p. 12 | A DAY’S SOUL-KEEPING by FRANCES E. BOLTON

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 10, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 45.

A DAY’S SOUL-KEEPING.

By FRANCES E. BOLTON

(Concluded.)

From his study Mr. Bradly heard a song from the kitchen:—

“Dear Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole. I want Thee forever to live in my soul. Break down every idol, cast out every foe, Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow. Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

He knew that the washing had begun. But what rubbing and tossing, wringing and rinsing, it took to get out every stain! Was it so with the soul? “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

Ten, eleven, half past eleven. The washing was nearly done; but how tired Mrs. Bradly felt! Her thoughts had been as busy as her hands, and now Bonny boy came in from his play.

“I’se ti’ed, muzzer.” Well, she must let the washing go to get Bonny napping. What patience it required to care for home and children! What? More than Jesus could give? She stopped; for the promise was there, “My grace is sufficient.”

Backward and forward she rocked Bonny boy, singing of the ships that sailed into the West, to rest—rest—rest. Bonny and Mrs. Bradly were both asleep.

“There, that will do her good,” smiled Mr. Bradly, slowly drawing Bonny from her arms, and placing a pillow under her head. “Come ye apart, and rest awhile.” Was that in the soul-keeping too? What? Right in the midst of the washing? That’s what Jesus called His disciples to do. “Come ye apart and rest awhile.” So she rested till lunchtime.

Mr. Bradly helped to rinse and hang out the clothes.

“How clear the water is!” said Mrs. Bradly. “How it bubbles out? Do you know of what I am thinking?”

“Yes. ‘The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.’ There’s another lesson in hanging out the clothes, too. We must spread out our cleansed souls to the sunshine and air them, if we keep them white and sweet. Keep in the sunshine.”

Mrs. Bradly was setting lunch, and singing:

“Clear the darkened windows, Open wide the door, Let a little sunshine in.”

Puss and Pet came in, and Bonny boy wakened, and Mrs. Bradly said, “Come and dine.” Jesus said it also to her soul, as He had to the fishermen on the shore of Galilee. While she had toiled, He had made her a feast. In the midst of the ironing, when she was thinking of the church without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, and wondering if the great Soul-keeper and Cleanser would have to use as severe measures for smoothing out the wrinkles, as she had to use to smooth and polish her clothes, Mr. Bradly came to the door, and with a white face beckoned her to come.

“Mr. Bradly helped to rinse and hang out the clothes.”

“Grandma is very sick,” he said quietly.

Mrs. Bradly hastened to her mother’s side. That was the beginning of another phase of soul-keeping,—ministry, night watching, toil, burden, and revelation. Christ stood by her side. She realized as never before how she was only His colaborer. When the last struggle was over, Mrs. Bradly closed the weary eyes, and whispered: “‘He giveth His beloved sleep.’ The waking will be glad.”

But soul-keeping had to go on. This time it was for festivity. Her younger sister was to be married from her home; and her soul was growing. In spite of lines of toil and care, and the silver in her black hair, the light was bursting forth.

“‘My Beloved is mine, and I am His; He feedeth among the lilies,’” she whispered in her heart; for through these days of love-making, she kept her soul in Solomon’s gardens, and was waiting for the Bridegroom.

The night of the wedding she robed the bride in white, and decked her with roses. But her soul was afar, with her heavenly Lover.

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

She caught a glimpse of her face in the glass, rapt in the joy of her hidden thoughts, and started. It shocked her to see its pallor and plainness; but the Spirit comforted her, saying, “The King’s daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is of wrought gold.”

Then all was ready for the bridegroom, and yet he had not appeared. She whispered to the waiting bride, “Never mind, we are ready to open immediately unto him.”

Through the beautiful marriage service, she felt herself drawn more closely to the Bridegroom of the soul.

Was she slipping away from them? Mr. Bradly watched her anxiously. The household began to wait on her. A little cradle stood, decked in silk and wool. Dainty garments lay in perfumed drawers, and one night little Lily was born.

Mrs. Bradly said she was as one on the borders of Beulah. The days were going so softly by, and there was nothing to disturb her soul’s secret communion. Husband, friends, and children learned to go softly, and no loud tone was heard in the dwelling.

A look of ineffable brightness and peace flooded her face. “We’re sailing,” she said. “It’s love’s infinite sea. The land ahead is only a filmy cloud; but it’s taking outlines now. I inhale its fragrance. I hear its songs. The Pilot’s on board. We’re casting anchor. O, see, it’s bright, bright, bright! Jesus! My hand is on the hem of His garment.

“Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.”

She was asleep in Jesus. The day of soul-keeping was done. They laid her and Lily in one casket amid the lilies, and as snow falls softly over the beaten rough ways, so softly fell the influence of the life of her who had known one day’s soul-keeping.

FRANCES E. BOLTON.