Chapter VIII: Games and Entertainments

ALL this time the building committee in Grantbury were pressing on the work most vigorously. The edifice was unlike any other in the town. It was of Gothic architecture. The walls were, as I have mentioned of native stone, the windows high, narrow, with stained glass. "They will have a cross on the spire," said one, "I'm sure of it, and I'll tell you what it will end in, they'll all go to Rome together."

The work proceeded so well, notwithstanding these prophecies, that it was hoped it would be ready for occupation by Christmas. Mr. Angus's taste was consulted during the entire progress.

The plan had been copied and sent to him for approval. All the committee agreed that some suggestions made by him were a great improvement on the original plan. In his last letter he had told them he expected to sail for home the 17th of September, and this the committee said would be in time to decide about frescoing and other interior decorations. No member of the parish, outside of Mr. Asbury's family, was aware that a new tie had been formed which would strengthen his affection to the country and home of his adoption. A few persons knew that a cellar was being dug on a house-lot not two hundred feet from the new church, but these few supposed Mr. Asbury was going to erect a house to rent, as he was often seen directing the workmen. The fact was that "our church," with its rafters exposed to view, its spire towering every day nearer to heaven, its ample porch of solid stone, absorbed all the interest of the congregation.

Every week a letter came to the church or the Sunday school in which the pastor spoke most hopefully of what they might together accomplish for the cause of Christ. He told them what he had seen in England and Scotland, among congregations he had visited, of united effort. He reminded them, that if they so labored and prayed, God would surely add His blessing, until there was not one in the limits of the town who did not love Christ and try to serve Him.

To the Sunday-school children he wrote of schools in London and Edinburgh, where all were wide awake with interest to gather in the poor waifs who knew nothing of Jesus except His name, which they heard mingled with the most dreadful oaths. He spoke of the reward these workers received in their own hearts, and urged them to follow so worthy an example. He mentioned at the close of this letter that he had subscribed for one of the best English Sunday-school papers, and offered it for a reward to the child who would bring into their own Sunday school the greatest number of scholars. These must be from families not connected with any other church.

For the first time in her life dear little Ethel had a secret, and it was her own Marion who told her of it.

By and by, when the new house was done, she knew that her dear Mr. Angus would bring Marion from the city and go there to live. She knew that a beautiful conservatory was to be built on the south side of the new house, and that Marion's flowers and birds would be brought there. She knew that Hepsey and Esther and James would all be in the pretty home at the new Ingleside, and that she could go to see them as often as she pleased. She knew why it was that Marion came from New York so often, and why papa spent so much time talking with her about some large charts spread out on the dining-room table, about an oriel window here, and a balcony there, and why they always waited till she was in bed before they walked over to the spot where the new house was being built.

One thing more connected with this wonderful secret she had been told later, and this came near letting the whole thing out, which would indeed have set the congregation connected with the First Church into a blaze of excitement. Marion had promised that on a certain occasion, not very far distant, she should go to New York with her papa and mamma and Annie and Gardner, and stand up with Marion as bridesmaid, while she promised to love Mr. Angus and take good can of him as long as she lived.

It was something to be remembered, the wonder and delight of the child as she came to understand all this. Her eyes grew darker, and her whole face radiant, as she glanced slowly from one to another, and her mamma added,—

"Yes, darling, cousin Marion is going to live in Grantbury and be Mr. Angus's wife."

"And I'll be his wife, too," she exclaimed, with a little hop of delight. "I'll promise to love him and take care of him. He can be the broom to both of us."

"The broom!"

"Yes, mamma, you said that she would be the bride and he the broom."

"Groom, you mean, you precious pet," said Marion, catching the child in her arms and hiding her burning cheeks in Ethel's neck.

Mamma thought this too good to keep from papa, and even threatened Marion that she would acquaint Mr. Angus with the double honor that awaited him; but the young lady's entreaties prevailed, and the letter went off without the joke.

The rise of ground on which the new church was being built was in a part of the town not yet much occupied by families. The road from the old church, school-house, etc., to the depot wound gracefully around the foot of the hill, and had been widened and improved within a short time. It was about one quarter of a mile to the railroad station, and an equal distance from the village, which had grown up in what was once the centre. Prior to the existence of the railroad, it was Mr. Asbury's most profitable grass land, and he now owned as far as the depot on one side, and quite down to Shawsheen Lake on the other. The elevated situation of the land, together with the picturesque views it commanded, rendered it peculiarly eligible for building lots. Speculators from the city had already made favorable offers to the owner for the whole field, but, with the exception of one hundred feet front by one hundred and fifty deep, donated to the church, and a house-lot nearly four times the size, next adjoining, Mr. Asbury refused to sell.

Mr. Angus's letters to Marion kept her informed of his visits to London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, where he was studying into the best-approved methods of church work in reference to his own labors among his chosen people. He told her of sewing schools, not only for children, but for mothers, where they were taught to cut and make garments for boys and girls, given simple recipes for cooking, and taught in general how to make home happy. He narrated cases where, in consequence of these teachings, the husband had been won from the alehouse to the pleasures of his own fireside, where the savory soups the wives had learned to make had weaned them from liquor: and made them into peace-abiding citizens.

He wrote of libraries and reading-rooms established for the poor, and also of societies for social pleasures, amusement, etc., to which all were invited to contribute their share.

"I accompanied a friend," he wrote, "to one of these gatherings, which reminded me of a description Annie Asbury gave me of one of yours. The ball accommodated about five hundred, and was as full as was comfortable. Fathers and mothers, and not a few grandparents, were there, with youth not under fourteen. Entertainments for the little ones are provided on separate occasions. I cannot describe to you vividly enough the inspiration I derived from the scene,— the smiling faces, the merry voices, the ring of real, healthy enjoyment of the whole company. Surely I thought, to provide healthful and innocent amusement for young and old is an important part of church work. To stand still a moment and listen to the hum and buzz of cheerful voices, with now and then a burst of laughter, sent a glow of kindly interest for every one present through my whole being.

"There were games and puzzles and comic readings with an occasional tragedy, and singing from boys in chorus, and boys or girls in solos, and a couple of street boys with bagpipes, until the allotted hour to close arrived. Then I as a stranger from the far-off America, was requested to make a brief address and close with prayer. When the bell calling to order was rung, I was surprised to see how quickly every one found a seat, waiting to hear what was said.

"I had just commenced to tell them about my home across the water, when a small hand near me was raised, and a boy asked timidly,—

"'Tell us about the bears and Indians, mister.'"

"I had some difficulty in convincing them that in the United States we had cities and towns, as they had, and that our bears were kept in cages or pits, as theirs were. I told them I was very glad to be with them when they were having such a merry time; and that I wanted to join my thanks with theirs to the kind Christian ladies and gentlemen who had provided such an entertainment for us.

"To the loving Father who watches over us all, to the sympathizing Saviour who endured temptation and want that He might know how to help us, to the gracious Spirit, who is ready to lead us into every good way, I then committed them, and we separated.

"I forgot to tell you that I was persuaded in the course of the evening to sing a comic song, which I learned while in New York. Of course this 'brought down the house.' How would my dear little Ethel have looked could she have seen me?"

In another letter he said:—

"I have conversed with many clergymen and other Christians of ripe experience on this same subject of amusement. All classes of persons, with rare exception of peculiar individuals, agree that some relaxation is necessary to a healthful state of body and mind. If no innocent and proper amusements are provided, young and old, rich and poor, will seek entertainments for themselves, and too often these will be the lowest class of theatres, shows, etc.

"Let Christian parents and teachers make it a part of the business of education to provide suitably for this want of our nature, and these objectionable, immoral places would have to be closed for want of patronage. In the neighborhood of the church where was the entertainment I have described, a low theatre of the worst description had been abandoned, simply because the ground was occupied in a worthier way. I am looking forward to inaugurating some plan of this kind, and I confidently expect help from a merry girl from whom I purchased my first pair of gloves in Grantbury."