But a strange experience was to come to the impressionable Cecile
later in the day.
Quite late, when all the light had faded, and only the lamps were
lit, and Maurice was sound asleep in his little bed in Mrs. Moseley's
small closet, that good woman, taking the little girl's hand, said to
her:
"When we go to church we go to learn about Jesus. I took you to one
kind of church this morning. I saw by yer looks, my little maid, as
you were trying hard to understand. Now I will take you to another
kind of church. A church wot ain't to call orthodox, and wot many
speaks against, and I don't say as it ha'n't its abuses. But for all
that, when Molly Moseley wants to be lifted clean off her feet into
heaven, she goes there; so you shall come to-night with me, Cecile."
All religious teaching was new to Cecile, and she gave her hand
quite willingly to her kind friend.
They went down into the cold and wet winter street, and presently,
after a few moments' quick walking, found themselves in an immense,
square-built hall. Galleries ran round it, and these galleries were
furnished with chairs and benches. The whole body of the hall was
also full of seats, and from the roof hung banners, with texts of
Scripture printed on them, and the motto of the Salvation Army:
_"Fire and Blood."_
Cecile, living though she had done in its very midst had never heard
of this great religious revival. To such as her, poor little ignorant
lost lamb, it preached, but hitherto no message had reached her.
Pages:
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134