"I was wishing to do something for her, only I must have her father's help."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"If she was at the infant-school, she might have the advantage of being in the clothing-club. If you sent her there, it is twopence a-week. I would pay for her clothingclub ticket, and then, at Christmas, she would get a nice warm cloak, or pair of shoes, or something comfortable."

“Well! ma'am, just please yourself, I'm very agreeable; I'll give her twopence on the morrow, and the mother can send her off."

"I am glad you like the plan; I will tell a nice little girl, who passes to school this way, to call, and then Bessy will not be afraid to go alone. Do you like to read?"

"Yes, ma'am, well enough. I sometimes see the papers ❤at the public."

"I'll sometimes leave you one, if you would like to read it, on this pleasant seat, out here. I have an interesting book, which I can leave with you to-day, the 'Bar of Iron.' Good morning, Mr. Clark; and you promise to send Bessy to the school to-morrow?"

"It sha'n't be my fault if she ain't there. Good morning, ma'am, and thank you."

Ethelda left the cottage somewhat encouraged. The man did not appear to her quite so bad, as she had expected to find him. There was evidently the father's latent feeling towards the little child, and she thought of "How much more will your Father in heaven give His Holy Spirit to

them that ask?" She thought of old Colin's "cloud of blessings" dispersing without the gracious rain, because prayer was needed that the heavens might be opened and the weary heritage refreshed. She pleaded in secret with her God during that Sunday afternoon for the drunkard and the drunkard's wife, and for their poor lost children; and she believed that prayer has power with God, and shall prevail.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE INFANT'S MINISTRY.

"A star of early dawn, and bright,
Shining within thy sacred light;
A beam of grace to all around;
A little spot of hallow'd ground."

"I AM SO very, very happy, darling auntie; I can't tell you how happy I am," said little Harry, as his bright blue eyes sparkled with joy, and his little legs and arms were tossed in all directions to dissipate, as it were, the exuberance of his spirits.

"What is the matter, Harry?"

"My pussy-cat has got four little kittens; one quite black, and one with some yellow on its back, and all quite blind. That is one thing: and the other is-it does make me so glad;" but the little eyes became graver, and the tone more subdued: "Boosa says, that he will come in to prayers, for he can understand what grandpapa says: and, auntie dear, he does think that Jesus Christ must be good, since he has heard so many beautiful stories about Him."

"That is good news, Harry. And does Boosa pray to Jesus?"

"Yes, auntie, but he prays to his stupid idols, too; and I tell him Jesus won't like that. But, you see, he is not sure yet."

"What can make him sure, Harry?"

"I try very hard, auntie, but I can't. Could you, dear auntie? But God can, can't He?

Yes, darling; and we must pray very hard that He

"Oh, yes, He will: I know that."

"How, Harry?"

"Because he has said it, you know.

auntie dear, that text, 'Ask, and ye shall

won't tell a lie."

You taught me,

have;' and God

"No, never, my boy; remember that. And I hope God is already beginning to answer Harry's prayer. will he save your Boosa?"

But how

Harry was silent for a little while. "It must be by the blood of Jesus; then when Boosa goes to heaven, and Jesus says, 'How have you got here?' he will say, 'Because you have washed me in your blood.' Won't that make Boosa clean?"

"Yes, Harry. The Bible says that the precious blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin."

"I thought so. Now I may go and tell Boosa that he may come in every day to prayers; mayn't I?"

"Yes, that you may."

"And, auntie, when will you come to see the kittens ? " Ethelda smiled, and promised a speedy compliance; and as the little fellow bounded from the room with that buoyancy which marks health as well as happiness, his aunt thanked her God for these blossoms of early promise on the tender plant which He had intrusted to her culture; and she prayed that they might ripen to scatter precious seeds on earth, and to bloom forever in the Paradise above. Sometimes she trembled lest this beloved child's frail, little tenement should fall. "Jesus often goes into His garden to gather lilies," she would muse; "but He does not always choose those who are only in bud. If it be His will, I do long that dear Harry be spared to fight manfully in the Church militant, to gain a glorious crown of righteousness, the purchase of His blood."

Little Harry ran out to the lawn, where Boosa sat watching each movement of his young master; whilst Rover frolicked with him quite unceremoniously. Soon "grandpapa" and another gentleman stepped out from the library window. Harry ran to meet them. He had never experienced any one unkind, and so had full confidence in the stranger. Nor was it misplaced. The little boy was soon borne aloft on the gentleman's shoulder; and Rover looked at his companion, wagged his tail, made observation that he was out of reach, and in a dignified manner walked back to the sunny spot of his choice, and curled himself very deliberately for repose.