the matter with
her."
" Matter with her ! Why?" asked the father.
"Because she's so stupid and sleepy all the
time. I have to call, and call, to get her up in
time for breakfast : then she'll go to sleep, and
sleep till I wake her up to go to school : then
she'll start and go behind all the rest, and walk
as if she could not draw one foot after another.
Nancy says she gets to sleep on her seat in
school-time, and the teacher has to shake her
to get her up to' read, and then she doesn't
seem to know what she's reading about. I
feel real worried about her."
"Perhaps it's her growing. I've noticed
lately that she grows very fast: it's apt to
make children dull, you know. Tisn't best
to feel troubled. I guess she'll get over it : I
hope she will."
"Of course, we all hope she will; and per-
haps she will; but it looks to me like some-
thing more than growing. I can't bear to see
her so," she continued, bending her head to
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 21
recover a dropped stitch. " You haven't seen
her so much lately, because you've been to
work out-doors more. To-morrow morning I
want you should notice her. If she don't get
better before long, I think it's best to have
the doctor see her."
"To-be-sure, we will do all we can for her;
but I hope she'll get over it without calling
the doctor."
The family were at the breakfast- table when
Chloe came down the next morning. Her
father heard her slow step on the stairs, and
noticed her heavy eyes and languid move-
ments as she brushed her hair behind her
ears and sat down to the table. She ate her
breakfast wearily, then moved back her chair
and sat down quietly with the rest while he
took the old family Bible from the shelf and
read one of the Psalms of David.
Having finished the chapter, he replaced
the Bible, then turning, with folded hands, to
the children, as he invariably did, said, "We'll
be still now," and kneeled to pray. He prayed
22 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
simply but so earnestly that the tears came
to the eyes of his wife, and when he rose
from his knees he saw them glistening there.
It moved him; and, to hide it, he put on his
hat and went out. Then Chloe threw herself
upon her mother's bed and went to sleep.
" Is Chloe going to school to-day ?"
"Oh! is that you, Beulah?" said Kena, the
oldest sister, turning at the sound of the child-
ish* voice. " Yes, she'll go, I guess. Chloe,
Chloe, come ! here's Beulah called for you to
go to school."
As soon as Chloe was sufficiently awake, she
got off the bed, and, going to the looking-glass,
smoothed her hair with the worn brush that
hung by a string beneath, put on her sun-
bonnet, and said, " Come, Beulah : I'm ready
now."
"The girls have all gone ahead," said Beu-
lah: "let's run and catch up with them."
"I can't run, 3ulah: my head feels so bad
all the time! You run and catch up with
them, and I will walk on alone."
I
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 23
"No, I will not," replied Beulah. "I had
rather go along slow with you. We'll go in
and get some water, and I guess you'll feel
better."
It was where they stopped every day to get
water, and the kind old lady that lived there
always gave them a cordial welcome. She
came out to the well ; and as the long sweep
went high up into the air and the mossy
bucket down low into the cool, deep well, she
said, "Which of you two girls is the oldest?"
"We're just the same age," said they, in a
breath.
"You be? Why, Chloe is a great deal the
tallest ! We shall have to put a stone on your
head, Chloe, to keep you from growing, till
Beulah can catch up with you!"
Chloe instinctively put her hand to her
head with the momentary thought that the
dreadful feeling of weight there was the
" stone" already weighing her down.
Chloe was more stupid than ever in school
that day; and the teacher, attributing the
24 CHLOE LANKTON; OE,
cause to wilfulness or indolence, lost patience
and scolded her harshly, and even shook her
rudely, so that she came home, her heart
swelling with grief and indignation. This
was the only teacher Chloe ever had whom
she did not love.
That day was her last at school. The dis-
ease that had been so gradually creeping upon
her increased; and in a few days more she
was very ill.
"I thought," said her mother, "that there
was something the matter with her. I was
afraid she would be sick before she got over
it."
"Well," replied the father, in his mild way,
"we will make the best of it now, and do all
we can for her. I will go now and get the
doctor."
Meanwhile, the little spare bedroom was
opened and made ready, and thither the sick
child was borne and laid upon the bed. The
doctor came, a gray-haired man, looked at
her tongue, examined her pulse, and, after
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 25
asking numerous questions, prescribed suitable
medicines, and left.
The news of Chloe's illness soon spread
through the neighbourhood ; and no sooner did
good old Aunt Molly hear of it than she put
on a clean checked apron and went over.
"I heard Chloe was sick," said she: "-so I
thought I'd come right over. Why, the dear,
dear child! how dreadful sick she looks!
What does the doctor say about her?"
"He says she will have to be sick
a while."
" I declare ! the dear child ! and she always
so pleasant and playing around so happy !
Well," she added, taking a pinch of snuff,
"I'm glad you've got your week's washing
done. You'll need somebody to watch to-
night?"
. " No : we can take care of her to-night; but,
if she should continue to be sick long, I sup-
pose we should be obliged to call on our
neighbours to watch."
By this time others had come in; and all,
26 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
with true whole-heartedness, that characterizes
the people of that part of the country, kindly
and freely offered themselves and their ser-
vices whenever needed.
Week after week passed away, and still
they watched over her, the sorrowing and
anxious parents and sisters, and the kind,
sympathizing neighbours, hopelessly ; for the
doctor had told them that she would die.
Chloe knew what the doctor had said: she
heard her father's step in the kitchen, and
knew that he was walking to and fro in his
great sorrow: she knew what made the sad,
tearful faces that came and went by her bed-
side. Death seemed very near to her, and
all the sin and wrong-doing of her life rose
before her and rested heavily upon her heart.
She saw the goodness of her heavenly Father,
whom she had forgotten and disobeyed; she
felt that she could mane herself no better; and
how could she die and meet that offended God ?
Her mother, bending over her, burst into
tears, crying,
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 27
" My poor, poor child, I must give you up ! 1
always knew I loved you too well. You have
been my idol; but now I must give you up!"
"Oh, mother," moaned Chloe, "I am not
ready to die yet! I am so wicked!"
"Look to Jesus," replied the weeping mo-
ther, "look to Jesus. Pray to him, my poor
child: he will forgive your sin, he will ior-
give : he is both able and willing. I can do
nothing for you, but Jesus can. Oh, look to
him, my poor, poor child!"
Often and earnestly did the pious parents
talk to their suffering one and endeavour to
point her to the Lamb of God that taketh
away the sins of the world.
Beulah came every day to ask after Chloe;
and one morning Chloe heard her come into
the kitchen, and said,
" Mother, I would like* to see Beulah : I
don't want any one in here, either."
So she went in, and the two were left alone
together. Beulah approached the bed, and
said,
28 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
. "How do you do, Chloe?"
"Oh, Beulah, I'm very sick; and I wanted
to see you, because the doctor thinks I won't
live. We have always been to schoo^ to-
gether, and I have always loved you so much.
Did you love me too, Beulah?"
" Oh, yes !" said Beulah, bursting into tears.
"Now the time has come for me to die. I
didn't think 'twould be so soon when we were
<
playing together so happy. You won't forget
me: will you, Beulah?"
"No, no!" sobbed Beulah.
"Be a good girl, Beulah, and don't forget
to pray. You must come in and see me every
day as long as I live, Beulah."
Chloe could not talk to Beulah again; for
she grew worse rapidly. Her head and face
were frightfully swollen: for nineteen days
she could not move her tongue, and could not
speak to any one, so when Beulah came in
she could only look upon her earnestly and
sorrowfully. She endured a great deal of
suffering, and so' patiently that the story of it
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 29
and her dreadful illness spread far and near,
and strangers came from remote parts of the
town to see the child of whom they had heard
so much. As the disease increased, she lay
for many hours of the day in a kind of. stupor
almost deathlike: at times she would open
her eyes and recognise those around her, but
would soon relapse into unconsciousness.
The doctor said, one day, that her hair
must be cut off close to her head. Chloe had
been not a little proud of her hair, for it was
very beautiful and had always been the envy
of her schoolmates, because it was so long,
even and glossy. Aunt Molly was there
when it was cut off; and as it fell in long,
beautiful tresses, she got the steelyard and
weighed it.
"I declare!" said she: "five ounces!"
Her mother sighed as she gathered it up
and laid it away to keep. When Chloe awoke,
she put her hand to her head, and in a mo-
ment comprehended what had been done.
She tried to weep ; but sh could not move
3*
30 CHLOE LANKTON; OP. ;
a muscle of her swollen face. Her mother
left the room, because she could not endure
the sight, while Aunt Molly tried to soothe
her.
"Don't feel bad, dear," she said, "about
your hair. 'Twas best to cut it off. Sick
folks very often have to have their hair cut
off; but it always grows again a great deal
nicer than it was before."
Chloe was pacified, and in a few moments
was unconscious again.
Days passed away, days of weariness and
sorrow, the dark wing of death descending,
the light in the brown cottage growing dim
and dimmer! The old doctor said, "It is
useless for me to see her again : I can do no
more for her. To all appearance, inward
mortification has already commenced: if it
has, it will be impossible to preserve her body
any time at all, and it is very necessary that
you make preparations for her burial imme-
diately. Still, if there should be a change for
the better, let me 1 know."
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 31
The cloth was obtained, and the dress-
maker came to make the last garment for
little Chloe. The hour was approaching. The
mother, alone with God, wildly prayed: the
bitter, bitter cup! she could not, could not
drink- it! But again she prayed tearfully,
and entreated forgiveness, and asked for sub-
mission and for strength of willingness to
give up her child. The struggle was over:
she yielded her out of her heart to God, and
then the answer came, strength for the hour
and resignation to his will; and when she
stood again by the bedside, a halo of peace
surrounded her, perfect rest and a sweet
trust in Him who "doeth all things well."
But Chloe did not die that day, or the
next ; and still she lingered, till a ray of hope
cheered their hearts, and the doctor was speed-
ily sent for.
"Well," said he, "she is no worse; and
certainly her symptoms are a little more
nopeful. Strange ! I never in all my prac-
tice saw any thing like it. 'It's a miracle!
32 CHLOE LANKTON; OK,
If she lives it will be because she is to be
spared for something remarkable."
Still she lived, and lay upon the bed day
after day, her weakened and half-scattered
senses gradually returning to her, until she
was so much better that the white robe which
had been made was laid away where things
seldom used were kept. Then the doctor
said "she might sit up a few minutes." Aunt
Molly, happening in at the right moment,
wrapped her up in a blanket, took her in her
arms and sat down with her before the window.
How new and strange every thing seemed!
The whole landscape looked wider, and the
hills seemed stretching away at an endless
distance. She could see the garden, and the
apple-tree always called "mother's tree,"
because mother particularly liked the fruit it
bore. They were white apples, and were now
about ripe.
"When she was again laid upon the bed, she
was conscious of a new and strange feeling of
happiness. Her mind went back to gather up
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. S3
the events of her illness, and she remembered
how near death had been to her, and how she
had borne the burden of her own sin. Where
was it now ? Gone, all gone ; and in its place
was a love for the Saviour, so sincere that she
felt that she could bear all suffering and every
other trial patiently for his sake. Then Chloe
knew she was a Christian. Oh, the joy and
happiness of that moment! Her mother
clasped her in her arms, saying, " You've had
a dreadful illness, Chloe; but, if it has made
you a Christian, I don't regret it!"
When they gathered around the family altar
the next morning, the door of Chloe's room
was left open, and she heard her father's voice
go up in prayer, tremulous with emotion,
with thankfi^Hps that their child, "like Isaac
of old, had been restored to them, and that she
had found the pearl of great price, the peace
that passeth all understanding." Ofte.n iu
after-years the mother said, "I gave you up
once, Chloe; but I took you back again. I
34 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
am afraid I never shall be so willing again to
give you up."
As soon as Chloe was strong enough, her
father put her in a wheelbarrow, and she held
on to the back with her thin, white hands,
while he trundled her away to see Beulah.
After that, the other neighbours claimed her :
so she had more than one ride upon the
wheelbarrow. When she was able to ramble
over the fields again with Beulah, she was a
changed child. There was a new gentleness
in her eye, a new peace in her expressive face;
for she felt the divine presence around her
giving life, joy and beauty to all things.
Thus passed away the dark cloud from the
little brown cottage by the roadside; but the
radiance of its silver lining H?ft within !
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 35
III.
THE EEMOVAL.
CHLOE'S father had bought the little house
where they lived of Mr. Loomis, a gentleman
who lived near them. He had given all the
money he had, the precious savings of years,
money every coin of which he had honestly
worked for; and he was glad to lay it down
to buy a home for those he so dearly loved.
Still, it was not enough ; and Mr. Loomis took
a mortgage for the rest of the amount. Then
with brave hearts they set forth to cancel the
debt, labouring hard and living with strict
economy, looking forward 'to the time when
they would be independent and happy in a
"home of their own." But they had met with
discouragements. They lost their only cow;
and, as it was a part of their dependence, an-
other had to be procured. Steady work could
36 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
not always be obtained ; and this year nothing
could be paid, for all and more than all must
go to meet the expenses of Chloe's illness.
Mr. Loomis found himself in need of money.
Squire B , the merchant, would buy the
place, and, to "accommodate," proposed an
exchange;. He "owned a place," he said,
" over east, a few miles, that would make him
a snug little home, a house, garden and
meadow, which he could have for one hundred
and thirty dollars, if he liked it." This
seemed to strike the shoemaker favourably,
although he did not like the idea of giving up
his present home. Still, he thought it would
do no harm to go and see the place; and one
bright morning he started on foot, a distance
of seven miles. He found another brown
house, smaller, perhaps, than the one in which
he was living, and, as the merchant had re-
presented, a good garden-spot and a nice level
meadow. The country round about was hilly,
and the neighbours were not very near; but
he had noticed, as he passed, the large, culti-
LIGHT BEYOXD THE CLOUDS. 37
vated farms, and had come to the conclusion
that they were rich farmers; and that, ho
thought, would be favourable for his business.
He saw a district school-house close by, but
learned that the "nearest meeting" was two
miles distant. Here was an objection; but,
then, only one hundred and thirty dollars ! It
would leave him but thirty dollars in debt,
which he could soon pay if he was prospered;
and when it was all paid he would work and
get "something ahead," and then find another
home "near meeting." All this he thought
over while walking home, and became quite
well satisfied with the proposed change. He
gave a favourable report to his wife and
daughters, and soon after the bargain was
completed and arrangements made for their
removal the ensuing spring.
There was general regret throughout the
neighbourhood when it was made known; for
the shoemaker and his family were beloved by
all, and they themselves dreaded the thought
of leaving. The mother could hardly be re-
38 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
coriciled to the change. She loved the place
where they had lived. Every thing around it
was dear to her. The white rose-bush which
her own hands had planted and trained over
the window, her fruit-trees, her currant-
bushes and thrifty garden, each had some
association connected with it. Then she had
become attached to the neighbours; and their
kindness and sympathy during the trying time
of her child's illness had made them doubly
dear. "It was like breaking her heart," she
said, "to go; but, as it seemed for the best,
she would try to be reconciled."
The eighteenth of April was the day fixed
.'or their departure. On the seventeenth it
snowed all day and all night, and in the morn-
ing the prospect was dreary enough, roads
and fields one unbroken sheet of snow: so
their goods had to be loaded upon sleds in-
stead of carts. Mr. Loomis drove the family
in a long lumber box-sleigh, and the father
led the cow behind. They could not keep back
the tears when they went out of the empty
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS.
house, and they flowed afresh wht-n their
friends and neighbours came to the doors and
windows to wave regretful farewells as they
passed. Chloe was glad that they did not
pass the house where Beulah lived. These
two little girls had had their parting all to
themselves days before. Beulah's father was
very soon to take his family away to Ohio,
and they did not expect to meet again in a
long, long time, if ever; and Chloe felt that
the sight of Beulah's face again would cause
her to sob aloud.
They drove on slowly until they had gone
iway from every thing that looked familiar.
The roads were hilly and rough, and in some
places the snow was badly drifted. Suddenly
shouts were heard from the forward team.
One of the loads had turned over into the
snow. The men all ran to the rescue; and
it seemed a long time before they came back,
with red faces and benumbed fingers, to drive
quietly on again.
At length they passed a red house at the
40 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
foot of a hill ; they could see the smoke issuing
trora the chimney of a house upon the summit;
and midway between the two was another
house, at which the first loaded team had
stopped. That was their new home. But
how dreary it looked as they drove up, that
low, brown house, with the cold, white snow
drifted around it ! The men made a path with
their feet and brushed the snow from before
the door, and they went in. Oh, how poor
and cold looked that humble room! The
mother looked around, passed on into the bed-
room, stood before the window and wept.
The children did not follow her, but wrapped
their cloaks closer around them and remained
in the kitchen to see the unloading. Chloe
vent to the window and looked out. The only
cheerful thing in sight was the smoke still issu-
ing from the chimney upon the top of the hill.
The old-fashioned house itself stood out in
bold relief against the surrounding snow and
the dim, white horizon beyond. She noticed
the roof, quaintly sloping down over a piazza,
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 41
the slender posts of which she could plainly
see, and the poplar-trees in front; and she
wondered what kind of people they were that
lived within. Then her thoughts for the mo-
ment wandered away, and there passed over
her a vague desire for something more than
she yet had known. It was a new and strange
sensation, something she could not grasp, a
longing, undefined and mysterious, for some-
thing better than she yet had even dreamed
of. She was aroused by her father's voice,
saying, "Where's your mother?" He had
come in to ask some question about the goods.
"She's in the bedroom," was the answer.
He went to the door : she was still weeping.
He hesitated, but he would not disturb her,
and the children heard his deep sigh as he
turned away. The place did not look so de-
sirable to him as on the pleasant morning
when he had first seen it.
But the arranging of the household goods
diverted their minds ; and when the cooking-
stove was put up, the clock placed in the cor-
4*
42 CHLOE LANKTON; OK,
ner, and a shelf fixed for the family Bible, the
room seemed comfortable and homelike.
In a few days the snow melted away, the
days became bright and sunny, and spring
birds were heard in the trees around. The
father planted his garden, while the mother
made beds and sowed in them the flower-seeds
that she had brought from the old place.
And after all, their new home was in a pleasant
spot, with its broad and green meadow-views,
and dim, vrhispering wood, and, overlooking
all, the old-fashioned house upon the hill,
around which the road curved and was lost to
sight.
I think that whoever built that quaint old
piazzaed house there possessed a love for the
beautiful; for on either side a glorious land-
scape meets the eye. There are tree-covered
hills, dark with their own shadows; beyond,
other hills sloping down into shaded valleys,
and still other hills rising upon hills, dreamy
and indistinct in the distance, but radiant witn
sunlight, like the misty future towards which
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 43
Cliioe's young heart was looking. And then
the gorgeous sunsets that for so many long
years have blessed the old house standing
there, tree-crowned hill and lowly valley
bathed alike in the baptism of golden light
and shade !
All this, and more, Chloe saw every night
when her little bare feet climbed the hill to
go to the pasture after the cow ; and as the
gold of the sunse't was lost in the gray of the
twilight, and the cow with its tinkling bell
came slowly home around the curved road
upon the summit of the hill, and the sounds
of evening floated dreamily up, her heart un-
consciously drank in the pensive beauty of the
hour. Sweetly and silently Nature's influ-
ences blended with her child-thoughts, opened
a new world of feeling, and helped to form
and shape her after-character.
44 CHLOE LANKTON; OE,
IT.
THEIR NEW HOME.
THE children enjoyed the new place. There
was a pleasant novelty in going to a strange
school-house, finding new playmates and ex-
ploring unfamiliar woods. Chlo.e's little
friends were delighted to guide her to their
favourite haunts, sometimes to a grassy nook
deep in the shady wood, or perhaps to a bub-
bling spring under the spreading old tree, or
to the sunny side of some far-looking hill,
where the summer winds blew and the white
clouds drifted far above their heads.
Then Chloe would tell them stories of her
old home, and of dear little Beulah : how they
always went to school together, sat upon the
same seat and learned the same lessons; what
baskets "heaping full" of blackberries and
whortleberries they used to get ; and how they
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 45
made a play-house under the apple-tree by the
orchard-wall, that great old apple-tree, with
its branches reaching over almost to the road ;
and the air would ring with' childish laughter
as she told about the apples that looked so
beautiful, but tasted so that "nobody couldn't
eat 'em, anyway," and how she and Beulah
would clap their hands and laugh at the
travellers who, riding by, dusty and tired,
often stopped to pick them, but would very
soon be making all sorts of wry faces and ex-
clamations.
Then she told them how very, very sick she
had been, and how her hair had to be cut off
close to her head, which made it so short now ;
how the doctor said that she could not live;
how full of grief her mother was at the thought
of losing her, and how her grave-clothes, which
she never wore, had been made for her; and
sometimes she would lead them to her home,
and they would follow her softly into the little
bedroom, and a shadow would pass over their
bright y^ung faces as she raised the cover of
46 CHLOE LAXKTON; OR,
the red box and they looked upon the white
robe, so smoothly folded, lying within.
Sometimes, too, she talked to them about
Jesus Christ; for Chloe had not forgotten that
she was a Christian. Every day, she, with
Rachel, the second sister, went away up-stairs
to pray alone together. It would have been
a pleasant scene for one to look in upon, that
low, unfinished chamber, the girl Rachel kneel-
ing there, and the child Chloe by her side, her
hands clasped and her young head bowed in
prayer. I have thought that, if ever angels
stoop to listen, it is when the simple prayer
goes up to heaven from the trusting heart of
childhood.
They had been in their new home several
weeks before Chloe, on account of the unsettled
state of the roads, could go to meeting. When
at last she did go, it was with her father and
sisters Rachel and Nancy. It was one of
those clear, serene Sabbath mornings which,
as has been said, "come nowhere so perfectly
as in old Connecticut;" the trees were putting
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 47
forth their green leaves and the birds were
making their nests among them, and Chloe
thought that the earth never before looked so
beautiful. They crossed a brook on the way,
and the ripple of its waters sounded to her
like the sweetest music. She was so happy that
she felt as if she could almost fly over the
ground ; and the walk was so delightful that it
seemed but a short time until they came to
the maple-trees, under whose shade the girls
stopped and put on their white stockings and
morocco shoes, which they had brought with
them, and hid their "every-day ones," that
they had worn to walk in, under the fence,
until they came back. Then they walked on
to the church.
It was a large, unpainted building, with no
steeple, and no pillars in front, and Chloe
thought, did not look at all like a meeting-
house.
"Why, father," said she, "that a meeting-
house ? It don't look like one."
"Well," he replied, "it's a meeting-house,
48 CHLOE LAXKTOX; OR,
an old-fashioned one, built a great many
years ago."
There was no porch in front; and, as they
went in, Chloe saw the gallery-stairs on each
side, and a broad aisle extending through the
centre of the house. The people were mostly
strangers to them, except the few that came
from their own neighbourhood. A man who
knew them led them up the aisle and seated
them in a large, square pew with seats all
around it. The inside of the church was very
old-fashioned, and looked very strange to Chloe,
who wanted to gaze around; but the sides of
the pew were so high that she could not see
much : so she sat down very demurely, and
listened to the sermon as attentively as she
could. She told her mother and Eena about
it when she got home, and said she had en-
joyed the day very much.
Meanwhile, the mother tried to feel con-
tented. The woman who lived in the nearest
house had made them a visit : she was kind
and pleasant ; and others whom she had met
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS.
seemed very cordial. But when the twilight
hour came, and the milking was done, and
she sat in her straight-backed rocking-chair
before the door, her thoughts would go back
to the same hour at the old place, when Aunt
Molly and other friends, with their checked
aprons and snuff-boxes, were accustomed to
"run in" for a quiet country gossip. But
she tried to keep back her regretful feelings,
for she saw that her husband was becoming
quite contented. His garden was growing
thriftily, and orders for work began to come
in from the farmers around ; and before the
summer was gone he had made up the thirty
dollars which he owed for his place. He
could not rest then until he had paid it to
Squire B . So one pleasant morning he
put on his Sunday suit, and, with the money
safely stowed away in his pocket, started on
toot to go back to his old home.
It was late in the afternoon when he re-
turned, and he looked heated and tired from
D 5
50 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
Ins long walk. He sat down, took off his
shoes, and said,
"Well, the place is our's now. I've paid the
squire all off."
"Did you see our old house?" was the first
question.
"Yes: I went down into that neighbour-
hood on purpose. It looks pleasant there : I
don't think I ever saw the fruit-trees hang so
full as they do now."
"Who lives there?"
"I don't know. I asked no questions I
didn't want to."
"Oh, father," said Chloe, "did you see
Beulah?"
" No : Beulah has gone away a great many
miles out West. I saw Aunt Molly," he con-
tinued, speaking to his wife, "and Miss
Durand. They wanted to know how we got
along here, how you liked it, and how the
girls did, and said they would give a good
deal to see you again."
"Oh, father," said Chloe, "did you look to
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 51
see if our play -house was there, that we made
by the wall, under the apple-tree?"
"No; I didn't think any thing about it. It
looked pleasant there," he continued; "but,
after all, if this place was only near the meet-
ing-house, I should like it about as well.
Anyway, it's our own, and we are out of debt.
I feel now as if we might lay up something
for our old age."
"Well," replied his wife, "I hope the Lord
will prosper us, let us live where we will."
She sighed as she spoke; for it was her
great source of regret to live where she could
not attend a place of worship every Sab-
bath. She could not walk the two miles to
the church, and could only go when her hus-
band found an opportunity for her to ride,
which was seldom. Neither could Reua
go very often; and for that reason the kind
father was very anxious to find another home
for them. He had noticed, during his Sunrlay-
morning walks to church, a house that he liked
very much. It was only a quarter of a mile
52 CHLOE LANKTON; OR.
from the meeting-house, a cozy little place,
with a uleasant yard before it. He learned
that it was for sale, and he hoped that he might
be able to get it. But when he heard the price
nine hundred dollars he instantly relin-
quished the idea, for he knew that it was more
than he could pay. After that, he heard of
other pleasant little homesteads for sale, but
with each there was something to prevent his
buying ; and, as time passed away, they began
to be attached to the place where they lived.
At length they were contented, and felt it was
to be their home, and all thought of going
elsewhere was given up.
The next year after their removal, Chloe's
father built an addition to the house, a room
for a kitchen and a small pantry. He did the
work himself, for he was naturally ingenious
and had a taste for "carpenter work." The
next year, when Chloe was thirteen years old,
he added a tiny bedroom to the new kitchen.
While her father was at 'work, she amused
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 53
herself by running around upon the beams
of the foundation which he had laid.
"Father," said she, "mav I not have this
for my room?"
"I don't know," said he : "we'll see."
Did there come to her then a foreshadow-
ing of her after-life, as it was to be, in that
little room?
54 ' CHLOE LAXKTOX; OR,
V.
CLOUDS AGAIN.
LIKE a beautiful dream, another year of
Chloe's life passed away. Xancy and she had
learned every winding walk through the deep
old wood and knew every grassy path across
the fields and over the hill-sides. To use her
own words, they were "happy as queens,
going nutting and berrying, and in the even-
ing hearing father tell stories about his own
childhood," all the while these golden mo-
ments passing away so fleetly, never to return.
ISTancy was only two years older than Chloe;
and they loved each other with a love that
only sisters can know. She was now about six-
teen, and, in accordance with the school laws
of the State, the coming winter was to be the
last that she would spend with Chloe in the
little school-house at the foot of the hill. She
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 55
had taken a severe cold, and her parents no-
ticed that as the cold wore away the cough
remained; but she "felt well," she said, and
she "meant to go through with that arith-
metic this winter, and finish that sampler."
So she went to school with Chloe, and
between school-hours she worked with her
needle, and spent part of the long evenings
with her slate, pencil and arithmetic. Still
the cough remained ; and her mother said,
" It will not do for you, Nancy, with that
cough, to be out in the snow so much."
So she ceased attending school, for a few
days, as she thought, and her arithmetic was
closed, with the pencil inside, until she could
go again. But the cough grew worse, until
they were alarmed and sent for the physician.
He prepared medicine for her, and came to
see her occasionally, but did not speak en-
couragingly of her recovery. So the winter
'1 away, the school was closed, and
Xamy had not "been through" her arith-
metic, as she had hoped.
56 CHLOE LANKTON, OR,
The parents were talking one day, and the
mother said,
"I don't see as the doctor is doing Nancy
any good. Her cough isn't a bit better than
it was in the winter; and she's certainly grow-
ing weaker."
"I know it," replied the father; "and -I
have been thinking that I wished the doctor
in B could see her: I believe he
would help her, if any one could. I might
take her down there, I suppose. I could
carry her right to her uncle's, you know, and
the doctor could come in there and see her."
"Yes," replied his wife, "that's a good
plan: she will like to visit uncle's folks, and
the ride, perhaps, will do her good."
So he hired a horse of one of the neigh-
bouring farmers, and when they started early
in the morning her mother went out to the
wagon to see that she was nicely wrapped up,
and to fold a blanket around her feet. She
was very anxious all day, and, as evening ap-
proached, her anxiety increased.
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 57
"Why don't your father come?" she said
to the girls. " Nancy ought not to be out so
late as this!"
Just then the sound of wheels was heard,
and she went out to meet them.
""Why, father!" she exclaimed, "where's
Nancy?"
"I had to leave her," was the reply: "the
doctor wouldn't do any thing for her unless I
did. He said he couldn't tell any thing about
her by seeing her once. I shouldn't have
stayed so late if she'd been coming with me."
"How long is she going to stay?" asked
the mother.
"Two or three weeks."
"Well," she replied, "uncle's folks will take
good care of her, and perhaps it's for the
best."
At the end of two weeks he hired the horse
again, and himself and wife went down after
Nancy. They returned in the afternoon of
the next day, and Chloe was the first to spring
to the door to meet her sister. Could that
5S CHLOE LANKTOX; OK,
pale, thin girl, walking so wearily up the path,
be Nancy ? She hardly spoke as she came in,
but immediately sat clown in her mother's
rocking-chair ; and then they heard her hollow
cough and saw how changed she was. Their
mother came in, looking very sad, and went
into the bedroom to take off her things. Their
father had gone to take the horse home; but
he soon came in, and tears were in his eyes as
he sat down to take off his shoes.
"Are you very tired, Nancy?" he said.
"Yes, sir," she replied: "I am some tired."
There was very little said. "Words were not
needed to tell the sad truth Nancy was sent
early to bed, and then Eena said,
"You found Nancy worse, mother?"
"Yes," she replied, trying to command her
voice; "the doctor said he couldn't do any thing
for her. I'm 'most sorry that we let her go
down there at all."
Chloe was almost awed by the strange sad-
ness and stillness. She felt the cloud resting
upon her humble home, and she went to her
LIGHT BEYCND THE CLOUDS. 59
bed to weep. But Nancy was brighter in the
morning, and all, though sad, were calm and
even cheerful. The days were becoming warm
and spring-like, and they hoped that the mild
weather would benefit her. Nancy told her
sisters the pleasant things of her visit, and, as
they became accustomed to her weak state,
she began to tell what the doctor had said and
done.
"One day," said she, "he brought in an-
other doctor to see me. I sat there, working
on my sampler. I had just begun the house;
and he said, ' Making a meeting-house ? What
do you want of a meeting-house?' I said, 'It
isn't a meeting-house: it's a house! I shall
want a house to live in.' Then he said, 'Well,
you won't want one long.' I thought to my-
self that I might live longer than he, after
all."
The spring came on, with its new and beau-
tiful life of green leaves and singing-birds; but
Chloe felt not its beauty. She went, as was
her wont, down into the meadows, after the
60 CHLOE LANK-TON; OR,
ripe strawberries, but she wept because she
must go alone. Then she picked the largest
and ripest of the berries, and placed them on
the top for Nancy, who would meet her at the
door to see how many she had found, and to
ask which way she went, whether over the hill
or through the woods, and if she stopped at
the spring to drink, as they always did when
they went together. When autumn came,
and the trees were clothed in their rainbow
hues, Chloe put on her thick shoes and wrapped
her shawl about her to go to the woods
for chestnuts. She knew that Nancy could
not meet her then at the door when she came
home with her laden basket, and she sat down
under the old trees and wept and wept again.
The sound of the wind in the topmost branches
was to her like dying sighs; the bare limbs
were bony arms, and the dry and falling leaves
around her said, death, death, death! The
first great sorrow of her life was coming, and
her youthful heart shrank from the meeting.
Nancy's seventeenth birthday came. She
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUIS. 61
wanted to "sit up," she said, "and celebrate
it." Then she called for her paper, and with
trembling fingers added the closing lines to a
letter that she had for many days been wri-
ting for her mother to keep after she was dead.
It was her seventeenth birthday, she wrote,
and when the eighteenth one came she should
not be here. She never sat up again ; but she
lingered yet a little longer, and the ground
was white with the snow, and the winter winds
whistled through naked trees, before she died.
One day, when Mr. Yale, their minister, came
to see them, he said to Nancy,
" My dear young friend, do you not feel as
if you were going to a better home?"
"I think I love Jesus," said she, with an
effort, "but sometimes I'm afraid that I am
deceived. Oh," said she, taking his hand, "I
want you to preach my funeral sermon, and
warn my young friends not to do as I have
done, but prepare for death. Oh, tell them to
prepare for death!"
She had been failing all the day, and as
62 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
night carae on it was evident that her end was
near. Chloe was sent to bed with Rena,
whose health had become quite delicate. She
awoke in the night and heard the clock below
strike two. Soon a light shone through the
chamber, and the form of their mother ap-
peared.
"Girls," said she, "we think Nancy is
dying."
They both arose and groped their way down
the stairs, and as they entered the room, they
saw their father and Rachel standing over the
bed where Nancy lay, with gasping breath,
and the dreadful death-look already in her
eyes.
"Father! oh, father!" said the dying voice.
He bent over her, raised his head, and said,
"She's gone!"
Her mother came and stood in his place, and
she and Rachel closed her eyes and straight-
ened her limbs in death. Then Chloe came
forward and look 3d upon her. She had never
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLUuDS. 63
seen death before, and she almost felt the
closing of the dark wings around her!
All the next day she wandered about the
house like one in a dream. "When the evening
came, she lighted the candles and sat down by
the stove. The door was open into the room
where her dead sister lay. There was no
light there: it was the room that was the
kitchen when they came there to live. Her
father was walking to and fro through the two
rooms. She watched him as he disappeared
in the darkness, and heard him stay his foot-
steps by the dead form of his child and then
turn and come again in the light.
"Father," said she, "please sit down here,
won't you?"
He sat down, and she laid her head upon his
knee and sobbed out there her great sorrow.
On the Sabbath there was a funeral. It
was a pleasant morning, and a procession of
leighs slowly and solemnly wended its way
over the hills to the old church. Though in
mid- winter, the day was calm and quiet, and
64 CHLOE LANKTON; OB,
after the services the coffin was carried into
the open air, and many gathered around it.
She was pleasant to look upon. The long
lashes swept her marble cheek, and the black
of her eyes was visible through the thin,
transparent lids.
The burying-ground was near, and, as they
stood around the grave, the minister, with a
heart full of sympathy, spoke words of holy
consolation to gladden the hearts of the mourn-
ers. Then they saw the coffin lowered, a little
earth thrown in, and turned back to their de-
solate home.
Chloe felt her loss more, even, than she had
thought, and for many days she wept almost
constantly. But, though the dark cloud hung
over them, its mission was to bring only a
passing shadow ; for above, the sun of heaven
was shining in full glory, and, lifting up their
eyes and hearts, they could bless both ihe
shadow snd the sun.
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 65
VI.
THEY VISIT FAMILIAR SCENES.
THE next Sabbath Chloe and her father
walked to meeting. No new snow had fallen
since the last Sabbath, the day of the funeral.
They could even see the place where the bier
which bore the coffin had stood, and the foot-
prints of those who had gathered around it.
They looked towards the graveyard as they
came near. The new grave was there, a dark
mound in the gleaming snow. A lonely grave
it seemed ; for all the others were buried under
the white drifts.
At noon they walked over there and stood
together by the side of the new, fresh grave,
Nancy's grave ! How sad and strange the
tnought, and how desolate-hearted they were,
both father and child ! The wind came moan-
ing over the hill, and moved the branches of a
E 6*
66 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
dry tree that stood near them. Chloe re-
membered the lonely hour in the chestnut-
woods. The shadow came over her again,
and, cold and shivering, she clung closer to
her father. He was standing with compressed
lips and tightly-folded hands ; for he had loved
his child Nancy more than he could tell.
A moment more of silence, and then they
turned away. Although no words had been
spoken, each felt nearer to the other than be-
fore. The hearts of the father and child had
held holy communion by the side of that grave
in the snow.
When they reached home that night they
saw Rena's pale face watching for them
through the window. Kachel was preparing
the supper, and their mother was reading the
Bible in her rocking-chair. She read the last
verse of the chapter aloud. It was the last
verse of the twenty-seventh Psalm. She read,
in slow, tremulous tones, "Wait on the Lord:
be of good courage, and he shall strengthen
thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Then
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 67
she closed the Bible, and they gathered around
the supper-table.
That night, when they were retiring, Chloo
said,
"Rachel, what is the meaning of that text
that mother read out loud?"
"I don't remember now. what it was," said
Rachel.
" I do," replied Chloe : " I can say it. ' Wait
on the Lord : be of good courage, and he shall
strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the
Lord.' What does it mean to 'wait on the
Lord'?"
"I don't know as I can tell you," said
Rachel. "Perhaps it's obeying God's com-
mands. 'He shall strengthen thine heart.'
I know my heart has been stronger after I
have done something that I know God will
approve, especially if I have to deny myself
to do it."
"What have you ever done, Rachel?"
"Oh, nothing to tell of: still, it was a good
deal to me I think every Christian has
68 CHLOE LANKTON; on,
duties to do, and if they don't do them it is <*
great hinderance."
"What are the duties, Eachel?"
" Oh, I can't tell you : every one wouldn't
have the same, of course. I suppose the first
duty is to join the church. I wasn't but thir-
teen years old when I joined. . 'Twas before
you can remember : you were only four years
old. Eena and several others about my age
joined at the same time, and the minister talked
to us children, and told us how easy it would be
for us to be led astray, and that we must be
very careful and not bring a reproach upon
the cause. After that I was so afraid I should
do something, that I watched myself all the
time; and sometimes I would forget, and then
I would feel so bad. But I know better now.
Why, there are little trials coming up every
day ; and if I bear them patiently I feel as if I
was doing something for God. I never had
any great trial till Nancy died. It seemed
for a while that I couldn't have it so; but all
that day before she died, I never was so calm
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 69
and happy. It seemed as if every thing was
in God's hands and he would do just right. 1
Why, what is the matter, Chloe? what
are you crying for?"
"Because I'm so wicked, Rachel."
" Wicked ? What do you mean, Chloe ?"
"Why, I've never done any thing for Jesus
Christ. It didn't seem right to have Nancy
die. Every thing seems so strange ! It's so
strange to live, Rachel!"
This outburst was beyond Rachel's simple
wisdom; and she could only say,
"You must pray to God to help you,
Chloe."
Chloe did pray. She knew not what else
to do, and she found a sweet peace in praying.
Jesus Christ was very dear to her ; and for
-he moved about in a kind of calm rest
that, though there was sadness in it, was
sweet to her soul.
Chloe's nature was sunshiny. She easily
threw off sadness or sorrow. The family set-
tled back again into their old ways ; and when
70 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
the summer came again, it brought back the
old lightness to her heart. But there was a
deeper feeling of joy in the dark old woods
and on the sunny hills. She was older, and
thought and felt more. Although these hills
and woods had been all her little world, yet
there, in the stillness of her hill-side home, a
truer and better life was gradually opening to
her.
One day her father came in and said,
"Who wants to go over to the 'old place'
to-morrow?"
"Why, who's going there?" asked all to-
gether.
"I've just heard," he replied, "that the con-
ference meets there ; and I thought some of us
would go over."
After some talk, it was decided that Rachel
should stay with Rena, and that "father,
mother and Chloe" should go. Chloe had not
visited her old home since they left it, and she
was in an ecstasy of delight. She could hardly
sleep that night for thinking of the morrow.
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 71
She awoke very early in the morning, jumped
up and ran to the window.
"Chloe," cried Rachel, "what are you up
there in the cold for?"
"Cold!" echoed Chloe: "I wonder whai you
are made of, to call it cold! It's daylight,
Rachel: won't you get up?"
"Why, no," said Rachel: "you wouldn't
start any earlier for getting up at this time of
night."
It seemed a long time to wait ; but the hour
came at last. Breakfast was over, and her
father drove up in the long green wagon that
he had obtained for them to ride in. The road
led them over hills through the forest. The
woods resounded with the singing of birds,
and every thing was so fresh and beautiful in
that summer morning ! But they soon came
out of the shade, and drove by plains and
meadows, on a level road. Then Chloe began
to recognise familiar things. There was the
lot where the strawberries grew, and here was
where she used sometimes to come after the
72 CHLOE LAXKTOSJ OR,
cow. They drove rapidly on. "Oh, father,"
Chloe cried, ''there's the old well-sweep!" It
was the house where she and Beulah always
stopped for water on their way to school. It
had not changed any. The same curtains
were at the windows, and the mossy curb and
sweep looked just the same. Then came the
school-house and the little frog-pond by the
roadside. Her father slackened the speed of
the horse, and Chloe gazed upon the dear old
places as they rode slowly by. How familiar,
and yet how strange, every thing seemed!
Next came the minister's house. "It seems,"
said Chloe, "as if Mr. Mills would come out
of that door and say, 'My daughters,' just as
he used to, to us girls."
"Poor old man!" said her mother: "he's
dead now!"
They drove up to the church. The people
standing around the steps stared a moment, and
then came smiles of recognition and shaking of
hands with the father and mother. Chloe had
quite grown out of their remembrance.
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 73
"Mother," she whispered, "I'm going over
to Mrs. Bissell's a minute."
She ran across the yard up to the well-
known door. The old lady looked at her
through her spectacles as she came in. At
length she said,
"Why, Chloe, is it you? How you have
grown! How did you come?"
"With father and mother. We came over
to the meeting."
"Oh, then they've come over? I shall be
very glad to see your mother. You've lost a
sister lately," she added, glancing at Chloe 's
black dress: "Rachel, wasn't it?"
"No, ma'am: it was Nancy."
"Oh! was it Nancy? What was the mat-
ter with her?"
"Consumption," replied Chloe.
"Oh, then, she died with consumption?
Indeed! can it be," she continued, "that
voung, lively girl is dead? She used to come
in here, sometimes, Sunday noons. I remem-
ber how her black eyes used to shine."
74 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
When Chloe went back to the meeting-
nouse, she found some of her school-mates
waiting for her on the steps. It was pleasant
to meet them again and see how each one
had grown and changed. She was glad, too,
to hear about those who wore not there. One
or two had died, and others had moved away.
They pointed out the new minister to her.
He was a young man, and not at all like old
Mr. Mills.
The inside of the church looked very natu-
ral and homelike. Several ministers were
present, and the one who had been chosen to
preach spoke of the duties of Christians. It
was a pointed discourse. His whole soul was
in it, and the truth went home to every heart.
Chloe felt that every word of the sermon was
for her. "When he addressed those who pro-
fessed religion but neglected to join the
Christian Church, she hung her head in very
guilt. She felt more than ever convinced of
"her one great duty, and she breathed a silent
prayer to Heaven for guidance and direction.
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 75
VII.
DUTY DONE.
THE minister closed his remarks, and others
that were present followed. They were mostly
young preachers. Their hearts were full of
reverence and feeling ; and many an eye was
dimmed with tears as with power and ful-
ness of meaning the words fell from their
lips. Their strong faith seemed to draw
down the very clouds of heaven. Peace and
hope, trust in God and love to man came
like manna upon the souls of the congrega-
tion. The meeting was closed by the singing
of "Old Hundred." The congregation arose
and sang with the choir, and the simple country
church was filled with the sweet and solemn
harmony. Then the oldest minister present
pronounced the benediction, and reluctantly,
76 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
it seemed, the concourse of people moved
slowly out.
The shadows were deepening in the valleys
when they rode home that night. The parents
had left the church with spirits gladdened and
refreshed, and they found much pleasure in
talking over the events of the day. But
Chloe's ride was a sad one. She passed the
school-house, the old well-sweep and the
familiar plains and meadows in silence. The
living words of the young preacher were
uppermost in her mind. He had made her see
the importance of uniting with a Christian
Church in a light in which she never before
had seen it. It was a duty that she felt she
must perform; but, when she looked back
upon her past life, her mind shrank from it.
She remembered how light and gay she had
often been with her young school-mates ; and
the fear arose in her mind that she was not a
fit subject of so solemn and responsible a re-
lation.
The shades of evening were in the forest
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 77
as they drove through. Chloe was giateful
for the darkness. It suited her state of mind,
and she could have gone on hours longer
beneath those sombre shadows. But they
reached home at last. Eachel met them at
the door, and Rena's pale face brightened as
they entered. There was much to hear and
much to tell about old friends and old places.
A man one of the neighbours came in to
talk with her father about the meeting: so
Chloe's unusual quietness was not noticed.
Said he,
" Isn't that the church where Rev. Samuel
Mills used to preach?"
"Yes," was the reply: "he preached there
when we lived there."
"A pretty smart man, wasn't he?"
"Yes: he was a good man and a sound
preacher. But he was funny sometimes.
You've heard the story about him and the
students, haven't you?"
"Xo," was the reply: "I don't know as I
have."
7
78 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
"He was riding through Litchfield one day,
and some young fellows that went to school
there were going along in the street, and they
met Mr. Mills and thought they'd have some
fun with him. So they came along and said,
'We've just heard some news that'll be bad
for you, Father Mills!'
"'Ah!' said he: 'what is it?'
" 'Why, the devil's dead.'
"He raised up both hands and said, 'Poor,
fatherless children ! What will become of you?'
The students couldn't say a word. It got out
after a while; and I guess they didn't hear
the last of it very soon."
"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed their visitor: "that's
first-rate; the best joke I ever heard! Ha,
ha, ha!" he laughed again. His hilarity was
catching, and, though they had all heard the
story so many times before, they could not
help joining. At length he added, "Didn't
this Mr. Mills have a son that was a mis-
sionary?"
"Yes," was the reply: "his son's name was
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 79
Samuel. He went to Africa, but didn't live
but seven months from the time he left this
country. He died on board ship and was
buried in the ocean. When the news came
of his death, his father stopped and said, ' I
don't understand it. I thought the Lord had
a work for Samuel to do on the earth; but he
has taken him away; and I don't understand
it.' It affected him a good deal. They had a
sermon preached in the meeting-house, and
they read some of his letters that he wrote to
his father on the voyage."
"They must have been interesting," re-
marked the visitor. " I think I have heard them
spoken of more than once before." Just then the
long clock in the corner struck nine. " I de-
clare!" he added, "I must go." Then, taking
his hat, he bade them "good-night" and went
out.
When Chloe went to bed that night, she
unburdened her mind to Rachel. She told
her all she could remember of the sermon,
and of her own feelings in regard to joining
80 CHLOE LANZTON; on,
tlie church. "Why don't you join?" said
Bachel. " I think you ought to. I think it's
your duty."
"I know it is," said Chloe; "but I'm afraid,
Eachel."
"Afraid of what?"
"Why, I'm afraid I a'n't fit. You know
how I'm always talking and laughing ; and I
always say something I'm sorry about."
"Well," replied Eachel, "you always did
laugh, and I expect you always will, whether
you join the church or not. If your heart is
right, that's the main thing, you know. If
you really feel it your duty to join the church,
you'd better not put it off. You'll never feel
right till you do it."
After much prayer and many doubts,
Chloe's wishes, by the advice of all her friends,
were made known to Mr. Yale, their minister.
To their surprise, they found that others had
expressed the same. Several came forward,
and when the appointed Sabbath arrived
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. dl
there were twelve that stood up in the broad
aisle of the old church, to make a public pro-
fession of their faith in Jesus Christ. Chloe
was the youngest of the twelve.
When the service was concluded by which
she was united to the visible Church of Christ,
she felt almost ready to sink with a sense of
the responsibility that she had taken upon
herself. Then they gathered together, and a
solemn silence rested upon all as the clergy-
man broke the bread and poured the wine,
and, in tones of deep feeling, welcomed to the
" Lord's table the new guests who had never
sat there before." Chloe's mind was filled
with a peace she never before had known.
The place was solemn and holy. Jesus Christ
seemed present with them ; and over all was
resting the sweet stillness of the dim old
church.
When Chloe walked home that night, every
thing about her seemed changed. Often as
she had looked upon the beautiful landscape
82 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
of hill and valley that stretched away on
either side, that evening it possessed a new
beauty. She did not know that the change
was in herself. She had not yet learned that
the soul sees in the face of nature the image
of its own loveliness or deformity. In every
object that met her eye she felt a new and
strange delight. The noise of the brook over
its pebbly bed was sweeter music to her ear
than murmuring waters had ever breathed be-
fore ; and her soul flowed out in gratitude to
the Great Giver of all life and beauty.
Eena could not help noticing Chloe's face as
she entered; and her eyes followed her young
sister with joy and love. Chloe was now in
the fresh bloom of youthful loveliness. The
long tresses of her beautiful dark hair were
wound about her head, and her face was
always sunny with happiness and her black
eyes dancing with joy. But there was a new
light in them to-night, a gleam that told
of deeper feeling; and it was a more subdued
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 83
happiness that shone through her expressive
face. They all looked upon her more lovingly
and tenderly. They felt that she was now,
more than ever before, the pure, sweet light
of their humble home.
84 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
VIIL
RENA'S DEATH.
"On, there's a peddler!" said Chloe, one
day. His coming was a pleasant variety in
their every-day life; and she hastened 10 open
the door. He was a tall, thin man, with very
small, blue eyes, and had two tin trunks sus-
pended from his shoulders.
"Buy any thing to-day?" he said, "pins,
needles, thread, tape, buttons, thimbles, hand-
kerchiefs, soap, combs, 'spenders "
"That'll do," said Chloe, laughing: "please
walk in."
He made a low bow to Rena as he entered,
and then sat down and laid back the covers
of his trunks with a flourish. Rachel left her
spinning, and Rena moved up nearer in the
rocking-chair.
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 85
"Let me look at your silver thimbles," said
she, feebly. "What is the price?" (fitting oje
to her finger.)
"Fifty cents," was the reply.
"Try it on, Chloe," said Rena. "Why, it
fits you better than it does me!"
" Is fifty cents your lowest price?" she asked.
"Yes, ma'am, the lowest, unless sometimes
I sell 'em by the quantity."
"Suppose we should take two?" queried
Eachel.
"Well," said he, hesitating, "if you'll take
two I do' know Well, I guess if you'll
take two you can have 'em for forty-two cents
apiece."
Rachel found one that fitted, and then went
to get the money.
"Bring my purse, Rachel," said Rena.
She brought it, and Rena took from it a
bright half-dollar. It was a part of what re-
mained of her treasured earnings in days of
health.
Alter the peddler had gone, Rena sat a long
86 CHLOE LAXKTOX; OK,
time gazing at the thimble upon her finger.
At length she said,
"Chloe, I bought this silver thimble for you.
I sha'n't live to use it. I got it for you to re-
member me by."
Chloe suddenly raised her head and looked
at her sister. Rena had been fading so gra-
dually, and had been so cheerful, day by day,
that it had not occurred to her that she would
die. But, as she looked upon her again, the
truth at once flashed upon her. Rena would
die : she saw it in the hollow eyes and sunken
cheek. She turned and stood at the window.
It was then in mid- winter. The air was dim
with new-falling snow, and already the sloping
roof of the piazzaed house on the hill wae
whitened with it. The meadow was cold and
drear, and the bare limbs of the trees in the
forest beyond looked gaunt and strange
through the misty air. The shadow came
over her again, the same deep shadow that
she had felt under the chestnut-trees and by
Xancy's grave.
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 87
"Death! death!" she said to herself: "oh,
how can I meet it again?"
Then Rena spoke. "Chloe," said she,
"come here." With quivering lip Chloe
obeyed. "I don't want you to feel bad,
Chloe," she said: "it's what I've known a long
time ; and I have prayed over it a great deal.
You know how many doubts I used to have
about myself, whether I was a Christian or
not. They're all gone now. I feel willing to
die: I want to go and be with Jesus. All I
pray for now is for patience to wait until the
time comes. I want you all to feel reconciled
to it. If you only realized how happy I am,
I'm sure you would."
Chloe could only answer by her sobs. But
the ice was broken now, and after this Hena
talked much of her own death.
"Mother," said she, one day, "I wish you
would take the rest of the money in my purse
and send down to the village and get me some
cloth."
"Cloth! For what, Rena?"
CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
"I want to make my own shroud."
" Why, Eena ! How can I get it ?"
"Don't refuse me, mother," she said: "you
know I can't live. I feel myself growing weaker
it seems as if I could every day; and I
want to make it. It will be a pleasure to me."
Rena's urgent request could not be denied.
The cloth was obtained for her, and one day
she laid it upon the table and her own hands
cut and fitted the last garment that she would
wear upon earth. Then she put on the new
thimble and sewed till she was tired. But the
winds of March were moaning around their
lowly home before it was finished, and she was
moved into the room where Nancy had died.
She sat up a little while every day, and with
the shining thimble worked upon the white
robe.
"Don't go out," she said to Chloe one day,
who entered the room and suddenly drew
back, "because you see me at work on this.
Why, I've been just as happy as if I was mak-
ing a dress ! It's about done now," she added,
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLCDTDS. 89
with a little sigh. "Won't you call Eachel,
Chloe?"
Kachel came, and Eena said, " You may get
me the box and other things now." Rachel
knew the box she wanted, and silently obeyed.
Then they all stood by her and watched her
thin, white hands as she carefully folded the
spotless garment and placed it smoothly in the
box.
" There !" said she : " they'll lie there safe till
they are wanted. It won't be long. Here,
Chloe, the thimble is your's now. I never shall
need it again : my work is done. Keep it to
remember me by. What makes you cry? I
never was so happy in my life as I am now."
After this, each day found Bena weaker, while
her faith in Christ grew brighter and stronger.
"Don't pray that I may live," she said, "but
that I may have patience to wait." So, pa-
tiently waiting her summons, she stayed her
time, looking up through the golden-rimmed
cloud to heaven.
Chloe came in one day and found her father
s*
90 CHLOE LAXKTON; OR,
lying nearly senseless on the bed, and her
mother standing over him, wildly weeping.
"What is it?" she exclaimed. "What is
the matter?"
"Why," replied her mother, "he lifted too
heavy, and he is dreadfully hurt! I've sent
for the doctor: why don't he come? Eena
dying in one room and he in another! Oh,
it's too much, too much!"
That day was a dark one. All through its
long hours Chloe walked the house in agony.
To lose Eena was a great trial : still, she had
schooled her heart to it and could give her up
cheerfully now. But to see her father die was
a sorrow she thought that she could not bear.
And she was not called upon to bear it.
Through the skill of the physician, his life was
saved, although he lay many days in weak-
ness and suffering.
Meanwhile, Eena was rapidly failing. She
only wished 10 live, she said, to look once
more upon her father; and they were all very
glad and thankful when he was able, or.e
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 91
morning, to walk with help into Rena's room.
He sat down by her bed, and she held his
hand between her own and looked into his
face long and earnestly. The next day he
could stay with her longer, and the next he
spent nearly all the time in her room; for
they all felt that Rena had not long to live.
"Mother," said she, "do you think me in a
dying state?"
"No, Rena: I do not think you are."
"When I am, won't you tell me?"
"Yes, Rena; I will."
Her father was sitting by her bedside when
it came. He called his wife, and she called
the girls.
"Rena," said her mother, "we think you
are to die soon."
She raised her hands feebly and said, "Oh,
how I do rejoice! I shall soon be with Christ."
"Rena," said her mother again, "now you
are dying, do you feel any dread of death?"
"Oh, no: I've no more fear than if I was
going to sleep. Don't feel so bad, mother,
92 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
when I am so happy. I never did rejoice so
much. It seems as if I could see Jesus on
the cross, bleeding for my sins. Don't mourn
so for me : try all to live faithful and meet-
me in heaven."
ARena never spoke to them again. Her
mother bent over her, and, in her slow,
tremulous tones, said, "Rena, my poor child,
does your faith hold out?" She could not
speak, but she looked up and smiled an assent ;
and then her head dropped. Chloe saw that
her lips and her hands were changing their
colour. She turned and left the room. She
went to the kitchen-window and looked out
upon the beautiful spring morning. She stood
there, almost unconsciously, watching the play
of the sunlight among the fresh green leaves
and listening to the songs of the birds. Her
father opened the door and said, "Chloe,
Rena's gone ! She's done breathing."
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 93
IX.
A FUNERAL AND A JOURNEY.
ONLY one of their neighbours was with
them when Rena breathed her last; and she
could not perform the sad offices for the dead.
Rachel and her mother closed her eyes, and
others soon came in, with hands ready and
willing, and hearts full of sympathy for the
mourners. The mother brought out the box,
which had not been opened since Rena ar-
ranged it. Her tears flowed afresh when she
raised the cover.
"Here," said she, "every thing is all
ready. Poor Rena fixed it with her own
hands."
"Sure enough," said one, taking the box
from her: "why, this doesn't seem like death !"
Saturday night came. The preparations
94 CH.JOE LANKTON; OR,
were made for the funeral the next day. All
through the last of the afternoon and first of
the evening their friends and neighbours had
been coming and going. The mourners sit-
ting quietly in the kitchen could hear their
whispered remarks as they passed through
into the other room and looked upon the dead
form.
"Do you think she looks natural?"
"Yes; quite so."
"She's very much emaciated."
"Yes; but the expression is very pleasant. ''
"They say she died very happy."
"Yes, I suppose she did."
Later in the evening the house became
quiet, and then Rachel and Chloe went into
the room and closed the door after them.
Rachel laid back the covering from the face,
and, with clasped hands, they stood together
and looked upon their sister.
"There were six of us once, Chloe," said
Rachel: "now we two are all that's left."
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 95
" Yes," said Chloe, "but I would be willing
to die if I could feel as happy as she did."
"She was a real Christian," said Eachel.
"Oh, how good she was!" cried Chloe,
weeping. "My dear, dear sister, I never shall
see you again!"
"She's better off now," replied Eachel,
wiping the tears from her eyes.
"I know she is. I prayed to-day, Rachel,
and I never prayed so much in earnest in my
life, that God would make me pure before I
died."
"Oh, Chloe, you don't know what you asked
for. You know the Bible says, 'Whom the
Lord loveth he chasteneth.'"
"Yes, but I'd be willing to be chastened if
I could be as good as she was."
The Sabbath appointed for the funeral was
the first day of summer, and at an early hour
kind friends were there. The body of Rena was
placed in the coffin, and her mother's tears fell
upon the marble cheek. Said one to her,
"Your daughter died very happy."
96 CHLOE LAXKTON; OR,
"Oh, yes, very happy. When Kachel and
1 were closing her eyes, it seemed all the time
as if she was inviting us to go with her to
the world of glory."
"Then," said another, "why do you cry so?
Don't mourn so for her : she's better off than
she ever could be with you."
" Oh, I know she's better off. I know she's
happy now. God has the best right to her.
I am perfectly resigned. But how can I dc
without her? She was such a good child to
me, I can't but mourn."
The room was soon filled. A prayer was
offered, a hymn was sung, and then the pro-
cession was formed and slowly wound its way
over the hills to the old church. The morning
was very beautiful. The birds sung, the sum-
mer wind breathed its balmy breath, the skies
above were soft, deep and pure, and the sun
shone with brightness and splendour. Rachel
said to Chloe,
"Nancy was buried on Sunday; but the
ground was covered with snow then."
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 97
" Yes," replied Chloe, "I remember. There
wasn't a green thing to be seen ; and now how
pleasant it is !"
The coffin was carried into tne middle aisle
of the church, where Nancy's had stood a little
more than a year before. Mr. Yale, their be-
loved minister, preached the sermon, bringing
from the treasury of the Holy Scriptures price-
less gems of wisdom and truth to gladden the
hearts of the mourners. After the services,
the coffin was taken out and placed upon the
green turf, and many gathered around to look
for the last time upon her whom all had loved.
Then it was borne to the grave that had been
made by the side of Nancy's, and there, in the
midst of sunshine and springing life, Eena was
buried out of their sight.
For months afterwards, a shadow filled her
accustomed place in the household. They
missed her pleasant smile and gentle, patient
ways. But by degrees the old cheerfulness
returned. They did not mourn without hope.
To her, death had seemed o ily a step from the
98 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
earthly valley into a world of light, and when
they thought of Rena, it was not as lying in
the cold grave, but as one among the glorified
spirits in heaven.
In the month of August after Rena's death,
Chloe went with her father and Rachel to visit
their cousins. The visit had for a long time
been anticipated and talked about, and Chloe
had looked forward to it with much pleasure.
Their father had promised to take them
through the places where he lived when a boy.
He had often told his children a great many
stories about his boyhood and the places con-
nected with it, and Chloe liked to hear them
now as well as she did when a child. It was
a day's journey there, and the long green
wagon was obtained again for them to ride in.
The road wound through beautiful forests,
across rich, level plains and over sunny, far-
looking hills. Chloe was in high spirits.
Every beautiful thing of the landscape caught
her eye. She talked eveiy moment, asking her
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 99
father questions about this and that, until
Hachel said,
"Chloe, you talk so much I'm tired of hear-
ing you!"
Her father seemed as happy as she was.
Every thing around was to him full of old
associations. His heart was warmed with
youthful memories, and with almost youthful
animation he pointed out familiar objects and
related incidents connected with them. Said
he, "We're now almost to Johnny-Cake
Town."
" Johnny-Cake Town !" echoed Chloe : " why,
father, what made them call it so?"
"Why," he replied, "they used to raise a
great deal of rye there : it was all their de-
pendence; and one year it was all cut off.
They didn't know what they should do; but
they had their corn ground and lived on that.
All the people used to have johnny-cakes for
every meal; and it has been called Johnny-
Cake Town ever since."
After a few more mile-stones had been
100 CHLOE LAXKTOS; OR,
passed, "There!" said her father, pointing
with the whip, "there's where we lived when
I was a boy." It was a beautiful green lawn,
with large apple-trees growing upon it. The
house was not there : only the cellar and part
of the old chimney remained.
"Oh, father," said Chloe, "I wish the house
was here. How I should like to go in and
see all the old rooms!"
"You can see how large the house was," he
replied. "The potatoes used to be kept in
this corner of the cellar, and the apples in
that; and the bread-box' used to stand about
in the middle. I remember one fast-day
your grandfather and grandmother were
very strict about keeping fast we all had
to get up at four o'clock in the morning
and eat a breakfast of pudding and milk.
Then we had to ride four miles to meet-
ing, and we couldn't have any thing more to
eat until after sundown. Brother Thomas
used to be always full of his tricks; and he
hadn't a.ny notion of going all day without
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 101
any thing to eat. Mother had made some of
her big doughnuts the day before, and Thomas
said he knew where they were. So he slipped
down cellar and got some out of the bread-box,
and found his way out by the gangway. I
went out of the kitchen-door and met him, and
then we went away down into the lot and ato
them."
" Didn't they ever know it?" asked Chloe.
" Not till we were grown up ; and then we,
told of it. "We children used to pick up apples
together under these trees," he continued, mu-
singly, " Thomas and Arba, I and Ruth. Now
father and mother are dead, and Thomas is
away off in York State. He was a roguish boy,
always' full of his tricks. I wish I could see
Thomas again!"
Neither Chloe ncr Rachel replied. Their
father's sadness was sacred to him and to the
old place, and they drove away, silently pon-
dering the olden memories in their hearts.
102 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
THE FATHER S VISIT AND THE NEW BELL.
THE visit to the old place had made the
lather's heart grow young again. As he sat
upon his shoemaker's bench in a corner of the
kitchen, his thoughts -would go back to the
days of his youth, and for hours he would
seem to live again in the past. Thomas, the
fun-loving, bright-eyed boy, was associated
with all. Years had passed since the brothers
last met, and a strong desire arose in his heart
to behold him again. One afternoon in Oc-
tober, two strangers knocked at the door.
They were from the place where Thomas lived.
Business calling them into the northwestern
part of Connecticut, he had requested them to
go to his brother's home and persuade him to
return with them. They would call for him
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 103
early the next morning, they said, if he would
be ready.
Chloe's father had so long cherished the
thought of seeing Thomas again, that this
seemed a providential opportunity; and he
told them he would go. His wife immediately
began to make preparations for his early start.
As he watched her movements, a feeling of
regret came over him. Thomas lived almost
two hundred miles away, and it seemed a very
long journey. He had never been away from
his family before, and he knew not what might
occur during his absence. He saw tears stand-
ing in the eyes of his wife, and then he was
sorry that he had consented to go. But she
brushed them away, and said,
"'Twas such a good chance, she wouldn't
have him miss it for any thing."
Then she gave an extra touch to his clean
collar and black stock. He did not- see any
more tears that night.
They were all up early the next morning,
dii(\ when the gentlemen came he was ready.
104 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
Bachel, Chloe and the mother followed him
out on the door-step. When he went through
the gate, he turned and gave them a sorrowfu.
look, and they heard him heave a deep sigh.
Then his wife burst into tears. Chloe wept
too, and went to a window to watch him as
they went down the road. They stopped be-
fore they reached the foot of the hill, and one
of the men came back to get the umbrella that
had been forgotten.
""What!" said he, "crying because your
husband is going away? I go off to be gone
weeks at a time, and my wife doesn't mind
it."
He ran back to the wagon, and Chloe watched
her father's form until he was out of sight.
They were sad all day. The bench in the
corner was empty, and the house had never
seemed so lonely. He was to be absent three
weeks; and Chloe thought they never would
end. But the time passed away, anl a fort-
night had gone before they were aware.
They were sitting around the fire in the even-
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 105
ing, Rachel, Chloe and their mother. They
could hear the moaning of the autumn wind
without, as it whirled the dry leaves past the
door.
"The wind blows like a storm," said the
mother: "I wish your father was at home!"
"Only a week more," replied Chloe, "and
then he'll come."
"If he only gets back safe!" sighed the
mother: "that's all I think of. They were
going on the boat; and I'm so afraid some-
thing will happen !"
The night was dreary, and they retired early.
Chloe had not been asleep, when she heard the
sound of a footstep in the road. She raised
her head to listen. Ah ! she knew that step !
It was coming through the gate. She jumped
up, threw on her clothes, rushed almost head-
long down the stairs, and in a moment more
was in her father's arms.
"Oh, father," said she, "I'm so glad you've
corne!"
Very socn Eachel and her mother were up.
106 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
They hastened to light the candle, that they
might look once more upon his face. Then
the fire was speedily rekindled, and supper
spread for the loved father. They gathered
around as he a.te, and asked him questions
about his journey and his visit. The journey
was very pleasant, he said : they went part of
the way by steamboat. Thomas had grown
old some, but he was Thomas yet. He lived
in a nice place, and the girls were all at home.
Cousin Sylvia was about Chloe's age, and
wanted to see her cousin very much. The
girls had sent her and Rachel some pieces of
their dresses. He had come back alone, he
said, with no accident, and he thought it had
done him good to see something of the world.
"Well," replied his wife, "you've had a
good visit and come back safe; and I'm sure
we ought to be thankful."
It was late when they went again to their
beds, and Chloe could not sleep for joy that
her father had safely returned. The next day
there was a great deal to hear and to tell, and
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 107
every day for weeks afterwards the father re-
nailed some incident of his journey and visit.
Chloe was never weary of hearing. His glowing
accounts gave her glimpses of the great world
of which she as yet knew nothing, and there
passed over her a strong desire for something
more and better than she yet had known.
With it came the vague yearning she had often
felt, amounting almost to pain. She did not
understand what that nameless longing was.
She had not yet learned how the soul some-
times struggles for its growth. She did not
know how a natural capacity for knowing and
doing is often crushed that only needed culti-
vation to spring up into active life.
But the remembrances of the father's jour-
ney were lost in a more interesting topic. The
old-fashioned meeting-house was to be torn
down and a new one built in its place. It was
to be a handsome building, with a steeple and
a bell. Every one was engaged about it. The
people who lived in the handsome houses near
the church were no more so than those in the
108 CHLOE LANKTOX; OR,
mossy-roofed cottages among the hills. The
members of the church, both rich and poor,
seemed bound together in one common cause ;
and Chloe's whole heart was in it. Still, she
loved the old church. She had become at-
tached to its large, square pews and its high,
old-fashioned pulpit. Its very quaintness was
dear to her, and it was full of vivid associa-
tions. Under its sacred roof the sweetest peace
she ever knew first entered her soul. There,
too, she had tasted sorrow and shed bitter tears
over the lifeless forms of Nancy and Rena.
When the old meeting-house fell, Chloe could
not keep back the tears. But the work went
on rapidly, and the new church was completed.
It was considered a handsome edifice, and they
were all very proud of it. The bell must be ob-
tained, and then the church was to be dedicated.
One day Rachel and Chloe made a visit to
one of their neighbours. They remained until
evening and walked home in the bright moon-
light.
"How pleasant it is!" remarked Rachel.
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 109
"Oh, it's splendid!" Chloe exclaimed. "I
do think it's such a beautiful world, Rachel!"
"There's trouble enough in it."
"I know it. When Nancy died I thought I
should never smile again, never. Then when
Rena died, I didn't feel as if any thing would
ever seem pleasant again; and yet it does, as
pleasant as it used to, almost. Sometimes,
when I get to thinking, I wonder if I shall be
as happy as I am now, always."
" You may have trouble ; but the grace of
God could make you happy then."
" I don't know, Rachel. I can't bear to think
of having any more trouble. I Oh, hark !
hark!"
"What do you hear?" said Rachel.
" It's our new bell ringing ! Oh, it is ! It is !
Don't you hear it, Rachel? Do hark!"
Rachel stopped to listen. She too could
plainly hear the silvery tones as they fell upon
the distant air. Yes, it must be the new bell.
Still the two stood and listened. There was
something strangely sweet in the sound of that
10
110 CHLOE LANKTON; OE,
far-off chiming, as it floated over the hills and
blended with the soul of beauty that filled the
night.
"Oh, Rachel! A'n't it beautiful?" said
Chloe. "Oh, I'm so glad!"
"I wonder if father and mother hear it?"
said Rachel.
" I don't know," was the reply. " Oh, yes,
there they are, out on the step!" she added, as
they came near.
"Do you hear the new bell, girls?" asked
the mother.
"Hear it?" answered Rachel: "I guess we
do!"
Then the four stopped upon the steps and
listened, until the cold air drove them in.
Chloe and her father went to the door again.
The new bell was still ringing, and the soft
moonlight was upon the hill, meadow and
forest.
"How long they ring it!" cried Rachel from
within. "I guess they're having a gay time
over there!"
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. Ill
When Chloe fell asleep that night, the moon-
beams were lying upon the chamber-floor, and
still that far-off, solitary chiming was floating
over the hills.
112 CHLOE LANKTON; OE,
XL
THE RIDE TO HARTFORD.
CHLOE had an uncle who lived in Hartford.
He was her father's brother Arba, and her
father was anxious to see him after he had
visited Thomas. But the autumn was his
harvest-time. His hands were full of work,
and he thought he would not go then. He
would wait, at least, until the new church was
dedicated. But the winter came on severely,
and the visit was postponed until spring.
Then rainy weather and unsettled roads made
travelling unpleasant : so the sweet beauty of
the summer came upon the fields and meadows
before he was ready to go. His wife and
Chloe were going with him. The young lady
who was teaching the summer school would
stay with Rachel during their absence.
Chloe had often i ead of cities. There were
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 118
pictures of them, too, in her geography. But
oeyond this she knew nothing; and this visit
would be an era in her life. Still, she did not
prepare for it with all her usual enthusiasm.
The new life of the summer had not so fully
wakened the same in her. It was not because
she was not happy. She had every thing, she
thought, to make her so. There were many
sweet, youthful joys folded down deep in her
heart, and through all the day long she was
joyous and happy, yet underneath all was a
sadness whose meaning she did not know.
Still, she enjoyed the ride to Hartford very
much. The road led them through pleasant
villages and then toiled over Talcott Mountain.
There it was very beautiful. Chloe had never
gazed upon a landscape like the one spread out
on either side. Then the wildness of the scenery
all around delighted her. She saw, in the field
by the roadside, the wonderful rock, rent in
twain from the top to the bottom. Then they
came to the other rock, on the opposite side,
close to the road. She almost held her bmith
II 10*
114 CHLOE LANKTON; on,
as they passed; for it looked just ready to fall
upon 1'iem.
"Folks think," said the father, "that the
rock lying over there in the lot used to be a
part of this one."
"Why, father," said Chloe, "how could it
be?"
"They say 'twould just fit on; and they think
it was thrown over there by an earthquake or
something."
"Well, it might be," said the mother.
" Oh, yes," he replied : "likely 'twas an earth-
quake or something of the sort ; or perhaps
it never belonged on there at all. I don't
guppose anybody knows."
Chloe did not speak, it seemed so wonderful
a thing. She caught sight of a deep and dark-
looking gorge on the right-hand side of the
road. It was spanned by a little bridge ; and
she could hear the surging of the waters from
out the mystery of shadow that reposed below.
Just beyond, but farther from the road, was a
house. It was a quaint-looking building, with
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 115
a roof nearly flat, and had various strangely-
shaped windows.
"What a strange house!" she exclaimed.
"An Englishman built that house, and lives
there, I believe," replied her father.
"I wonder how it looks inside?" continued
Chloe. "I wish I could go into it."
"There, Chloe," said her father, "there's
the road that goes to 'Wadsworth Tower.'"
"The one we can just see from the hill be-
fore we get to our house?"
"Yes," he replied, "the same one."
"Look, Chloe," said he, at length, pointing
with his whip, "there's Hartford. You can
see it now."
Chloe looked, and saw the tall spires glitter-
ing in the distance. She could also see some
nice residences with beautiful grounds around
them. When they entered the city, she gazed
around with wondering eyes. The bustling
streets and showy windows both bewildered
and delighted her. Uncle Arba lived just
beyond the city limits, in a red house with a
116 CHLOE LAXKTON; OR,
meadow in front. He was glad to see them,
and gave his brother a cordial greeting. He
left his work during the two days they stayed,
to show them the wonders of the city. Chloe
was pleased with every thing she saw, and her
uncle's honest face beamed with pleasure ai
her exclamations of delight. Her father gave
her some money, with which she bought some
little things for herself and Hachel.
She was very tired when they arrived at
home. It was two or three weeks before she
recovered from the fatigue of the journey to
Hartford. The next Sabbath she could not
walk to church as she had done, and" through
all the summer she was weak and drooping.
She was beginning to learn the cause of the
strange sadness. Such weakness was a new
thing to her; and she tried to throw it off.
Why should it be when life was just opening
to her so wondrously ? Her heart would over-
flow with happiness, were it not that her
strength and buoyancy were gone. As it was,
she was sad, though gentle and patient.
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 117
In the Ml she was better, and the old ani-
mation returned.
"There!" she exclaimed, one day, as she sat
busily sewing, "this dress is done ! I can wear
it to school all winter. I'm so glad I can go
this winter. I want to learn all I can ; for if I
should go away to learn the tailor's trade in
the spring, I don't suppose I shall ever go any
more."
"Do you want to learn the tailor's trade?"
asked Rachel.
"Why, yes; I want to do something, and I
suppose it might as well be that as any thing.
You know I shall want things by-and-by ; and
I don't want father to spend all he earns for
me."
"I hope you won't have to go away to
learn," said Rachel: "I don't want any more
partings."
"Why, Rachel, it won't be like dying!"
"I know it," replied Rachel, sadly; "lut
dying isn't the worst trouble in the world."
118 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
"Rachel, is low-spirited to-day," thought
Chloe, as she went to put away the dress.
The first Sabbath in December was bitterly
cold.
"Why, girls," said the mother, as she saw
the preparations, "you won't think of going
out this cold day?"
"I want to go, mother," said Chloe: "it
seems as if I must go."
"If Chloe can go," said Rachel, "I can."
"Well," said the careful mother, "you must
wear thick shawls over your cloaks; and then
I'm afraid you'll freeze before you get there."
They started, but it was bitterly cold. The
piercing wind seemed to reach their very
vitals. They heard the bell ring very clearly
long before they saw the top of the church-
spire. But very few people were present.
It needed courage to face that biting air.
When they left the warm church to go
home, it seemed colder than ever. The sky
was overcast with gloomy clouds, and the
sharp wind almost took away their breath.
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 119
Chloe turned to shield her face. Her eye
rested upon the pallid stones of the graveyard
near. There the forms of Nancy and Rena
were sleeping the dreamless sleep. She could
see both the graves very plainly. How cold,
bare and drear they looked !
The olden memories came rushing over her,
and for a moment she thought she could not
turn away and leave them there! But the
winter's breath must be faced, and, after a
ong, cold walk, they reached their home. That
night Chloe dreamed that she was out again
in the piercing wind and saw again her sisters'
graves cold and bare upon the bleak and
wintry hill.
Before another Sabbath came, Chloe was so
ill that the physician was sent for.
She was sick five weeks, although during
the latter part of the time she sat up a part
of each day.
"I feel a great deal better," she said to
Rachel, one bright morning: "I'm going down
to take breakfast with you."
120 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
She did so, and then helped Rachel in doing
the house-work.
"Chloe " said her mother, "don't do too
much. I don't want you to get sick again."
"Oh, no," she replied: "I'm not a bit tired.
It seems so good to be around the house
again!"
But when night came she was very, very
tired, and said she would go right to bed.
Just then, steps were heard on the frozen
path, and voices on the door-step. The
door opened, and two bright faces peeped in.
They were Chloe's young friends, and she
hastened to greet them.
"How do you do, Chloe?" said they:
"you've been sick, haven't you?"
"Yes; but I've felt better to-day. Sit
down and take off your things."
They complied, and Eachel placed the stand
in front of the stove with a lighted candle
upon it. They all gathered around it, and
each one took out her knittir g-work. The
father moved his bench nearer the stove, and
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS.
the room, looked bright and pleasant. Chloe
took her knitting-work, and made a great
effort to seem cheerful. She tried to chat as
gayly as any of them, and neither her mother
nor Rachel suspected how very ill she felt.
As soon as they were gone, she retired to
rest.
It was late when she came down the next
morning. Her father was already at his
work. He noticed her changed face as she
sank upon a chair, and he hastily got off the
bench and looked at her over his spectacles.
She stretched both hands towards him, but,
before she fell, he caught her in his arms and
laid her upon the bed in the tiny bedroom
which he had built himself. She did not rise
from it for three weeks.
11
122 CHLOE LANKTON; OB,
XII.
SADNESS.
FIVE long months passed away while Chloe
was confined to the house. The white snows
melted, and the gentle spring came again,
before she went outside the door. Never,
perhaps, had spring been to her so beautiful
as after that winter of illness. Every invalid
knows how the heart sighs and pines for Na-
ture's sweet awakening. For weeks she
eagerly watched its coming, and every day
she sat at the window to look over where the
wild flowers grew and wonder if they were
in blossom yet. Rachel went out, one sunny
day, to look for some. She brought back a
handful of blue and white violets and droop-
ing anemones. How precious they were to
Chloe ! She arranged them herself, and placed
them on the stand where she could see them
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 123
as she lay upon the bel. To her they were
full of mystic whisperings of hope and light
beyond the present.
Not long after that she went into the yard.
She walked a little farther every day, until
she could go into the garden where her father
was planting. At last she was able to walk
as far as the red school-house at the foot of
the hill. There was a meeting there every
Thursday evening, and she attended several
times. About this time her father had a little
business that would take him over to the town
where they used to live.
"Why can't Chloe go?" said the mother.
"She can," was the reply, "if she's able."
Chloe said she wanted to go very much.
When they started, Rachel and her mother
were watching them from the window.
"Chloe looks more like herself to-day,"
said Rachel.
"Yes," replied the mother: "she'll enjoy
going over there and seeing the old school-
124 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
house again. I hope she'll come back quite
bright." ,
It was late in the afternoon when they re-
turned, and Chloe was so tired that she im-
mediately went upon the bed in the little
bedroom. Her mother went in and found her
weeping. She came out and said, "What's
Chloe crying for? Didn't she stand her ride
very well?"
"No," replied the father; "she didn't very
well. "When we got to the school-house she
was clear overcome. There were some chil-
dren playing around and jumping across that
little pond there. She said she used to be as
happy as they, and now a good many of her
mates were dead and her health was all gone.
I tried to comfort her, and told her a great
many had been worse than she and got well.
But she was so tired out that I had her go
into Mrs. Bissel's and lie down; and when we
came home she said it seemed as if she could
not bear to. go by the school-house again: so I
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. J.25
took anotner road home. I'm afraid it'll make
her worse."
"Poor child!" sighed the mother: "I
thought she'd enjoy it so much. If she was
only as well as she used to be!"
Chloe did not soon recover from that ride.
She was sitting, on one of the September morn-
ings, in her mother's rocking-chair, before the
window. It was warm, and the window was
open: she was leaning her cheek upon her
hand and listening to the sounds without. A
slight wind gently rustled the leaves; birds
were singing, and she could hear the noise of
katydids from the woods across the meadow.
Her father came in and said to his wife,
" I can get a horse to-day ; and hadn't you
better go to the store with the butter?"
"Why, I don'1 know," she replied: "there's
a good deal to do to-day."
"I can do it all," said Rachel.
"I would go, mother," spoke Chloe: "it's
such a pleasant day to ride."
"I don't believe but that you can ride as
11*
126 CHLOE LANKTON; OE,
far as Mrs. A 's, Chloe," saia Rachel.
"She said the other day she did wish you
would. Father will drive slow."
"Oh, yes!" said he: "'twon't hurt her to
ride over there."
Chloe said she would go. Mrs. A saw
them coming, and met her at the door.
"Why, Chloe," said she, "how glad I am to
see you here once more!"
"Can you keep her till we come back?''
asked her father.
"Oh, certainly: she can lie down here jusl
as well as she can at home. I am very glad
she could come."
"Don't you get any better?" she asked,
after Chloe was comfortably fixed on the bed.
"I haven't been as well since that day I
went with father. I hope I shall be better
this winter."
."I hope so. I guess you will. You must
hope for the best."
"Oh, yes," said Chloe: "if it wasn't for
hope the heart would break."
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 127
Mrs. A 's cheerfulness did Chloe good.
She returned home encouraged, and was
brighter and more cheerful the rest of the
day. But when the cold autumn winds began
to blow, Chloe was worse. She did not walk
a step for eight months. The next summer she
could walk a little around the house, and also
the next winter; and when another spring
came she could walk a few steps outside the
door.
One day in April a cousin came to see them.
The next morning, as he was going away, he
said, "Come, Chloe; I've got my horse har-
nessed, and I want you to go and take a ride
with me."
"I would like to ride with you if I could,"
phe replied.
"Why," said he, "you can sit up some and
walk around the house. I don't think it would
hurt you to ride a little way. Come ! you've
got to go. I know it will do you good."
"Well," she replied, reluctantly, "I'll try
t,o go; but I know I am not able."
128 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
Rachel got lier cloak and bonnet, but as she
went out at the door she found she could not
walk alone. Her cousin led her to the gate, and
then lifted her into the wagon and guided the
horse down the hill towards the school-house.
"What a good air there is to-day!" he ex-
claimed. "Now, isn't this better than being
shut up in the house?"
Chloe tried to smile an assent; but it was a
ghastly smile. She was in an agony of pain.
He noticed her distressed face, and in alarm
immediately turned back to the house. Rachel
ran out to the gate, and helped him to bring
her in and place her on the bed. Then Chloe
wept. Her whole frame shook with deep sob-
bing. For many days after, she lay upon the
bed in suffering and sorrow. She paid too
dearly, she thought, for so short a ride. But
after a time she was better, and could sit up
again and walk around her room.
The fourth of July came. In the quiet of
their hill-side home they could occasionally
catch the floating sounds of cells and notes of
LIGHT BEY01TD THE CLOUDS. 129
rejoicing from the nearest villages. Cliloe
caught a little of the inspiration, and the next
day she walked to the dinner-table and ate
with the family. It was a warm day ; the door
and windows were open, and it was very plea-
sant without. Chloe wished to look out once
more upon the beautiful summer. She won-
dered if she could walk to the door. "I will
try," she thought. But the effort was too
great. Bachel sprang to catch her ; and again
she was carried to the bed, and again she wept
more bitterly than before.
The doctor came a few days after. She had
been under his care a long time, and he was
disappointed that she had grown no better.
Said he, " Chloe, I believe you are proof. I
have given you the most powerful remedies
that are known to the melical faculty, and I
see no effect at all. I can think of nothing
more that I can do." So he left; and soon
after another was sent for. He spoke more
encouragingly, and Chloe became hopeful. She
I
130 CHLOE LANKTOU; OR,
would do any thing for the sake of being well
again
"Mother," said she one morning, "that
medicine is all gone that the doctor thinks will
do me so much good."
"I know it," was the reply. "Your father
is going to get some more for you."
"I'm sorry," she replied, "because he will
have to walk."
It was three miles to the village; but for
love of his child the father walked them pa-
tiently. In the afternoon the doctor came
and ordered another kind. Chloe saw her
father silently preparing to go again. She
wept to think of the twelve weary miles he
must tread for her. He looked upon her sor-
rowfully and tenderly, but said nothing. When
he returned, he sat down by the side of the
bed and said, " Chloe, you seemed to feel very
bad because I had to go to-day. I'm just as
willing to do it for you as for myself. Don't
ever feel so again."
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 131
" I couldn't bear to have you get so tired,"
she said, "and you've had to spend some of
that money that you've worked so hard to lay
up."
"Well," he replied, "if I had not laid it up
a dollar a time, I could rot get things for you
now that ycu need."
132 CHLOE LANKTOX; OR,
ZIII.
RACHEL'S DEPARTURE.
NEARLY another year had gone, and one
day in the spring, Rachel sat down with her
sewing in Chloe's room.
"What did the doctor say* to you?" she
asked, listlessly.
"I will tell you what he said," she replied.
"He said I had 'boxed the compass,' and that
I had taken every thing, without being any
better. He had done all he could, and should
not come any more."
There was silence in the little bedroom for
a few moments. Rachel did not reply. She
only sat with her eyes fixed upon her work,
quickly and nervously plying her needle,
while Chloe was looking at her wonderingly,
as if she expected there was ?;omething to be
told. It came at last.
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 1?3
" It's all settled, Chloe : I've decided to
marry him."
"You have?" said Chloe, faintly.
She was trying to smother the quick pain
that shot through her heart at Kachel's
words.
"Yes," continued Rachel, with more anima-
tion: "I've thought it all over, and it seems
to be the best thing I can do. I shall hate
dreadfully to go away ; but when I look ahead
it seems for the best."
"When will it be?" asked Chloe.
" I don't know exactly : before many weeks,
I guess."
She was still looking down upon her work,
and her hand was still plying the needle. She
raised her eyes for the first time at the sound
of Chloe's weeping.
"Why, Chloe!" she exclaimed.
"Oh, Rachel!" sobbed Chloe: "how can I
let you go?"
"I haven't gone yet," she replied, cheerily:
"so don't feel so!"
134 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
"Well, you're going. I shouldn't care half
so much about it, if I was well."
"I know you would not; neither should I
feel so badly about going away to leave you,
if you was only well, as you was once. But
I don't want you to feel like this," she added,
soberly. "Nobody knows what a trial 'twill
be for me to go. If I only thought of that, I
could not go ; but when I look ahead, it seems
best. There ! Now you've stopped crying, you
look much better !"
"Don't you remember, Rachel," said Chloe,
"once, when I was talking about going away
to learn the tailor's trade, you said you didn't
'want any more partings'? I didn't think,
then, that you would be the first one to go."
"We can't always tell what's before us,"
remarked Eachel. "But! we won't talk
about it any more," she added, as she saw
Chloe just ready to weep again.
In a few weeks Rachel was married. Sh.
remained at home a fortnight afterwards, ana
in the mean time preparations were made for
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 135
her final departure. Every thing that she
was to take away was gathered together and
packed. The mother picked up eyery thing
she could spare from her household stock of
tin and earthen articles.
"Put this in somewhere, Rachel," she would
say, "when you get to housekeeping: you'll
find that nothing comes amiss."
How fast the time fled! Very quickly
Rachel's fortnight sped to its close, and the
day came when she was to go. Chloe, lying
upon the bed, listened to the final prepara-
tions. The last thing was packed, covers
were shut and locks fastened. The wagon that
was to take them away drove up to the gate,
and Ptachel's father and husband were putting
in the things. Then Rachel came into the
little bedroom. She was all dressed to go, and
Chloe thought she looked very pretty in her
new bonnet and dress. The sad parting over,
her mother followed her out, leaving the door
open behind her. Chloe heard a few tearful
words uttered, the wagon drove away, and the
136 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
three were left alone. How lonely the house
was! For days, a profound stillness seemed
to reign within and without. The father
moved around in his usual quiet way, the
mother was silent, and Chloe sad and uncom-
plaining.
So the months passed over them. Day by
day Chloe lay upon the bed, looking out long-
ingly upon the fields and meadows, with the
prayer going up out of her heart to God that,
if it was his holy will, she might be restored
to health.
"Chloe," said her mother one day, "the
doctor from C has just gone by ; and if
he comes back this way I'm going to call him
in."
"Well," replied Chloe. They anxiously
watched his return, and the father went out
to the gate to hail him. He suddenly stopped
his horse, and very willingly alighted.
"I've heard of your daughter's illness,"
Chloe heard him say, "and I have thought
that I should like to see her."
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 137
He sat down by her bedside and talked
encouragingly. He thought sLe required very
different treatment from what had been pur-
sued. The system needed strengthening. He
had a remedy that he wished her to try faith-
fully. He would leave full directions, and would
call again in a few days to see how she was.
"Do you think you can cure her?" asked
the mother, as he was going out.
" I am confident that I can help her a great
deal," was the reply.
Chloe's hopes were raised to the mountain-
tops. She should be well again! Oh, how
joyous the thought! It would be a happy
hour when she should go again through the
fields and meadows. She knew where she
would go first. It would be right to the flat
rock by the spring; and once more she would
lave her brow in that pure and sparkling
water, and the birds in the wood close by
would sing loud and sweet, as they used to do
when she and Nancy were children together.
There were so many places, too, she should
12*
138 CHLOE LANKTDN; OR,
have to visit. She should fix over her nice
black crape dress and her red French calico,
and then she would go to see Rachel. So she
read the directions for the new medicine over
and over again, so as to make no mistake, and
tried every day to think she was better.
The doctor was very anxious about Chloe.
She had been given up by two physicians, and
to cure her would be a lasting memorial of his
skill. So he plied her with medicine. "When
one remedy failed, he obtained an other, and
Chloe took each with renewed courage and
hope. Her every faculty was centred in the
strong hope of being well. Her mother was
encouraged, and her father willingly spent his
hard-earned money and walked weary miles
patiently and uncomplainingly. But at length
the doctor was forced to acknowledge that all
had been of no avail. Ho was disappointed
and mortified.
"There is one thing more," he said to Chloe.
" I have feared for some time that you would
have to undergo a surgical operatic? before
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 139
you are cured. I have given you every
remedy I could think of, hoping it would not
have to be done, because I did not wish to
inflict unnecessary pain upon you; but now I
am forced to believe that you cannot be helped
without it."
"Would it cure me?" she asked.
"I think it would."
"Tell me all about it," she said.
He told her candidly of the suffering she
would have to endure, but depicted in glowing
colours her speedy recovery from pain and
disease. Then he left her to "think of it."
She did think of it. It was terrible to think
of, and her whole being shrank from the ordeal
of suffering. She thought of it days, and
thought of it nights, until her reason was
wellnigh gone. Her mother tried to comfort
'her.
"Chloe," said she, "you have a hope in
Christ : trust in him now. Oh, my poor child,
7 wish I could bear it for you!"
The dreaded hour drew near. "When the
140 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
doctor came, he found Chloe with, her eyes
wildly rolling, and trembling in every nerve.
He gave her a composing draught, and then
told her how much depended upon her own
calmness; and if she could be well again she
never would regret a few moments' pain. "If
she could be well again !" Those words thrilled
to her inmost heart. Hope and courage came
again, and for the moment she was strong.
How she missed Eachel then ! She longed for
that strong arm and calm, quiet presence ; for
her mother was walking the kitchen and
wringing her hands.
"Oh r " she moaned, "why was my child
spared for this? Was mother ever called to
see a child suffer so much?"
When Chloe was writhing in agony, she
thought, even then, how her mother was suf-
fering. She would not add to it by screams
and piercing shrieks, but her lips were com-
pressed till the blood burst from them.
It was over, and the physician praised her
fortitude and courage. But she did not heed
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 141
his WDrcls. She was unable to speak, and
could scarcely raise her eyelids.
"It's more the over-excitement that has
prostrated her," he said. "Her strength will
come again, and then she'll begin to improve."
Her strength gradually returned, and then
they waited for the hour of health. But it
did not come. At length, in despair, the
doctor gave her up, and again the cloud of
sadness and sorrow was in their humble home.
142 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
XIV.
DR. MOODY.
IT was a glori ras morning. How brightly
the sun shone ! How the birds sang, and how
sweet and balmy was the breath that came in
through the open windows ! It was summer
without, but within the recesses of a gentle
heart 'twas winter. There the drifting snows
had not melted, and there the cold winds were
blowing still. So thought Chloe as she was
lying in the little bedroom so wearily on that
beautiful morning. Some one opened the
door-yard gate, and a light step came up
the path, then across the kitchen to Chloe's
room.
"Why, Jane!" said she, looking up: "is
this you?"
"Yes," was the reply. "I didn't see any
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 143
one, and I thought perhaps you'd be in here.
I heard a good while ago about your being
sick."
"I am glad to see you again," replied Chloe.
" You haven't been over this way for a good
while."
"No; but I've wanted to come. It looks
natural around here. I'm sorry to see you
sick, though."
"I've been so a long while, Jane," replied
Chloe.
" There's a lady over in W ," continued
Jane, "that's lain sixteen years with spinal
complaint ; and I should think she was very
much as you are. She's got well now."
" Got well ?" echoed Chloe, quickly, " How ?
what did she do?"
"A new doctor cured her. I never see her;
she doesn't live near where I do, but I heard
about it."
"What's her name, and where does she
live?"
" Her name is Miss Skinner. It's about six
144 CHLOE LANKTON; OK,
miles from here ; but 'twould be easy enough
to find the place."
"If she can be cured," thought Chloe,
"why can't I? Oh, I wish I could see her!"
She called her father and mother and told
them what she had heard. Her father said
he would go and see Miss Skinner; and the
next morning he started on foot.
Chloe had caught at Jane's words like a
drowning man at a straw. She pondered upon
them until the strong hope in her mind deep-
ened to a certainty. Her father would see the
lady, and perhaps he would find the new doctor
there. She would not be surprised, she
thought, if he should immediately return with
her father; and she busied her mind in won-
dering what the new remedy would be that
was to effect the magic cure. Then she began
to think what she would do when she was
well; and, unconsciously, her thoughts wan-
dered away into the future that was now
radiant with the sunlight of hope.
As the forenoon waned, she began to be im-
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 145
oatient for her father's return. He came ai
last, and her heart beat quick when she heard
his well-known step on the threshold. She
noticed his sorrowful look as he entered her
room; but he was weary, she thought, with
walking so far.
" Father," said she, eagerly, "how is Miss
Skinner? Is she well?'
"No," he replied, with a sigh: "Jane w r as
mistaken. It's a girl that's been sick about a
year who is cured ; but she wasn't at all like
you. Miss Skinner isn't any better than she
has been."
How the chill clouds came down upon
Chloe's heart ! It \vas winter there again.
After this, they knew not what to do.
Chloe did not quite sink under her sufferings,
because she still harboured a strong hope of
health. For the sake of her father and mo-
ther, she tried to be cheerful, but at times she
was wellnigh desperate. She hoped she might
either die or be well. She could not, would
not, think of lying there all her life. She wept
K 13
146 CHLOE LAITKTON; OR,
a great deal, and often prayed for support
Then she could be calm and raise thankful
thoughts for her quiet home and loving
friends.
A few months before this, a new physician
had come into town. They heard him spoken
of as being very skilful ; but, as every remedy
had failed, they did not call him. One day a
lady called to see Chloe. She was acquainted
with the new doctor. He had been employed
in her family, and she thought he was different
from any physician she had before seen. She
was confident, if any one could help Chloe, it
was he.
Chloe caught at every encouraging thing,
and when her father's work was done for the
day, and he came into her room, as usual, she
told him what the lady said, and added,
"Perhaps he might help me so I could sit
up, if no more."
"Well," said her father, "I will go down
after him to-morrow, if you think he can do
you any good."
LIGHT BEYOXD THE CLOUDS. 14/
"I'd like to see him; but you have already
paid out so much for me, and it's done no
good."
He went the next morning, and in the
afternoon the doctor came. The mother con-
ducted him into the little bedroom, and said,
"Chloe, this is Dr. Moody."
"How do you do, Chloe?" said he, plea-
santly. "You've been confined here a long
time."
Chloe looked up almost timidly ; but when
she saw that genial face beaming upon her,
and heard his kind words, all constraint was
gone. She reposed perfect confidence in him
from the first moment. The room seemed
brighter for his presence, and she could talk
with him as friend with friend. The doctor
was deeply interested in the gentle girl by
whose bedside he was sitting. He thought
he never had seen a more expressive face.
Her heavy, dark hair was brushed carelessly
away from her forehead, and her black eyes
oeamed with animation as she talked ; for his
148 CHLOE LAXKTON; OR,
genial presence had raised her hopes once
more to the mountain-tops. He stayed several
hours, and kindly and feelingly inquired into
every particular of her illness from its com-
mencement. She talked without reserve, and
then waited breathlessly to hear what he
would say. He did not hesitate, but said,
"So far as I can understand your case, I
cannot see any probability of your permanent
relief. Connected with the disease of the
spine are other distressing maladies, which
are incurable. I do not think you are in any
immediate danger. You may live for years,
but you will probably always be confined to
the bed. You have such strong courage that
I could easily flatter you with the hope of being
well; but I would not do it. I think it my
duty to tell you your condition just as it is."
He watched her countenance to see how she
bore it, She was calm. The blow was so
sudden and unexpected that she did not even
think or feel. Her heart seemed to be sud-
denly changed into stone, it was so very, very
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 149
heavy. He talked a while kindly and cheer-
fully, and then rose to go. Chloe thought she
could not speak; but she did.
"Don't tell people about me," she said: "it's
such a great trial!"
He turned and said,
" Chloe, you need not ask me not to tell of
it, for I shall blaze it far and near. You
haye been censured greatly, because people do
not know how much you suffer; but they will
know as soon as / can tell it about town. You
little know," he continued, (and the tears
started to his eyes,) "what have been my feel-
ings since I came in here and found you suffer-
ing so severely from disease, knowing how
much you have been blamed for what people
knew nothing of."
When he left, it seemed as if all light and
hope of Chloe's life went with him. She could
only close her eyes and almost wish that be-
fore the morning should come she might die.
Her father soon came in, and said,
13*
150 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
" Well, Chloe, what did the doctor say ? Did
lie think he could help you any?"
Ohloe thought she could not answer; but she
said,
"No, sir: he says I can't be cured."
"Well," replied her father, "I haven't
thought this good while that you were going
to get well. I hoped you would, but didn't
expect it."
He said no more, but sighed and looked
very sorrowful.
The mother could hardly command herself
to go into Chloe's room. She could eat no-
thing that night, and was too sorrowful to
speak.
The night came down in gloomy shadows.
Chloe, alone in the darkness, tried to think
again. If she could only weep ! Such stony
calmness was dreadful. The words of the doctor
seemed to be still sounding in her ears : " You
may livefo^ years, but you will probably always
be confined to tne bed '' The dreadful reality
came surging over her like the rushing of
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 151
mighty waters, and she wept as she never had
wept before. The bitter cup was full. It was
crowded to her lips, and she was tasting its
bitterest dregs. But such a tempest of feeling
could not always last; and at length she began
to think more calmly. She saw where she had
been resting for earthly comfort. It was on
the strong hope of health. Now it was a
painful blank: the weary spirit could reoc
there no longer. But in its place came her
Saviour's outstretched arm, strong, yet gentle
and comforting. It had long been there, but
she, in her blindness, had too often passed it
by. How precious now was that arm of
Strength! She prayed in fulness of heart,
but she only asked for patience and resigna-
tion. Then she was calm; and before the gray
morning came up in the east, Chloe was peace-
fully asleep.
152 CHLOE LANKTON; OE,
XV.
THE DEEP CLOUD.
IN the morning the mother talked with
Chloe about the doctor's decision. She had
hitherto entertained hope of better things ; but
now it was gone, and her heart was wrung
with sorrow for her child. It was Chloe's
turn to be the comforter.
"Don't you know, mother," she said, "how
often folks get well after the doctors have
given them over? Perhaps something will
help me yet. I'm going to talk more with him
when he comes again ; and he's so skilful, and
so good and kind, that I'm sure he will do
something to make me more comfortable, if no
more."
Her words, although they were spoken al-
most hopelessly, still had hope in them, and
both their hearts unconsciously took courage
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 153
and cheer. They began to almost count the
hours that might pass away before he would
come again. One sunny afternoon they heard
his wagon stop at the door-yard gate. How
glad they were to see him! His presence was
like sunshine; for the light and beauty of a
sympathizing soul shone through his genial
face.
"How is it to-day, Chloe?" said he, in his
pleasant way.
"I have a little hope left yet," she replied.
"It seems as if you might do something to re-
lieve me. Won't you try, doctor?"
" You seem to have confidence in me," he
replied, looking upon her compassionately. " I
wish I could help you!"
Chloe would not be denied. She urged him
to do something, she cared not what. She was
not ready to put away all hope.
Moved by her entreaties, he prepared an
extremely powerful remedy, which, he told her,
would decide whether she could be helped or
not. If it increased her suffering, it must be
154 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
instantly discontinued; if otherwise, she might
hope, perhaps, for temporary relief. He then
left; but his anxiety on account of it would
not allow him to let many days pass before he
was there again. He found Chloe worn and
wearied with suffering. She had endured the
most excruciating agony, but would not dis-
continue the application, because she hoped she
might gain relief at last. The doctor's first
step was to seize the remainder of the medi-
cine and throw it out of the window.
He then fully explained to her the nature
of her disease. He told her how very dis-
tressing it was, and that it would be still
more so as it advanced, and that it was pro-
bable that she might live for years in constant
and increasing suffering.
For the first time, every shadow of hope was
gone. As the doctor went out, she turned her
eyes towards the window and saw the light of a
gorgeous sunset streaming across the meadow.
That glorious light, she knew, was filling the
nook wh^.re the wild flowers graw, and the clear
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 155
watersj of the spring were sparkling in the
golden rays. Her own gladsome feet would
never stray there again, never, never ! She
never could visit her friends again; she never
should see where Eachel lived. But, oh, the
green grass in the meadows ! If she could but
leave this suffering a moment only, and place
her weary, weary head there once more ! A life
of constant and increasing suffering ! She knew
she felt that it must be. "What a bitter
thought ! It made her wild and ail-but despe-
rate. She did not weep, but prayed, wildly
at first, and almost sternly. But her better
feelings came again, and she prayed meekly but
earnestly. She prayed for grace, patience and
fortitude. She asked to be perfectly resigned
to God's will, whatever it should be. As she
became composed in mind, her thoughts went
back over the past. All the events of her life,
even to her early childhood, came vividly before
her. She saw little Beulah's bright face again,
and again she rambled over the fields in the
careless joy of childhood. She remembered her
156 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
dreadful illness, and how her child-heart then
learned the one great life-lesson, that of de-
pendence on her Saviour. She thought of the
parting with their pleasant old home, and the
dreary removal ; and then her mind traced the
new and wondrous pleasures that sprang up
through all her joyous childhood and youth.
She thought how Nancy's death had cast the
first deep shadow upon her youthful life, when
the mystery of living was pressing upon her and
her young heart was looking forward so ear-
nestly to its Future. The mystery of Living !
She had often and painfully felt it; but now it
was suddenly made clear. As quick as thought,
her mind went back to the night when she and
Kachel stood with clasped hands over the dead
form of Kena. She remembered vividly her
own words and Eachel's :
"I prayed to-day, Rachel, and I never
prayed so much in earnest in my life, that
God would make me pure before I died."
"Oh, Chloe, you don't know what you asked
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS.
for. You know the Bible says, 'Whom the
Lord loveth, he chasteneth.' "
"I know it; but I would be willing to be
chastened if I could be as good as she was."
She believed that prayer was to be answered.
Her path of life was clear now. Far, far be-
yond she could see it plainly marked out ; and,
looking back, she could discern the hand of
God leading and guiding her up to the present.
A life of suffering must be her's, because in no
other way could she be made pure in heart,
In no other way could his great design be ac-
complished. She could be resigned; she could
be happy, even. All her sorrow now was for
her father and mother. She felt that the blow
would fall upon them, not upon her. She
could bear it all herself ; but those dear parents !
She wished that she was able to keep away all
trouble from their declining years. She wished
their aged feet might walk to the grave amid
sunshine and flowers. She wanted to fold her
arms about them and shield them from every
tempest and every storm.
14
158 CHLOE LANKTON; OE,
But it could not be. She knew that what-
ever came upon her fell still more heavily
upon them. She could only pray that God
would support them. Then, happy and peace-
ful in mind, trusting in holy promises, Chloe
slept.
The sun was brightly shining when she was
conscious of taking up another day's buiden
of suffering. At the first awakening, her mind
endeavoured to collect the vague remem-
brances of the night. It flashed upon her.
those hours of thought and deep feeling, of
self-examination and retrospect, that made
life so clear and brought to her such peaceful
trust. The morning skies were not more
serene in their azure than was she in faith in
ner Maker.
But the parents were full of sorrow. Chloe
pitied them deeply. Their breakfast was eaten
in silence, and then the father and mother
gathered around the lone family altar. Once
happy children bowed there with them; but
one by one their household treasures had been
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 159
taken away. Chloe listened to her father's
prayer. She heard him ask that they each
might be resigned to God's will, whatever it-
should be ; and she knew that her mother was
weeping. After the prayer, the mother we,nt
into Chloe's room. She sat down by the bed
and wept again. Chloe tried to comfort her.
" I hope I shall be spared to take care of
you," she said, as cheerily as she could.
But still the mother wept.
"How can I see you suffer so," she said,
"when I had such hope that you would get
about again?"
"Mother," replied Chloe, "I only hope that
I shall be resigned. I feel that God knows
what is best for us."
360 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
XVI.
\
THE LIGHT BEYOND.
DAYS, weeks and months passed away,
every moment of which brought its weight of
suffering for Chloe. Her nights were sleep-
less ones ; but during the dark hours she
prayed much for support under the burden of
trouble. She earnestly asked for patience to
bear her terrible suffering, and for perfect re-
signation to God's will, whatever it should be.
Her days were filled with faith and trust.
Her heart could say, at last, " I'm willing,
oh, my God!" She could suffer patiently. She
was willing to endure all that she knew the
coming years would bring. She could take
cheerfully all that her heavenly Father saw fit
k> place upon her.
She began to see for the first time how many
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 161
blessings she had. Her quiet home and loving
parents, what should she do without them ?
She had the free use of her hands and eyes.
How glad she was of these ! New friends were
springing up all around her, filling her heart
with joy. Previous to this, Chloe had been
neglected. The trials incident to her peculiar
disease had not been made known, and many
times she was blamed and censured. But Dr.
Moody 's influence was soon felt. Many times
he told the story of her dreadful suffering
and her sweet patience and resignation ; and
no sooner was it made known than she had
the deepest sympathy from all. Old friends,
with hearts full of love and kindness, came
around her ; and many who before were entire
strangers soon found their way over the hills
to the tiny bedroom. To see Chloe was to
love her; and sweet friendships were then
formed that have never yet been broken. The
neighbours round about them displayed much
kindness; and Chloe thought her cup over-
flowed with blessings. The little children
L 14*
162 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
began to be interested. There was a strife
among them to see which would find the first
spring-flowers or the first ripe berries for
Chloe. Even before the wild flowers came,
before the snows were gone, Chloe had fresh
green mosses from the woods. The little girls
brought their new dolls, and the boys their
nice toys, for her to see ; and a new dress or
jacket was not considered finished until she
had bestowed praise and admiration. She
loved children, and could enter into their little
joys and griefs ; and, in return, their child-
hands scattered the roses and lilies all along
ber way.
Still, in the midst of her happiness she must
turn away to look in the face the reality of
her life. There was sorrow there ; but it was
not for herself. For the sake of her Saviour
she had taken up cheerfully the cross of her
suffering and had found it lightened of half
its weight. It was upon the parents that the
trouble fell. It seemed sometimes greater
than they could bear; and that she must ever
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 163
rest a burden upon them was Chloe's greatest
sorrow.
For a long time she had been revolving in
her own mind in what way her mother's cares
might be relieved. At length, one sleepless
night, a plan occurred to her. She did not
mention it to her parents in the morning; but
it was constantly in her mind througn the
day. She thought it all over how it could be
done, and then, at night, after supper, when
they sat talking together in her room, she
said,
"Father, I've thought of a new plan."
"Well, what is it?" he asked.
"I've been thinking," she replied, "that
there might be a little cupboard fixed at the
aead of my bed, right here, you know, where
I can reach it. Then my things could be kept
in it, where I could get them myself; and it
would save mother a great deal of work."
"Well," he replied, starting up, "it would
be handy and would save your mother a great
many steps. I can make one and fix it in the
164 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
wall : there's such a wide place between these
partitions that it would make the cupooard
quite deep."
"So it will, father, "replied Chloe. "How
nice it will be!"
The next morning he went to work upon it.
He made it with three shelves; and, when it
was done, he inserted it in the wall, as he had
said. Then he put on the door, and the cup-
board was completed. Chloe was very glad
and very thankful, and found much pleasure
in arranging the shelves herself. In one
corner she placed her medicine and the little
glass to prepare it in. Her mother brought
a small green-edged plate, with a nice cake of
butter upon it, and two brown cups that she
had bought for Nancy and Chloe when they
were children together. Several other things
were added; and, when it was all arranged,
Chloe could not content herself without occa-
sionally opening the door of the new cupboard
to see the effect it produced. After that, she
had a shelf made and fitted to the wall next
LIOST BEYONt) THE CLOUDS. l65
to the cupboard. Then she made some boxes
of pasteboard and placed them on the shelf to
contain articles for hei own use.
But no sooner was this done than her
energies were called out to meet another
emergency. The winter was drawing near,
and she would need a fire in her room. There
was no fireplace; and a stove and pipe must
be obtained. How was it to be done? She
could see no way. Night after night she
pondered and thought. At length she said to
herself, "My nice dresses and things that I
used to wear to meeting, I never shall wear
them again. Perhaps I can sell them. I must
try."
So she offered them to the friends who came
to see her, and was quite surprised that they
found so ready a sale. Her mother wept when
they were carried away.
"Why, Chloe," she said, "how could you
have resolution of mind to sell them?"
"It was very trying to me, mother," she
replied, tears starting to her eyes, "but I could
166 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
do it, because I saw it was for the best. I never
can wear them again ; and you know how much
we need the money."
The stove and pipe were obtained, and
through all that long cold winter Chloe's
room was ever cheerful, comfortable and plea-
sant.
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 167
XVII.
"OUT OP THE SHADOW INTO THE SUN."
CHLOE'S cheerfulness was a mystery to a
great many of her friends. They could not
understand why she was always so happy.
"Chloe," said Dr. Moody one day, "do you
take any comfort at all?"
"Oh, yes," she replied: "I have a great
many things to enjoy every day."
"Is it possible," said he, "that one in your
situation can enjoy any thing?"
"Yes: I think I could not be placed in a
condition that would destroy all enjoyment."
"I think," said he, "if I were in your place
I should be wretched. I should not wish to
live. I could not have patience to endure all
that I know you suffer daily."
"I am a great deal happier now," she re-
plied, "than I was before you told me I could
168 CHLOE LANKTOK; on.,
not get well. I don't have so many disap-
pointments. I know what is before me and
am resigned to it."
''Chloe," said he, "are you really resigned?
Can you say that you are perfectly willing to
lie for years and suffer so much?"
"Yes," she said, calmly, "I am witting!"
"Chloe," said he, "I believe you speak the
truth; but you are a mystery to me. I don't
know how any one can feel like that. I never
was more surprised in my life than I was the
first time I came here and found you lying
here with such a happy face."
"How did you expect to find me?" said she,
smiling. ""With a face 'long as my arm'?"
" I thought you'd be gloomy and desponding,
as a matter of course."
"I feel happy, Dr. Moody," she said. "I
don't think I should, though, if I hadn't Jesus
Christ to lean upon. I often think of what he
said of the 'fowls of the air,' how they 'sow
not, neither do they reap, yet our heavenl}
Father feedeth them. ' '
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 169
"Chloe," said he, "do you have such truet
as that?"
"Yes, that is all my trust. What else have
T to lean upon?"
"True, true, poor child! You have not
much of this world's happiness."
He spoke musingly, and sat with his eyes
fixed upon the floor. Chloe watcjied his bene-
volent face, and only wished that he, her plea-
sant friend, knew the joy of the Christian.
"Chloe," said he, suddenly, "how long have
you been confined to your bed?"
"It's just about five years now," she replied.
" When you first came to see me, I had been
confined to the bed four years ; and it was then
just seven years and a half since I was first
taken sick."
" I was thinking about you," said Dr. Moody,
"when I was riding up here this beautiful
afternoon. I wondered how long it had beeu
since you had been out of doors."
"Oh," she exclaimed, "what would I not
give to go out once more! Couldn't I be
15
170 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
taken out?" she asked, eagerly. "Can't you,
won't you carry me out, Dr. Moody?"
"I would willingly carry you," he replied;
"but you know how you suffer whenever you
are moved."
"Well, I wouldn't care if I could only go
out once, once more!"
" I know it would be very delightful, Chloe,"
he replied; "but it would make you suffer so
much that I am afraid it wouldn't pay."
But she would not be denied. She pleaded
until he started up and said,
" Chloe, don't say any more : you shall go,
or, at least, I will try, and if you cannot endure
it I will put you back."
He first carried out the rocking-chair and
placed it upon the green grass by the side of
the path that led to the gate. Then he came
back, and, taking her in his arms, walked with
slow and careful step to the door.
"My poor child," said he, as he noticed the
expression of agony upon her face, "it's killing
you! I had better take you back i"
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 171
"No, no!" she cried : "I will not go back!"
He carried her off from the door-step and
placed her in the rocking-chair. It was a
warm afternoon in July. The bright flowers
in the yard were in the gayest blossom, and the
tamarack-trees that shaded the windows were
in fresh bloom. The birds sang, and the trees
around waved their branches, sending out from
their leafy depths dreamy sighs and gentle
whisperings. A thin curl of smoke was issu-
ing from one of the chimneys of the house
upon the summit of the hill. At the foot, the
windows of the red school-house were open,
and there came floating upon the still air the
sounds of the children's voices from within.
As far as the eye could see, the whole land-
scape was joyous with the summer's beauty
and gladness. Chloe, in silence, gazed upon
every thing around her, while Dr. Moody stood
back, with his arms folded and his lip tremu-
ous with emotion. She turned her head to
.ook up to the window of the chamber that she
and Rachel had for their own. As she did so,
172 CHLOE LANKTON; on,
she caught sight of his face, and, burying her
own in her hands, she burst into tears.
"You must go in now," he said, stepping
forward.
"No, no!" she cried: "I wish to look
longer."
She gazed around again and again; for she
knew it was for the last time.
"You have been out twenty minutes," said
he. "You must go in."
He took her in his arms and carried her
slowly out of the summer sunshine into the
dreary shadow of walls again. She was in
great distress when she was laid upon the bed ;
and her heart seemed ready to break. The
doctor walked the room, and his tears dropped
upon the floor.
"I am sorry I came to-day," said he; "but
I am not to blame; for I should not have car-
ried you out if you had not urged me. I knew
how it would affect you. You need not ask
me to carry you out again; for I never shall."
Her removal was attended with more serious
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 173
consequences than even Dr. Moody had feared.
For many weeks she was forced to endure
dreadful suffering.
''My poor child," said the doctor, "how
can you endure it? To think that you could
not be carried out of doors to look a few mo-
ments without suffering so much! I blame
myself for it. If I had not carried you out,
you would have been saved all this."
But Chloe did not regret it. She had felt
once more the green grass under her feet and
the free air upon her brow ; and the memory,
like a beautiful dream, was folded down deep
in her heart. There was a sweet picture
painted there, that would never be effaced. It
was an old, familiar picture, retouched with
new and glowing colours. A grass-grown
door-yard, with gay flowers blooming brightly
there; a green meadow and hill-side with
waving forest-trees; a quaint old house, with
the blue smoke curling from its chimney; and
the red school-house, with open windows, and
monotonous sound of children's voices from
15*
174 CHLOE LANKTON; on,
within. In every point of the picture, too,
were hidden old associations, now newly
awakened. She gazed upon the one and
revelled in the other until her heart grew
young and light again. But it could not
always last. She must turn away to look in
the face the stern reality of her life. Hence-
forth the tiny bedroom must be all her little
world. She must never hope to go out again
until she should be borne away to her last
resting-place. Then other cares began to
press upon her. The parents were growing
old. Sorrow and trouble had left their im-
press, and the strength of each was beginning
to yield. The father was unable to work as
formerly. The precious savings of his hard-
working days had been spent for her; and
Chloe foresaw that, sooner or later, the care
of obtaining things necessary for family use
must fall upon her. She had hitherto thought
her burden as heavy as she could well bear;
but this only called out another faculty.
"If I could only do something," she said
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 175
one day to a young friend who came in, "I
should be so much happier ! I cannot bear to
be obliged to be idle."
"What could you do, Chloe?" he asked.
''Surely you cannot, sew ?"
"No," she replied; "I am not able to sew,
now; but I think I could make needle-books,
or something of the kind, if I had any thing
to make them of."
"What would you want?" he asked.
"I should want pieces of silks and such
things," she replied; "and I suppose I should
need some pasteboard and some flannel."
"Perhaps I can get you some," he said.
So he went around among his lady ac-
quaintances; and in about a week from that
time he came again to Chloe and brought a
roll of pieces of nice silks and gave her some
money to buy pasteboard and flannel. Chloe
was both glad and thankful. She did not
know how to make them ; but she began by
cutting the patterns, and succeeded in the
making even beyond her own expectations.
176 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
In a few weeks she Lad sold three and re-
ceived fifty cents for them. It was the first
money she had earned since she was confined
to her bed; and she was much encouraged.
Then she made a small work-box ; and that was
sold. Her friends at length became inte-
rested, and sent her nice paper and pretty
pictures for work-boxes. She had a great deal
of natural ingenuity and an innate sense of
artistic beauty and harmony, and there was a
perfectness, rarely equalled, in whatever came
from her fingers. No sooner were these seen
and admired than orders began to come in
from ladies round about. Thus encouraged,
she worked on. Tiie planning beguiled the
nights of their painful moments, and during
the hours of the day she was happy in gratify-
ing her own taste, until at length the demand
for her exquisitely designed and made needle-
books and work-boxes was greater than she
could supply.
"There, mother!" she said : "you know I
told you once I hoped I should be spared to
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 177
take care of you. How could I do it if God
had not given me this gift? How thankful I
am for my hands and eyes!"
So she worked, prayed and trusted, firmly
believing that to her heavenly Father she was
"of more value than many sparrows."
178 CHLOE LANKTON; OB,
XVIII.
NEAR THE GRAVE.
BUT Chloe's faith was to meet another trial,
another and perhaps a stronger test. She
had already shown her resignation to long
years of sorrow and suffering, and could find
sweetness even in such a life. Could she bid
adieu to it now, to taste the bitterness of
dying? And could she meet, without shrink-
ing, all the darkness and terror of the grave?
Could she "walk through the valley of the
shadow of death and fear no evil" ?
One night, when lying alone in the dark-
ness, she was taken very ill. It was an effect
of the disease that she knew would come; and
the doctor had told her that when it came he
feared she would die. A deathlike chill and
cold perspiration came over her; she could
not move ; she could not speak, even, to wake
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 179
her parents, who were quietly sleeping in the
next room. "Am I dying?" she thought.
'Can it be death?" Her father arose at five
o'clock, his usual hour, and opened the door
of Chloe's room, as he always did, to look in
upon her. Seeing her alarming condition, he
immediately called his wife, then took a hasty
breakfast and started to walk the three miles
to Dr. Moody 's residence.
"I would willingly go," said the doctor to
him, "if I could do her any good; but I can-
not endure to see her suffer so much, when
I know I can do nothing for her relief." How-
ever, moved by the father's urgent entreaties,
he went.
"I have come, Chloe," he said, as he entered
the room; "but I can do nothing for you."
"Tell me what you think of me," she said,
with difficulty.
"I think it very doubtful whether you live
many days," was the reply. "If you survive
this, you must drag out a life of pain and
misery."
180 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
Before the day waned, Chloe grew worse ;
and for two days she suffered unspeakable
distress. The doctor could do nothing to
relieve her, and the parents were in an agony
of grief. In her childhood days, Chloe was
the pet of the household, and as she emerged
into youth she grew more and more to be the
light of their humble home. Loss and be-
reavement had bound the three together in no
common tie; and now Chloe was the idol of
her parents' hearts, the prop of their declining
years. Her mother, in this greatest of all
her trials, endeavoured to bring to her own
mind the peace and resignation of the gospel.
She tried to pray, to lift her stricken heart to
God; and she arose from her knees with the
calmness that always follows an earnest
prayer. She would give her up then, she
thought, without a murmur. She went into
the little bedroom and said,
"Chloe, how are you in mind? Do you feel
willing to die?"
"I am willing for myself," replied Chloe.
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 181
"I feel that I love Jesus and that I am going
to a better world ; out I do cling so to father
and you ! If it is the will of God to spare me,
I had rather live to be a comfort to you."
The mother pressed the hand of her child,
and then her maternal love burst forth.
"My dear child," she cried, "how can I,
oh, how can I give you up? I know God has
the best right to you; but it is so hard to
part! Oh, how can I give you up?"
"Mother," said Chloe, "will you forgive all
that you have seen wrong in me?"
"My dear child," said the mother, "I have
nothing to forgive. I am afraid I think you
are too perfect."
Chloe 's heart was ready to break at the
thought of leaving her parents, and her mo-
ther went, sobbing, from the room. She could
not trust herself to enter it again; for Chloe
could not live, it was thought, until the morn-
ing, and the mother was wearied with care
and anxiety, and could not see her child pass
through the agonies of death. So, leaving
16
182 CHLOE LANKTON; OE,
her in the care of tried and valued friends,
she sought her sleepless pillow. All night
long the face of her suffering one was right
before her. Her heart was borne down with
the weight of woe. The last gleam of the
brightness of life would find a grave with
Chloe. She arose in the morning, dreading
and fearing to hear the tidings. But Chloe
was still alive. To the surprise and astonish-
ment of all, in a few days she was slightly
better, and lived on through the weeks of ex-
treme suffering that followed. It was a long
time before she was able to work again ; but
she was spared, and that was sufficient cause
for the deepest joy and thankfulness. Said
Dr. Moody to her one day, "Chloe, if the
day of miracles was not passed away, I
should think that God was working one in
your case."
"I suppose my work is not done yet," she
replied: "so he has let me live a little longer.
Anyway, Dr. Moody, I feel the certainty of
death r,ow as I never felt it before."
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 183
"I thought you would die, Chloe," said he,
"and I told you so. It is only the knowledge
of your suffering that makes me not glad that,
vou are spared."
Not long after this, Dr. Moody left the town
to make his home in a distant city. Before
he left, he came one day to say the last "good-
bye" to Chloe.
"Dr. Moody," said Chloe, "you have been a
kind friend to me; and I cannot tell you how
much I shall miss you. I never can forget
you."
"I never shall forget you, Chloe, never.
You have done me good. Remember me
when you pray."
Chloe never saw Dr. Moody again. Only
two years, and then came the sad news of his
death; and Chloe's tears fell at the tidings, for
in him she knew that she had lost a friend.
But his memory lived in Chloe's heart, and ii
lives there still, growing fresh and fragrant
over tne wreck of the years. Even now,
when Chloe, in her gentle talks, brings up the
184 CHLOE LANKTON; OB,
olden association, her thoughts and words often
cluster around the memory of him who was
the kind physician, the full-souled man, and
ever to her a true and pleasant friend.
LIGHT BEYONI THE CLOUDS. 185
XIX.
PLEASANT INCIDENTS.
ONE morning in spring, a little boy came to
see Chloe. He was a bright-looking little fel-
iOW, with a pleasant face and blue eyes that
now were sparkling with animation. He had
in one hand a small hoe and in the other a
damask rose-bush.
"I've brought this for you, Chloe," he said;
" and I want to set it out right before your
window, where you can see it."
"Why; did you bring it for me ?" said Chloe.
" How much I shall think of it ! Father will
help you set it out."
" 'T won't do to set it there," said the father.
'' The ground is so wet that rose-bushes won't
grow there. I have tried it a great many
times. You must put it at the front part of
the house."
16*
186 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
" Chloe can t see it there," said the boy, with
quivering lip. " I want it where she can see it."
" Well," said the mother, " I can carry the
roses to her when they come. Won't that
do?"
But he was not quite satisfied with this
disposal of his rose-bush; and the next
day he was there again with a lilac-tree,
which he set out himself before Chloe 's
window.
" How nice that will shade my window !"
said Chloe. " I shall think a great deal of it.
Come in here now, and I will show you some-
thing."
He went in, and she took from the shelf a
box and raised the cover.
"Oh! what a nice box!" he exclaimed.
" Did you make it ?"
"Yes: I made it."
" Did you make all these things? this little
sofa and chair and cup?"
"Yes," replied Chloe; "and I never saw a
sofa, either."
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 187
"Why, it looks just like one!" said the boy.
" How did you make it ? It isn't sewed?"
"Yes, I made it all with my needle."
" Why, I don't see any stitches !"
" Look sharp," said Chloe, smiling, " and I
guess you can see some."
"Oh, I shouldn't think you could! I
shouldn't think you would know how!"
"I planned it all out in the night," said
Chloe, "when I could not sleep. I have been
more than a year making the box and all the
things in it.
"Oh, I shouldn't think you could!" he ex-
claimed again; and he went away, with his
little head full of wonder and admiration, while
Chloe's thoughts uprose in thankfulness that
God had put it in the hearts of little children
to do for her those pleasant acts of kindness
that helped so much to lighten her life of the
cares that now were becoming daily more
pressing. The parents were old and broken
in health, and little by little the family cares
were being transferred from them to their
188 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
suffering child. It brought forth all her Inge-
nuity to plan, and all her energy to obtain, with
their limited means, things necessary for family
use. She worked when her constant suffering
would allow her, and her beautiful work-boxes,
needle-books and pincushions met with a ready
sale. Many, moved by sympathy and affec-
tion, gave her extra prices ; and thus for the
time their wants were supplied.
But the winter came on severely. The
father was still unable to work; and, for the
first time, poverty seemed to stare them
in the face. One afternoon, Chloe was lying
as usual upon her bed. Her anxiety for her
parents had aggravated her disease, and she
was prostrated with more than her usual
suffering. Her faith and trust were dimmed
for the moment, and she saw nothing before
her but darkness and sorrow. Through the
little bedroom-window she looked out upon
the dreary expanse of snow, and watched the
evening shadows as they closed thickly around.
Her mother came in, and dropped the curtain,
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 189
placed a lighted candle on the stand, and then
seated herself wearily in the rocking-chair.
Her father soon followed. He had a weekly
paper in his hand, and, drawing his chair near
the light, he slowly unfolded it. He read in
silence a few moments, and then exclaimed,
" Why, here's an account of the revival over
in the village ! Quite a long piece about the
meetings!"
" Why, is there ?" said Chloe. " Do read it,
father, won't you?"
Just then they heard the music of sleigh-
bejls coming down the hill. How merry and
pleasant it sounded !
"Why, they've stopped here!" exclaimed
the mother, hastily rising.
The kitchen-door opened, and she went for-
ward to greet the new-comers. A young man,
formerly of that neighbourhood, entered, fol-
lowed by a group of young people.
" Good-evening," he exclaimed : "we've come
over to see Chloe. Can we go right in?"
"How do you do, Chloe?" said he: "I've
190 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
brought some of my young friends over to see
you. We gave up our meeting to-night on
'purpose to come."
"We are almost all strangers," said a young
girl, stepping to the bedside, "but we thought
it wouldn't make any difference. We have
often heard about you, and wanted to see you."
"Yes, Chloe," rejoined the young man: "we
have all found Jesus Christ precious to our
souls; and we wanted to talk with you."
"How glad I am!" said Chloe, as soon as
she could speak. "How glad I am to see you
all ! I have heard about your meetings ; but I
didn't expect you would take the trouble to
come and see me. I used to enjoy going to
meeting, but now I am deprived of that privi-
lege. Get some chairs, won't you, and sit
down where I can see you all. And so you
are all young converts ?" she continued. " How
happy your faces look! It makes me think
how I used to be around as you are. I didn't
know, then, any thing about trouble. I thought
I knew what 'twas to be a Christian; but I
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 191
never did know until I was laid upon tliis bed.
Jesus Christ was never so precious to me as
then."
"Are you always so cheerful?" said one,
timidly. "Don't you ever feel sad?"
"Oh, yes: I have a great many sad hours.
I was feeling very sad just before you carne;
but you have driven it all away. You have
made me so happy by coming to-night!"
" Can't you sing something?" she added. " I
should like to hear you very much."
"Let's sing," said one,
'"Come, thou Fount of every blessing.'"
They sang; and the old hymn went up from
their youthful voices with no common ear-
nestness.
"We will try to pray," said the young man
who had entered first. They all kneeled and
bowed their heads. It was a young convert's
prayer, simple and broken, but earnest and
touching. The father and mother also kneeled
with them ; and when they rose from their
192 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
knees, tears dimmed their aged eyes. Cliloe's
heart was full.
"It's so pleasant," said she, "to see so many
young people beginning the Christian life
together! You don't know how happy you
have made me, and how much good you have
done by coming."
" You have done us more good than we have
done you," said the young girl who had spoken
to Chloe first. "I never shall forget this visit.
It has taught me never to be ungrateful again."
"I've been thinking," said another, "of
that text in the Book of the Eevelation where
it says, 'There'll be no night there!' It's been
in my mind all the time I was sitting here."
"Let's find it," said a young man who had
not before spoken. He took the old family
Bible, and, turning to the last chapter of Eeve-
lation, read aloud :
"And there shall be no night there; and
they need no candle, neither light of the sun ;
for the Lord God giveth them light, and they
shall reign for ever and ever."
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 193
A roll of bills was slipped into Cliloe's
hand, and then they bade her a reluctant
" good-night," and she heard them singing as
they went up the hill. Her heart was light
again, and she fell asleep with these beautiful
words in her mind : "And there shall be no
night there; and they need no candle, neither
light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth
them light, and they shall reign for ever and
ever."
194 CHLOE LANKTON; on,
XX.
THE MOTHER'S ILLNESS.
"I THINK I had better not go out to-day,"
said Chloe's father, one Sabbath morning.
"Oh, yes, I think you can go," replied the
mother. "I am better than I was yesterday."
"I'm afraid you are not well enough to stay
aloue. I guess I'd better not go."
So saying, he took down the Bible and
seated himself in his favourite chair to read.
"Why, father," said the mother again,
"you can go to meeting. I think I shall be
well as usual before night."
It always required something unusual to
keep him from going to the place of wor-
ship; and this morning the air was mild and
pleasant, the roads were good for walking,
and, being again assured by his wife, he made
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 195
ready and started. She watched him from the
window until he disappeared over the hill, and
then, with more than her usual alacrity, she
went around to do the necessary morning
housework. As soon as the rooms were neatly
swept, she took the Bible which he had laid
down, and drew the arm-chair he had vacated
into Chloe's room. She talked a while more
cheerily than usual, then, opening the Bible,
slowly turned, one after another, its old, yellow-
leaves. Chloe took up her own book again and
commenced reading. She was startled at length
by the heavy sound of the Bible falling upon
the floor ; and, looking up, she saw her mother
sitting with her eyes wearily closed and her
head drooping heavily on one side.
"Mother!" said she, "mother! what is the
matter?"
She opened her eyes and said,
"I believe I am very sick. I wish your
father would come."
"Draw your chair close to my bed, mother,"
said Chloe.
106 CHLOE LANKTON; OK,
She succeeded in doing so; and then her
head drooped heavily again and her eyes
closed.
"Mother! mother!" said Chloe, again trying
to rouse her.
She opened her eyes, and said, in a faint
whisper,
"Why don't ycur father come?" and re-
lapsed again into an unconscious state.
Chloe did not know what to do. By bend-
ing forward, she could see the face of the long
clock in the kitchen. It was only a few
minutes past one. Her father would not come
until four o'clock. Her mother, she knew,
was very, very ill. Every moment she was
growing more and more unconscious. She
feared she would fall from her chair; she
might die, even ! "What should she do ? What
could sho do-? In her desperation, she opened
the dooi of the little cupboard at the head
of her bed. Espying a bottle of camphor
there, she . hastily mixed a few drops with
some water, and succeeded in arousing her
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 197
mother sufficiently to swallow it. This revived
her for the moment, and Chloe said,
" You had better try to get to the bed, mo-
ther, and lie down."
After trying several times, she arose from
her chair, and, by clinging to the stand, and
then to the side of the door, she finally reached
her own bed and fell upon it with a deep
groan.
"Mother," said Chloe, "are you safe on the
bed?"
She only heard a faint sound in reply.
"Mother," she said again, "mother, are
you there?"
There was no answer.
"Mother, mother," she cried: "can't you
speak to me?"
She listened, but heard no sound in reply
save the slow ticking of the old clock and the
excited throbbing of her own heart.
"She may be dead," thought she. "Oh,
what can I do? God," she prayed, "help
17*
198 CHLOE LANKTON; on,
me! oh, help me! Mother, mother," she
shrieked, "do, oh, do speak to me!"
Still no reply. All was still, silent and
solemn as the grave. Chloe leaned forward
to look at the clock. 'Twas just two. Two
more hours must pass away before her father
would come. "What could she do?"
As the dreary moments crawled along, a
strange fear began to creep over her. She
dared not break the silence by calling her
mother's name again. She dreaded even the
sound of her own voice upon that fearful still-
ness. A passing cloud obscured the sun, and
Chloe's room grew dark with the shadow it
cast. The little bedroom seemed like a
sepulchre, and, cold and shuddering, she
buried her face in her hands. She could do
nothing then but pray. That was what she
always did, whatever her trouble might be;
for Chloe's reliance upon God was childlike
and beautiful in its simplicity and perfectness.
During the years of her suffering, she had
attained to a rare spiritual growth. God was
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 199
near to her, and in his nearness was a loving
Father. As the child, with quivering lip,
carries to the parent all his little troubles, so,
trustingly, did Chloe in her pure-heartedness
go to God for comfort and support. So, with
hands pressing tightly upon closed eyelids,
she silently and trustingly prayed.
As the clock neared the hour of four, Chloe
caught the sound of her father's well-known
step on the threshold. He entered the room,
and she heard him approach the bed where
her mother was lying. Chloe scarcely breathed.
"Would he find her dead? or was she living?
He called his wife's name; and Chloe's heart
stood still to listen! There was a slight
rustling and a faint attempt to speak. She
was not dead, then ; she still breathed ! How
the tears, in a torrent of relief, rushed to
Chloe's eyes ! But she kept them back ; for
her father came into her room, saying,
"How long has your mother been so,
Chloe?"
"Ever since noon."
200 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
"Well," lie replied, with a sigh, "I uhall
have to leave you alone again; for I musi get
some one to go for the doctor, and see if 1
can find anybody to come and help us."
He went out; and then Chloe's feelings
overcame her. She wept, sobbed and prayed
by turns; but it was all in thankfulness and
gratitude that her mother was still spared.
When her father returned, one of the neigh-
bouring women was with him. The doctor
came, and every means were used for the suf-
ferer's relief. At length she opened her eyes
and was able to speak.
"Mother," said Chloe, "won't you speak to
me?"
"My poor child!" said she, faintly.
Soon she opened her eyes again, and said,
"Father! where is he?"
"Here, sitting right by you."
"I may not live," she said; "and what will
Chloe do? The poor child can never walk
again; and. who'll take care of her?"
Days and weeks passed away. They we. p e
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 201
days and weeks of sorrow ; for a mother was
hovering between life and death. It was a
mother in whom was centred all the earthly
love of a husband and child. Would God be
pitiful? Would the arm of the Angel of
Death be stayed?
Days came and went, and then the dark
cloud was slowly lifted away. One day the
mother was taken up and placed in her
straight-backed rocking-chair, and the father
drew her into Chloe's room. They were very
glad to see each other again, so glad that each
could say but little. The mother had been
near the open gate of death, and its shadow
seemed upon her yet.
" Every thing seems strange," she said. " It
really seems strange to think I am going to
live. I wanted to get well, to be a comfort to
you and father. That was all I thought of."
"I prayed," said Chloe, "that I might give
you up willingly ; but I couldn't feel resigned.
I thought you wasn't to die yet, or God would
have given me more strength to bear it."
202 CHLOE LANKTON; OK,
XXI.
MARY'S DUCKS.
IT was a warm day in summer. The win-
dow in Chloe's room was open, and all day
long birds had sung, bees had hummed, insects
had chirped and wind- waved trees had sighed
and whispered. It was now four o'clock, and
the public school was just out. How loudly
the boys shouted and how merrily the girls
laughed and talked ! Chloe could hear it all
through the open window of her tiny bedroom.
The little girls whose way led them by
"Chloe's" always called when they went home
at night. So she listened for them, as she
always did, and soon heard their voices as they
came up the hill. They opened the gate and
came in; but Chloe saw that Mary was not
with them.
"Why, where's Mary?" she asked.
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 203
"She's gone home," was the reply.
"Gone home without coming in to see me?
What does that mean?"
"Oh, she wanted to go," said little Kate,
roguishly.
"Ah, you little witches," said Chloe, as she
saw them exchanging roguish smiles and
glances, "you've got something afloat! Tell
me what it is." But they only laughed and
said nothing. Soon Chloe heard some little feet
tripping across the kitchen, and a blue-eyed,
golden-haired little girl peeped in at the door.
"Is that you, Mary?" said Chloe. "Come
in here." She came in with a large basket in
her hand, which she was trying to cover with
her apron.
"What have you thcro '.'"' asked Chloe.
"Let me see."
Mary approached, uncovered the basket,
and Chloe looked in and saw four little young
ducks cuddled together in the bottom of the
basket.
"Oh! oh!" she exclaimed: "what nice little
204 CHLOE LANKTON; OE,
ducks !" Then the little girls all clapped their
hands and laughed merrily.
"We wanted to sprise you," said one.
" We didn't want you to know that Mary
was going to bring 'em." .
" Yes," said little Kate : " I tried just as hard
to keep in and not tell."
"They're my ducks," cried Mary. "You
ought to see them swim ! They'll sail all
around so beautifully ! Oh, I wish you could
see 'em swim!"
"I wish I could," said Chloe. "Wouldn't
they swim in a pan of water ?"
" I guess they would."
" You may go and ask mother to give you a
pan with some water in it, and we'll see if we
can't make them sail."
This was enough. The little feet flew, in a
twinkling, to make the request. A pan filled
with water was placed upon the stand by
Chloe's bed, and Mary took up the precious
ducks and put them carefully on the top of
the water. The little creatures knew their
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 205
element at once. They shook their wings,
"ducked" their heads and sailed around, to the
great delight of Chloe and the children.
"A'n't you glad," said one, "that Mary
brought these in for you to see?"
"Yes," replied Chloe, "I'm very glad. I
like to see little ducks."
"There, little duckies !" said Mary, at
length: "you must go home now !"
So saying, she put them back in the bottom
of the basket and covered the basket with her
apron. Then the little girls bade Chloe good-
night, and all went home. They had not been
gone long before the teacher came in, to whom
Chloe related the pleasing incident that had
just happened.
" 'Twould seem incredible, wouldn't, it?" re-
plied the teacher, "to one who didn't know
you, that little children could take so much
interest in an invalid. I was thinking about
you," she continued, "while I was walking up
the hill. Before I came over here to teach, I
had heard about you being confined to your
18
206 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
bed so many years and suffering so much, and
somebody told me that you lived near the
school-house. I thought you would be gloomy
and low-spirited an<f would be no society for
me. I thought I shouldn't come in more than
three times all summer, and then I should put
on a long face and just step in and look at
you. But here I find myself three times a day,
instead of three times all summer."
"I like to have the teachers come in," re-
plied Chloe. "It is always a sad day to me
when the school closes. I become so attached
to one teacher, and I don't know who the next
will be."
"I think sometimes that it is providential
that I was called to take this school near you."
"I think every thing is providential," said
Chloe. " But what makes it seem so to you?"
" Because you are doing me so much good."
" I do you good ? Why, it doesn't seem as
if I could do anybody any good."
"Well, you have. You've given me ideas
of life diffeient from what I ^ver had before."
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 207
"Why," said Chloe, in surprise, "I'm sure
I've never said much to you."
"It isn't what you say, so much. It's the
way you live. I feel myself rebuked every
time I see you."
"It's been a trial to me," said Chloe, "be-
cause I could not be around in the world and
could never be the means of doing any good. I
used to have great ideas about that."
"Why, Chloe," said the teacher, earnestly,
"I do believe you do more good lying here
than you ever would if you had been ' around
in the world/ as you say. When I get so
restless and discontented as I am sometimes,
I think of you with all your troubles and all
your sufferings, yet every day so calm and
patient and trustful. Were you always so,
Chloe?"
"Oh, I used to have a great many sad days.
Sometimes, when I thought much, I'd be so
)erplexed ! I'd think how pleasant it would
oe to get up in the morning and go out and
walk on the green grass and see the flowers;
208 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
and then I'd think what I might have been,
perhaps, if I'd had my health; and such a feel-
ing would come over me ! I could not help
asking myself, ' Is it right ? Is it right?' But
now I know it is all right. I was naturally
light and gay; and if I had been around as
others are, I should have been apt to be led
away into every temptation. God knew it
would be so: so he put me here to save me."
"I shall need a great deal to save me," said
the teacher, with tearful eyes. "Oh, Chloe,
what will it be? What will it be ?"
" I don't know," said Chloe. " I hope you'll
be spared any great trial."
"I have heard people pray," replied the
teacher, "for God to 'make them what he
would have them to be.' Now, I never could
pray like that, for I know he would send
troubles to make me so ; and I dare not ask it.
What can I do, Chloe?"
" You can't do any thing but pray and trust,
and, if trials come, make the best of them.
By-and-by, you know, the veil will be taken
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 209
away; and tnen we shall see clearly. We shall
look away back and see why these things are
so. We shall know why all is for the best.
Oh, that hope is worth every thing!"
"You talk so comforting, Chloe," said the
teacher. "I've been wretched all day, and I
felt as if I wanted to talk with you; and you
have done me so much good!"
"You've done me good too," said Chloe.
With tearful eyes, the teacher rose to go.
She went out into the summer sunshine with her
heart more in harmony with nature's beauty.
There was a firm purpose in her soul that she
would henceforth strive to live for the right.
She would work with all her strength and
earnestness, and would trust the rest with her
Maker. Chloe, left behind with her weight
of pain and suffering, looked out upon the
green meadow and felt her heart lifted up
with renewed courage. She would wait, pray
and trust, and she too, with all perfectness of
faith, could leave the end with God.
is*
210 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
XXII.
GOLDEN WEDDING, AND CHLOE's REMOVAL.
TIME rolled on, as it ever rolls, ceaseless
and fleeting. Days glided into weeks, weeks
passed into months, the months were counted
by years, and the parents still lived. They
were now seventy-one years of age. It was
the year 18 , and the eleventh day of January
would be their "golden wedding," the fiftieth
anniversary of their marriage-day. Mr. Yale
appointed a meeting at their own house upon
the occasion, and many of their friends ga-
thered together, while he discoursed to them
of the uncertainty and uufathomableness of
the present life and the light and beauty of
the heavenly, life to which the two, hand in
band, were hastening. He offered thanks to
&od for his kindness and mercy in sparing
them each to the other so long a time, and
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 211
asked that all down the steps of their declining
years their aged heads might still be crowned
with his unspeakable love and goodness.
To Chloe it was a joyful day. The sound
of prayer and praise in their humble home
was sweet to hear, and her heart overflowed
with gratitude for her numberless blessings,
her quiet home, her loving parents, their much-
ioved minister and their many kind and plea-
sant friends. To them truly it was a "golden
wedding" and a day long to be remembered.
Still the years rolled on and on, each one
bringing to Chloe its additional burden. Her
constant suffering was more excruciating, her
hourly pain more intense. In addition to this,
the family care rested upon her. Her parents
leaned upon her as their only earthly prop.
Her arm must support them. To her it was
given to strew with roses and lilies their down-
ward path to the grave. But every duty laid
upon her only served to bring out more
strongly her native character. Her natural
buoyancy combined with her simple pure-
212 CHLOE LANKTON; OR.
heartedness, her forethought and efficiency,
her firm sense of duty, strong affection and
unwavering trust, all helped to form a nature
upon which the old as well as the young loved
to rest.
One evening, in the spring-time, they were
sitting, as usual, in Chloe's room. The father
was reading by the candle on the stand, the
mother with her knitting-work sat back in
the rocking-chair, and Chloe, upon her bed,
was making a bright-coloured needle-book of
her own exquisite designing.
" The room is cold," said the mother, slightly
shivering.
"It's cold," said Chloe, "because there are
so many cracks in it. If there is any wind, it
all comes in. I do wish we could have it re-
paired! Father," she continued, "don't you
remember when you built this little bed-
room, how I played around on the boards ? I
didn't know then how much I was going to
suffer in it. Now it's all coming to pieces."
"Yes," said the father, looking up on the
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 213
darkened beams: "the old house fails as well
as we.
"How much would it cost to have it fixed,
lather?" asked Chloe.
" 'Twould be a number of dollars," replied
he. "I can't tell exactly."
Chloe sighed. She knew she could not pay
for it. The mother sighed too, and said,
" I wish we could have it done ; but I don't
see how we can."
"Perhaps there'll be a way provided," said
Chloe. "I've noticed that, when I want a
thing very much, it almost always comes in
some way."
The next day Chloe was surprised by a visit
fi'om a young man who had formerly taught
the winter school. As he was leaving, he put
into her hand a small package, saying, " Here,
Chloe: I've been getting. up a little subscrip-
tion among my friends for you. It's only a
trifle, but it may do you a little good."
Chloe unrolled the package and counted the
bills it contained, to the amount of nine dollars.
214 CHLOE LANKTON; OK,
How providential! 'Twas just what she
wanted. God put it in his heart, she was
sure. She called her father and mother in and
said, "See! see! it's all right about my room.
I was sure it would come ; and it has, when I
didn't expect it, either."
That evening, when the work was done,
they talked the matter over again. They
could have the room repaired now, and Chloe
wished that it could be made larger. It would
be more pleasant and convenient when she
had so much company. But, in that case, she
must be moved out, which would be attended
with much difficulty and would greatly in-
crease her suffering. Still, she really needed
more room. Her mother was growing old
and forgetful; and, with her usual forethought,
she considered that it might become very ne-
cessary that the articles indispensable for her
own comfort and use should be under her own
supervision. Her disease increased with the
years, and, as time passed away, a removal
would be more difficult than at present. So,
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 215
after days of prayerful deliberation, she de-
cided that it should be done. A carpenter was
engaged to do the work, and the room where
Nancy and Kena died was to be made ready
for Chloe. It seemed a long journey to her.
It was her constant thought for days. It
would be a great change. What would it
bring to her, and what would it take away?
She could not help feeling sad at the thought
of leaving her little room for a short time
even.
The day came when she was to be taken
out. She was moved from her bed to a lounge
placed by the side of it, and then two men
lifted it carefully from the floor. How strangely
the kitchen looked as she passed through ! Her
father's work-bench was in its accustomed
corner, and through the window she caught a
glimpse of the freshly-leaved trees in the yard.
They carried her through the door into the
room where her sisters died, and placed her
upon the bed where she had seen them breatlie
their last. She was in an agony of distress.
216 CHLOE'LANKTON; OR,
She could hardly help screaming with anguish.
So much was her suffering increased, that
several days passed before she cared to look
around upon the old room. Then how familial
and how strange every thing seemed ! There
was the fireplace, and the little cupboard, with
its narrow door, in the corner by the chimney-
side. The dark seams in the whitewashed
ceiling : how well she remembered every bend
and curve they made ! The bed stood near a
window, from which, for the first time in
thirteen years, Chloe looked out upon the
street. The horses and wagons, and the oxen
with their loaded teams, as they passed, looked
very strange to her unaccustomed eyes. It
was a great change to her. It was a breaking
off from her monotonous every-day living.
All the past came crowding vividly before her,
and she hardly recognised herself as the suf-
fering invalid of so many years. She had
almost laid aside the burdens of her old life to
live again in the brightness of her childhood
and in the joyousness and dreamy aspira-
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 217
tions of youth. The days passed, long and
sunny, and Chloe watched the growth of the
grass in the door-yard and saw the little birds
build their nests in the trees. The wild flowers
were gone, and now, in their stead, the chil-
dren brought in half-opened rosebuds. Still
went the beautiful days of early summer.
The roses were in full bloom, and the birds were
sitting quietly upon finished nests. In the
mean time the work had been going on in the
little bedroom. It was completed, and Chloe
was to be moved back.
When the day came, her favourite little
girls were there to carry back her boxes and
place them on the shelves and to arrange her
things anew in the cupboard. Then she was
laid again upon the lounge, took the last look
of the old room, and in severe suffering was
placed once more upon her own bed. But
what a change ! How new, strange and plea-
sant looked her little room ! It was so much
larger, and new windows had been made in it.
and a new cupboard. A chest of drawers had
19
218 CHLOE LANZTON; OR,
been inserted in the wall; and, what was best
of all, there was a little square window back
of her bed, which made the room look still
more light and cheerful.
"I am glad to get home again!" said Chloe.
"My dear little cupboard!" she added, opening
it. " Here are all my things again, fixed so
nice! How I have missed it!"
"I have missed it too," said the mother.
"I didn't realize before how many steps it
saved me to have so many things around your
bed, where you can get them. I could not get
along without help if you had not the cupboard
and. things convenient to wait upon yourself."
"This stick that father made for me to open
and shut my door with saves you work too,"
added Chloe.
"Yes," replied the mother: "we could not
get along without that, either."
Chloe's suffering was greatly increased by
her removal; but her heart had been made
younger by it. The change, while it had taken
nothing away from the depth of her spiritual
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 219
life, had added to it beauty and freshness. It
was true that she had suffered more than her
usual amount of pain and sorrow during the
time that had passed ; but olden memories and
associations were made fresher, and, in the
midst of her pain, the remembrance of her
stay in the old room was pleasant.
As time passed, they gradually fell back into
the accustomed ways. Sickness, and poverty
with its bitterness of trial, came upon them;
but through it all Chloe lovingly stayed up
the aged hands of her parents with the strong
arms of her faith. Her only thought now was
for her father and mother, her only prayer
for life, that she might live to care for them.
So, loving and patient, earnest and trustful,
looking forward to the blessed rest, Chloe
worked, prayed and trusted.
220 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
XXIII.
PKOVIDENCES.
IT was twilight of the New Year's day, the
first day of the year 18 . The parents had
just arisen from the supper-table, when the
father heard a knock at the door and moved
forward to answer it.
"What's come?" said the mother, as she
saw him trying to lift something heavy that
was standing without.
"Something for Chloe," was the reply.
"It's a new stove!"
"Why," said the mother, "Cousin Thomas
must have sent it, then. He said when he was
here that she ought to have a new one, and
that perhaps some of the Hartford folks would
help about it ; but Chloe didn't expect it. How
glad she will be ! Every cold day this winter
she has had to lie there shivering."
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 221
"Here's a great bag full of something," con-
tinued the father. "I don't know what."
"Take them right into Chloe's room," said
the mother, "and then we'll see."
The stove was lifted in for Chloe's inspec-
tion; then the laden bag was placed close
beside her bed. The father opened it and drew
out the bundles, one after another. Sugar,
tea, crackers, rice; and then came a large,
nice New Testament for Chloe, from a lady
whom she never saw. Still other bundles:
and at last, underneath all the rest, a gift
from Uncle Arba. It was a large package,
containing calico dresses for Chloe and her
mother, and one of Uncle Arba's long, kind
letters inside, with the names of the persons
from whom the presents came, and many
wishes of a "Happy New Year" from their
stranger friends.
"It is a 'Happy New Year/ isn't it,
mother?" said Chloe, with tear-filled eyes.
The next morning the children came in to
see Chloe, as they always did on their way to
19*
CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
school. They were delighted with the new
stove.
"I say, boys," said one, "can't we put it
up for her?"
"Yes," said another. "Let's not go to
school until we've made a fire in Chloe's new
stove!"
"Agreed!" said they; and all went to work.
The old broken stove was taken away, the new
one, with its nice pipe, put up in its place, and
at just ten o'clock a bright fire was burning
in it.
"Now, boys," said one, "we must go, and
take what the master gives."
The teacher did look displeased as they en-
tered the school-room, and inquired, in a stern
voice, "why they were all so late."
"We stayed to fix up Chloe's new stove for
her," was the reply.
"Ah! well," said the teacher, (and his face
relaxed into a smile,) "good deeds for Chloe
are better even than lessons."
Not long after that, a young man formerly
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 223
irom that neighbourhood, but now residing in
another town, came to see Chloe. After a
"long, earnest talk, he arose to go. Said he, " I
have had a good visit, Chloe. I always do.
You know how many times I have been here
before and have never given you any thing;
but now I am going to give you something.
I have been thinking, since I sat here, how
pleasant it would be for you to have a clock
in your room, where you can see the time of
day. I have four clocks that I took in trade :
I shall sell three and keep the other for you.
You may tell your father to get a shelf ready
for it ; for I shall bring it in the course of two
or three weeks."
Chloe was overjoyed; but in a moment more
she was almost overawed, for never before, she
thought, had she seen in the little things of
every-day life the hand of God more plainly.
A clock in her room was what she long had
wished for. Especially had she longed for it
during her long and sleepless nights; but it
was a superfluous luxury, that she had no right
224 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
to tnmk of, and she put away the thought
without even mentioning it to her mother.
But here it had come, the very thing she most
wished, and in a way she least expected. It
was sent from God, she was sure.
Her father made ready the shelf; and in
about two weeks came the clock, long to be to
Chloe a faithful friend and the cheerful com-
panion of many a wearisome and suffering
night.
The next morning, when the school-children
came, they were both surprised and delighted
at Chloe's treasure.
"We won't go," said one, " until we have
heard it strike."
In a few moments the new clock pealed forth
the hour of nine.
"Oh! oh!" cried one: "isn't it real music?"
"Yes," replied a dark-eyed little girl, "if
it did not strike nine and tell us that it's
school-time."
"Don't you like to go to school?" asked
Chloe.
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 225
"Yes/' was the reply; "but I like to stay
here better."
Chloe could hear their joyous feet and ring-
ing voices as they went down the hill towards
the school-house.
"Dear children!" she thought :" may God
spare them trials l?ke mine!"
226 CHLOE LANKTON; OK,
XXIV.
AFFLICTIONS.
MORE troubles were in store for the parents.
Chloe was again brought very near the steep
edges of the grave. Said the doctor to her,
" I have known for weeks that you would have
this trouble to pass through. I wish I could
relieve you; but I can do nothing but pray
for you. That is all I can do, Chloe."
When her condition was made known, people
came to her from all parts of the town; for
Chloe had many friends. There were some
to whom she had given love and sympathy ic
times of affliction and trial; and to those her
death would be a sad loss. There were others
whose friendship had been won by the beauty
and harmony of her daily life ; and such would
grieve that one like her must pass away.
Many, too, there were whose hearts were
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS.
bound to her's by a stronger bond, a holier
tie, the tie of Christian union, the bond of
mutual love towards our Saviour the Lord
Jesus Christ. Many regretful tears were shed
there in her little room. Many fervent prayers
were offered, and many a sad farewell was
spoken by those who expected to meet Chloe
upon earth never again. The little children
came in and stood around her bed, their young
faces shaded by a quiet sorrow. To each
Chloe gave a parting kiss and commended
them to Jesus.
Yet she was very happy. There was peace
and quiet within her heart. All was given
up. Her dearest friends, her pleasant loves
and friendships, and every thing that had given
life its sweetness, were yielded and given up.
Above all shone that blessed rest that would be
her's, pure, heavenly and eternal ; and to leave
this life of suffering for that would indeed be
joyful. There was but one regretful thought
mingled with her view of dying; and it was
this : she must leave her father and mother
228 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
alone; and the parting with them would be
sadaei than death or the grave. The parents'
hearts were filled with the keenest anguish.
The mother was ill and prostrated by sorrow
and weeping ; and the father, choked by silent
grief, could only walk from mother to child,
and from child to mother, in his deep sorrow.
Chloe knew what they were suffering for
her. She felt how lonely, comfortless and un-
protected they would be in their old age with-
out her to care for them ; and a strong desire
to live arose in her heart. For their sakes
she was willing to take up again the burdens
of her life and bear them on through still
more years of increasing pain and sorrow.
"0 God," she earnestly prayed, "spare my life
if it is thy holy will, not for my own sake,
but their's." Her prayer was answered, and
she lived to carry her aged parents through
scenes of sickness, poverty and trial. But
she had been so near the grave that her re-
storation was as if one was raised from the
dead. People flocked to her with smiles and
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 229
congratulations, and living seemed more plea-
sant than ever before. To her, all things were
new. The flowers which the children brought
in possessed beauties that she never before
had seen. The music of the birds had sweeter
cadences than she ever had heard, and the
gladness that comes with summer's beauty
was to her deeper and fuller.
The parents, in their joy that Chloe was
spared to them, prized her more tenderly than
ever. The father at length became able to
work a little again at his shoemaking. Chloe
made and sold her beautiful things; and per-
haps never before were the three more quietly
happy together than then. Thus a whole year
passed away, and all the time light was in the
humble home upon the hill-side.
But it could not always last. Another
spring came around; the mother scattered
flower-seeds in newly-made beds and the
father ploughed and planted his garden as
usual. Soon after it was finished, he was laid
upon a sick-bed, and at length, by disease and
20
230 CHLOE LANKTON; o&,
V
weakness, was brought very near the grave.
As time passed, the mother became worn by
care and trouble; and at length she was
prostrated also. Then came a scene of trial
for Chloe. All the care and oversight of their
medicines devolved upon her. During many
long, sleepless nights, she patiently and
silently bore her own terrible pain, now ag-
gravated by care and anxiety, all the while
lifting up with her cheerfulness the sinking
hearts of her suffering parents. For her own
support she went to God; and the Arm of
Strength that never yet had failed her was
around her then. Almost hourly she prayed
for strength and grace to carry her through
this time of trouble, and for resignation to
the sad partings that seemed so near.
But the darkest night will have an end ; and
this, perhaps, was only sent to add another test
to her long-tried faith. The mother became
able to walk around again, and the father was
pronounced out of danger and was gaining
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 231
slowly. They were alone one Sabbath morn-
ing, and he said to his wife,
"If you can take my chair into Chloe'a
room, we will have prayer. I have felt
anxious, since I could sit up some, to pray with
you as I used to; but I wanted to be alone
with you and Chloe."
They went into her room, and the father
read a chapter in the Bible. Then, still sit-
ting in the old arm-chair, he prayed ; and with
that tremulously-spoken prayer the three
hearts went up to God together in sweet ac-
cord, and the burden of the offering was this :
resignation to all their trials, arid thankful-
ness for the good they had brought to them.
The parents were broken by this long, try-
ing sickness, and now were failing fast with
age. The entire care of obtaining things ne-
cessary for family use fell upon Chloe ; and her
oversight extended even to the making and
mending of her parents' clothes. Yet, amidst
so many engrossing anxieties, she lost nothing
from her youthful-like freshness of heart. Her
232 CHLOE LANKTCN; OR,
sympathy with friends, her love for the beauti-
ful and her exquisite taste were ardent and
glowing as ever.
About this time she commenced the making
of a new, large box, for which she had been
saving nice pictures and papers that had been
brought to her by numerous visitors and
friends. The idea of it had for a long time
been growing in her own mind, until now it
was matured. All the artistic harmonies of
colour, and all the exquisite little inner ar-
rangements, were in their beauty planned and
pictured there, and her efficient fingers were
itching to bring the idea into life. During her
wearisome, sleepless nights she thought of it,
and during the days she worked slowly, but
with joyful success. The box was becoming
more beautiful than even she had thought.
Her father would sometimes stand by her bed-
side to see her work, and would say,
" When do you expect to get this done,
Chtoe?"
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 233
"Oh, I don't know; but I guess in two years,
if I live."
"Well," he would say, "I don't know how
you can have patience to make all those
little things and put so much work upon
them."
"It does require patience, father; but I
love to do it."
But she was interrupted in her pleasant
labour. One morning, the first day of De-
cember, the mother was taken seriously ill.
"I wonder what ails me?" she said. "It is
something new. I never was so before. I can-
not breathe."
The doctor was called and pronounced it
heart-disease, from which it was probable she
never would recover. Then followed a long
and terrible sickness, during which the
mother passed near the open gate of death,
and another scene of trial for Chloe, with her
care of the medicines, the comforting and sus-
taining of her father and the bearing of her
own aggravated suffering. But her mother
20*
234 CHLOE LANKTON; on,
was raised once more from her sick-bed, al-
though gaining so slowly that the gentle
spring-time came before she could again walk
around. Then came another affliction. Mr.
Yale, who for more than forty years had been
among them, was taken away by death. His
loss was deeply felt by the many to whom he
long had been a faithful friend and pastor ; but
none mourned more sincerely than Chloe and
her aged parents. No more would they see
his face; never again would their hearts be
cheered by his comforting words ; and to them
his death was a loss indeed.
"We old folks are passing away," said thq
mother. "I shall soon follow him."
About the first of June, Chloe began again
to work upon the box, which had been set
away for so long a time. The mother would
pick the flowers that bloomed in the yard and
bring them to her, saying, "I did not think
that I should be here this summer to bring
flowers to you." Then, sitting down to watch
the progress of the box, she would add, " Well,
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 235
I don't expect to live to see this finished. You
never will get it done if you take so much
pains and put so much work upon it."
"Oh, yes, mother," Chloe often said. "Pa-
tience and perseverance accomplish great
things. I am not at all discouraged."
The mother continued very feeble, and in
future a woman must be paid to do the
necessary housework. How was it to be
done? Night after night Chloe revolved
the question in her own mind. She though*
over their limited means, how she could
retrench here and economize there. She
feared that they must call upon the town
for aid. It was something from which
every part of her sensitive nature shrunk,
a trial, she thought, that she could not
meet. And she was not to meet it then.
God provided another way. She had more
company than ever before. Numerous
strangers and visitors came to see her, each
one leaving some substantial token of regard;
and thus she was enabled to meet every neces-
236 CHLOE LAXKTON; OR,
sary expense. So the summer passed away,
quietly and happily ; but, when the winter came,
poverty again stared them in the face. Even
then God raised them up friends. A concert
was given at the village near, and, a short
time afterwards, the clergyman, with the
singers, went to spend a pleasant hour in
Chloe's room. For her pleasure, they sang
again the songs of the concert ; and when they
went away, the proceeds of it, amounting to
thirty-one dollars, were placed in her hand.
Thus their pressing wants were supplied, and
Chloe's wintry hours made blooming as the
summer. Another spring and summer came,
but with it no lifting up of the weight of
Chloe's burdens. The parents were now
eighty years old both feeble, broken and un-
able to work. Their expenses were increasing,
their means decreasing. The trial so long
dreaded was coming ; and Chloe must prepare
herself to meet it, and still with hope and
cheerfulness sustain the sinking hearts of her
parents.
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 237
The three were talking together in Chloe's
room one day, and she said,
" I think we could get along if we had not
hired help to pay. I don't see any other way
but to call upon the town for that."
Said the father, " I always worked hard to
try to lay up something for our old age, and
might, if we had not had so much sickness,
and so much expense to pay."
"Oh," said the mother, weeping, "the
bread of dependence is bitter."
"Mother," said Chloe, cheerfully, while her
voice trembled and the tears came as she
spoke, "think how good God has been to us.
We should have had this trial before, if he
had not raised up so many kind friends for
us."
Day after day passed away before Chloe
could summon courage to do what she knew
must be done. At length, forced by necessity,
she sent for one of the town-officers and told
him the story of their privation.
"Why, Chloe," he said, cheerfully, "we are
238 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
willing to pay your help. We expected to do
it before, and have only wondered how you
have done so long as you have."
Chloe's trembling, s.'nking heart was cheered
by his kindly words; but the trial of depend-
ence was not removed. It still rested heavily
there.
LIGHT BEYONI THE CLOUDS. 239
XXV.
SWEET AND BITTER.
THE box was completed. To it Chloe had
given an extra finish here and the last touch
there. It was just right. Every leaf, bud
and flowret of the outward adorning hung and
drooped naturally and gracefully, and all the
beautiful wonders of the inside were in their
right places. As she looked upon it now,
admiringly and lovingly, her thoughts went
back over the two years that had gone since
its beginning. During that time had come
some of the weightiest burdens of her life.
Looking back, she could see where her path-
way had been and through what a wilderness
of sorrows, cares <tnd anxieties she had been
led. SLe remembered now all the trembling
and fearing in the darkness, all the doubting
240 CHLOE LANZTON; OB,
and distrusting of the way, crowned at last
by the clear up-looking of a triumphant faith.
She remembered, too, how the idea of the box
had lived in her mind, all the time shedding
the light of its beauty there. She thought
how, as she worked on, it had grown in ful-
ness, until now it stood perfect in its propor-
tions and complete in its beauty and harmony.
No wonder that she shed tears over it. It
had been her constant companion through
times of trouble and was to her like a true
and sympathizing friend. The parents came
in to look at it. Said the mother, " I have
lived to see this finished. I didn't expect to."
"Well, Chloe," said the father, "you'll
never get your pay for all that work."
The box was set away, Chloe glad, yet
almost regretting, that it was really done. She
already missed the exciting pleasure of the
planning and making.
But another pleasure, that she had not ex-
pected, was in store for her. The window that
had been made back of the bed looked out
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 241
directly upon a wood-house that the father had
put there long years before. It had become
old and decayed, and, from necessity, was
taken away. Now, looking out, Chloe could
see what she had not seen for more than
twenty years. The road, as it wound up the
hill and curved around the house upon its
summit. The old house itself, with its quaintly -
sloping roof; its slender-posted piazza and
monumental poplars in front. The green
fields which her little bare feet had so often
trod in childhood ; and, farther in the distance,
the chestnut-trees, every one of which she
knew so well. The old road looked just the
same; and so did the large stones in the fields.
The house had grown browner and older, and
even the tall, straight poplars seemed to Chloe
to have taken the same look of decay. There
were little shrubs and bushes that she did not
remember; and some trees that were single-
boughed when she was young were now full
of sheltering leaves for the birds that loved to
make their nests among them. But the same
Q 21
242 CHLOE L4NZTON; OR,
spirit of ieauty was there, the same weet
freshness an^. the same glad blue sky over all.
Chloe watched it all from out the little square
window ; and, as she watched, she wept. Her
very heart rained tears; for the careless joy
of the child stood out for the time in strong,
bold relief against the care-prisoned heart of
the woman. This feeling at length passed
away and gave place to the beautiful memories
that came thronging around her; and she
awoke to a consciousness of how much her
happy childhood had been to her after-years.
Olden associations had lived upon her days of
.suffering like gentle wild flowers that spring
up and grow of their own sweet will, and had
filled her life with their beauty and fragrance.
But from all this she must turn away to
meet again the stern realities around her. Two
more long times of terrible illness, produced
by heart-disease, had so reduced the mother's
strength that she was now tottering upon the
brink of the grave.
"My strength is almost gone, Chloe," she
would say: "I cannot sow any more flowers
LIGHT BEYOND THF CLOUDS. 243
ior you. I can't make things pleasant for you
as I used to."
The father, worn with age and grief, was
following close upon her footsteps, and Chloe
felt that her parents were rapidly passing
away. Their age and infirmities only made
them dearer to her, and most tenderly she
cherished them, knowing that each morning
sun brought them still nearer the time of the
sad, sad parting.
It had always been the wish of her heart
that their last days should be most joyful of
all. She was thankful that she was spared to
care for them, and her only thought was how
to make them comfortable and happy. But
every side of her way was hedged with diffi-
culties. In her mother, the feeble breath of
life was mostly sustained by the doctor's po-
tions; and her own sufferings demanded still
more expensive medicines. These must be had
and must be paid for ; and for this she laid by
the few dollars, barely sufficient ibr the pur-
pose, that had been given in charity. Now
244 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
provision must be obtained. The little they
had was used prudently as possible, and Chloe
worked most diligently upon pincushions and
needle-books. But "hard times" came on,
when even their best and kindest friends could
give but little, and the few meagre sums she
received for her work fell very far short of the
demand. The parents suffered for even the
necessaries of life, and real poverty, with all
its bitterness of trial, was crushing them 'neath
its iron feet. What should she do? What
could she do? The town was already bearing
so much expense for them that she had neither
heart nor face to look there for help. But
there was nowhere else to look. " I can starve,
myself," she thought; "but I cannot endure to
see them suffer. I shall have to do it."
Still she put it off, hoping that relief would
come froir som other source.
One day, the paients were in Chloe's room,
sitting side by side in their arm-chairs. For
a long time all three were silent; and at length
Chloe, looking up, saw that both had fallen
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 245
asleep, and a tear was still trembling upon the
mother's withered eyelid. She ]aid down her
work and gazed upon their faces. Furrowed,
seamed and wrinkled they were; and, amid
the furrows, seams and wrinkles, poverty and
need were tracing their lines.
"I am wrong," thought Chloe, suddenly.
"I will not put it off any longer. God has
sent this to bring down my pride."
She took out pencil and paper ; and, as she
did so, her mother awoke.
"What are you going to do, Chloe?" she
asked.
"I am going to write to the selectman,"
she said. "I can't put it off any longer."
The mother hid her face in her hands and
burst into tears. Said she, " Your father and
I, when we began life together, didn't think
tnat we should ever come to this. Oh ! the
bread of dependence! it is bitter, bitter!"
With a nerveless hand, Chloe threw aside
pencil and paper. She could not write it then.
Days of anxiety and want passed by, and at
21*
246 CHLOE LANKTON; OE,
length the long-dreaded missive was written
and sent. It was promptly answered. Pro-
vision came to supply their hungry wants ; but
it was the bread of dependence, and it was
bitter, bitter!
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 247
XXVI.
A VISIT TO CHLOE.
THUS far have we followed Chloe through
her life-history ; and now let us together wend
our way over the solitary road to her little
room. It is an early June morning, and we
will have a pleasant ride up the long and far-
looking hills, through the winding, shaded
forests and by the wide-spread fields and
meadows. We see a thickly-grown orchard,
and near it a school-house, with the door and
windows boarded up, long ago forsaken by
children's feet and ringing voices. As we ride
on, we pass now and then a neat-looking farm-
house, with the usual surroundings of sheds
and barns. A slight turn of the road brings
.us in sight of the piazzaed house on the hill.
We look at it eagerly; but there is no sign of
life within or around. No smoke issues from
248 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
the chimney, and the roof that slopes down
over the piazza has fallen in. The old house
is ruined and deserted. But the landscape of
valley and hill that meets the eye is spread
out as gloriously as of old. "We wish to rest
a while and gaze upon it.
Nearest are the pine-crowned hills; and, in
the beautiful stillness of the morning, we fancy
that we can hear the sad, sweet music of the
wind as it moans among those deep and sombre
shadows. Beyond are other hills, yet radiant
and glistening with the dews of the morning,
and sloping down into low valleys; and .still
other hills, rising upon hills, far, far away,
until they are lost in the dimness of the dis-
tant horizon. As we gaze, a shadow passes
over the scene ; but it is followed by a brighter
sunlight. The shadow comes again, then the
light; and so they chase each other, ever
changing, ever varying. But we turn away
at length, and pass on around the curved road
and drive rapidly down the hill. Before wo
reach the foot, we stop at a low-browed home
LIGHT BEY01TD THE CLOUDS. 249
by the wayside. We go up the pathway ana
enter the humble kitchen. The cooking-stove
is in its accustomed place, and so is the long,
old-fashioned clock and the shelf whereon the
family Bible has rested so many years. We
look around for the shoemaker's bench in the
corner. It is not there. Where is the father?
Where is the mother? We see no one but
"Mary," the tidy, honest-looking Irishwoman,
and a white kitten that is playing around our
feet.
We go on and enter the little bedroom. Its
walls are neatly papered, and several small
pictures are hanging upon them. A rag
carpet covers the floor, and the shelves around
the bed are laden with neat boxes and pretty
ornaments. Chloe lies upon the bed. We
Know that she was young when first she was
placed there. Twenty -five years have passed
away, and Chloe is young no longer. But
time rests lightly upon the face that reflects
a happy, contented heart. Her brow is still
smooth, her eyes are black as ever, and there
250 CHLOB LANKTON; OR,
is no gray mingled with the dark of her hair.
She has never been out of doors since the day
she was carried out by Dr. Moody. She never
has left the little bedroom since her few
weeks' stay in the old room where her sisters
died. Her disease has steadily increased with
the years, and she has constantly suffered
excruciating pain. Still she greets us with a
cheerful smile, and her face brightens as we
draw chairs around her bed for a social talk.
We find her the very same Chloe. The years
of trial have taken nothing away from the
unassuming sweetness of her character. They
have only added to its depth.
We ask at length after the parents. Her
face saddens, and she replies, mournfully,
"They are both gone: I am all alone now.
Mother died a little more than a year ago,
when she was eighty-two years old. The last
time I ever saw her alive was the day before
she was taken down. She was in my room a
great deal during the day, but that night
about three o'clock she was taken sick. T
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 251
didn't sleep any more, for she didn't know any
thing, and I saw how sick she was going to
be, and I thought perhaps the time had come
that she would die. She suffered every thing
for eleven days. She was on the bed in the
next room, close to my door, where I could
hear every thing; and I had the care of the
medicine all the time. How glad I was that
I was so near her! Every word she said I
treasured up in my heart; for I knew they
were the last I should ever hear from the lips
of my dying mother. She said 'she could
leave us in the hands of God, and that our
parting would be only for a little while.' The
night before she died, oh, what a night that
was! The watcher we expected did not
come. Mary was sick and went to bed, and
father and I were all alone. The poor old
man sat by her bedside all night, and I told
him what to do. He came to me just like a
child to a mother. About twelve o'clock he
came in and said, 'Your mother don't know
any thing, and I am afraid she never will know
252 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
any more. What can I do?' I fixed some-
thing for her, but she couldn't swallow it. Fa-
ther seemed lost and bewildered, and trembled
so that he could hardly stand. I said, ' Won't
you sit down here a minute, father? I will
give you something to make you feel better.'
'No,' he said: 'I must stay by your mother.'
I heard him sit down in the chair by her bed,
and then I did not hear him move or speak
to her at all. I could hear nothing but her
heavy breathing. I feared that he had fainted,
and I called to him ; but there was no answer.
The house seemed like a tomb : it was still as
death, except her heavy breathing. I called
again and again before I could rouse him.
Then he came in to me; but he was so feeble
and trembling! It seemed as if his strength
was almost gone. Oh, what a night it was!
No one can know its sorrows. I prayed that
God would support us ; and it was his sustain-
ing grace that carried us through. His arm
was under me and kept me from sinking,
Passages of Scripture came to my mind, and
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 253
they were balm to my wounded heart. All
night I felt strong confidence in God. I could
say from my heart, 'Thy will be done.' The
next night we had a good watcher, and towards
morning I fell asleep. It was the first I had
slept for two or three nights, and she died
while I was sleeping. Oh, that moment when
they told me she was gone ! No words can
describe it. Father was asleep too, for the
poor man was all worn out. I told them not
to disturb him, but, when they heard him get-
ting up, to go in and tell him ; and so they did.
He came out and went to the bed and looked
upon her, and then came right in to me. We
' didn't either of us speak a word, and he sat
here all the time they were laying her out.
The funeral sermon was preached here in the
house ; and then they brought the coffin in and
set it down here by my bed, where she had
stood so many times. I tried to be as com-
posed as I could, and she looked so pleasant
and natural ! I laid my hand on her forehead
and took my last leave of that dear, tender
22
254 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
mother. They carried her right from my
room to the graveyard. I raised myself up on
my elbow and looked out of the window to see
them go up the hill. It was in the month of
December; and the last time I ever saw my
sisters' graves was in the same month. I
watched them till they were out of sight, and
then I was clear overcome. My dear, tender
mother was gone, the best friend I had in the
world ; and I never should see her again. I
cannot describe my feelings ; no one can ever
know how I felt. As soon as father came
back from the funeral, he came right in to me
and sat down, and after that how I clung to
my father! He was all the earthly comfort
I had, and we were all the world to each
other."
"How long did he live after that?" we
asked.
"Oh, only three months. Poor father's
heart was broken with sorrow, and he failed
very fast after mother died ; but he was just
as quiet and contented. Mary used to often
DIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 255
say, '"Wiry, he's the quietest man in all the
world!' and he was so good and kind! We
were all the world to each other after mother
died, and he was the greatest earthly comfort
I had. He used to stay in my room all the
time when there wasn't company in. He had
a shock of a fit, and after that he became very
feeble. He couldn't do any thing but read
aloud to me. He read to me the very after-
noon before he was taken. It was Friday,
and a bitter cold night, and Mary went to bed
a little after nine ; but it was so cold, father
said he had rather sit up by the stove a while.
So he sat up and talked with me until it was
half-past ten. Then I said to him, ' It's half-
past ten, father: hadn't you better go to bed?'
He spoke so mournful, and said, 'Well, I
suppose I must.' He got up and went out,
but very soon I heard his hand on my door,
trying to find the latch. He came in, and I
saw something was the matter with him; as
soon as he was taken he wanted to get right
in to me, you know. I said, ' Get to the chair,
256 CHLOE LANKTON; OK,
father; get to the chair if you can!' He tried
to get to the chair, but I thought he'd fall
before he could get to it, poor man ! As soon
as he dropped into the chair, he reached out
his hand towards me and tried to speak, and
then his hand dropped and he was senseless.
I called Mary up ; but she didn't know what
to do, she was so frightened. I told her to
keep him in the chair, and she did as long as
she could, but just at eleven o'clock he fell out
on the floor and the chair turned over him.
Oh, how I felt then nobody can know ! Mary
was so timid and frightened she did not dare
to go out in the dark night to call the neigh-
bours; all I could say, I could not make her
go, but she tried to do every thing that I told
her for him. It was a fit of apoplexy, and he
began to roll around on the floor. He would
turn over on his face, and then the cramps
would draw him up. Oh, how dreadful it was !
I raised myself up on my elbow and watched
every motion. I kept my eyes on him every
moment all night long, and told Mary what to
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 257
do ; and she tried to do all slie could. I spoke
to him a great many times. I would call
'father' so loud! How many times I called
his name ! But he didn't know any thing : he
was entirely senseless. Oh, what agony I en-
dured! I cannot tell you: no one can ever
know. Passages of Scripture came to my
mind : ' Call upon me in the day of trouble :
I will deliver thee.' 'Cast thy burden upon
the Lord, and he shall sustain thee.' And I
was wonderfully supported. I was blessed
with calmness and presence of mind, and
knew just what I wanted to have done for
him, but all the time in such an agony of sor-
row and anxiety for my dear father. After a
while he opened his eyes, and then dropped
asleep just a few moments. Then he opened
Ms eyes again, and I said to him, 'Father,
you are very sick, a'n't you?' He looked at
me so earnest and tried to speak; but he
couldn't. Then I said, ' Father, do you know
me? Do you know that it's Chloe talking to
you?' Oh, how he looked at me then! so
R 22*
258 CHLOE LANKTON; OK,
earnest, so wistful and so tender! I never,
never can forget that look. Then he tried to
move around to reach my bed. At last he
could put his hand on the bed, and I took hold
of it. He pressed my hand tight, but could
not speak. Then I said again, 'Father, do
you know me?' He pressed my hand again,
and tried to speak ; but he couldn't. I watched
the clock and watched it ; for it seemed as if
daylight never would come. For eight hours
he had lain right before my eyes; but how
g]ad I was that he was in here ! About six
o'clock Mary went to the neighbours, and the
men came and carried him to his own bed. I
watched him while they were taking him out;
for I never expected to see him alive again.
"He died Sunday night. The man that
watched with him came to my door about
twelve o'clock and said, ' Chloe, your father's
gone!' Oh, what a chill went to my heart
then, and such a feeling of dreadful loneli-
ness ! I can never describe it. Then this text
came fresh to my mind: 'When my father
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 259
and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will
take me up.' The neighbours were very kind.
If they had been his own sons and daughters
they could not have done more. The funeral
wasn't till Wednesday. They brought the
coffin in for me to take the last look; and I
gazed upon him. It seemed as if I could not
have the lid shut down. When they shut it
down, I was completely overcome. I could
not speak. I could not even look out of the
window to see them go up the hill. They
carried him away, and the house was still and
solemn as death. No one can know my loneli-
ness. I had lived to see the last one go ; and
here I was left on this bed, all, all alone. My
feelings were beyond description."
She pauses, and there is silence in the little
bedroom for a few moments. With tear-filled
eyes we have listened to her recital, and we
ask, "How are you so cheerful, Ohloe?"
" 0^," she replies, " I have a great many sad
days: I cannot help it. When I remember
how happy we used to be together, and then
260 CHLOE LANKTOX; OR,
think how I am all alone now, it comes over
me like an ocean. I never was separated from
them & week in my life, until they were re-
moved by death; and now there is not an houi
of the day but what I am thinking of them.
I was praying for years that I might be pre-
pared to part with my father and mother ; and
now, when I look back, I can see how He did
prepare me for it. I never had the feeling
that I should die and leave them alone, but
that they would go and leave me. But they
were spared to me a long time; and I am so
thankful for it ! Father and mother lived to-
gether sixty years. They were nearly the
same age; and both lived to be eighty-two
years old. I have always been so thankful
that I was blessed with pious parents ! I can-
not remember a day, when father was able to
sit up, that he did not read in his Bible; and
he went to meeting every Sabbath, until he
became so feeble he couldn't go. I can remem-
ber how he used to read in the Bible, Sundays
when he couldn't go to church, just how low
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 261
and trembling his voice would sound when he
oegan. Then it seemed as if he was made
stronger by what he read, and his voice would
sound natural again."
"How have you got along since their
death?" we ask.
" Oh, the town have paid Mary's wages and
have furnished wood. The other things I
have tried to get myself. Sometimes it has
looked very dark, and I could not have got
along if I had not had so much given me.
The people all around have been very kind,
and I have a great many blessings. God has
supported me through every trial. What
should I do if I did not trust in him?"
"Truly," we think, "poor Chloe! what could
you do if you did not trust in him?"
"I've often felt," she continues, "that while
he afflicted me with one hand he upheld and
supported me with the other ; and in my deep-
est affliction I have never seen the moment
when I didn't think that I had more comforts
and blessings than afflictions and trials. I
262 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
have this nice little room, with these pleasant
windows to look out of, and so many pleasant
things to see. That walnuMree there, in the
plain across the meadow, I like to watch it
in the spring, when the leaves first begin to
come ; and then in the summer it looks so beau-
tiful to me. In the fall I can see the little
squirrels run up and down after nuts. It is
so pleasant to see such little creatures have
their liberty; and I think what a beautiful
world this is, although I can see but a little
speck of it out of my windows here. Then I
have the use of my eyes and my hands, with
these shelves and cupboards so convenient,
where I can reach my things myself. Then I
have so many kind friends ; and that is such a
comfort to me ! The little children bring me
flowers and fruits; and it is so pleasant to Live
them to love ! The ministers in the parishes
all around, of all denominations, have been
such good friends to me! They have done a
great deal, and have influenced others to do
for me. Some of my happiest hours have
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 263
been when they come and talk with me of the
things of Christ. My mind would be carried
above all my sorrows and trials and I would
feel encouraged and strengthened in faith.
But now sometimes I think that I am almost
at home. I've lived to carry my father and
mother through, and am left all alone, and
I don't know what I have to live for now."
"Do you long for death, Chloe?" we ask.
"Oh ; no," she replies, with a smile, v "Life
is sweet to me yet. Still, I like to think of the
blessed rest which I hope will be mine. I like
to think of the time when I shall be free from
all trouble and all pain. What a happy change,
to go away from constant pain to perfect joy
and happiness ! When I get to heaven, I shall
not regret that I have gone through all these
trials and sufferings. They will seem as no-
thing then. Happiness will be sweeter for
having gone through so much suffering here.
I would not give up this sweet peace of mind
and the calm trust I feel for health, wealth
or all the pleasures of the world. My peace
264 CHLOE LANKTON; OR,
is like a river. I am willing to leave all in
the hands of my heavenly Father. I can trust
him for what is to come ; feeling sure that he
will support and provide for me and will give
me grace and patience to bear all that he lays
upon me. I am so thankful that I can see the
providence of God in all his dealings with me.
and that I can see it all for my good; for, if I
did not see it so ; how could I have borne it
all?"
The clock strikes twelve. We hear the pat-
tering of little feet in the kitchen, and in come
a troop of school-children. They have bright,
happy faces, and our hearts bless them, the
darlings ! "We must take our leave. But first
Chloe will exhibit to us the wonderful box
which was two years in the making; -and our
eyes open wide with wonder that frail human
hands can make things so beautiful and exqui-
site. Then we buy a tiny pin-cushion of her
own ingenious designing, and reluctantly arise
to go. She presses our hands at parting, and
hopes that "the God who has supported her
LIGHT BEYOND THE CLOUDS. 265
through every trial will guide and bless us
through all our life." With tear-filled eyes,
we respond, "Amen," and, with Chloe's parting
benediction upon us, we go out again into the
summer sunshine. We ride slowly up the
hill, around the curved road; and as we look
off once more upon the landscape we see the
sunshine and shadow passing over it still. We
drive on down the long hills, through the old
woods, to our home in the valley, where
all the long day a gentle river murmurs its
beautiful song and merry birds and waving,
whispering trees make glad the sunny hours.
But, in the midst of the beautiful surround-
ings, our thoughts will go back over that wild
and lonely road. We see again the hill, mea-
dow and forest, the ruined old house, and the
beautiful, fai-away landscape, and wonder if
the sun and the clouds are flitting over it still.
Then we think of Chloe, with her earnestness
of face and purity of heart. We see her
weary with the burden of her suffering life,
yet loving and joyful, patient and trusting,
23
266 CHLOE LANKTON.
the path for her feet often darkened by the
clouds that gather thickly around, but her
face brightening in the rays of the light that
glows beyond. And thus we leave her. Upon
her bed in the little bedroom of an old brown
cottage among the Litchfield county hills,
Chloe lies patiently suffering. The days come
in their brightness, the nights close wearily
around, and still she lies patiently suffering.
Truly and earnestly hath she wrought her
work here ; and now, with face turned heaven-
ward, looking forward to the better and more
beautiful life, Chloe waits, prays and trusts.
THE END.
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