"Why, setting yourself up in opposition to all your friends and to old, established rules, as though you knew more than anyone else."
Mabel could not trust herself to answer, and continued her work as though she did not hear the sarcastic words, but it was not so to be.
"Mabel, do you intend to answer me?" angrily this time and in a louder key.
Mabel raised her earnest eyes and announced quietly that she did not intend to offend anyone, but dare not offend God.
"Oh, how can you act so, Mabel? You know Mr. Brown said last Sunday that it was not the custom in this enlightened age to follow the literal word, that the Spirit was all that was needed, and all the Jewish practices were annulled under this dispensation. And you know your dear father died justified, and he never kept the Jewish Sabbath. Why do you not hear to your friends? People now are beginning to call you fanatical, and what would they say if they knew you contemplated giving up your office as postmistress? O Mabel, Mabel, do not be so foolish!" pleaded her aunt, nearly in tears.
"Auntie, do not think it is hard for me to follow the word as the Spirit enlightens me; please do not worry so about me. I must do what I think is right."
"Yes, but why are you right and all the rest wrong on this question?"
"Because, dear aunt, there does not happen to be any one of our friends who has been led to see this truth, but surely there are more of this doctrine, and I will try to find them."
"And will you leave old and tried friends and go to strangers for a mere whim? Are you crazy?"
"No, Aunt Mary, I am not crazy, but determined with the help of God to find a home among the people of God."
"Mabel, Mabel, what an aggravating girl! Who are the people of God if they do not include Mr. Brown and the Christian friends of your lifetime?"
"Dear aunt, the people of God are those who love him and keep his commandments, and walk in all the light they see. The seventh day should be kept as a memorial of our God and a sign of our citizenship. As an officer of the United States, I am obliged to labor in the post office on the seventh day and close up on the first day. I am resolved to assert my loyalty to my King by showing my colors; and as I find I must give up my office or hide my colors by working on the day that God sanctified for an everlasting Sabbath, I am really driven to the choice between God and mammon. For some time this passage has been ringing in my ears: 'What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?'" and Mabel's earnest eyes were again riveted on her aunt.169Years previous both her parents had died, and this aunt had been both father and mother to Mabel, and they dearly loved each other, although, as Mabel grew into womanhood, she developed a strength of character never possessed by her aunt, who consequently could not understand it. Mabel had been appointed assistant postmistress, and fulfilled the post so well that on the death of the postmaster she had been elected to the chief place, with the good wishes of all who knew her. An earnest Christian was Mabel Graham, and in her searchings of the Book she loved, she found to her amazement that there was no authority of the Scriptures for the sanctification of the first day of the week, that the words "Christian sabbath" were of clay, and her feet were on sand instead of resting on the Rock. Mabel prayed earnestly and sought diligently, like the noble Bereans of old, and found the pearl of great price, the truth as it is in Jesus. But she found, too, that her foes were of her own household. Her aunt strongly opposed her whims, as she called them. Why must Mabel set herself at defiance? why not worship the same as their friends and neighbors?
Loyalty to her God required Mabel to give up all her living, and, despite the tears and entreaties of her aunt, and the sneers of her friends, she sacrificed all to her principles. When she was entirely free from her postal duties, she realized as she never had before that her sole dependence was on the Lord for daily bread. Her aunt was too deeply incensed at her foolishness to assist her, and Mabel left her home and friends and sought employment in a neighboring town.
Oh, how Mabel prayed on that journey! And the Lord heard her and prospered her accordingly; for when a child of God asks him for bread, will he receive a stone? Mabel had a school friend in that town, and on her arrival she was astonished to find that she too had come to the light on this test question, and was just entering business, in fact, had already advertised for a helper who was also a Sabbath keeper. And here was just what she needed—a companion and friend, as well as the help needed in her business.
The two friends gained the confidence and good will they so much merited. Some time afterwards Mabel's aunt acknowledged that Mabel was correct, and to her niece's great delight yielded her heart to observe the Lord's day.
God rewarded Mabel richly for her loyalty, and in after life success crowned her efforts. The friends formed a partnership in the business, and conducted it on the gospel plan, by being diligent in business, serving the Lord.
Loyalty pays both in spiritual and temporal matters, as Mabel often declared. And her aunt thanked her niece for so staunchly avowing her citizenship by obeying the law of God.