CHAPTER XX.

THE ANONYMOUS GIFT.

THE next week after Helen's arrival in Morrisville, Mrs. Prescott sent Christopher to a neighbor to ask him to call upon her as soon as convenient. When the gentleman arrived, she sent Helen off for a long walk. The result of the neighbor's call may be seen in the following note, which was addressed to the Reverend Frederic Knowles, Maytown.

"DEAR SIR: At the request of the gentleman who is engaged by the first church in Morrisville to supply our pulpit until January, I write to request you to preach on the last Sabbath in this month, it being his desire to be absent on that day. Our usual price per Sabbath is fifteen dollars.

"If you can come, you are requested to put up at the house of Mrs. Martha Prescott on Elm Street. Please answer at your earliest convenience.

"Yours, respectfully,

"THOMAS RICE."

"I expect a friend, my dear," remarked Aunt Martha on the Saturday preceding the day in question. "Betsey has aired the room, and put it in order, but I want you to see that all is right. A tiny bouquet cut from the flowers below would prove to the guest a pleasant welcome."

Without a suspicion of the truth, Helen gladly undertook the task. She ran here and there, singing gayly through the wide halls, carrying small articles of bijouterie, to render the chamber attractive.

"I wish it were a gentleman," she exclaimed, rushing into Mrs. Prescott's chamber, "for I have found a handsome travelling-case with razors and all sorts of conveniences for the toilet. If our visitor were a gentleman, I would ask you to let me carry it there."

"Except for the shaving apparatus the dressing-case is equally suited for a lady's toilet, my dear."

"Shall I put it on the bureau then?"

"In the north parlor you will find a small ebony table, you may set the dressing-case on that."

"Yes, and my little vase in front of it," and Helen ran off, singing, to finish her pleasant work.

Saturday evening about the hour that Helen a fortnight earlier reached Morrisville, there was a ring at the front door. At the old lady's request her niece went down to receive the visitor, and to her surprise and delight found herself face to face with her preserver.

After tea Mr. Rice called upon the young clergyman, and gave him a note left by the minister who had gone from town.

In consequence of this visit Mr. Knowles was invited to return on the first Sabbath in January to preach as a candidate for settlement, which, having consulted with his father and Mrs. Prescott, he agreed to do.

Having been disappointed in their former minister, the church and parish now resolved to proceed with more caution in choosing a pastor. But after listening to Mr. Knowles' earnest representation of the way of salvation through Jesus Christ, his pleas with the unrenewed to lay down the weapons of rebellion and enlist on the side of the great Captain, they were zealous to obtain his services.

As it was Mrs. Prescott's wish that Helen's friend should for the present make her house his home, the old lady had frequent opportunities of conversation on the great doctrines of evangelical truth, and discovered in him a richness of Christian experience which greatly delighted her. She found too that he was eminently a working man, and that he had the faculty, so rare, of interesting children in his preaching.

"It's so simple," said one, "that my little boy listened spellbound."

"And yet," replied another, "it's food. I don't go away hungry, as I used to."

Mr. Knowles on the first Sabbath visited the Sunday School. And afterward he was seldom absent during some part of the exercises. He went from class to class listening to the answers, and giving a practical direction to the instructions which waked up both teachers and scholars.

"I regret more than anything in leaving Maytown," he said one evening, "our Sabbath School at Mottville. Did Helen ever tell you, Mrs. Prescott, about her starting a school, gathering the scholars and obtaining a room?"

"Never."

Frederic then gave a glowing description of the young lady's visits, already described, dilating on her talk with the hard-faced woman.

"And only think, Aunt," added the young girl laughing, "that old woman's children came after all. It was on the second Sabbath I believe. I had my class seated around me when Lizzie came in dragging a younger brother after her. The teachers were already engaged with their classes, but she did not mind this.

"She spoke in a loud voice, 'I'm going to be Miss Edmond's scholar, and so is Bobby. Ma says we sha'n't come, 'thout we can be in her class, 'cause she isn't stuck up like other rich folks.'"

"Just imagine our modest Helen receiving such praise in such a public manner," remarked Frederic, archly. "I caught a glimpse of her blushing face, and could scarcely help laughing at her too evident distress."

"Nonsense!" exclaimed Helen, frankly. "I liked it because it was sincere. I was only blushing because you—you looked so comical."

Early in April, Mr. Knowles was ordained over the first church in Morrisville. After this, it will easily be believed Helen consented to remain for the present with her aunt. The new clergyman had a room and boarded at Mr. Rice's, Mrs. Prescott's nearest neighbor. The young man begged Helen to consent that their marriage should take place immediately after his ordination. But she thought herself too young and too ignorant for the responsibilities of such a station, and told him that now while he was so near, she thought it much better to defer the wedding until she was of age.

In the meantime, Frank, after the meeting with his guardian and Mr. Knowles, returned to the city, where he was prosecuting his law studies. Though there was some reason for suspicion that all was not right, regarding their property, nothing could be proved; and everything was left as before, in the hands of Mr. Tracy.

Since that time, beyond receiving her quarterly allowance, Helen had had no communication with her guardian. Through her brother, she learned that the gentleman was reputed as very rich, and speculating with his loose capital. In the same manner she heard that Roswell Tracy and young Quincy had failed in business, the ward having lost every dollar he was worth. Roswell had left his father's house, and was forbidden to return.

Pleasanter tidings came from Sarah Barrows. At the close of her school-year, she was engaged to remain as teacher in the primary department, while she continued her studies with the advanced class, and perfected herself in music. She wrote enthusiastically of her success, adding,—

"I shall never forget that you were the one employed by my heavenly Father, to raise me from despair. If my earnest prayers for you are answered, you will have every good that He can bestow."

One pleasant event occurred soon after Mr. Knowles' settlement. A man rode to Mr. Rice's door, mounted on a noble, iron gray horse, and inquired for the parson. He delivered a note, and then observing: "There is no need of an answer," went down the steps, and walked away, leaving his horse tied to the post near the gate.

The note was brief:

"DEAR SIR: As your parish is large, and your parishioners scattered, I have taken the liberty to send you a horse, which may lighten the labor of visiting them.

"A GRATEFUL PARISHIONER."

Before the young clergyman could bring himself to comprehend that the present was really intended for him, the messenger was out of sight. What was to be done? He turned again to the envelope, and there read, "Rev. Frederic Knowles, Morrisville."

A sudden suspicion sent him at once to Helen, when she expressed so much wonder and delight, that he was left to infer the note and the animal were as new to her as to him.

"Isn't he a splendid creature?" she asked, again and again. "So high spirited, and yet so kind. See, Frederic, how he likes me to pat his neck. I must beg a ride now and then."

"But, Helen, it is impossible for me to accept so valuable a present from an anonymous friend."

"I shouldn't call a parishioner, anonymous," she warmly urged. "Why, I love your people so well that I would accept a present from any of them; and this is exactly what you need."

"But where shall I keep him?"

"Has not Mr. Rice an empty stall?"

"No, I heard him say his stable was full."

"Wait a minute."

Helen bounded up the stairs to Mrs. Prescott's room. But instead of making any inquiries of the old lady, she sank into a chair, and covering her face, laughed till the tears trickled down her cheeks.

"He doesn't even suspect. He demurs about accepting it. Oh, it is so nice!"

"Have you told him about our stable? And that Christopher will gladly assume the care of the horse?"

"No, aunty, I asked whether Mr. Rice had not room."

"You had better invite him to come up to my chamber."

Mr. Knowles found the old lady at the front window gazing at the horse, which stood in full view.

"I am glad our people are disposed to be so thoughtful for their minister's comfort," she said, cordially. "I have been admiring the beautiful creature. Are you a judge of a horse?"

"Enough so to understand that this is an expensive animal, sound, and capable of enduring great fatigue. But," with an anxious smile, "I feel a delicacy about accepting such a present. If I thought,—" casting a sudden glance upon Helen, who stood flushed and excited behind him. He checked himself, as she calmly returned his gaze.

"Helen tells me Mr. Rice cannot accommodate the horse. And therefore, not to be behind your anonymous friend, I invite you to keep him in my barn, at my expense, on condition Christopher does not object to the care. Betsey, will you ask him to come here a moment?"

"I'll go," cried Helen, darting from the room.

"It is too much, Mrs. Prescott, after all your other kindness," murmured the young man.

Christopher, having received his instructions, entered the room, and having listened to the story of the mysterious animal, was asked to take it under his charge.

The man made sundry little bows,—after his usual fashion, and took a moment for reflection. Then he said he'd be happy to do any kindness for Miss Helen's friend. And if Mr. Knowles would assure him the horse didn't bite, he'd feed him and groom him with pleasure.