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BETSY

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BETSY

14 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

(Continued from last issue)

Betsy cast her eyes downward and an attentive observer could have realized that the child had an inward struggle.

When the tune had been whistled and hummed, father said, “Come Betsy, let us hear what you can do; each of us take turn and by so doing the day will be passed pleasantly.”

Betsy kept still.

“Come on, Bets! you can sing such nice school’ songs and you have such a beautiful voice. Do you want us to help you?”

“I have no desire father to sing school songs.”

“What else do you wish to sing; you know more than school songs!”

“Yes, father! a lot more; but therein have I also no desire. Do you know what would be nice to sing?”

“No, Bets!”

“That Psalm that the minister had us sing when the services began this morning. “Sing a new song to Jehovah, for the wonders He has wrought.”

“You may think it is nice, Betsy! but we will not sing any psalms today.”

“That is what I say also,” says mother, “for I know if we did that, all the people passing by our home would stand still and exclaim: “Well! Well! so Staalman and his wife have also become pious!”

“Come, mother! I cannot believe that. Do you think the people would stop in such weather. See, it is snowing as if we were in December.”

“Anyway, it will not take place here!” repeated father, in a gruff voice, “I agree with your mother. The singing of Psalms we will leave to Jake the dock-hand and Kate the fisherman’s wife, and all the other pious people, but from us it will not be heard.”

“But father! I am very much disappointed, for I would like to sing that Psalm very much. And when you mentioned the name of Kate the fisherman’s wife, it reminded me of a few days ago when you asked me to buy some nails at the hardware store. Kate was there also, and she and the storekeeper were saying such nice things about heaven, that tears filled his eyes and I regretted being waited on so quickly for I could have listened a while longer.”

“Yes,” said Father, “that storekeeper is a fanatic, just as Kate.”

“I do not understand,” said his wife, “how you still care to trade at his store.”

“If everything you bought from him was not of the best quality and reasonable in price, I promise that I would not buy another penny’s worth in his store.”

“Thus he does not cheat the people, father!” said Betsy.

“Hold your tongue, naughty girl!” said father, “and do not make me more angry than I am.”

“But father! I speak the truth and not evil.”

“Hold your tongue, Betsy!” said mother, and immediately the child obeyed. She sat in the corner for two hours as if she had no tongue in her mouth.

As previously related, Betsy had gone to the store for nails for her father, the thought might occur as to what trade or occupation Mr. Staalman followed.

Mr. Staalman was by trade a carpenter. For a number of years he had been an ordinary carpenter, but of late he had decided to go into business for himself, and this, with very little financial means.

Whenever he was seen walking on the street, and especially on Sunday, with his wife and daughter, one would not say that he was of little means, for he carried himself as a big business man and his wife as a lady. Let us relate an occasion in this respect. There was among the clients of Mr. Staalman a real estate agent, who had charge of numerous buildings. This client decided to take a walk on a certain Sunday afternoon. He was as always, attired in a neat business suit. A little outside of the city, he was passed by a man dressed in a very modern and exquisite suit, accompanied by a lady dressed in the latest style clothes and a neatly dressed young lady. The real estate agent bowed and removed his hat as was the custom to one who appeared to be above the average in the walk of life, although he noticed the greeting was returned somewhat cooly. They had no sooner passed each other when the agent suddenly stopped in his tracks as if dumbfounded. “Well did you ever,” he said to himself, not believing his own eyes and hurriedly turned around and retraced his steps to pass the gentleman and his wife and daughter. While passing by them, he cast a side glance to make sure of himself and after having gone by for some distance, he stopped and said to himself: “I sure did see good that time, it is Staalman and his wife and daughter. The boss carpenter who wears out your doorstep to get a few odd jobs, posing as a big business man and his wife as a lady. Why his suit is much more modern than mine, it is splendid. But everyone must know for themselves what they can do. One thing Staalman can now bear in mind and that is, he will not get anymore of my jobs. From now on they will be given to some one who deserves them more than he.”

The real estate agent kept his word and the boss carpenter gradually kept getting smaller; in fact so small, that his wife started to complain and often wished he was still an ordinary day worker. She kept complaining, but no one seemed to sympathize.

Thus, although having nothing, still Staalman and his wife tried to be something in outward appearances. Gradually going backwards in temporal things and not being concerned about eternal matters; having mocked with God and his word, O how sad and sorrowful the outlook appeared for Staalman and his wife. Yes, the future did look miserable for both of them as we can realize. Betsy was not even permitted to sing a psalm in the home, for did we not hear father say: “Do not make me more angry than I am,” and mother’s command was: “Keep quiet.”

But, we might ask, why did Betsy have such a desire to sing psalms. This we shall relate.

Betsy had a school chum named Agnes whose parents were very different than hers. Daily the Bible was read in her home and Agnes went to Sunday School every Sunday about one hour after church was dismissed. And how gladly she went there and thought very highly of her teacher. Her teacher was a man to be honored and respected, for it was a pleasure to see the ways he had of dealing with the children. He was very sincere and could relate his Bible studies pleasantly and at the same time admonish earnestly.

But let us return to our two school chums. On Monday after school, Agnes would tell Betsy what her teacher had related on Sunday and she listened so attentively, that it could plainly be seen on her face that she did not notice what took place around her. At one time Agnes said to her friend: “But Betsy! wouldn’t you like to come to Sunday School with me some time?” “Would I! Oh gladly, Agnes! but I do not dare to ask my father and mother.” “Come on, ask them,” said Agnes, “and if they consent, I will come to your house for you Sunday.” “Well,” said Betsy, “that will be grand, although I probably will not get my parents’ consent, I will ask them anyway.”

The following evening Betsy asked her parents; but oh, what faces. “You go to Sunday School ?” said father, with a spiteful sneer on his face; “surely to become corrupt. Never my child. What do you say, mother?” “What do I say?” said mother, “you know I have the same thoughts as you do. I see absolutely no good in it, but only mischief. They only make old men and women of the children in the Sunday School where Agnes Kleinhart attends.”

“Please, father, let me go to Sunday School with Agnes.”

“You have heard what mother and I said; you shall never go there. And be sure you never go to Agnes Kleinhart’s home. We are too respectable to associate with those people and do not want you to be seen in their company.”

With tears in her eyes Betsy told Agnes the next day that her father and mother would not let her go to Sunday School. “I regret that very much,” said Agnes, “for you can learn a good deal.”

As was said before, Betsy always listened very attentively when Agnes related the story her teacher had told the Sunday School class. She had something most children do not have and that is an open ear; and an open ear we do not have of ourselves, it is the gift of God. When the child had attended church on Easter morning, she had heard the minister speak and discuss matters which she had heard her school chum speak of; but it can be realized that the minister spake with greater power than her school chum and could expound the facts more thoroughly. And the Lord who had given Betsy an open ear had also begun the work of the Holy Spirit in her young heart.

Earnestly she began to think while hearing the sermon, what it would be, if the Lord Jesus had not risen from the dead for her. And when the minister had pointed out the miserable state of those who die in their sins—then, we have heard her say with her own tongue—a cold chill ran through her body, and this can also be added; then the desire arose strongly in her heart; “O, that I also may become regenerated and receive a new heart.”

The midday meal, deliriously prepared by mother, was not relished by Betsy. She continued to feel sad and what father and mother did to make her happy, nothing availed.

After tea, the dominoes were brought forth and father said, “Come Betsy! let us see who is the strongest.” Betsy answered, “Today I have no desire to play dominoes.” “No desire? make haste and go to bed quickly, for dreamers we do not want by the table. Make sure that you get a good sleep tonight and it may be that tomorrow you will be cured of your complaint.”

Poor Betsy, she immediately did as father said, arose from the table and made her way to the bedroom. While climbing the staircase mother remarked to her, “Child, child! why do you treat your parents thus.”

What was further said by father and mother after Betsy had gone to bed we cannot say, but we can well guess that they were busy talking about her and it is as if we can hear them say: “We sure will have a disagreeable life with Betsy, if she continues in this mood,” and the other will have replied, “Keep still, for we have not begun to see our grief.” And why can we guess this? Well, as soon as Betsy came downstairs Monday morning, mother said: “Betsy, today we will have a real Easter. Father has ordered a horse and carriage to take us to Uncle Frank’s house. What do you think of that?”

“O, mother! I would much rather stay at home and go to church.”

“Listen to Betsy!” said mother, to father, who was in the next room dressing to go to Uncle Frank’s. “Did you hear what she said?”

“What is that,” said father.

“Betsy would much rather stay at home and go to church.”

“Well,” said father, “Betsy will have to think about the church as I do and that is; it is no toad that it will jump away.”

“Do you hear, Betsy?” said mother.

“Yes, mother!” and at the same time heaving a sigh.

It was not long before father appeared, all dressed and ready to go and requested his wife and daughter to get ready before half of the day was spent in preparation for the ride to Uncle Frank.

When mother suggested that they first have a bite to eat, father said very snappy: “Put the lunch in a bag and then we can eat while riding.” So said, so done. Directly the three were seated in the carriage and the coachman was given a generous tip if he would promise to drive the horses with the whip.

And how this promise was fulfilled. Almost one-half hour sooner than usual the trip was completed. How pleased were Uncle Frank and his wife when they saw Staalman and his wife and daughter, who had come so unexpectedly.

“I would have never dreamed of seeing you today,” said Uncle Frank, “and now I hope you all have a very pleasant time.”

“I hope so too,” said Staalman, “for that is just why we have come here; our Betsy is not feeling very well.”

“I hope she has not been ill?”

“No,” said father, “not exactly, but I do not know, she is not at all cheerful.”

“And how is that?”

“Yes, how is it? I suppose some cobwebs in her head. Listen good brother and I will tell you. Yesterday morning the three of us went to church because of Easter and just then it was the “ pious preacher’s” turn to occupy the pulpit and you know how frantic he can be at times.”

“You do not have to tell me anything about him, for I know all about it. Here in our village we have a real, lovely man and I think well of him. But go on with your story.”

“Well, when we came home from church our little daughter commenced to talk about the sermon and said that a cold chill went through her body when the preacher related what it would be if a person died in their unregenerated state. All afternoon and evening you could not get her to say one word and she choose not to play dominoes.”

“Come, come, that will go over, for Betsy is much too young to think about such things.”

Betsy spake not a word and had to restrain herself from bursting into tears.

Nothing was left undone to make father, mother, and daughter enjoy themselves. Eggs, currant bread, etc. was plentiful All laughed and danced, and “it was a pleasure to hear them,” the world would say, but all enjoyed themselves, except Betsy. Incessantly her heart would pound and again and again the words kept repeating: “He who dies in his unregenerated state has no part in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. To die unprepared-eternally lost.” The young girl went and sat in a corner from where she would not come, regardless of what was done by father and mother.

It does not have to be said that Staalman and his wife were very much put out by Betsy’s actions. “You sure are a heady thing,” said father.

“And an incorrigible girl,” said mother. “Shame to act in this manner after having been reared in a respectable household.” There was a stillness until home was reached. Father’s eyes turned angrily in his head and it could be seen that mother was nervous. “You can say,” as she burst into tears, “that we will never forget this Easter.”

Yes, that you and your husband will remember this Easter, there will be no doubt, for if it may please the Lord to renew your Spirit, these two days will always be before you and bring you to your knnes before a God who is too pure of sight that he will behold evil. With tears of repentance and reconciliation shalt thou implore Him for forgiveness in the blood shed on Golgotha for your burning enmity against Him and His Anointed, that is, against Him and Him crucified who arose from the grave and now sitteth at the right hand of the Father. And if your spirit is not renewed, you will still remember this Easter. Then you will remember, yea, with trembling you will think of it.

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van dinsdag 1 april 1941

The Banner of Truth | 14 Pagina's

BETSY

Bekijk de hele uitgave van dinsdag 1 april 1941

The Banner of Truth | 14 Pagina's