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Page 30
Mrs. Willoughby, as is often the case with those suffering from
pulmonary affection, went off very suddenly; and now was every
threatened evil likely to burst on poor Helen's devoted head; but
though weak in the flesh, she was strong in faith. Relying, as she had
been early led to do, on her God, she seemed to rise with fresh energy
under accumulated trials. She soothed and kissed the weeping children
by turns, but their grief was so violent, they refused to be
comforted.
The night her mother was consigned to the grave, was indeed a trying
one to Helen. The good clergyman, who had gone back to the house after
the funeral, now knelt in prayer with the bereaved ones, and
commending them to the care of their Heavenly Father, took leave,
promising to be with them early next day.
"Farewell, my child," said he, to Helen, "fear not for the future, for
it is a merciful and loving God who lays his rod upon you; and though
the clouds of darkness loom heavily around you, with Him nothing is
impossible; and He could, in one moment, disperse them, if it were
better for you. May you be purified by the affliction He sends. Good
night, once more, and remember that not a sparrow falls to the ground
unheeded by Him who made it."
How was it that this feeble child of affliction, went to bed that
night in some degree composed? For every earthly hope seemed blighted.
Her parents, one by one were re-called; her little patrimony taken
away; and she and the little ones left almost friendless. Was it to
make her the better feel where she could and must place her sole
dependance? Doubtless it was. Oh! ye happy sons and daughters of
prosperity, do you read this description, which many an afflicted one
is now realizing, with apathy? Do ye regard it as an over-wrought
scene of trial? Believe me it is no such thing. While you are
surrounded by every earthly comfort, I will say by every earthly
luxury; lolling, perhaps, on your sofas, or in your easy chairs, your
cup filled to overflowing with every blessing, hundreds of your fellow
creatures, young as you, are suffering privations, you hardly like to
_think_ of, but which they, alas! have _to bear_.
Helen rose early, refreshed by a long sleep, brought on by many nights
of broken rest. She kissed the tears off her sleeping brother and
sister's cheeks, and having recommended herself and them to God,
proceeded to commence the arduous duties that now devolved on her.
When Mr. Montgomery came, he found her doing that which he was about
to suggest, viz., preparing for an immediate sale of the furniture, by
taking an inventory, while the faithful servant was busily employed
cleaning the house, for which a tenant was luckily found. The two
young ones were doing their best to aid their sister. Mr. Montgomery
wished them sent to the vicarage, but Helen would not hear of it till
the day of, or after the sale. Well has it been said, that God tempers
the wind to the shorn lamb; and so did she find it; for on applying,
through Mr. Montgomery, to a neighbouring auctioneer, he,
gratuitously, attended, and did all in his power to dispose of the
things to advantage. Mr. Willoughby had taken the house on coming into
possession of the property and furnished it throughout, so that being
in good order, most of the furniture fetched a fair price. The day
after Mrs. Willoughby died Mr. Montgomery had written to a sister of
his, who lived twenty miles off, to enquire for a small house, should
there be such in her neighbourhood. She sent word there was a cottage
in the suburbs, which she thought would just suit, and, therefore, had
taken it for one year certain, it being a very moderate rent. Although
greater part of the things sold, had obtained a fair price, there were
several useful articles that would have gone for little, and but for
the good clergyman, have been completely sacrificed, these he bought
in; among them was a large carpet and the piano; he thought they
might, if the money were needed, be privately and more advantageously
disposed of. The funeral expenses were, comparatively, small; for
although Helen desired to pay every respect to her mother's memory,
Mr. Montgomery convinced her it was an imperative duty on her, to
avoid unnecessary expenditure, as she knew not what calls might yet be
made on her resources. It next became a consideration how the things
reserved from the sale, could be got, with the least expense, to their
new place of residence; but Nancy who was present said there was a
distant relative of hers, a farmer, who volunteered to take them in
his large waggon, which he said, by starting at midnight, could be
accomplished in one day, and as it was anything but a busy time, he
could do it with little loss; added to which, he expressed himself
right glad to be able to serve a young lady, who, with her mother, had
been so uncommonly kind to his only parent, during a long illness.
When did a good action ever lose its reward? Helen thankfully accepted
Mr. Montgomery's kind offer of taking the young ones to stay with him
till she was settled in their new abode, but Henry would not hear of
it; he insisted on remaining with his sister and doing all he could to
help her. So that not liking to leave Fanny alone, it was agreed they
both should accompany her. She was not sorry for this, as she thought
the bustle and novelty would divert their minds from their sorrow; for
herself, so much was required of her, both to think and to do, that
she had no time to dwell on the desolation of her position.
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