And will He
come soon, Mistress?"
"I don't say as 'twill be long, Mercy. I'm very old and very feeble,
and He don't ever leave the very old and feeble long down here."
"And is the better country that the blessed Master has to guide you
to, away in France, away in the south of France, in the Pyrenees?"
asked Cecile with great excitement and eagerness.
But Mrs. Bell had never even heard of the Pyrenees. She shook her
old head and frowned.
"Tis called the Celestial City by some," she said, "and by some
again the New Jerusalem, but I never yet heard anyone speak of it by
that other outlandish name. Now you're beginning your old game of
puzzling, Mercy Bell."
Cecile bent over her work, and old Mrs. Bell dozed off to sleep.
But the words the old woman had spoken were with Cecile when later
in the day she went out to play with Maurice and Toby; were with her
when she lay down to sleep that night. What a pity Jesus only guided
people to the Celestial City and to the New Jerusalem! What a pity
that, as He was so very good, He did not do more! What a pity that He
could not be induced to take a little girl who was very young, and
very ignorant, but who had a great care and anxiety on her mind, into
France, even as far as, if necessary, to the south of France! Cecile
wondered if He could be induced to do it. Perhaps old Mrs. Bell, who
knew Him so well, would ask Him. Cecile guessed that Jesus must have
a very kind heart. For what did that girl say who once sat upon a
doorstep, and sang about him?
"I am so glad Jesus loves even me.
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