Daisy In The Field
Page 140"I have never forgotten what you used to tell me," I said.
"Good. And yet, Miss Daisy, I would rather you could tell me
you had forgotten it; that you had gone on so far from that
beginning as to have lost it out of view."
"Ah, but I have not had so many friends to teach me, and help
me, that I could afford to forget the first one," I said. "I
have one dear old friend who thinks as you do, - and that is
all; and I cannot see her now."
" 'If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to
all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given
him,' " Mr. Dinwiddie said.
"I lack wisdom, very much; but it does not seem to come, even
though I ask for it. I am sometimes in a great puzzle."
"Yes."
"You can always find out the first step to be taken. Jesus
will be followed step by step. He will not show you but one
step at a time, very often. But take that, holding His hand,
and He will show you the next."
"So I came here," I said.
"And what is the work to be done here? on yourself, or on
somebody else?"
"I do not know," I said. "I had not thought it was either.
Perhaps I am learning."
He was silent then, and I sat thinking.
"Mr. Dinwiddie," I said, "maybe you can help me."
"But it is very difficult for me to put you in possession of
the circumstances - or in the atmosphere of the circumstances.
I do not know that I can. You know that papa and mamma do not
think with me on the subject of religion?"
"Yes."
"There are other things in which I think differently from them
- other things in which we feel apart; and they do not know
it. Ought I to let them know it?"
"Your question is as enigmatical as an ancient oracle. I must
have a little more light. Do these differences of feeling or
opinion touch action? - either yours or theirs?"
"Yes, - both."
not be danger of mistaken action, on the one part or on the
other?"
"Telling them would not prevent that danger," I said.
"They would disregard your views, or you would disregard
theirs, - which?"
"I must not disregard theirs," I said low.
Mr. Dinwiddie was silent awhile. I had a sort of cry in my
heart for the old dividing of the waters.
"Miss Daisy," he said, "there is one sure rule. Do right; and
let consequences break us to pieces, if needs be."