Read Take Courage for Free Online

all.”
    He gave us a bow, and went off, humming and twirling his moustache.
    I loved to hear my father read, as his voice was always very clear and beautiful, but I did not grudge his refusal, since the honour of reading gave Will such pleasure. He flushed with pride when John took the great Bible from its carved box and laid it on the table before him and set the candlesticks beside. Will turned the pages reverently, but seeming a little uncertain where to choose; at last he read, stumbling now and then but with great earnestness, that beautiful psalm seventy-two, where King David prays for righteousness with which to judge his people. He was thinking of our new King Charles, no doubt, put in mind of him by the three men’s talk. Just as he began, our little David appeared and stood shyly at the door, trailing Mrs. Thorpe’s gown behind him, his cheek warm with sleep, his fair hair rumpled. I took him on my lap and he listened gravely.
    â€œHe shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. ... He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in His sight,”
    read Will.
    I shall never forget our people as we sat that night; my father with his silver head bowed, gleaming in the candle-light, his eyes closed in prayerful meditation; Mr. Thorpe with his arms folded and his head thrown up a little sideways, a good staunch look on his cheerful red face; Mrs. Thorpe very stern and upright in her chair; David quiet in my arms, Elizabeth smiling and plucking nervously at her gown in love of Will. John sat in the deep shadow behind me; I should hardly have known he was there save that once, when David twitched and the cushion behind my shoulder slipped, a hand came out of the darkness and put it in place.
    When Will had finished the psalm, we made our farewells quietly and went away home. Will carried David, my father took my hand. John attended us silently down the lane with a lantern.
    So ended the day I first met John Thorpe and Francis Ferrand. I remembered them both in prayer before God, that night.

5
THREE CHILDREN ARE FRIENDS
    The next day, about the middle of the afternoon, there came a loud rhythmical knocking on our house door, as though someone were playing a tune on it, and when Sarah ran in affright to open, there stood Francis, somewhat pale but gay and lively, with Thunder at his heels.
    The moment the door stood wide and Thunder espied our cat Tabby, who was sitting peacefully on the hearth gazing into the fire, he gave a loud excited bark and rushed for her, tossing Sarah’s skirts and almost knocking her down. Sarah, who was gaunt and sallow, and apt, like many people of that complexion, to be cross, threw up her hands and scolded shrilly, Tabby flew up the cupboard and clung there spitting and clawing, Thunder leaped up and down barking below, and Francis shouted: “Down, sir!” Such a clamour had never been heard in our quiet house before, and my father came down from the loom-chamber, in astonishment.
    Francis, dragging Thunder back from Tabby by the collar, explained somewhat breathlessly that his father had sent him to show himself to us so that we might be reassured as to his health after yesterday’s mishap. My father smiled kindly, and said, not without a playful malice, that he was perfectly reassured, then he went away back to his work again. David now began to weep and cling to my hand, for he was terrified of Thunder, whereupon Francis, kneeling down between dog and child, and holding each in one arm, tried to make them like each other. He did not use the best persuasions, I thought, for he told David he was too big a boy to be frightened of a dog, and this sounded to me too scornful; however, to please FrancisI stroked Thunder’s ears myself, though fearfully, and so coaxed David to lay his little hand on the dog’s great fawn and black head. Thunder thumped his great tail, and a watery