Grateful Peter's new year's gift
where little Alice told him the sky was so blue and the air so fresh,
and filled with the smell of flowers and the song of birds!
"By the way," said the doctor, "it will be rather early for flowers,
but the air of spring time is sweeter than any. You will come back with
checks like roses."
The boy tried to speak his thanks, but broke down in the attempt, and
then said something about what old Sally would do without him.
"She has managed so far, Peter, and you may safely trust her to Mr.
Russell and me. She is coming to see you before you go to the 'Home.'"
Peter said good-bye to his old friend, and was a little surprised to
see her in such good spirits.
What a delightful three weeks was that which followed. All was new,
strange, and beautiful. Peter's delight was only equalled by his wonder
at the marvellous works of God. Peter saw Dr. Turner two or three
times, and that kind friend promised that, at the appointed time, he
would take him home. And so he did.
Was it to the poor cellar in Back Potter Street, Number Three Court?
No, indeed. The doctor took him to a neat little cottage with just two
rooms—one of a long row, and farther out of the town, and there he saw
his old friend Sally Graham.
"Eh, my boy!" shrieked the old woman, as she seized his hand, her eyes
overflowing with gladness. "See what the doctor and Mr. Russell have
got for me; this nice little house, and I'm to have it as long as I
live, and a bit of money to keep me in victuals, too. And you 'are'
looking red and stout! Who'd have thought such luck would come out of
your broken leg on New Year's Eve?"
Who, indeed? But there was more "luck" still, as Sally called it. The
two gentlemen had exerted themselves so well that they had gained a
place for Peter in an excellent school, where he would be fed, taught,
lodged, and clothed almost free of cost.
This arrangement would not allow Peter to live under the same roof
with his old friend, and at first she could scarcely bear the idea of
parting with him. But the school and the almshouses in which Sally was
to find a home belonged to the same institution.
She would see her lad often, and he could spend his weekly half-holiday
there. Beside, it would be "a grand thing for the lad;" and this
conquered all objections.
What a change it was both for the boy and the old woman! Instead of
the racket, the dirt, and the evil habits and language of Back Potter
Street, were quiet, order, cleanliness, and decent behaviour. And,
instead of jacket-mending by old Sally, and marble-playing in the court
for Peter, they both sat on Sunday in the same church, learning more of
that old, yet ever new story of "Jesus and His love."
With all Peter's desire to do his best and show his deep gratitude to
the kind friends who had been so good to him, he found it very hard at
first to obey rules and learn lessons. After the free, uncontrolled
street life to which he had been accustomed from infancy, it was a most
difficult matter to sit still for any length of time. But Peter fought
against inclination, because he knew restraint was for his good; and
his friends encouraged him to persevere. Above all, Peter had by this
time learned another, and very precious lesson—he had learned to pray;
and when the battle was too much for him to fight alone, he sought
strength from God.
Peter was, of course, a very backward scholar, and had to sit side by
side with boys not much above half his age for a time. But a boy who
works and prays is sure to get on, and Peter made fair progress. When
three more New Years' Days had passed, there was a consultation between
Dr. Turner and Mr. Russell as to what Peter must do to earn his living.
No boy could stay in that school after sixteen years of age; and if
Peter had not been so very backward to begin with, he must have left
earlier still.
"I like the lad," said Dr. Turner; "and I would take him to learn
my own profession, but he began his education so late that it would
require many years of study beyond the ordinary time to fit him for it."
"Peter is cut out for a tradesman," said Mr. Russell. "His early
experience and natural sharpness will come in well behind a counter,
though a hard student he could never be."
The doctor agreed to this, and Peter was apprenticed to a grocer. He
gained great favour from his master, and repaid it by doing "with his
might" whatever his hand found to do.
Old Sally lived to see her lad prospering in the world. Amongst the
lady customers whom Peter served with his own hand was one whom he
first knew as the little girl—Alice Russell—that read to him the "Old,
Old Story" as he lay helpless in the hospital, many years before. We
may be sure that it was with willing service, he supplied her wants at
all times.
Twenty years after Peter was apprenticed, and longer still after that
New Year's Eve which was the turning-point in his life, he sat at his
desk writing a letter.
It was the last evening of the year, and his thoughts were going back
to that stormy December night when he was carried, hurt and senseless,
to the hospital. What changes these four and twenty years had brought!
Here was Peter Grant, once a seller of baked potatoes, and living in a
cellar, now the prosperous and wealthy tradesman. He had followed kind
Dr. Turner to the grave with a heavy heart, several years before. Yet
his good friend had not forgotten the lad whom he had helped to lift
out of vice and poverty. He had no son of his own, or any very near
relative, so he left Peter a sum of money, which enabled him to become
a partner in the business. He is sole master now, for his old employer
and partner has retired.
And Peter has little children of his own, and a bright home, and he
is "Mr. Grant" to everybody. He has heard that the hospital which
sheltered him is in want of more help than usual; that there is not
room enough, and that if one thousand pounds could be given, and a new
wing built, the sick and poor might find shelter enough and to spare.
Peter was a grateful lad; he is a grateful man now he has the means to
do good. And as he writes the letter I spoke of, there is a happy look
on his pleasant face.
The children are drumming at the countinghouse door, for "father" has
promised to come and romp with them. He always gives the little folks
a party on New Year's Eve, and enjoys inside the shutters a repetition
of those sounds to which he once listened while leaning against the
railings outside, amid the falling snow.
"I will come directly, children," he says. And while he answers, he
seals his letter, first enclosing a slip of paper torn out of a book,
to which he adds some writing.
Then father joins the children and the romp begins anew.
On New Year's Day, the treasurer of the hospital received a letter, and
after reading it, he went with a joyful face to tell some good news.
"A gentleman," said he—"I am not to tell his name, or any
particulars—has sent a note enclosing a cheque for a thousand pounds
to build the new wing we want so much. He writes that, as a poor
boy, he received shelter, healing, and, what is better than all,
the first sound of those 'glad tidings' that the angels brought at
Christmas-tide, while he was under the roof of the hospital. And now
God has prospered him, and he desires to impart to others the same
benefits so freely bestowed on him many a year ago."
There were many, dear children, who had no idea where that letter and
the money came from. But I can tell you that the thousand pounds which
paid for building the new wing to the hospital was nothing else but
Grateful Peter's New Year's Gift.
God will take care of you. All through the day
Jesus is near you to keep you from ill,
Waking or resting, at work or at play.
Jesus is with you, and watching you still.
He will take care of you, All through the night
Jesus the Shepherd, His little one keeps;
Darkness to Him is the same as the light,
He never slumbers, and He never sleeps.
He will take care of you. All through the year
Crowning each day with His kindness and love,
Sending you blessings, and shielding from fear,
Leading you on to that bright home above.
He will take care of you. Yes, to the end
Nothing can alter His love for His own;
Children, be glad that you have such a Friend;
He will not leave you one moment alone.
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LONDON: KNIGHT, PRINTER, MIDDLE STREET, ALDERSGATE, E. C.