CHAPTER III.

THE DIVINE RULE; OR, AOLA.

QUESTION III. _What do the Scriptures principally teach?_

ANSWER. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

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MR. DERMOTT was the wife of a merchant residing in the suburbs of a large city. Her husband was frequently called from home for several months together; and she, in accordance with his wishes, had taken up the doctrines and duties of Christian faith, with the endeavor to render them both simple and attractive to her children. Thus far her efforts had been attended with unusual success, and the little ones looked forward with impatience for the evening when the lessons should be continued.

All being in their places, and the answer repeated with which this chapter commences, the lady inquired, "Did you notice, Walter, into how many parts the teachings of Scripture are divided in this answer?"

After a moment's hesitation, the boy replied, "Into two parts: what we are to believe, and what we are to do."

"Very well, my dear. In the first place, the Bible teaches us to believe; or it presupposes the existence of God, the Creator of all things. He made the world and all that is therein; the sun to rule the day, and the moon and stars to rule the night. The beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, even the little insects which swarm in the air, were all fashioned by his forming hand.

"But what is of more importance to us than all else, is the fact contained in Scripture, that God sent his only Son to provide a way of salvation for poor, guilty sinners.

"This is what we are to believe concerning God. The duties required of us are comprehensively and beautifully summed up in the ten commandments. These relate both to our duties toward God and our duties toward our follow-creatures.

"The Bible teaches little children to whom they are indebted for life and all that makes life pleasant, and it also teaches them to obey their parents, and how to treat each other."

"The Bible says, 'Little children, love one another,'" urged Helen, speaking quickly; "now, mother, will you tell us a story?"

Mrs. Dermott smilingly assented, and commenced. "Far, far away among the Rocky Mountains, many hundred miles beyond where the foot of the white man had ever trod, there once lived an Indian maiden, the daughter of a sachem. She married one of the young warriors of her tribe, and for many years followed him from one hunting field to another, her heart kept warm by her love for him and for her papooses. This is the Indian name for children, of which she had four.

"At length her husband grew sick, and, according to the custom of the poor, deluded tribe, Nola presented offerings to their idols in his behalf. But, notwithstanding her sacrifices and her prayers, the warrior grew rapidly worse, and soon died.

"Aola was now a widow, and had no one to draw the bow for her, except her eldest son. In a few months, he returned hurriedly from the chase to his mother's wigwam, and throwing himself upon his father's hunting robe, said, 'I am sick.'

"'This time,' said Aola, 'I will surely appease the wrath of our gods.'

"She deprived herself of many comforts to offer more costly sacrifices; but all in vain: her first-born soon breathed his last.

"Before twelve moons had waxed and waned, two more dear ones, precious remembrances of her past joys, had sickened, and in spite of her agonizing prayers to the idols, had passed forever from her sight.

"At length her sweet little Lola, who, in her repeated trials, had entwined herself closer and closer to her heart, grew wan and pale, like the others who had preceded it to the world of spirits. Aola, in her anguish, beat her breast. Suddenly she grew more calm, and, taking Lola in her arms, hastened to a huge pine tree near her wigwam. She seated herself on a little mound at the foot of the tree, and began to look into her own heart."

[Illustration: "I will pray to the God of my Lola."]

"'Aola,' she asked herself, 'where is the God who gave you your papoose?'

"She gazed far into the deep, dark forest, then up toward the bright blue sky, and a voice whispered to her soul, 'I am God, who made the heavens and the earth. Plead your cause with me.'

"With streaming eyes Aola replied, 'I will no longer bow down to the gods who would not hear my prayers. I will pray to the God of my Lola.'

"She then laid her babe upon the soft grass at her feet, and prostrating herself upon her knees, with her lips touching the ground, her cries and her supplications ascended to the Most High. He heard her prayer; and when Aola returned to her wigwam, it was with a smile of hope upon her lip.

"Fourteen years later, when Mr. Kingsbury, one of the first missionaries to the Indians, reached her tribe, and began to talk about the white man's God, Aola, catching her child by the hand, led her to the good man, exclaiming, in her native language, 'White man's God my God, Lola's God too.' And then began to tell him that for fourteen years she had prayed to the good Being who had whispered to her heart, and who had saved the life of her child.

"A station was subsequently established at that place, and Aola was received into the Christian church. Lola was taught to read the Bible; and O, how eagerly did her mother drink in the precious words which revealed to her so fully the greatness and goodness of that gracious Being, whom, not knowing, she had loved!

"But her history is very unlike that of most of the heathen. It teaches us of what the power of conscience and the light of nature are capable, and confirms the words of the apostle:

"'The invisible things of God, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.'

"The multitude of them have 'changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.' They need the Bible to teach them what they ought to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of them."