Suddenly a thought seemed to cross the mind of Madge, which cast a momentary shade over her bright little face. She ran up to her mother, laid hold on her arm with childish eagerness, and, pointing to old Jonas, who was looking with hearty enjoyment on the scene before him, exclaimed in an audible whisper, “Have you brought nothing for him?”
“Blessings on the lass!” cried the honest sailor; “I want nothing but such a sight as this! ’Tis as good as the view of the old white cliffs to the homeward-bound!”
“He was so kind—so very kind,” continued Madge, without noticing the interruption; “he broke his pipe, and gave up all his smoking, that I might not be sent to the workhouse. Alie told me he did, and Alie always says true; and he ought to have some of the cake.”
The conclusion of Madge’s speech set all the party laughing—Jonas laughing the loudest of all. Mrs. Everard put her arm fondly around her little girl. “Perhaps we could think of something that our good friend would like still better than cake,” she said, gently.
Madge looked wistfully at Alie, her usual counsellor as well as friend. Suddenly her face brightened. “I know! I know!” she exclaimed; “I once heard him say he wished he’d a glass like those on board a ship, and he’d show us the hills a long way off, and the mountains in the moon beside.”
“A telescope he shall have,” said Mrs. Everard, “and one of the best that can be made.”
The lady was as good as her word, and the sailor the next day became the happy owner of that which it had long been his wish to possess, though that such a wish should ever be gratified had never entered into the good man’s calculations.
“It seems so strange,” whispered Alie to Madge, “so very strange, that we should be so thanked and rewarded for such little acts of kindness. I don’t believe that such a thing ever happened before.”
“My child, you are mistaken,” said Mrs. Everard, who chanced to hear the observation; “more wondrous things are happening every day—things of which the present scene is like a type. The poorest, weakest little one who suffers on earth, and needs the hand of Christian kindness, is the child of a Parent infinitely rich, infinitely great, who deigns to notice, and who will a thousand-fold reward, the smallest kindness shown for His sake. Nothing given in charity is ever lost; no effort made for charity is ever forgotten. _Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of these My brethren, ye did it unto Me_, are the words of Him who holds in His hands all the treasures of earth and heaven. We may not, perhaps, see in this world—but assuredly we shall see in the next—that however worthless in themselves our services may be, the Almighty condescends to accept them; and that, _he that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he hath given will He pay him again_.”