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fha_/cjfha-;h4zip7      ,,nanny ,,merry4
   ,illustration3 ,,crowning ,,the      
,,queen   ,,nanny ,,merry2  ,or1  ,what 
,made the ,difference8        ,london3  
,t4 ,nelson and ,sons1 ,paternoster     
,row2 ,edinburgh2 and ,new ,york4 #ahgb4
     ,,chapter ,i4  ,,in ,,which        
,,nannie ,,is ,,introduced4   ,a little 
brown house1 with an old elm-tree before
 it1 a frame of lattice-work around the 
door1 with a broad stone for a          
step--this is where old ,grannie ,burt  
lives4 ,and there she is sitting in the 
doorway with her ,bible in her lap4 ,she
 can't read it1 for she is blind2 but   
she likes to have it by her2 she likes  
the feeling of it1 she says4 ,when my   
,bible is away1 ,grannie ,burt says1 ,i 

am sometimes troubled and worried2 but  
if ,i can only touch it1 my troubles are
 all gone2 for what harm can any trouble
 do us when we are going to heaven at   
last8  ,but grannie doesn't always have 
to feel her ,bible4 ,sometimes--very    
often--a little girl comes down the path
 to the brown house1 and sitting down   
close by grannie1 on that cricket that  
you see there now1 takes the good book  
and reads the blessed words to her1 till
 the tears trickle down grannie's       
wrinkled face1 and laying her trembling 
hand on the little girl's head1 she     
says1 ,god bless thee1 my child4  ,i    
think she is expecting her now2 for1 see
 the cricket is all ready1 and on the   
little table is a pitcher of cool water 
from the old well that you see just     
behind the house2 and here is the little
 girl herself4  ,good-morning1 grannie2 
are you waiting for me8 ,i couldn't come
 any sooner1 because mamma wanted me to 
play with ,charlie2 and here are some   
peaches mamma sent you1--she thought you

 would like them2 and ,nannie1 quite out
 of breath with her walk and her talk1  
stops a minute1 which gives ,grannie    
,burt a chance to answer her questions  
and to thank her for her peaches4 ,now  
shall ,i read1 grannie8 said ,nannie1   
as1 taking a long draught from the      
little pitcher1 she sat down on the     
cricket4  ,eat this peach first1 said   
grannie1 picking out the softest and    
handing it to her2 ,i know you must be  
warm from your long walk1 and this will 
cool you4  ,the peach looked so tempting
 that ,nannie looked at it wishfully4   
,her mother had only given her one1 and 
she had sent grannie a whole basketful4 
,it was only for a moment that ,nannie  
let these selfish thoughts trouble her4 
,grannie never has any of her own1 and  
in a few weeks ,i can have as many as ,i
 want1 she thought2 so taking up the    
,bible she said1 ,no1 grannie1 thank    
you2 the water has cooled me enough2    
where shall ,i begin8  ,read about      
heaven1 ,nannie2 you know ,i like to    

hear about that best4  ,softly the      
little voice began3 ,and ,i saw a new   
heaven and a new earth4 ,then she read  
of the tree of life1 whose leaves are   
for the healing of the nations2 and of  
the water of life1 that flows near the  
jasper throne4  ,when she had finished1 
she said1 ,what makes you like to hear  
of heaven so much1 grannie8  ,oh1 ,i'm  
going there1 ,nannie6 ,when you read    
about the beautiful things1 the pearly  
gates1 and the golden streets1 ,i think1
 ',i shall see them1 for there will be  
no night there2 not even in these poor  
old eyes of mine4' ,and when you read1  
'the ,lamb is the light thereof1' then  
,i think ,jesus will be there1 and      
that's what ,i like best of all4  ,where
 is heaven1 grannie8  ,up there1 ,i     
suppose1 she said1 pointing to the      
bright sky above4  ,but1 grannie1 there 
was a gentleman at our house yesterday1 
and ,i heard him talking with my father1
 and he said he thought heaven was in   
the sun4 ,so ,i thought ,i would ask    

you1 because you always know so much    
about it4 ,do you think it is in the    
sun8  ,i don't think anything about it4 
,i don't think it makes much difference 
where it is1 if we only get there at    
last4  ,sister ,mary said she thought   
heaven would be where ,god was4  ,so ,i 
think1 child2 and ,i don't think it's   
the pearls1 and gold1 and all those     
things you read about1 that make it     
either2 for ,i think any place would be 
heaven1 if we found ,jesus there4 ,this 
old room has been pretty near it1       
sometimes4  ,nannie turned to the #adth 
chapter of ,john1 which she knew grannie
 loved to hear1 and commenced reading4  
,while she is reading1 let us go down   
the street to the lane--bordered with   
trees--walk up the narrow footpath1 and 
over the stile just by the              
blackberry-bushes1 across the field to  
the little garden1 and through the      
borders of pinks and marigolds1 to the  
white cottage where ,nannie lives4 ,you 
can come to it by the street1 if you    

choose1 and you may come in under the   
great elm-tree1 by the gate2 but then   
the street is so dusty1 and you miss    
seeing the little garden with its bright
 flowers2 and the blossoms in the lane  
smell so sweetly1 that it is quite worth
 while going that way4 ,but here we are1
 before the door1 on which we read1 in  
bright letters1 ,dr4 ,merry2 for        
,nannie's name is ,nannie ,merry1 and   
,nannie's father is a doctor4 ,he is    
doctor in a pleasant little town that is
 situated on the banks of a narrow      
river4 ,i don't think you could find    
either the town or the river on your    
maps1 if you should try2 so there would 
be no use in telling you their names4   
,it was a pleasant town1 however1 with  
its large elm-trees1 and pretty white   
cottages1 with here and there a large   
house1 where the grandest people lived4 
,but ,nannie's father was only a country
 doctor1 and didn't live in a very large
 house4 ,you can see for yourself that  
it is only a white cottage1 with green  

blinds1 and a long porch in front1      
covered with sweetbriar and honeysuckle4
 ,but the people that live in the house 
are quite as pleasant as the house      
itself1 or even as the people that live 
in the large brick house4 ,after ,dr4   
,merry comes ,mrs4 ,merry1 or ,nannie's 
mother1 who is1 like most mothers1 very 
kind and good2 then sister ,mary1 who is
 grown up1 and ,nannie thinks the best  
sister ever was2 then ,belle1 who is    
very pretty1 and about twelve years old2
 ,john and ,charlie1 who are1 like most 
boys1 great teasers1 and ,nannie        
sometimes thinks a good deal worse than 
most boys--but then1 ,charlie is only   
four years old1 so there is some excuse 
for him4 ,lastly1 we have ,nannie       
herself1 who is--well1 we shall find out
 what she is before our story is        
finished4 ,she is nine years old1 nearly
 ten1 and would feel offended if we left
 that out4 ,but here she comes from     
,grannie ,burt's1 so we must stop       
talking about her4 ,she is coming by the

 lane just as we did1 running at first1 
then a little slower1 till at last she  
stops1 for her sister ,mary is weeding  
one of the pretty borders in the little 
garden4  ,o ,mary6 grannie thinks just  
as you do about heaven2 ,i don't think  
,mr4 ,brown knows so much about it as   
she does4  ,why not1 ,nannie8  ,oh1     
because grannie is almost there1        
,mary1--she ought to know6  ,what makes 
you think grannie is almost there8      
,why1 she said so2 and then she loves to
 hear about heaven1 just as ,i did about
 home when ,i was at ,aunt ,sarah's4    
,do you like to hear about heaven1      
,nannie8  ,sometimes1 she answered1     
while with her little shoe she played   
with the pebbles4  ,not always6 ,nannie2
 when don't you like to hear about it8  
,nannie played with the pebbles a good  
while4 ,at last she said1 ,i like to    
hear some things about it always1 but   
not everything4  ,and what do you like  
to hear about it always8  ,i like to    
hear about golden streets1 and the      

beautiful water1 and the trees1 and the 
harps of the angels1 and their golden   
crowns4  ,and what don't you like to    
hear about8  ,the little foot moved     
backwards and forwards a good while1 and
 when ,nannie did speak1 she spoke      
almost as if she were afraid to do so4  
,i don't like to hear about its always  
being ,sunday there4  ,why1 ,nannie1    
don't you like ,sunday here8  ,why1 yes1
 always once a week2 but that's not like
 always4 ,i don't think ,i should like  
to go to church every day1 and learn the
 ,catechism1 and have a cold dinner1 and
 not play at all4  ,maybe ,i can help   
you a little1 ,nannie4 ,do you ever get 
tired of loving father8  ,why1 no2 ,i   
should never get tired of that1 ,i'm    
sure he never gets tired of loving me4  
,do you get tired of showing you love   
him by trying to please him8  ,no1      
,mary2 but--  ,never mind the 'buts'    
till ,i have done4 ,now1 ,god is ',our  
,father1' and all we have to do in      
heaven is to love him1 and to show how  

very much we love him by trying to do   
all we can to please him4 ,do you think 
you'll get tired of that8  ,no4 ,but    
that isn't like ,sunday4  ,what do we do
 on ,sunday1 ,nannie8  ,why1 go to      
church and--  ,yes2 but what do we go to
 church for8  ,oh1 ,i see now6 said     
,nannie1 her face brightening up1--oh1  
,i see6 ,we worship ,god on ,sunday1 and
 that's what we'll do always in heaven2 
isn't it1 ,mary8  ,yes1 that's why we   
say it's always ,sunday there2 and we   
shall love ,god so much better there    
than we do now1 that we can only be     
happy in praising him4 ,even now1 when  
we think how good he is to us1 and how  
he loves us1 it seems as if we must     
praise him2 but then we shall see him   
always1 and never forget what he has    
done for us4 ,do you think we can help  
praising him1 or that it will be hard   
work to join with the angels in singing1
 ',holy1 holy1 ,lord ,god               
,almighty'--',worthy is the ,lamb that  
was slain'8 ,do you think you understand

 now1 ,nannie1 and will like to hear    
about heaven as much as ,grannie ,burt  
does8  ,oh yes6 ,i felt very sorry1     
because ,i knew ,i ought to love to     
think about heaven6 ,and so ,i think ,i 
do4 ,but ,belle said they did nothing   
but sing hymns there1 and she didn't see
 what there was so very pleasant in     
that4  ,belle ought not to talk so4 ,but
 what did you say to her8  ,i said1     
,nannie answered1 holding down her head1
 ,i thought the reason she didn't like  
it was because she was not good2 because
 all good people liked to hear about    
heaven4  ,that's the reason1 ,i think1  
said sister ,mary1 as she gathered up   
her weeds for ,nannie to take away4     
,nannie carried them off1 thinking all  
the time1 ,oh dear1 ,i wish ,i were as  
good as sister ,mary6 ,if wishes would  
make any one good1 ,nannie would have   
been very good long before this time4   
,at anyrate1 said ,nannie1 as she       
emptied the weeds into the ash-heap1 ,i 
will try4 ,father says there are weeds  

in our hearts1 and we can pull them up4 
,i mean to try4  ,we shall see in the   
next chapter how ,nannie succeeds in    
pulling up the weeds4     ,,chapter     
,,ii4  ,,if ,,thy ,,brother ,,sin       
,,against ,,thee1 ,,forgive ,,him4      
,one bright sunshiny day1 just when the 
snow had commenced melting1 the children
 started in high glee to take advantage 
of its softened state to make a         
snow-man4 ,this was a favourite         
occupation of the children4 ,two or     
three times every year they adorned the 
front yard with a giant figure          
resembling a man1 which was allowed to  
stand until ,jack and ,charlie          
snowballed it down1 or the spring sun   
melted it away4  ,here's a nice place1  
said ,jack1 stopping under the old      
elm-tree by the gate4 ,he'll do for a   
sentinel here1 and we'll arm him with a 
gun4  ,or a porter1 said ,belle2 and    
we'll give him a key4  ,here1 ,nannie1  
come this way1 he said1 as he saw       
,nannie and ,charlie walking off in the 

other direction4  ,charlie and ,i are   
going to make one by ourselves1 said    
,nannie4  ,you can't do it1 said ,jack2 
you don't know how4  ,we know how as    
well as you1 said ,charlie indignantly4 
,well1 we'll beat you then4 ,come1      
hurry1 ,belle4  ,so they set to work1   
rolling their balls1 sometimes running  
across each other's track1 when ,master 
,charlie must always leave his work to  
throw a ball at ,jack4 ,jack1 however1  
was too busy to return them4  ,don't1   
,charlie1 keep stopping so1 said        
,nannie2 we shall not get it done4  ,i  
want to snowball ,jack1 said ,charlie4  
,but we want to finish the snow-man     
first4  ,then ,charlie would stick to   
his work a few minutes2 but whenever    
,jack came in sight1 rolling his now    
huge ball1 ,charlie couldn't resist the 
temptation1 and would fill his hands    
full of snow1 and let fly at ,jack4 ,he 
yielded to the temptation the more      
easily1 as he found ,jack was too busy  
to pay him back4  ,belle and ,jack now  

could move their ball no longer1 and so 
they proceeded to make a smaller one for
 the head1 and to shape out the arms4   
,jack made the hat to crown him1 while  
,belle shaped his coat and marked out   
the buttons4 ,soon ,charlie1 who was    
more interested in theirs than his own1 
cried out1 ,oh1 he's putting his hat on6
  ,belle and ,jack gave three cheers1   
and introduced ,nannie and ,charlie to  
,mr4 ,james ,snow4  ,mr4 ,james ,snow   
was a very remarkable-looking old man1  
with a long white beard1 who looked as  
if he had much better been leaning on a 
staff1 than raising the gun with which  
,jack had armed him4  ,you had better   
come with us1 said ,belle2 you can't    
make one by yourselves4  ,yes1 we can1  
said ,nannie4 ,can't we1 ,charlie8      
,yes1 we can1 said ,charlie4 ,nicer than
 that one too4  ,and we'll call ours    
,jack ,frost1 said ,nannie1 as they     
hurried off to their work4  ,but        
,charlie was more trouble than help1 and
 ,nannie began to grow tired4 ,belle and

 ,jack stood by1 looking on and teasing 
her4 ,charlie stopped working1 and began
 to defend their workmanship with       
snowballs1 which ,jack and ,belle were  
not slow to return4 ,at last1 just as   
,nannie had fashioned a most            
uncomfortable-looking nose1 and had     
succeeded with great difficulty in      
inducing it to stay in its right place1 
,jack's mischievous nature overcame him1
 and seizing a lump of snow1 he threw it
 straight at the unfortunate nose4 ,this
 was more than ,nannie could bear4  ,you
 naughty1 ill-natured boy1 she said2    
,i'll never speak to you again4  ,o     
,nannie1 ,i'm really sorry4 ,i was only 
in fun2 for ,jack1 like most boys1      
thought only in fun excuse enough for   
anything4 ,come back1 and ,i'll help you
 to make it4  ,nannie paid no attention 
to him1 but walked off in a very        
dignified manner4 ,jack whistled a tune1
 and walked off in no very pleasant     
humour1 while ,belle and ,charlie went  
into the house4 ,their pleasure was all 

gone for want of the soft answer which  
turneth away wrath4  ,nannie came in and
 sat down by the fire and began to read4
 ,she was very much interested in the   
book she was reading2 but1 somehow1     
to-day she did not like it as well as   
usual4 ,she turned over the leaves1 and 
read a little here and there2 but it    
didn't please her4 ,she got up from her 
chair1 went to the window1 and began    
drumming on the window-pane4  ,be still1
 ,nannie1 said her father1 who was      
sitting in the room1 reading4 ,she sat  
down again1 and sat looking into the    
fire4  ,i don't care1 she thought2 ,jack
 had no business to do it4 ,i think he  
was very unkind1 and ,i'll do the same  
to him another time4 ,yes1 ,i will1 she 
said to herself more determinedly1      
because there was something within which
 said1 ,if thy brother sin against thee1
 forgive him4 ,nannie wouldn't listen1  
but kept cherishing the angry thoughts4 
,he may be thankful it wasn't ,belle    
instead of me1 for she would have told  

father of him in a minute4 ,jack is     
always teasing me4 ,he spoiled all my   
card-houses yesterday4 ,forgiving him   
then didn't do him any good4  ,the      
little voice within whispered1 ,lord1   
how oft shall my brother sin against me1
 and ,i forgive him8 till seven times8  
,jesus saith1 ,until seventy times      
seven4  ,nannie heard it again1 but     
still wouldn't listen1 and went         
on1--,and the other day he tore my      
prettiest paper doll1 just for fun4 ,i'd
 like to know how he'd like to have me  
tear his things 'just for fun4'  ,and   
the other day he hurt poor pussy's ears4
  ,the little voice whispered1--,and the
 other day1 when you were sick1 he      
stayed away from the nutting party1 and 
showed you pictures1 and read to you2   
and as fast as ,nannie told of an unkind
 act1 the little voice whispered of a   
kind one4 ,but ,nannie could not listen 
to-day to the friendly voice which had  
so often helped her out of her troubles4
  ,after supper ,jack said again1 ,come1

 ,nannie1 let us be friends1 won't you8 
,nannie had let the angry thoughts have 
dominion so long1 that although she felt
 almost inclined to make it up with     
,jack1 pride conquered1 and she turned  
away without a word4  ,poor ,jack6 he   
really loved his little sister very     
much1 and had felt very sorry about the 
quarrel4 ,it had cost a good deal of    
effort to go so far towards making it   
up1 even though he knew he was to blame4
 ,but now1 instead of being sorry1 he   
was only angry1 and turned away1 saying1
 ,well1 ,i can stand it as long as you  
can4  ,that night1 as ,nannie lay awake1
 the little voice that ,nannie had      
neglected so long kept whispering1 ,let 
not the sun go down upon thy wrath4 ,she
 tried to think of something else1 but  
it kept whispering1 whispering4  ,i     
don't see1 she said1 why ,i need trouble
 myself so about it4 ,belle wouldn't    
mind it a bit4  ,when morning came1 she 
felt better1 and determined to think no 
more about it4 ,but at prayers ,dr4     

,merry read the sixth chapter of        
,matthew3 ,for if ye forgive men their  
trespasses1 your heavenly ,father will  
also forgive you4 ,but if ye forgive not
 men their trespasses1 neither will your
 heavenly ,father forgive your          
trespasses4  ,as her father read these  
verses1 the little voice whispered once 
more1 ,listen1 listen2 and this time    
,nannie did listen2 and when they all   
joined in the ,lord's ,prayer1 it was   
with a trembling voice she said1        
,forgive us our sins1 as we forgive     
those that trespass against us4  ,that  
morning1 as ,jack started for school1   
,nannie ran after him1 and overtook him 
just as he stepped into the wood-shed to
 find his knife1 which as usual was     
missing4  ,jack1 she said1 going close  
up to him1 ,i'm sorry ,i called you     
naughty and ill-natured4  ,jack was in a
 great hurry1 and already out of        
patience from the loss of his knife2    
besides1 he had not forgotten how       
,nannie had met his effort for peace the

 evening before2 so he pushed by her1   
saying1 ,well1 don't bother me now2     
you're in my light4 ,she moved aside a  
little1 so that the light from the door 
could come in1 then spying his knife    
under the work-bench1 she picked it up  
and gave it to him4 ,he took it from    
her1 and ran off without any thanks4    
,the tears came into ,nannie's eyes4    
,he's too unkind1 ,i think1 she said2 he
 might at least have thanked me for     
finding his knife4 ,next time ,i'll     
leave it alone1 and he may find it the  
best way he can4  ,nannie's little      
friend inside whispered again1 ,forgive 
till seventy times seven4 ,nannie       
listened now1 and in her heart she      
prayed again1 ,forgive us our sins1 as  
we forgive those that sin against us4   
,that afternoon1 as ,nannie was sitting 
reading1 ,jack put his head in at the   
door1 and said1 ,nannie1 there's a      
gentleman in the front yard wants to see
 you4  ,nannie was so busy reading1 that
 she did not notice the strangeness of  

the message4 ,she put away her book and 
went out4 ,as she went into the yard1   
what should she see there but her       
snow-man1 all complete6 ,she turned     
round to thank ,jack1 but he was nowhere
 in sight4 ,nannie went up closer to    
examine the snow-statue1 and found a    
piece of paper on it1 with ,mr4 ,jack   
,frost written on it in large letters4  
,under the name was written with a      
pencil3--  ,mr4 ,jack ,frost requests of
 ,miss ,nannie ,merry that she will     
excuse his friend ,mr4 ,john ,merry for 
his rudeness this morning1 as ,mr4      
,frost assures her that he will behave  
better next time4  ,nannie laughed as   
she took off the paper1 and running into
 the house1 she soon found ,jack        
standing by the kitchen-fire4 ,coming up
 behind him1 without his seeing her1 she
 put her arms round his neck1 and kissed
 him several times before he could      
speak4 ,then laughing1 she said1--      
,miss ,nannie ,merry will excuse ,mr4   
,john ,merry this time4  ,somehow that  

evening ,nannie and ,jack were greater  
friends than ever2 and as they sat      
together looking at the pictures in some
 large books that ,nannie couldn't lift 
alone1 ,nannie was not sorry she had    
listened to the little voice that had   
troubled her only to make her do right4 
,,chapter ,,iii4  ,,christmas4   ,what a
 beautiful morning it was1 that         
,christmas morning6 ,it seemed as though
 the earth1 in its pure robe of snow1   
and the trees1 in their sparkling armour
 of ice1 every twig jewelled and        
gleaming in the sun1 had clothed        
themselves in beauty1 and with joyful   
thoughts were giving thanks to their    
,creator4  ,nannie didn't think all     
this1 but something very much like it   
was in her heart1 as she stood looking  
out from the window1 as sister ,mary set
 the last smoking dish on the table4    
,that morning ,dr4 ,merry read the      
#aafth ,psalm1 beginning1 ,i love the   
,lord1 because he hath heard my voice4  
,nannie listened very attentively1 but  

there was one verse she didn't quite    
understand4 ,it was this3 ,i will offer 
to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving4  
,she hadn't time after prayers to ask   
her father or sister ,mary about it1 but
 all the time she kept thinking of it   
and trying to understand it4 ,she didn't
 know that every time she had looked out
 upon the snow1 and felt thankful to    
,god for the bright fire within that    
kept her warm1 she had offered the      
sacrifice of thanksgiving4 ,she didn't  
know that when she thought of ,jesus1   
and her little heart seemed so full of  
love to him1 because he had died for    
her1 she had offered indeed an          
acceptable sacrifice of thanksgiving4   
,she didn't know it2 but ,jesus knew it1
 and accepted the sacrifice1 with the   
same love as when royal ,david sang the 
words to his golden harp4  ,nannie1     
called sister ,mary1 ,jack is waiting   
for you4  ,in a minute1 said ,nannie1 as
 she pulled on her warm mittens4  ,it   
had better be a minute1 ,jack cried1 if 

you're going with me1 for ,i haven't    
much time to spare before dinner4       
,nannie1 laughing1 took up the little   
basket her mother had packed so nicely  
for ,grannie ,burt1 and off they        
started1 ,jack drawing the large basket 
on his little hand-barrow4  ,where shall
 we go first1 ,jack8  ,oh1 to ,grannie  
,burt's1 of course1 and then you can    
help me to draw the barrow the rest of  
the way4  ,let us go to the other places
 first1 said ,nannie1 and then you can  
draw me on the barrow the rest of the   
way4  ,that's more than ,i bargained    
for2 this basket is all that ,i want to 
carry before dinner4  ,poor ,jack1      
however1 was destined to carry a much   
heavier load than his basket of         
mince-pies and roast chickens2 for as   
,nannie skipped along1 her foot slipped1
 and down she came1 basket and all1     
while grannie's nice mince-pies tumbled 
out1 and rolled down the street4  ,oh   
dear6 said ,nannie1 not knowing whether 
to laugh or cry1 do look at grannie's   

pie6 ,what shall we do8  ,pick it up1 of
 course1 said ,jack1 as he ran after it4
  ,nothing but clean snow1 he said1 as  
he brought it back2 nobody will know it 
from sugar4  ,oh1 but it's all broken6  
,what shall we do8  ,see here6 said     
,jack1 lifting the cover of the large   
basket2 mother has sent ,aunt ,betsy    
two2 we can take one of them for        
grannie4  ,why1 ,jack1 are you in       
earnest8  ,well1 it's the best ,i can   
do4 ,i can't mend it1 and ,i can't make 
a new one4  ,let us go back1 then1 and  
get another4  ,go back6 why1 ,nannie1   
it's all you can do to walk now2 you're 
limping away like crazy ,sam4  ,don't   
make me laugh1 said ,nannie1 laughing   
all the time through her tears2 my foot 
hurts me so1 ,i can hardly walk4        
,jack's fun was all gone in a minute1 as
 he shouldered his big basket1 and      
lifted ,nannie on his little            
hand-barrow4  ,o ,jack6 you can't carry 
the basket and drag me too6  ,yes1 ,i   
can1--and hundreds more like you4  ,and 

,jack trudged along1 stopping now and   
then to take breath1 until they came to 
,grannie ,burt's4  ,o ,jack6 what shall 
we do about the pie8 said ,nannie1 her  
tears starting afresh at the thought4   
,jack couldn't stand the sight of       
,nannie's tears2 so he said1 ,never mind
 it2 ,i'll go back and get another4     
,oh1 will you8 ,thank you1 ,jack4       
,grannie ,burt's daughter1 ,susan1 now  
came to the door1 and made all sorts of 
exclamations over ,nannie1 whose ankle  
pained her so much1 she couldn't walk1  
and ,jack had to carry her into the     
house4 ,while ,jack told the story of   
the pie1 ,susan had taken off ,nannie's 
shoe and stocking1 and was bathing her  
ankle1 while grannie kept saying1 ,does 
it feel better1 dear8  ,never mind the  
pie1 said grannie1 as ,jack went on with
 his story2 it's just as good as ever1  
though it is broken4  ,oh1 but it       
doesn't look so nice1 said ,nannie4  ,i 
can't see it1 you know1 said grannie1   
laughing4  ,but ,nannie wasn't          

satisfied1 and called to ,jack1 as he   
started off1 to be sure and bring       
another4  ,very soon ,nannie felt       
better1 and sitting up in the big chair1
 she reached over for the large ,bible1 
and said1--  ,grannie1 shall ,i read to 
you1 while ,i'm waiting8  ,i'm afraid   
you don't feel well enough4  ,oh yes1 ,i
 should like to read2 ,i want to read   
the chapter father read this morning4   
,she turned over the leaves and found   
the place1 and began3 ,i love the ,lord1
 because he hath heard my voice and my  
supplications4  ,oh yes1 said grannie2  
,david isn't the only one who can say   
that4 ,god has always heard me4  ,did   
you ever ask him1 grannie1 to make you  
see8 said ,nannie4  ,no2 ,i never asked 
him4 ,i asked him to make me patient to 
bear it4 ,you think it's dreadful1      
,nannie1 to be blind1 and ,i used to    
think so too4 ,but ,god never takes     
anything from us without giving us      
something else to make up for it4 ,you  
think ,i sit in the dark always2 but it 

isn't dark1 ,nannie2 it's all light--a  
light brighter than the sun3 it's the   
light of heaven2 ,i see it constantly4  
,it isn't only those that live in heaven
 that can say they have no need of the  
sun or moon1 for the ,lamb is their     
light3 ,i can say it too4--,yes1 she    
went on1 more to herself than           
,nannie1--yes1 dear ,saviour1 thou art  
my light4  ,nannie sat looking          
wonderingly at the wrinkled old face1 so
 happy and peaceful1 and at the withered
 hands folded so quietly1 and thought   
she did not understand it then4 ,many   
years after1 when she too was old1 did  
she remember that peaceful face and     
those folded hands1 and say in the midst
 of trial and sorrow1--  ,yes1 dear     
,saviour1 thou art my light6  ,i have   
thought sometimes1 grannie went on1 that
 heaven will be pleasanter to me1 for   
not seeing here4 ,think how new it will 
all be there6 ,people that have always  
had their sight only see something      
different when they go to heaven2 but ,i

 haven't seen anything for ten years4   
,just think what it will be to me to see
 those beautiful things you read about6 
,what are they1 ,nannie8  ,nannie said1 
,golden streets1 gates of pearl1 the    
tree of life1 the wall of jasper4 ,i    
don't remember any more4  ,and ,jesus1  
,nannie2 you don't forget him8 ,think of
 these poor blind eyes1 that have seen  
nothing for so long1 opening at last    
upon his face6 ,i love to think of those
 blind people ,jesus healed1 and think  
that he was the first thing they saw4   
,then ,nannie read on3 ,gracious is the 
,lord1 and righteous2 yea1 our ,god is  
merciful4 ,return unto thy rest1 ,o my  
soul2 for the ,lord hath dealt          
bountifully with thee4  ,just as she    
finished1 there was a knock at the door2
 and who should it be but ,dr4 ,merry1  
with two pies for grannie1 and the horse
 and gig to take ,nannie home4 ,and soon
 ,nannie was lying on the couch by the  
bright dining-room fire1 while mother1  
and ,mary1 and ,belle1 and ,charlie all 

crowded round1 asking how she felt4     
,oh1 well enough1 said ,nannie1 as      
sister ,mary took off the warm hood1 and
 kissed the dear face inside of it4 ,i  
hope it will stop aching in time for me 
to go to church4  ,to church6 said ,dr4 
,merry1 looking up from his book2 no    
church for ,nannie to-day4  ,nannie said
 nothing1 but turned her head away to   
hide the tears1 while sister ,mary1     
stooping down and kissing her1 said1    
,never mind2 you couldn't walk there1   
you know4  ,afterwards1 when no one was 
in the room except her father1 she      
reached over to the table for the       
,bible1 and found the psalm they had    
read that morning4 ,pointing with her   
finger to the last two verses1 she said1
 ,father1 please read that4  ,dr4 ,merry
 laid down his paper1 and coming over to
 her couch1 he read3 ,i will pay my vows
 unto the ,lord now in the presence of  
all his people1 in the courts of the    
,lord's house1 in the midst of thee1 ,o 
,jerusalem4 ,praise ye the ,lord6--,well

 what of that8 he said1 looking up1     
though the tears stood in his eyes1 as  
he watched the little face turned so    
wistfully toward him4  ,i want to go to 
church so much1 father1 she said1 as she
 saw he understood her4  ,but1 ,nannie1 
,i don't think ,david went to church    
when he couldn't walk4  ,he might have  
been carried1 said ,nannie1 driving back
 the tears that wanted to come4         
,perhaps he was1 said her father2 and so
 might you be1 if father thought it     
right4  ,would it hurt me1 father8  ,i  
don't know that it would4 ,it might1    
though2 so ,i think you had better not  
try4 ,you must be patient1 and remember 
what ,i've told you1 that ,god sends all
 these little trials4 ,do you understand
 me8  ,i think ,i do4  ,i like to see my
 little daughter love ,god's house1 but 
,i like to see her bear it patiently    
when she can't go there4  ,i will try1  
said ,nannie1 while she kept saying ,no6
 to the tears as fast as they came4     
,every little while1 however1 one       

wouldn't mind1 and would jump over the  
edge and run down4 ,but she kept on     
saying1 ,be patient1 be patient2 and at 
last the tears got tired of coming1 and 
troubled her no more4 ,she had pulled up
 an ugly weed called ,impatience that   
morning4  ,soon after1 ,jack came in    
with his empty basket4  ,well1 ,nannie1 
,i wish ,i were in your place--not      
obliged to go to church1 and not sick   
enough to lose your dinner4 ,i always go
 to church1 for fear1 if ,i'm sick1     
father'll say1 ',turkey isn't good for  
headache4' ,i never thought of such a   
convenient excuse as spraining my ankle4
 ,let me hear how you did it4 ,it's too 
late to try it now1 but it may do the   
next time4  ,o ,jack1 how you do talk6  
,i'm so glad you're better than you     
talk4  ,how do you know that1 ,miss     
,nannie8  ,why1 everybody knows it4     
,this morning you laughed at me2 but as 
soon as you found out ,i was really     
hurt1 you drew me and that big basket   
too on your barrow4 ,you're so kind4    

,jack whistled a tune and kicked the    
fire-irons1 because he didn't want      
,nannie to see the tears that started4  
,he was too much of a boy to let them do
 anything but start4  ,jack1 ,nannie    
began1 after a pause1 why don't you like
 to go to church8 ,she was saying to    
herself all the time1 ,in the courts of 
the ,lord's house1 in the midst of thee1
 ,o ,jerusalem4  ,oh1 ,i don't know2 ,i 
should like it well enough if father    
would let me sit up with the rest of the
 boys in the gallery4  ,but you wouldn't
 do as they do in church1 ,jack8  ,why  
not8  ,it's ,god's house1 said ,nannie  
softly4 ,jack sat silent for a long     
time1 while ,nannie lay looking into the
 fire1 and whispering all the time to   
herself1 ,be patient1 be patient4  ,that
 afternoon1 as father1 mother1 and      
children were engaged beside her1       
,nannie lay on her couch and looked on2 
but she did not need to say1 ,be        
patient1 be patient1 for she was        
patient2 and when her father1 stopping  

for a moment1 whispered1 ,is all right1 
,nannie8 she said1 smiling1 ,yes1       
father2 trying helps1 doesn't it8       
,swiftly the evening fled4 ,they had    
cracked nuts and eaten apples1 till even
 ,jack was satisfied2 and as the fire   
burned down1 and ,charlie lay asleep in 
his mother's lap1 the father said1 ,how 
many things we have to be thankful for  
this year6 ,let us each tell of         
something1 and then together we will    
offer our sacrifice of thanksgiving4    
,the mother's fingers played in         
,charlie's curls1 as she said1 ,i thank 
my heavenly ,father for my children's   
lives4  ,they were still for a moment4  
,they all remembered the sad days of    
last winter1 when they gathered round   
the fire and whispered anxiously        
together1 while ,charlie tossed and     
wearied on his sick-bed4  ,then sister  
,mary said1 ,i thank him for his ,son   
,jesus ,christ4  ,then ,belle1 in a     
softened tone1 said1 ,i thank him for   
our pleasant home4  ,jack said1 while   

,nannie looked up with a pleasant smile1
 ,i thank him for my little sister4     
,then it was ,nannie's turn1 and1       
smiling to her father1 she said1 ,i     
thank him for patience4  ,so ended their
 ,christmas-day4     ,,chapter ,,iv4    
,,something ,,new4   ,oh1 what a darling
 it is6 said ,nannie to ,belle1 as they 
stood looking at the little bundle      
sister ,mary was holding4 ,what wee bits
 of hands6 she said1 as she opened the  
blanket4 ,i'm so glad it's a little     
sister2 ,i haven't any little one1 you  
know1 and it's so much nicer than a     
brother4  ,so much nicer than a brother6
 exclaimed ,jack1 who was looking on    
with affected indifference4 ,i'd like to
 know how many snowballs that 'dear     
little hand1' as you call it1 will make 
for you4 ,i'm sure ,i'd like as good a  
brother as you've got4  ,oh1 said       
,nannie1 a brother will do very well2   
but ,i think a little sister is nicer4  
,oh1 just see1 she added in a whisper1  
it's going to sleep4  ,going to sleep6  

said ,jack2 ,i'd like to know how you   
can tell4 ,it looks just as it did      
before4  ,why1 ,jack1 its eyes are shut4
  ,its eyes shut6--do let me see4 ,i    
didn't know it had any4  ,come1 ,jack1  
they shan't make fun of our baby1 said  
sister ,mary1 as she took it into the   
other room4 ,it's a good deal prettier  
than you were6  ,belle and ,nannie both 
laughed1 in which ,jack joined1 not at  
all offended4  ,what are they going to  
call it8 said ,jack1 after a pause4     
,nellie1 sister ,mary said1 ,belle      
answered2 after a little sister of      
mother's that died4  ,how old was       
mother's sister when she died8 ,jack    
asked4  ,just four years old4 ,i heard  
mother tell all about her4 ,she was so  
pretty1 with long brown curls and brown 
eyes2 and mother said she was always    
happy1 and when anybody seemed sad1 she 
would put her little hands in theirs1   
and say1 ',what make you feel sorry8 ,i 
love you4' ,one day she came in1 and    
climbed up into mother's lap--her       

mother's1 you know1 grandmother's--and  
laid her head down1 and said1 ',i'm so  
tired1' and went to sleep4 ,she slept on
 and on1 until grandmother got          
frightened1 and sent for the doctor4    
,when he came1 he said she was going to 
die4 ,she was sick for about a day1 and 
didn't know anything4 ,the next         
afternoon1 while grandmother was holding
 her in her lap1 she opened her eyes1   
and seeing the tears in grandmother's   
eyes1 she said1 ',what make you feel    
sorry8 ,i love you6' and that was the   
last thing she said4  ,did she die1     
then8 said ,nannie4  ,yes2 mother said  
she only breathed a few minutes after   
it4 ,i saw the grave when ,i was at     
grandmother's4 ,there's a little stone1 
and her name written on it4 ',nellie    
,bliss1 aged four years4'  ,just as old 
as ,charlie1 said ,nannie4 ,how old     
would she be now8  ,almost as old as    
mother1 said ,belle4  ,how long she must
 have been in heaven4 ,i wonder if      
she'll know our baby is named after her8

         99       99       99       99  
99  ,the little ,nellie soon began to   
find her way into their hearts4 ,nannie 
and ,belle loved to sit and hold her1   
very carefully2 and even ,jack would    
step softly1 and not slam the door quite
 so hard1 when told that little ,nellie 
was asleep1--though he did say1 ,he     
wished people would be as particular    
when he was asleep1 and not make such a 
racket in the morning4  ,so for three   
short weeks the little bud shed its     
perfume1 making happy those around it2  
then--oh1 how often comes that then in  
human life6--then it withered4  ,the    
children stepped softly about1 or sat in
 silence round the fire1 while the baby 
lay in their mother's arms panting for  
breath2 and when all was still1 and they
 saw their father lay the little form in
 the crib1 and close the eyes1 they knew
 that it was dead4  ,sadly passed that  
evening4 ,dr4 ,merry was absent to see  
some patients1 and sister ,mary was in  
the room with their mother4 ,the        

children gathered round the fire1 and   
talked in low1 subdued voices1 for death
 was new to them4  ,how strange1 said   
,nannie1 that our little baby should die
 before old ,grannie ,burt1 who has been
 waiting so long4  ,aunt ,nellie will   
know now that she was named for her1    
said ,belle4  ,and perhaps1 said        
,nannie1 she will teach her about       
everything there4 ,so they talked of    
heaven and heavenly things4 ,the little 
baby's death had not been in vain4      
,belle and ,jack both thought more of   
another world than they had ever done   
before1 and in each a little voice      
whispered1 ,am ,i ready for heaven8     
,,chapter ,v4  ,,what ,,made ,,the      
,,difference8   ,o ,mother6 ,fanny      
,bell1 and ,mary ,green1 and ever so    
many of the girls1 are going into the   
woods to-morrow afternoon1 and they want
 us to go with them4 ,may we1 mother8   
said ,belle and ,nannie together1 as    
they came running into the room where   
their mother was4  ,i'll see about it1  

she said2 it will depend upon what kind 
of girls you are4  ,oh1 we'll be very   
good1 mother1 if you will let us go4    
,we'll see1 said their mother4  ,the    
morrow came1 and with it the desired    
permission4 ,pretty early1 ,nannie1 who 
was on the watch1 saw them coming1 and  
called out to ,belle1 ,here they are6   
,belle ran out4  ,are you going8  ,yes4 
,is ,nannie8  ,yes4  ,oh1 ,i'm so glad  
,nannie's going1 cried one voice and    
another4 ,yes1 ,i'm so glad4  ,i don't  
see1 said ,belle to herself1 why they   
should be so glad ,nannie is going4     
,they don't seem to care about me at    
all4  ,with rather a cross tone of      
voice1 she called to ,nannie to make    
haste and get ready4  ,just as they were
 starting1 ,charlie came in1 and seeing 
,nannie with her bonnet on1 he called   
out3--  ,o ,nannie1 where are you going8
 ,i want you to show me the pictures in 
your new book4  ,i can't this afternoon1
 ,charlie2 ,i'm going into the woods4   
,oh1 pshaw6 said ,charlie2 ,i like so   

much better when you're at home4  ,it   
does not make any difference to ,charlie
 whether ,i'm at home or not1 ,belle    
said to herself4  ,when they started    
there was such a strife who should walk 
with ,nannie1 that ,belle was very      
nearly left to walk alone4 ,their walk  
led through the pretty lane bordered    
with lime-trees1 at the back of ,dr4    
,merry's house1 then on past ,grannie   
,burt's house1 when it turned off into a
 little path1 across the field that was 
worn quite smooth by the boys going     
nutting4 ,this path brought you at last 
to a stile4 ,over this stile they all   
climbed1 and now were in the woods4     
,what a beautiful wood it was6 ,the     
trees opened here and there to let in   
the sunlight1 which danced in and out   
among the green and yellow and russet   
brown leaves of the trees1 changing into
 every hue of autumn4 ,on the ground1   
springing up everywhere1 were the dark  
leaves and bright red berries of the    
cranberry and bilberry2 while down by   

the brook the greenest of all mosses    
covered the stones1 and converted any   
old log that came in their way into the 
softest of seats4 ,then1 what a wild and
 roaring little brook that ,stony ,brook
 was6 ,you could follow it all the way  
through the woods by only stepping from 
stone to stone1 and every little while  
you might see a great hole scooped out  
in the rock1 where the water lay dark   
and silent1 or a little precipice over  
which it dashed and foamed4 ,this was a 
favourite wood with the children4 ,in   
summer they often spent whole days      
there1 gathering wild flowers or the    
beautiful fern leaves1 which grew in    
every nook and corner4 ,and now that the
 bright autumn leaves were scattered    
everywhere1 and the tempting berries    
covered the ground1 they found          
employment for many a spare hour4       
,to-day the little girls had gathered   
leaves and berries till they were tired1
 when ,ellen ,bates said1--  ,let us    
choose a queen1 and crown her4  ,what   

will you crown her with8 said ,mary     
,green4  ,oh1 these bright leaves will  
do1 said ,nannie2 we can put them       
together by the stems4  ,now when it was
 first proposed to choose a queen1      
,belle thought1 ,they always choose the 
prettiest one for a queen--,i know they 
will choose me2 so she said with great  
eagerness1 ,oh yes1 let us have a queen6
  ,let us have ,belle for our queen6    
cried one of the girls4  ,oh no1 we want
 ,nannie6 said two or three at once4  ,a
 crown of red leaves will look pretty   
with ,nannie's red hair1 said one of the
 girls1 laughing4  ,i don't care1 said  
another4 ,we all love her best1 and ,i  
don't intend to crown anybody ,i don't  
like1 if they are pretty4  ,belle stood 
looking on with pretended indifference1 
for she did not want the girls should   
know how much she cared about it4  ,all 
that vote for ,belle hold up a bunch of 
berries2 and all that vote for ,nannie  
hold up an oak leaf4  ,the girls        
laughed1 and held up their hands4 ,there

 were six oak leaves1 and only two      
bunches of berries4  ,i'd rather ,belle 
would be queen1 said ,nannie1 though it 
cost a little effort to say it2 for she 
was as much pleased with the honour as  
any one4  ,but we had rather not1 the   
girls said4 ,you cannot help yourself2  
so sit down while we make your crown4   
,belle was too proud to show her        
disappointment1 so she sat down and     
helped to make the crown4 ,very pretty  
she looked as she sat on the mossy bank1
 while her hands worked in and out among
 the bright coloured leaves4 ,a stranger
 looking at the two sisters1 would have 
wondered why the girls had passed by    
,belle1 and chosen the plain though     
pleasant-faced ,nannie4 ,so one would   
think that looked only on the outside2  
but could one have looked within1 they  
would soon have understood the reason of
 the choice4  ,after the crowning of the
 queen1 which was performed with all due
 ceremony1 the children went home1      
following ,stony ,brook till it poured  

its waters into the little river on     
which the village was built4  ,after    
they reached home1 ,belle went upstairs1
 and sitting down by the window1 gave   
free vent to the angry thoughts she had 
been keeping under all the afternoon4   
,i don't see1 she said to herself at    
last1 what makes the difference4 ,i know
 ,i'm a great deal prettier than        
,nannie2 and she went across and looked 
at herself in the glass4 ,yes1 ,i am a  
great deal prettier1 and yet the girls  
all love ,nannie better4 ,and ,i can    
learn a lesson twice as quick1 and yet  
,miss ,taylor likes ,nannie better than 
me1 and helps her out of all her        
difficulties4 ,and father1 and mother1  
and sister ,mary1 all think there's     
nobody like ,nannie1 and they are always
 scolding me for something or other4 ,i 
wish people would love me as they do    
,nannie4 ,i would rather be the ugliest 
person in the world and be loved4 ,she  
was silent for a moment1 while          
conscience brought before her all the   

kind acts ,nannie was always doing for  
somebody4 ,how ready she was to give up 
her own pleasure1 and do anything for   
others4 ,then she went off into a       
pleasant day-dream1 in which she was    
very good1 always did just right1 and   
everybody loved her4 ,all the old women 
in the village thought no one could do  
anything for them like ,belle ,merry2   
her mother thought she never could spare
 ,belle1 and ,charlie was never         
satisfied when ,belle was away4 ,she    
forgot1 when she was dreaming1 how1 when
 her father said ,granny ,burt had no   
one to read to her1 she said she hadn't 
time to read to an old woman4  ,she     
forgot how often1 when her mother had   
asked for some little help1 it had been 
given so pettishly as to make that      
mother's face grow sad4 ,she forgot how 
often1 when ,charlie had made some      
little request for entertainment1 she   
had turned away1 until now he never     
asked ,belle for anything when ,nannie  
was in the room4 ,yes1 she forgot all   

this1 she forgot all the hard part of   
doing right1 and her dream was very     
pleasant--so pleasant1 that at last she 
said1 with great determination1 ,i mean 
to be so kind and good1 that they will  
all love me4 ,i'm going to try4 ,i'll   
begin at once1 to-night4  ,so she       
started down-stairs4 ,poor ,belle6 how  
many times had she come out of her      
little room and gone down-stairs with   
the same determination to do better1 and
 how many times had she failed6  ,and   
how many times had ,nannie come out of  
the same little room with the same      
resolution1 and almost always succeeded6
 ,what made the difference8 ,if you had 
been there sometimes with ,nannie1 you  
would have found that she did one thing 
that ,belle had not done4 ,she knelt    
down and asked ,god to help her4  ,there
 was the difference4 ,belle was trying  
to make herself good1 ,nannie was       
praying to ,jesus to help her4  ,as     
,belle came into the sitting-room1 her  
mother said to her1 ,you ought to have  

come down immediately to help to set the
 table1 ,belle2 ,nannie set it for you4 
,belle said nothing1 neither did she    
thank ,nannie1 who looked up for a      
moment1 then went on reading4  ,belle1  
said her mother1 you may fill the       
water-pitcher1 since ,nannie has done   
your work for you4  ,i didn't ask her to
 do my work1 said ,belle1 as she took   
the pitcher4 ,that's always the way1 she
 said to herself2 now ,i came           
down-stairs feeling pleasant enough1 and
 mother began scolding me because ,i    
hadn't set the table4 ,there's no use   
trying4 ,i wasn't to blame4  ,who was to
 blame8  ,after supper ,belle sat down  
with a book she was busy reading4 ,just 
as she began1 her father asked her to   
bring his slippers4  ,in a minute1 she  
said1 without looking up1 while she went
 on reading4  ,nannie1 seeing ,belle so 
much interested1 ran off and brought the
 slippers1 and received a pleasant      
,thank you6 from her father4 ,belle was 
not so much interested in her book as   

not to hear the ,thank you1 and it again
 excited the angry feelings4  ,i was    
going in a minute1 she said to herself4 
,nannie needn't have been in such a     
hurry4 ,i wasn't to blame4  ,who was to 
blame8  ,i wish one of you would take   
,charlie to bed1 said their mother1 as  
she came in with her basket of mending4 
,here was a good opportunity to help her
 mother1 and ,belle put down her book   
with determination1 and said1 ,i'll take
 him4  ,no1 said ,master ,charlie1 ,i   
don't want ,belle to put me to bed2--,i 
want ,nannie4 ,you go1 ,nannie1 he said1
 putting his little arms around her     
neck1 and looking up beseechingly4 ,so  
,nannie laid down her book and took     
,charlie to bed4  ,poor ,belle6 ,she    
held her book up to hide the tears that 
would come4 ,there's no use in trying1  
she thought4 ,it wasn't my fault if     
,charlie wouldn't let me4  ,whose fault 
was it8  ,dr4 ,merry had seen it all4   
,he saw the struggle it had been for    
,belle to put away her book1 and he saw 

the tears fill her eyes when ,charlie   
refused2 and now1 as he got up to go to 
his surgery1 he whispered to her1 ,be   
strong and of a good courage4 ,for the  
,lord thy ,god1 he it is that doth go   
with thee4  ,what could her father mean8
 ,belle kept thinking it over and over4 
,be strong and of a good courage--she   
knew well enough what the words meant1  
but why should her father say them to   
her4 ,she wondered if he knew she was   
trying to do better1 and was almost     
ready to give up4  ,be strong and of a  
good courage1--she said it again4 ,of   
good courage1 means not to be afraid1   
not to give up1 to go on trying1 no     
matter how hard it is4 ,but ,i don't see
 the use in trying4 ,it's always the    
same1 everything goes wrong4 ,i may as  
well give up at first as at last4       
,there was a ,bible lying by her on the 
table1 and1 almost without thinking1 she
 took it up1 and began turning over the 
leaves to find the words2 she knew where
 they were1 for she had seen them many  

times4 ,she found the place1 and read   
over again the words1--  ,for the ,lord 
thy ,god1 he it is that doth go with    
thee2 he will not fail thee1 nor forsake
 thee4  ,i can't do right1--there's no  
use trying2 but while she said it1 she  
was reading over again the last part1   
,he will not fail thee4  ,i wonder1 she 
said1 brightening up as the thought     
struck her1 if that is what father      
meant6 ,i can't do right myself1 but    
,god will help me4     ,,chapter ,,vi4  
,,the ,,story4   ,one ,sunday afternoon1
 as ,mary sat reading in the porch1     
,jack and ,charlie came and sat down by 
her on the old sofa2 and soon ,charlie  
put his little curly head between her   
face and the book1 and said coaxingly1  
,please tell us a story1 sister ,mary4  
,the little upturned face was well      
kissed before sister ,mary said1 ,well1 
,jack1 call ,nannie and ,belle1 and     
we'll have a story4  ,jack ran off in   
high glee1 for sister ,mary's stories   
were always welcomed by the children4   

,nannie and ,belle came as fast as their
 feet would bring them1 and were soon   
sitting in readiness on the porch steps4
  ,now1 sister ,mary1 said ,nannie1 a   
good story1 please4  ,what do you mean  
by a good one1 ,nannie8  ,one that will 
teach us to be good1 said ,nannie in a  
low voice4  ,oh1 nonsense6 said ,jack2  
that wasn't what ,i meant4 ,i want a    
pretty story4  ,so do ,i1 said ,belle4  
,and so do ,i1 chimed in ,charlie4      
,well1 said sister ,mary1 can't ,i tell 
you a good story1 and a pretty one too8 
,i suppose so1 said ,jack1 kicking the  
foot-stool4  ,well1 she can't tell us   
anything1 ,jack1 said ,belle1 if you    
don't keep your feet still4  ,i think   
you are rather hard on ,jack2 but never 
mind4 ,now1 said sister ,mary1 we'll    
have our story3--         99       99   
99       99       99  ,it was a poor    
little room the sun was looking into1   
just as it was setting4 ,there was no   
carpet on the floor1 and no curtains to 
the window4 ,the old grate was cracked  

and rusty1 and contained a few red coals
 among the embers4 ,by the fire1 in a   
curious old chair1 roughly made1 yet    
looking comfortable1 sat a little girl  
rocking herself backwards and forwards4 
,it was a very pale face that the sun   
shone upon1 and a very thin1 pale hand  
it was that the little girl was holding 
up1 shading her eyes4 ,every little     
while the girl dropped her hand1 and    
looked towards the window with a bright 
smile1--and no wonder6 for there stood  
the prettiest of rose-bushes1 with      
bright green leaves1 and one dark       
crimson bud just opening4 ,she sat      
watching it1 till the last rays of the  
sun died away1 and it began to grow     
dark4 ,then the look of sadness came    
back to her face1 and drawing her old   
shawl closer round her1 she sat leaning 
her head on her hand4 ,by-and-by there  
was a sound of footsteps1 and the door  
opened1 and a man entered with a slow   
and heavy step4 ,she turned round with a
 quick smile1--',o father6 what has made

 you so late8'  ,he said nothing2 but1  
stooping down1 lifted her in his arms1  
and sat down by the fire4 ,though he    
lifted her very gently1 an expression of
 pain passed over her face1 and you     
could see that the poor limbs hung      
shrunken and helpless4 ,he was a        
rough-looking man1 with a rough1 heavy  
voice2 but when he spoke to her1 his    
tones were very gentle1 and as he held  
her in his lap he stroked her hair      
softly and kissed her again and again4  
',how have you been to-day1 ,lizzie8'   
',pretty well1 father4 ,when neighbour  
,green came in to see to the fire1 she  
brought me some nice warm broth for my  
dinner4 ,wasn't it kind1 father--and    
wasn't it odd too8 ,i had been thinking 
all the morning how much ,i should like 
some broth1 and then just to think ,i   
had some for my dinner4 ,and then the   
best of all is that dear little         
rose-bush4 ,you can't see it now1 it's  
so dark2 it's got one dear little bud1  
and it won't eat anything but water1 so 

,i can keep it4 ,mrs4 ,smith brought it 
to me1 and she brought a nice basketful 
of things besides2 and you'll get some  
of them for your supper--won't you1     
father8'  ,he put her back carefully in 
her chair1 then put on a few more coals1
 and brought out from a basket in a     
corner their supper4 ,after they had    
eaten1 he took her again in his arms and
 sat down with her4  ',was the day very 
long1 ,lizzie8'  ',yes1' she said2 'the 
days are all long without mother4'  ,he 
started as she said it2 then said1 ',i'm
 very glad she isn't here4'  ',glad6    
father8'  ',yes1 glad2 for'--he said    
almost in a whisper--'they never hunger 
there4 ,i wish we were there too4'  ,he 
laid his head on her shoulder1 while the
 words came fast3 ',no work--,i have    
hunted1 hunted everywhere4 ,i have been 
ready to give up1 and then ,i would     
think of you1 ,lizzie1 and ,i kept on2  
but there's no work to be had4 ,o       
,lizzie1 ,lizzie1 ,i could bear it if it
 weren't for you6'  ,she said nothing1  

but kept stroking his hair with her     
little hand1 while her face looked very 
sad4  ',i will try once more1 to-morrow1
 though ,i know there's no use4'        
',perhaps you can find something1       
father4 ,don't despair4 ,god will take  
care of us4 ,shall ,i say mother's      
psalm1 father8'  ,he only nodded his    
head1 and she began3 ',i will bless the 
,lord at all times4 ,his praise shall   
continually be in my mouth4'  ',does it 
say1 at all times1 ,lizzie8'  ',yes1    
father1 at all times2 that means when we
 are in trouble too1 doesn't it8'  ',it 
must mean so2 but it isn't so easy to   
praise him when we can't see any light1 
as when everything is bright4'  ',it    
isn't so easy to praise1 father2 but    
then we can pray4'  ',we can pray1      
,lizzie2 but what if ,god doesn't hear  
us8'  ',but he does hear us1 father4    
,that's just what the verse that mother 
liked best said3 ,i sought the ,lord1   
and he heard me1 and delivered me out of
 all my troubles4 ,and this verse too3  

,many are the afflictions of the        
righteous1 but the ,lord delivereth them
 out of them all4 ,that is a sweet      
verse1 father4'  ',say them all1        
,lizzie4'  ',i don't remember them all4 
,i will say all ,i can3 ,the angel of   
the ,lord encampeth round about them    
that fear him and delivereth them4 ,oh1 
fear the ,lord1 ye his saints3 for there
 is no want to them that fear him4'     
',do you think that's always true1      
,lizzie8'  ',i don't know1' she said1   
with a puzzled look2 'we want something 
now4 ,you want work1 and ,i want to be  
well and strong to help you2 but maybe  
it doesn't mean we shall have everything
 we want1 but all that is best for us4  
,that's what mother used to say1 and    
that's what the next verse says too3    
,the young lions do lack and suffer     
hunger1 but they that seek the ,lord    
shall not want any good thing4 ,and     
perhaps it isn't here that we shall not 
want4 ,you said there was no hunger     
there1 didn't you1 father8'  ',yes1     

,lizzie4'  ',and then there is that     
other verse1 father3 ,yea1 though ,i    
walk through the valley of the shadow of
 death1 ,i will fear no evil1 for thou  
art with me4 ,thy rod and thy staff they
 comfort me4'  ,her voice trembled as   
she said it1 and she paused1 for they   
were her mother's dying words4  ',we    
will fear no evil1 father4 ,we won't    
stop trusting2 will we1 father8'  ',no1 
,lizzie2 ,i sometimes fear ,i should if 
it weren't for you4 ,what should ,i do  
without you8' and his arms grasped her  
closer1 as if even the thought were     
painful4  ',o father1 you would be glad 
that ,god had taken me where ,i couldn't
 suffer any more1 and where ,i should be
 straight and pretty like other         
children4'  ',you are pretty now1       
,lizzie4 ,i never see any face that     
looks so beautiful to me4'  ',but it    
isn't like other children's1 father4    
,when ,mrs4 ,smith came in to-day1 she  
had a pretty little girl with her1 with 
such bright golden hair1 and such rosy  

cheeks1 and so tall and straight1 she   
must look like the angels1 ,i think4    
,and when ,i looked at her1 it was so   
hard to keep the tears from coming4 ,i  
had to keep thinking of what mother told
 me when ,i read about the pool where   
the sick people washed and were made    
well2 and ,i said ,i wished there was   
such a pool now4 ,mother said the river 
of death was such a pool1 and that after
 ,i had crossed it1 ,i should be like   
the angels in heaven4 ,but she said1    
father1 she should still know me2 so1   
father1 you will keep on trusting and   
praising too1 won't you1 if ,god takes  
me there8'  ,he made no answer1 but held
 her closely to him1 till the few coals 
in the grate grew white1 and the room   
grew cold4  ',it's too cold for you     
here1 ,lizzie1 and we can't have any    
more coals to-night4 ,shall ,i put you  
in bed now8'  ',let me sing mother's    
hymn first1 father4'  ,he raised her a  
little1 and in a sweet1 low voice she   
began singing3--    ',breast the wave1  

,christian1 when it is strongest2       
,watch for day1 ,christian1 when night  
is longest2     ,onward and onward still
 be thine endeavour1     ,the rest that 
remaineth endureth for ever4    ',fight 
the fight1 ,christian--,jesus is o'er   
thee2     ,run the race1                
,christian--heaven is before thee2      
,he who hath promised faltereth never2  
,oh1 trust in the love that endureth for
 ever4    ',lift the eye1 ,christian1   
just as it closeth2     ,raise the      
heart1 ,christian1 ere it reposeth2     
,nothing thy soul from the ,saviour can 
sever1     ,soon shalt thou mount upward
 to praise him for ever4'  ,sister ,mary
 paused after she had sung the hymn4    
,there were tears in the children's     
eyes1 and for a moment they were silent4
  ,is that all8 they said at last4  ,no1
 said sister ,mary1 there's some more2  
but ,i'm afraid you are tired4  ,oh no2 
tell us the rest6  ,very well1 said     
sister ,mary1 but we'll have to make    
haste2 it's growing late3--  ,the       

setting sun was shining again into the  
poor little room1 and the little girl   
sat again1 wrapped up in her old shawl1 
before the fire1 rocking to and fro4    
,the little girl's face had a very      
bright smile on it2 but it wasn't the   
rose-bush with its little bud1 now      
almost opened1 that caused it1 for she  
didn't look that way at all4 ,she had a 
little bit of paper in her hand that she
 held very tightly1 while her eyes kept 
watching the door4 ,the sunlight faded1 
and the room grew dark1 but the little  
face still wore the bright smile4  ,as  
the door opened1 she cried out          
eagerly1--  ',o father1 here's something
 for you6 ,there was a gentleman here to
 see you to-day1 and he left his name2  
here it is on this card2 and he said if 
you would come to see him1 he had some  
work for you4'  ,the man sat down in his
 chair1 and laid his head in his hands4 
',o ,lizzie1' he said1 'it's more than  
,i deserve2 ,i was just ready to give up
 trusting4 ,i have sought all day1 and  

,i couldn't bear to come home4'  ',god  
did hear us2 didn't he1 father8 ,i'm so 
glad we didn't stop trusting4 ,hadn't   
you better go now1 father1 and see about
 it8'  ',yes1' he said1 ',i'll go now1' 
stooping down to read the card by the   
light of the fire4  ,he went out1 and   
the shadows settled down over the room2 
but the little girl sat still1 and you  
could just hear her humming to          
herself1--    ',breast the wave1        
,christian1 when it is strongest4'      
,presently she heard her father's step4 
,it was quicker and lighter than it had 
been for many a day4  ',i've got it1    
,lizzie4 ,it's a place as a porter in a 
warehouse2 and good wages too4 ,and see 
here1' he said1 as he lighted a candle  
he had brought with him1 'we'll have a  
light to-night1 and a nice supper too4' 
',o father6' said ,lizzie1 as she looked
 on with bright eyes as her father took 
out the parcels2 'how did you get all   
those things8'  ',the gentleman paid me 
something in advance4 ,he said he knew  

people that had been out of work so long
 needed something4'  ,it was a pleasant 
evening2 the candlelight seemed so      
bright to ,lizzie's eyes1 that hadn't   
seen any for so long a time1 and her    
father was so cheerful4 ,yes1 it was a  
pleasant evening2 and they closed by    
reading the #ajcrd ,psalm3--  ',bless   
the ,lord1 ,o my soul1 and all that is  
within me1 bless his holy name4  ',bless
 the ,lord1 ,o my soul1 and forget not  
all his benefits4'         99       99  
99       99       99  ,sister ,mary took
 up her book and went into the house1   
while the children gathered together on 
the steps to watch the sun that was now 
setting4  ,lizzie was a wonderfully good
 little girl1 wasn't she1 said ,jack2   
but then she was sick4 ,i never knew any
 good people that weren't either sick or
 ugly4  ,why1 ,jack1 there's sister     
,mary1 and papa and mamma1 and ,miss    
,taylor1 and--  ,oh1 ,i mean children4  
,all the children ,i read about are     
good1 and get ill1 and die4 ,i rather   

think ,lizzie would have died if sister 
,mary had gone on with her story4  ,it  
is so in books1 said ,belle2 they always
 die4  ,people would not want to write  
about them if they lived1 said ,nannie4 
,why not8 said ,jack2 ,i wish some one  
would write about me4  ,if they wrote   
about you1 said ,belle1 they could call 
their work1 ',a warning to bad boys1'   
or1 ',an ugly boy that wasn't good4'    
,while they were talking so1 ,nannie was
 thinking very intently4  ,what are you 
thinking about1 ,nannie8 said ,belle4   
,i was thinking about what ,jack        
said--that all the good people were     
either sick or ugly2 ,i don't believe   
it's true4 ,but if it is true1 ,i was   
thinking that perhaps it's like what    
,abraham told the rich man3 ',son1      
remember that thou in thy lifetime      
receivedst thy good things1 and likewise
 ,lazarus evil things2 but now he is    
comforted1 and thou art tormented4' ,so 
,i thought that the ones that were sick 
and ugly here1 but loved ,jesus1 had    

received all their evil things1 and     
would be well and beautiful there4      
,maybe so1 said ,jack1 more thoughtfully
 than before4 ,then stooping down and   
kissing ,nannie1 he said1 ,i know one   
good girl that isn't sick4  ,the sun was
 just setting1 leaving about half its   
great face to light the world4  ,in     
,jack's heart the sun was just rising4  
,nannie's words kept sounding in his    
ears1--,perhaps1 perhaps they have      
received in this life their good things2
 and those other words1 ,therefore he is
 comforted1 and thou art tormented4     
,,chapter ,,vii4  ,,the ,,lamb ,,is     
,,the ,,light ,,thereof4   ,nannie1     
,nannie1--where's ,nannie8 ,jack called 
one pleasant summer morning4  ,just then
 ,nannie's voice was heard singing1 and 
she came into the kitchen1 where ,jack  
was4  ,nannie1 father has just gone down
 to ,grannie ,burt's1 and he wants you  
to go there too4 ,mother is going now1  
and she says you may go with her if     
you'll make haste4  ,nannie was off in a

 minute for her sun-bonnet1 and very    
soon was walking with her mother and    
,jack through the tree-bordered lane2   
very quietly now though1 for she knows  
that grannie is dying1 and she thinks to
 herself1 ,grannie will be in heaven    
to-night1 and the little face brightens 
as she thinks of the beauties of the    
heavenly city2 and grannie will see     
too--why1 how happy she must be6 ,i     
should think good people would love to  
die4 ,it's like going to some beautiful 
world we've heard of4 ,but as ,nannie   
looked up at the trees1 and the heavy   
white clouds above them1 and then down  
at the green carpet of grass at her     
feet1 she thought it would be leaving a 
beautiful world too4  ,now they reach   
the little brown house1 and ,nannie     
begins to feel a little frightened4 ,she
 creeps in timidly behind her mother1   
and sits down at the foot of the bed1   
while ,jack sits down on the door-step4 
,soon grannie says feebly1--  ,has      
,nannie come8  ,yes1 said her mother2   

,nannie's here4  ,nannie1 come where ,i 
can touch you4  ,as ,nannie comes       
nearer1 grannie stretches out her hand1 
and laying it on her head1 says in a low
 voice1--  ,god bless thee--,god bless  
thee1 my child6 ,i have never seen you  
here1 ,nannie1 but ,i shall know you in 
heaven4 ,i shan't need to ask you to    
read to me there1 for ,i shall see4 ,but
 read to me here once more1             
,nannie--once more4  ,nannie lifts up   
for the last time grannie's worn ,bible1
 and begins to read1 as she has so often
 read before1--  ,and ,i saw a new      
heaven and a new earth4  ,very still it 
was in the chamber of death1 while the  
little head bowed over the sacred book1 
and the tearful voice read of the       
glories of that land whither the wearied
 one was going4 ,fainter and fainter    
grew the breath2 and as the child read  
the words1 ,and the city hath no need of
 the sun or moon to lighten it1 for the 
,lamb is the light thereof1 the lids    
closed over the sightless eyes here--but

 opened there1 where the ,lamb is the   
light4 ,grannie ,burt was in heaven4    
,long she listened for ,his footsteps1  
,echoing from those streets of gold--   
,now just within the pearly gates1      
,she is no longer old4    ,the          
pilgrim-staff is broken--   ,the        
worn-out garment fold   ,and lay away   
for ever1--   ,she is no longer old4    
,farewell1 farewell1 our mother6   ,our 
greatest joy is told1   ,as we fold the 
aged hands and say1   ,she is no longer 
old4  ,twice have the trees blossomed1  
and twice the autumn leaves fallen1     
since first we met our little friend    
,nannie4 ,we have given but a few pages 
in the life of those few years2 there   
have been many others--some1 perhaps1 in
 which the little girl forgot to ask for
 help in her trying1 and therefore      
failed4  ,it may seem hard to be trying 
on and on1 never yielding to            
discouragement2 but if you should see   
,nannie's bright eyes and happy face1   
you would not think so2 and if you      

should ask ,nannie if she was tired of  
trying1 ,i think she would answer1 ,her 
ways are ways of pleasantness1 and all  
her paths are peace4  ,we may perhaps   
hear of ,nannie again1 and of the       
success which always follows faithful   
effort4 ,but whether we do or not1 ,i   
can let you into the secret of her      
future life4 ,here it is in these       
words3--  ,favour is deceitful1 and     
beauty is vain3 but the woman that      
feareth the ,lord1 she shall be praised4