tomed to see at home. For instance, one Saturday night, Lorman, Emmy's father, came in so tipsy that Robert was awakened by the disgraceful noise he made. On another occasion Mrs. Lorman struck her husband on the face, behaving as no decent woman should; but still they were civil to him, even kind, yet Robert began to dislike their civility. As for any thought of God, heaven, and the duty of living for heaven, none of these things appeared to be in their thoughts, even on Sundays.

On the first Sunday afternoon, as he was sitting apart on a sunny bank by himself (Emmy preferring to go off for a merry game with some companions), he noticed a small group collected at the other end of the field, and soon made out that a gentleman and two ladies were distributing tracts to those who cared for them. Robert drew near in time to get one for himself, and to hear the gentleman offer to read a chapter in the Bible.

"We think that many of you, busy with your work here from morning to night, may be too tired to go to church or chapel, or may not like to go to a strange place of worship, and so perhaps it may be pleasant to have some few verses of the Word of God read to you," said the gentleman.

Some few voices answered heartily, "Thank you, sir!" some drew near to listen, and Robert among the number, but many only stared, going on carelessly at a little distance with their occupation of the moment.

The Scripture selected was part of the tenth chapter of St. Matthew, and the reader paused here and there to offer some explanation in simple words, which all could understand. When he

came to the words, "Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows," Robert could not restrain a sob. For he had been thinking, "Was he indeed thus cared for? Would God really take care of him? Once he had not doubted this, but now that he had done wrong, now that he had run away from home, would God indeed still care for him? From his heart he wished he could ask what the gentleman thought about this, but he dared not. His sob, however, had attracted attention, and when the reading was over, and a hymn sung, and the little group was separating, with a promise from the gentleman to meet them again next Sunday, the latter drew near, and asked Robert "if anything was the matter?"

圈圈

CHAPTER VII.

A NEW CALAMITY.

HE kind tone, full of interest, made
Robert's sob return.

"I was sorry because-because I'm all alone here," answered the boy, after he had been urged by both ladies "to say if anything was the matter?"

"Poor boy! what, have you got no friends? All the more then will God watch over you if you are alone in the world. Remember who takes care of the fatherless, and you have just heard that God cares for all His creatures, even for the sparrows. Be very sure He will never forsake you; but be careful that you never forsake Him."

These words troubled Robert, kind as they were. He was quite sure that God would not forsake those who did not leave the way of rightdoing; but he, Robert, had run away from his

E

father, and in so doing had gone from the right way. Therefore his conscience was uneasy, as

he did not dare

to hope for the full forgiveness of His heavenly

Father, while neglected

eh

to seek that of his earthly pa

rents.

But, if ever the words "go back" came

into his mind, they came as an impossibility for him. For him there

could be no going back; his father would punish him now so terribly that there was nothing for it but to do as he could, to bear his dreadful grief patiently, work hard, and try to do well in the future.

Robert therefore repressed his tears, and thanked

his questioners so well and simply that their interest in him redoubled.

"What was he going to do when the hoppicking was finished?"

"I don't know, Sir. I shall save a bit of money, and find some work somewhere, I dare say." "There isn't much doing in the winter, except for the regular hands. But if you don't hear of anything else to do I'll try to get some of the farmers to take you on. Come to the reading next Sunday, and" (the gentleman spoke seriously) "don't be tempted to forget holy things in the midst of the hurry of the life going on around you, and the carelessness of others."

With that they said, "good-bye" very kindly; and the boy watched them till the intervening ground hid them from sight.

On going in that evening he immediately offered to read his tract to his companions, the Lormans, and they consented to listen, but he was brought to a pause in his reading by finding Emmy only intent on a game of "cat's-cradle," Lorman himself fast asleep, and beginning to snore, and his wife suddenly interrupting by sharply boxing her second girl's face for pinching her eldest sister.

E 2