GOLDENHUE: THE STORY OF A SHELL. THE LIGHT OF THE CROSS. N a day I sat a-musing, In St. Mary's cloisters grey, To the time of happy childhood, Strong of heart at times, prevailing Beaten backwards in the strife; But, alas, there lurks a treason, "Father all merciful in heaven!" Be counted worthless in thy sight?" 63 I cried, "As moves from morn to even, JOHN FRANCIS WALLER. GOLDEN HUE: THE STORY OF A SHELL. BY THE AUTHOR OF "OUR FOREFATHERS IN HISTORY," ETC. CHAPTER VIII. N the sea-shore lay Goldenhue, broken! How long she lay there! How the sun burnt and scorched her! The tides flowed and ebbed, and she grovelled in the sand lest she should be carried back to the ocean. One day, as she still lay in despair and grief, the gentle waves as they ebbed whispered to her that she lay at the foot of a great rock, in which she might find a place of safety. out, they carried her into the very heart of that great rock. Oh, what a pleasant, peaceful, happy home she found it, free from danger, and care and trouble! Goldenhue was so happy in her little nook, that she never wanted to leave it again. There were numbers of shells there besides her; some were broken, some scarred, for they had nearly all come up through the waters, but now they were safe in this bright home, and need never leave it again.. When the storms came they crept into the crevice of the rock, and were safe; but there were bright sunny days, when the great sea was tame, and came The waves passed away; they might not tarry lapping and floating at the foot of the rock. Then when their message was given. The tide flowed again, and ebbed and flowed, and ebbed and flowed, and still Goldenhue lay there, lost and despairing. She would not listen to the soft whispers of the waves, so one night they were rough, and tore her from the sands, and, as at her wits' end, she cried the waves were kind and loving, and would talk to the shells, and tell them about many of the strange things they saw. The shells wondered why they never stayed near the rock, but always travelled backwards and forwards. "Why, dear shells," they answered, "what would you have done without us? You thought we hurt you and used you badly, but it was to bring you safe to this happy home." It was evening, and the tide was in; the waves reached the shells and rippled and kissed them, and then flowed on across the sands. There was no moon, but the little stars gave light enough to show the sky soft and dark, and one, larger and brighter than the others, beamed down and threw a long streak across the waters. Goldenhue was thinking little of anything, but was enjoying the comfort, the peace, and safety of her happy home. Suddenly her thoughts woke up, and travelled back to the days now long past. How anxious she had been to leave her sweet sheltered cavern home; how wilfully she had laid aside joys and comforts and quiet, which, like a great coral reef, had shielded her from so much evil, and had rushed forth to the restless sea, finding pleasure which was not happiness, and safety that was danger; how she had climbed on the ship, though she knew it would lead to misery and loss; and then-her dear Dolphin's death. That always lay heavily on her heart-her dear, dear friend, whom she had treated so badly. She went on through many recollections that crowded fast on each other, and then began to wonder what had called them forth. She looked over the water, as if to find the answer there, and right before her, close beside her, was— what was it? Yes, it was a dolphin! At first she was too surprised to speak a word, then she said, "Who are you, friend Dolphin ?" and a great hope ran through her that he might perhaps have known her Dolphin, and so they might Oh, Dolphin, Dolphin! is it you, is it you?" And so the great fish and the little shell were happy once more. At last Goldenhue asked, "How did you come here, Dolphin?" "I came last night. The waves told me about this great rock, and I was so tired and miserable I came to it; and, only think, I found a little place that will make me a nice little home, so we shall live together again, like the old days in the cavern, only better." Twice he had been back to the caverns, hoping to find his little playmate, and the rest of the time he had spent sailing through the ocean, hoping he might find her. His hope grew less and less, and at last he gave it up. He saw many other shells, good, pretty, and lovely ones, but had never found another Goldenhue till now, when he had got his old one back again; the same, yet changed to greater sweetness and beauty, despite of the scar she bore. What need to tell of the happy sunlit years which followed? The peaceful days, the soft breezy winds and fragrant odours from the balmy sea? Enough, that they were only less, and not greater than the gladness which filled their hearts. "THE QUIVER" BIBLE CLASS. 22. What proof have we in the New Testament that the inhabitants of Malta believed in a plurality of gods? 23. To what place did Saul, King of Israel, send three companies of messengers to take David, each of which in turn became endued with the spirit of prophecy? 24. In Leviticus xvii. 7 it says, "They shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils." What king renewed this practice? 25. Quote passage in which the Philistines are mentioned as being soothsayers. 26. What part of Syria was noted for its fine oak trees? 27. From what passages in the New Testament do we deduce the fact that the Roman law did not allow any of its citizens to be punished until after they had been duly and legally tried? ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON PAGE 32. 8. The chief captain having been informed by St. Paul's sister's son that the Jews were lying in wait to kill Paul, sent him away to Cæsarea (Acts xxiii. 16-23). 9. Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall" (Neh. iv. 3). 10. That of King Hezekiah, in showing all his treasures to the messengers of the King of Babylon (Isaiah xxxix. 1-7). 11. St. Paul and St. Silas from prison (Acts xvi. 25, 26), and St. Peter from prison (Acts xii. 5-9). 12. "Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness; and let him reprove me, it shall be an Goldenhue told him her story, and then wanted to excellent oil" (Psalm cxli. 5). know all about him. He told her that the storm had come on so fiercely the moment he was caught, that the sailors had not time to secure him, and a great wave washing over the ship, carried him away with it. The storm was nothing to him, for he had been in very many. 13. The Mount of Olives (Luke xxii. 39), and Mount Calvary (Luke xxiii. 33). 14. At Gilgal (1 Sam. xii. 16-18). 15. "My father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, I will chastise you with scorpions" (1 Kings xii. 14). |