Hollowmell / or, A Schoolgirl's Mission

ther different character. She was thoroughly roused by this time, by Minnie's utter impregnability to all established methods of

t now it seemed to her almost impossible to change her policy and adopt any other line of conduct. She sometimes rebelled against the rivalry which, she considered, stood between them and any possibility of friendship, but was still firm in her belief, t

zen girls inside, but she stood just where they could not observe her-at least, with the exception of Mona Cameron-who seemed much too intent up

ention of every one present, at the same time moving nearer the window for th

gerly exclaimed

e Kimberly has t

hether to leave immediately or r

ite understanding what Mona mea

t-though it's my private opinion they usually contrive to do the very opposite. That's the sort of thing Minnie's going in for just now, though I really think

step and fast beating heart w

eem to notice

ort of juvenile Mrs. Fry or some person of that s

walked straight into their midst, her eye

did just now. It may either be that you intend it as a term of reproach to me

with a laugh, "you hear her defen

good, you are mistaken. Until now, I have not as you hinted, made any profession at all, but I am not ashamed to own that I consider it the noblest

so. I should not be at all surprised if that good-looking Methodist Minister from Canningate, had someth

gnation, and for a moment she forgot e

continued in a softer tone: "I don't know why you should say such a thing of me, Mona. What I have done (and the motive I had for keepi

erisively but

nd though I do often come short of what one bearing that name should be, I am not the less determined to persevere in my endeavours to make th

d to me, I suppose," observe

sharpness is no match for Minnie's earnestness, I am sure all

d several voices

account of myself, either in words or actions as Minnie can, would have no objection to doin

whereupon several of the others also volunteered their aid, and some who lived too far aw

which was received with expressions of unmixed approval by all, with the exception o

ect of it. She, however, entered heartily into the debate, and a plan was quickly sketched o

known among the girls, but no one explained, and even after Minnie and she were o

ose who had been present, and her love and respect for her friend increased

do everything so well, though she is just newly conscious that there are things like this to do, and I have been acquainted with the fact all my life. I am distracted by doubts and fears-I, who have known the reality of God's love and

ran in, exclaiming breathlessly, "O, I am so glad you're here early,

uicker, and was already in the inner room, depositing the books of both in their respective desks when Mabel came in. Minnie turned to address some remark to her on the subject of her dil

Cameron's beautiful writing

THE HEATHEN

the above scheme will be held in Hollowmell Ha

cially Methodists)-ar

as the indignation of those who had been witnesses of the scene on the preceding eve

nse prevailed, and after a momentary struggle with her angry feelings, and also with her keen personal distress, she lo

aughed at it, and ended by inviting them all to attend the meeting advertised from so unexpected a quarter, in the Hollowmell Hall. "Only," she added, "we wi

speech was left unsatisfied except for various disconnected whispers which were exchanged during the morning with suc

best she could, the spectacle of Minnie elevated to the pedestal of heroism, and finding herself all but sent to Coventry. As may be imagined, this state of aff

oceeded to don her hat and ulster in haste, lest any one should come out before she could leave. Just as she lifted her glove she noticed something white o

in translation for the examination! just like her to leave i

othing like it if I tried a hundred years. I am not afraid of h

nd so not only be revenged on Minnie for her humiliation, but

r lip did not curl at the word now that she was alone as it certainly would have done had there been others by. An expression of deep pain came into h

rize. She deserves it as she does all the gifts my selfish heart so wicked

oking round to ascertain whose it might be,

n attitude of dejection as no one had ever believed her capable of yielding to, and thoroughly mystified by her last words wh

a more cheerful frame of mind. If she would only join the Mission, she was the unintentional means of forming, she would find a great deal more satisf

within a convenient distance. Many who did not, sent letters expressing regret for the same, and sympathy for thei

Mission." There was a great deal of laughing, and talking, and fun, many of them looking on it as a new, and accordingly, agreeable source of amusement, but there was also a gr

ed with the conduct of the Saturday evening entertainments, over which each committee presided in rotation, thus reliev

best-kept garden has already been mentioned. Another was shortly announced for the best-cleaned and tidiest windows. Many of the gates and little wooden railings which separated the different plots of ground were in very bad repair, the paint being in many cases completely

. These were consequently alloted to any who should volunteer their services for the purpose. Some one proposed that this competition should be open to boys alone, but Minnie stood up b

, and it was also thrown open

ing on their part to attempt anything that would look like dictation, or interference, and might materially injure their work in directions wherein it had been successful heretofore. They contented themselves therefore with working among the young people, relying on the natural development o

a quieter mode now prevailed. After tea, there was usually a game, then all sat down, and the girls drew forth their sewing with which they proceeded while the boys sat quietly in their places, all listen

name, the same Agnes who had defended Minnie on a former occasion, began to

formation that he could knit; other two professed the same accomplishment, and,

med Mabel, "we might hav

ouldn't it be too ridiculous

s ridiculous, it's useful, and nobody will laugh when they remember that. I thought at first it would have been rather ridiculous to see the girls painting the gates

, though it will justify its existence, in my eyes, I am afraid, only by its success, as papa said our undertak

t this. We must supply ourselves with a quantity of worsted, and a sufficient number of knitting-needles, and set all the boys at once to knit stockings and socks for their own wi

e greatly delighted with the proposed change, for they did not find it by any means an easy matter to sit quite still, doing nothing, e

ended the Saturday evening meeting, but who had that night been absent, waiting outside the gate. As soon as

make haste. She hesitated for a moment. She was already later than usual and the n

stage of consumption. The house was in a terrible state of disorder, having, apparently, ne

ld. An infant of about four months old slept beside her, and two other children of about two and three

d the satisfaction of seeing the two drop off to sleep, thoroughly exhausted with crying. She then turned her attention to the sick woman, whom she found to be in a ver

at perhaps she would like to see Mr. Chadwell or the missionary, as she

ing. He left me a book too, that was full of good things, but my husband burned it when he came home, and the priest said if he ever came here again my e

ere tell what the kind young ladies said about going to Heaven directly we die, and never a

my lips powerless to tell her what she is dying to hear. How can I tell her what I h

gth and wisdom-but no strength-no wisdom seemed to come-the Heave

was dying, she m

orror of being there without hope. With a convulsive shudder she rose and sitting down by the b

h. The priest said it was only purgatory, but I know more than he thinks I do-and I know what death t

e best of us-hope for anything but the wages of sin, except throu

but if you had seen the place we came from you might know something of it." And the remembrance

said, speaking in a hurried whisper, "I spoke to you of hope-of hope that I myself know

uncomprehending sort of way, but she was

f one who has felt the power of s

ent, and Mabel

deration must give way before the desperate nature of this case. She almost felt inclined to fetch Mr. Chadwell,

nging, and asked to speak to Minnie privately. Minnie took her into he

to beg her father's permission to undertake this errand of mercy. He was very reluctant, natur

r laughter and merriment proceeded, as Minnie opened the door rather

ak to me?" He asked, "I feel so com

nnie. "You don't know what may be t

hers enquired rather anxiously if there was any

hall, told him what she wished to do, and begged him to accompany her, forgetting in he

her your head with things of that description. Are there not enough fanatics paid for doing these things? The g

an't think how much it may mean. Think if you were dying, and had no one to say a kind word!

dream, and then without a word, took down his coat, an

ame time on Mabel enveloping herself in another of similar magnitude, and in about thr

and only stopping for a few minutes, while Charlie left a

ad the forethought to slip into his pocket before coming out. She seemed to be worn out by mental, rather than by physical suffering, but Charli

and that if anything could be done to ease her suffering, which was alt

nd Charlie withdrew to the fire at the other end of the apartment, leaving Mab

r, whispering softly in her ear. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begot

rength was not sufficient, murmuring to

h it a visible influence. "For every one who believes. Jesus came to call, not t

I who have never spoken his

sake. Don't you know that Jesus died that G

the wages of sin is death," she moaned in

o the place in her Testament which she had brought. "See, tho

the words by the light of the ca

wages as we deserve them, but a gift has nothing to do with deserving. God gives us eternal life, not because we are worthy, but because Christ, our Sa

e disconnected, but they came straight from her heart with such evident convicti

rest. Yes I will. You trust Him, I see that, and why should not I? I do

g time, neither moving nor speakin

I'll run in to Molly Gray's, and ask her to stay here with her during the ni

r in a gruff whisper that startle

n's husband, who had returned from the pit, and entering with

peace, and you need not mind the money you promised to save for masses. I won't need any, for I am going straight to my Saviour. He's waiting for me in Heav

the head beside his wife, her thin, white hands clasped in his rough brown ones. For some minutes the silence remained

listeners, touching and softening them with its heart-felt pathos, so that when

y passed out, after a few more parting words with the newly-born Christian, whom they were not likely to see again alive, P

edly taking it again she found and turned down the page at the fo

the book to-morrow when-" but his emot

Minnie, "Keep it fo

with it till the last day of his life, though the priest burned him for it, a

of her absence to her friends, and Minnie bade her friend good-night with a very tired but happy face. Charlie came up the steps

ter that she lay for hours thinking of all she had seen that night and rejoicing with th

from Minnie's. She was pondering over the spectacle of a soul entering int