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LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY 457 |
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Cassy took the book, with a dry, proud air, and looked over the passage. She then read aloud, in a soft voice, and with a beauty of intonation that was peculiar, that touching account of anguish and of glory. Often, as she read, her voice faltered, and sometimes failed her altogether, when she would stop, with an air of frigid composure, till she had mastered herself. When she came to the touching words, " Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," she threw down the book, and, burying her face in the heavy masses of her hair, she sobbed aloud with a convulsive violence.
Tom was weeping, also, and occasionally uttering a smothered ejaculation.
" If we only could keep up to that ar'! " said Tom ; — " it seemed to come so natural to Him, and we have to fight so hard for 't! O Lord, help us ! O blessed Lord Jesus, do help us ! "
" Missis," said Tom, after a while, " I can see that, somehow, you 're quite 'bove me in everything ; but there 's one thing Missis might learn even from poor Tom. Ye said the Lord took sides against us, because He lets us be 'bused and knocked round; but ye see what come on his own Son, — the blessed Lord of Glory, — warn't He allays poor ? and have we, any on us, yet come so low as He come ? The Lord han't forgot us, — I 'm sartin' o' that ar'. If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign, Scripture says ; but, if we deny Him, He also will deny us. Did n't they all suffer ? — the Lord and all his ? It tells how they was stoned and sawn asunder, and wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins, and was destitute, afflicted, tormented. Sufferin' an't no reason to make us think the Lord 's turned agin us ; but jest the contrary, if only we hold on to Him, and does n't give up to sin."
" But why does He put us where we can't help but sin ?" said the woman.
" I think we can help it," said Tom.
"You'11 see," said Cassy; "what'11 you do? To- |
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