,transcriber's note3 ,unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed4 ,,paul ,,harley',s ,,dream ,,and ,,joe',s ,,letter ,a ,new ,year's ,story ,,by ,a4,l4,o4,e4 ,author of ,the ,claremont ,tales1 ,the ,white ,bear's ,den1 c4 ,illustration ,,marshall ,,brothers1 ,,ltd4 ,,london1 ,,edinburgh4 ,,contents4 ------------ ,,paul ,,harley',s ,,dream ,,chapter ,i4 ,,paul ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,the ,,dream ,,joe',s ,,letter ,,chapter ,i4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,paul ,,harley',s ,,dream ,,by ,a4,l4,o4,e4 ,illustration3 ,it stops all fun6 cried ,paul4 ,,paul ,,harley',s ,,dream ,a ,tale4 ------------ ,,chapter ,i4 ,,paul4 ,i ,,do think it1 and ,i will say it6 cried ,paul ,harley1 with impatience4 ,of all days in the week1 a ,sunday is the worst for ,new ,year's ,eve4 ,it stops all fun1 all larking1 all hope of adventure4 ,the ,new ,year steals in like a thief when one is fast asleep in bed2 unless1 like that stupid fellow ,james ,barton1 one goes to some midnight service in church1 to pray in the ,new ,year1 as he says4 ,as if one had not had enough of that sort of thing all the ,sunday6 ,my dear boy-- began his grandfather1 ,silas ,harley1 an aged man1 who sat with his arm leaning on the table1 and his ,bible before him4 ,what ,harley was going to say ,i cannot tell1 for his grandson cut him short4 ,paul had been to school1 and had learned many things there1 of the knowledge of which he was not a little vain4 ,but one thing1 worth more than mere book-lore1 he had not learned1 which was to honour his father and his mother1 which includes grandparents also4 ,paul was puffed up with pride1 as a balloon is puffed out with gas4 ,illustration ,he stood erect by the table1 grasping the back of a chair1 and looking down on the venerable man before him1 whose white hair ,paul should have honoured1 with a saucy look1 which seemed to say1 ,i don't want advice from you6 ,i wish that ,i could do this year what ,i did on last ,new ,year's ,eve1 cried ,paul4 ,a lot of us young fellows got on the top of a coach1 and were off to ,enfield for a spree at a farm4 ,how the horses plunged through the snow2 we were upset as nearly as could be6 ,no great fun in that1 observed ,harley4 ,we had no end of snow-balling each other at ,gale's farm1 as long as daylight lasted1 continued ,paul2 and when night came on1 we had dancing 'under the misletoe bough4' ,ah6 ,that night1 what a merry one it was6 ,we were just in the midst of a dance1 hands round and down the middle1 when the clock struck twelve1 and in came the ,new ,year6 ,and ,sunday too1 observed old ,mrs4 ,harley1 who was seated by her husband4 ,i hope1 ,paul1 that you left off your dancing8 ,paul only1 in reply1 gave a saucy laugh1 which pained his good grandparents4 ,they had brought up the orphan boy ever since he had been a helpless baby1 and had now1 in return for their loving care1 but disrespect and disobedience4 ,on the year of which ,i am writing1 the thirty-first of ,december fell on a ,sunday1 and it was on the evening of this ,sunday that ,paul stood talking to his grandparents in the little parlour of their home1 in one of the suburbs of ,london4 ,we were sorry not to have you with us at church this morning1 ,paul1 observed ,harley4 ,the old man and his feeble wife had with no small difficulty made their way to the house of prayer1 to praise their ,maker for mercies received through the closing year1 and to ask for ,his blessing on the year so soon to open4 ,the ,new ,year to one or both of them1 as they thought1 was likely to be the last1 but neither of them feared to go home to the rest prepared for the people of ,god4 ,i don't care to go to morning service1 replied ,paul1 bluntly2 ,i take my ease1 and lie late in bed on ,sundays1 at least in such freezing weather as this4 ,but ,i mean to go to-night to seven o'clock service2 for ,i like to see the church all lit up1 with the gas-lights flaring on the evergreens and the wreaths with which it is decked4 ,i like1 too1 the hymn which is to be sung1 it has such a pretty tune4 ,and without the least reverence of manner1 ,paul rather bawled out than sang the first lines of a well-known hymn-- ',a few more years shall roll1 ,a few more seasons come1 ,and we shall be with those who sleep ,at rest within the tomb4' ,hush1 my dear child1 hush6 cried ,mrs4 ,harley1 with a shocked look4 ,you don't seem to think of the meaning of the words which you are singing4 ,paul took no notice of the gentle reproof4 ,it's time for me to be off to church1 said he2 it must be just on seven2 ,i think the bells have stopped their ringing4 ,don't stay supper for me2 ,i'm going to ,uncle ,sam's after ,i've been at church2 he's to have lobster salad for supper on ,new ,year's ,eve1 and ,i like that a deal better than your porridge4 ,i mean to stop the night at ,uncle ,sam's1 and get some fun with his boys on ,new ,year's morning4 ,take your comforter6 cried the grandmother4 ,you're not the lad to stand sharp cold2 remember that you nearly died of rheumatic fever last ,march6 ,i'm not going to coddle myself like an old woman6 exclaimed the boy4 ,cold only catches those who have to creep like snails6 ,paul took down his cap from its peg as he spoke1 and went off to church1 certainly not in a mood either to praise or to pray4 ,the church was not full on ,new ,year's ,eve1 for the weather was so extremely cold that some persons who would otherwise have come1 dared not brave the piercing night air4 ,paul took his usual place in a dark part of the church1 where he could see without being much seen4 ,he sat during the prayers1 and stared about him4 ,paul looked at the wreaths and the gas-lights1 noticed the fashion of the ladies' bonnets1 and amused himself with his own thoughts4 ,there was no reverence either in the posture or in the spirit of ,paul4 ,he behaved himself in the house set apart for the worship of the ,almighty as he would not have dared to behave in the ,queen's palace2 nay1 as he would not have dared to behave in any gentleman's private dwelling4 ,illustration ,paul's body was in church1 but his heart was not there4 ,now he thought of to-morrow's sports1 now of his lobster supper4 ,then the lad's thoughts took a more evil course4 ,malice and spite were shown in such reflections as these3-- ,i wonder how that ,james ,barton can bear to stay up till midnight in a church6 ',pray in the ,new ,year1' to be sure6 ,that may be well enough for old folk1 who are not likely to live many more years1 but young chaps like ,james and me have fifty or sixty before us1 and ,i can't see the use of all that praying4 ,james wants to be thought better than any one else4 ,he has given up playing skittles on ,sundays1 and has taken1 ,i hear1 to keeping a missionary-box4 ,catch me following his example6 ,i've something better to do with my pennies4 ,i don't like ,james ,barton at all4 ,i have owed him a grudge ever since our quarrel in a field three years ago1 when he got me into a scrape with a farmer's wife by saying ,i'd stolen her apples4 ,i've been on the watch ever since to pay him off for that bit of mischievous meddling4 ,if ,i did take the dame's apples1 that was no business of his4 ,fine fun ,i had last summer1 when ,i crept up unseen to the neat model of a ship which ,james had taken weeks to rig out1 and tore her sails1 and knocked a hole in her keel1 while he was wandering about in the brushwood gathering flowers and ferns6 ,i made off as soon as ,i had done the job1 but ,i'd have liked to have seen the lad's face1 when he came to the place where he had left his pretty ship1 and found her lying broken and spoiled in the mud6 ,i wonder if he guessed who had played him the trick8 ,he did not see me1 ,i'm sure of that1 for ,i stole away like a fox4 ,i suppose that ,james has now grown so mighty good that1 had ,i smashed him instead of his ship1 he'd have taken it as meek as a lamb4 ,the next time that we meet1 ,i'll try how he likes a box on the ear4 ,but ,i will put down no more of the worse than idle thoughts which1 even in church1 passed through the mind of the boy4 ,i have said quite enough to show that ,paul did not for one moment reflect that he was in the presence of his ,maker2 that the eye of ,god was upon him2 that his secret malice was laid bare unto ,him who hath declared in ,his holy ,word1 ,the thought of foolishness is sin1 ,prov4 xxiv4 #i4 ,paul only gave over making plans for teasing ,james when the clergyman gave out the hymn4 ,we have seen that ,paul was vain2 and of nothing was he more vain than what he considered to be a very fine voice4 ,a loud one it was1 without doubt1 and ,paul took care that it should be heard all over the church4 ,a lady1 speaking of church music1 once said to me1 ,it makes me tremble to hear the children sing4 ,my readers may think these very strange words1 but to my mind there was cause for the lady's feeling of fear4 ,oh1 my young friends1 have you ever thought how you may displease the ,lord1 even whilst singing a hymn6 ,thou shalt not take the name of the ,lord thy ,god in vain2 for the ,lord will not hold him guiltless who taketh ,his name in vain4 ,is it a light matter to sing of the glory of the ,almighty1 or the agonies of ,his dear ,son1 as carelessly as if you were but shouting out some idle ballad8 ,a dark stain of sin was spreading over the soul of ,paul as he boldly sang out1 at the top of his voice1 even words so solemn as these3-- '',tis but a little time1 ,and ,christ the ,lord shall come ,to take ,his ransomed people up ,to their eternal home4 ,then1 oh1 my ,lord1 prepare ,my soul for that great day2 ,oh1 wash me in thy precious blood1 ,and take my sin away6' ,paul's hymn-singing was a mockery2 his very prayer was turned into sin6 ,what thought he of the great ,day of ,judgment8 ,what thought he of the precious blood1 of which he dared so loudly to sing8 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,the ,,dream4 ,,the hymn was over1 and ,paul sat down1 but not to listen to a word of the sermon4 ,good and holy words were spoken1 which touched most of the hearers' hearts1 but they never reached the heart of ,paul4 ,the boy fell fast asleep in his dark corner of the church1 and there he remained fast asleep till long after the sermon had been ended1 and the blessing had been given by the preacher4 ,paul not only slept1 but he dreamed--a strange and wondrous dream4 ,the place in which he was seemed to widen1 the roof to rise1 till instead of a ceiling above him were clouds of glory1 and beneath him a pavement of gold4 ,there was music1 but far sweeter1 and more joyful than what ,paul had heard in church4 ,instead of mortal men and women1 shining1 happy beings were around the dreamer1 with starry crowns and waving wings1 that glittered like jewels in the glorious light4 ,but though all that ,paul saw in his dream was beauty and gladness1 he could not delight in the beauty1 he could not share in the joy4 ,paul's heart felt nothing but dread4 ,he did not belong to the happy band2 he could not join in their song2 he feared lest one of the shining ones should notice that he was there4 ,paul would fain have hidden himself1 but had no place wherein to hide4 ,terror seized him when one of the beautiful angels drew near1 and said1 ,what dost thou here8 ,paul was dumb1 and could not reply4 ,the proud tongue which had so often repeated holy words without fear had lost all power to utter one now4 ,then ,paul seemed to hear the sentence1 ,thrust him forth into outer darkness6 ,and the start of terror which he gave awakened the boy from his dream4 ,paul found himself indeed in darkness4 ,the lights in the church had all been put out2 the worshippers had gone to their homes2 no one had noticed the sleeping boy1 and he had been locked into the church4 ,paul's first feeling was that of great surprise at finding the church so still and so dark2 his next was that of alarm4 ,he groped his way to the outer door4 ,how still and dark the place seemed as he moved down the aisle6 ,and1 oh1 how terribly cold6 ,the clock struck nine just as ,paul reached the great door4 ,it was locked4 ,paul shook it1 and shook it again1 but had no power to force it open4 ,he called as loudly as he could1 but the church stood in the middle of a large churchyard1 no house was near1 and no one heard the boy's voice4 ,some one will search for me1 oh1 surely some one will search6 cried ,paul4 ,he thought of his loving grandparents1 who1 old and feeble as they were1 would be sure to brave the piercing cold if they know that their boy was in danger4 ,but then another thought startled ,paul4 ,grandfather will think that ,i am at my uncle's2 he will fancy me seated at his table beside a blazing fire4 ,the contrast between his uncle's pleasant home1 with its supper and cheerful blaze1 made his present dreary position seem worse than ever to the hungry lad4 ,but ,paul tried to keep up his courage and warm his chilled frame by walking up and down the part of the church which was nearest to the door1 stamping his feet and swinging his arms to keep out the cold4 ,ten o'clock struck4 ,paul counted each stroke on the bell4 ,how loud and solemn was the sound6 ,only ten6 muttered ,paul4 ,i shall have to wait twelve whole hours before this church is opened to prepare for ,new ,year's service6 ,the ,new ,year6 he repeated4 ,oh6 ,in how wretched a way ,i shall begin the ,new ,year6 ,i'll go to sleep in one of the pews1 and so try to get over the time4 ,the night grows colder and colder4 ,paul did snatch a short sleep1 but awoke quite cramped and chilled1 and with shoots of rheumatic pain1 which frightened him more than anything else4 ,it was one of the bitterest nights that had ever been known in ,england4 ,the boy dared not sleep again lest he should bring back his dreadful rheumatic fever4 ,when eleven o'clock struck1 ,paul's courage quite gave way4 ,his limbs were trembling1 his teeth were chattering1 his blood seemed turning to ice4 ,he remembered that his grandfather had read in the papers the day before that four persons had been found frozen to death4 ,what if ,i should die before morning6 thought ,paul1 and it was a terrible thought4 ,i am not fit to die1 ,i am not fit to go to the beautiful place of which ,i was dreaming4 ,hark6 ,what is that tinkling sound which ,i faintly hear8 ,the bells of ,st4 ,john's ,church are ringing for the midnight service2 ,james ,barton will be hastening now to that church to pray in the ,new ,year4 ,oh1 that ,i could pray too6 ,it was the first time that such a wish had come into the mind of ,paul4 ,he had attended church service hundreds of times1 but he had never really prayed in his life4 ,i can't pray1 ,i can think of no words1 groaned the poor boy1 as he swayed his body to and fro2 for he was afraid to remain quite still1 and yet was almost too stiff and cold to move about freely4 ,perhaps that hymn may serve as a prayer2 ,i'll try a verse2 it may help me to forget for a few minutes the misery that ,i am in4 ,in a very different way from that in which he had sung a few hours before1 ,paul1 with trembling voice1 attempted to sing-- ',then1 oh6 my ,lord1 prepare ,my soul for that great day4' ,paul felt that for him the great day might be near4 ,he no longer felt sure of fifty or sixty years of life4 ,he knew now that he had need of comfort1 of help1 of forgiveness4 ,paul clasped his numbed hands1 and tears came into his eyes as he sang the words of entreaty-- ',oh6 wash me in ,thy precious blood1 ,and take my sins away4' ,but how much better was ,paul's feeble prayer for mercy1 than his late bold1 careless singing of words so solemn and holy6 ,twelve o'clock struck4 ,the ,new ,year had come6 ,some in ,london were praying1 many were sleeping1 not a few1 alas6 were drinking in the ,now ,year4 ,again ,paul tried to get warmth by walking about1 but the frost was becoming more intense as the night advanced4 ,the moon had now risen1 and dimly shone through the frosted windows4 ,paul could distinguish some objects near him1 such as the reading-desk1 on which lay the large ,bible1 that ,bible which had been read so often in his hearing1 but to which he had never cared to listen4 ,if ,i live through this dreadful night1 ,i will try to be a very different boy to what ,i have been1 thought ,paul ,harley4 ,i will try to be more dutiful to my old grandparents2 they have had little comfort in me4 ,what would not ,i give now to be more like ,james1 whom ,i despised for being so pious6 ,there is no danger of his being driven into outer darkness4 ,the angels will welcome him1 for he loves the ,lord whom they love4 ,the weary1 weary minutes stole on4 ,it was now nearly one o'clock4 ,drowsiness was creeping over ,paul1 but he knew the danger of sleeping when the cold is intense2 if he slept now1 he might never waken again1 or waken in torture4 ,i can only keep myself awake by singing1 thought ,paul4 ,i will sing that hymn over again1 and try to think of the words1 and to make them indeed a ,new ,year's prayer4 ,paul sang1 and this time loudly1 for he was calling on ,god from the heart1 and so threw his whole soul into the hymn4 ,who is singing there--at this hour8 cried a voice from outside4 ,paul sprang to his feet with almost a cry of delight4 ,i'm ,paul ,harley--,i'm locked in--,i'm almost frozen6 he shouted with the utmost strength of his voice4 ,paul ,harley6 echoed the speaker without4 ,oh6 ,run1 run--quick as light--and get the key of the church6 cried ,paul4 ,trust ,james ,barton for that6 cried the voice1 and off rushed the speaker at full speed4 ,yes1 it was ,james1 who1 returning from the church where he had prayed in the ,new ,year1 had taken his homeward way through the churchyard of that in which poor ,paul was looked up4 ,it was not ,james' shortest way home1 but he had chosen it because ,st4 ,mary's church and churchyard would look1 he thought1 so beautiful in the moonlight1 robed in their winter mantle of snow4 ,james had been not a little surprised to hear the sound of ,paul's hymn in a spot so lonely and quiet4 ,but for that sound1 ,james would have passed the church without suspecting that any one was shivering and starving within it4 ,i have not space to describe how ,james ran1 as if for his life1 to the house of the clerk of ,st4 ,mary's1 and rang so furiously at the bell1 that the poor man1 his wife1 and all his family1 thought that the place was on fire4 ,it is enough to say that ,james was trusted with the church key1 for his character was known to the clerk1 and back he hastened to the church4 ,the big key was turned in the lock1 the heavy door swung back on its hinges1 the imprisoned ,paul was set free2 and with what a hearty grasp of the hand did he thank his kind deliverer6 ,come to our home for the rest of the night1 said ,james2 mother will bid you heartily welcome1 ,i'm sure of that4 ,she is sitting up to give me my hot supper on my return from church1 and ,i need not say how glad ,i shall be for you to share it4 ,very thankfully was the invitation accepted4 ,paul felt as if new life were poured into his frozen veins when he sat by a glowing fire1 and drank hot steaming soup4 ,before he went to rest1 he had confessed to ,james the wrong he had done him by spoiling his ship1 and asked forgiveness for that and other acts of unkindness4 ,let bygones be bygones1 said ,james1 smiling2 this is ,new ,year's day you know2 let us both resolve1 by ,god's help1 to begin it well1 and make a better use of our time than we ever have done before4 ,paul did make the resolve1 and earnestly and prayerfully tried to keep it4 ,he was a better and happier being to the end of his life for his adventure on ,new ,year's ,eve4 ,,joe',s ,,letter ,a ,new ,year's ,story ,,by ,a4,l4,o4,e4 ,author of ,the ,claremont ,tales1 ,the ,white ,bear's ,den1 c4 ,illustration ,,marshall ,,brothers1 ,,ltd4 ,,london1 ,,edinburgh4 ,,joe',s ,,letter ,,by ,a4,l4,o4,e4 ,illustration3 ,no1 ,granny1 ,i can't see him4 ,,joe',s ,,letter ,a ,new ,year's ,story4 ------------ ,,chapter ,i4 ,,go again1 child1 and see if the postman ben't coming down the lane6 ,it's past nine1 sure he ought to be here6 ,this was the third time that old ,janet ,jones had sent her little ,annie out into the snow1 on the last day of the year4 ,it was clear that the cottager was expecting the postman to bring her some very important letter indeed4 ,no1 ,granny1 ,i can't see him1 said ,annie1 as for the third time she came back from the road1 shaking the flakes from her hair1 and stamping the snow from her boots4 ,perhaps our old clock is wrong4 ,everything is wrong1 ,i think1 muttered ,janet ,jones1 who was employed in taking some filberts out of a basket1 to put in glasses to sell in her window4 ,half these nuts are bad1 and only fit for the fire6 ,and into the fire she flung some that were indeed but empty husks4 ,yes1 went on the old woman1 knitting her brows into very deep furrows1 the old year ends badly enough with me4 ,the pig dead1 the potatoes bad1 the weather sharp1 and the pocket empty4 ,these be very hard times6 ,but ,joe1 dear ,joe1 is sure to send you money1 ,granny1 said ,annie1 who stood leaning against the wall4 ,she did not sit down1 for she expected soon to be sent a fourth time to look for the postman4 ,joseph ought to1 replied ,janet1 as sharply as if the child had said that her brother would send not a penny4 ,he1 a great tall fellow1 earning good wages1 fifteen pounds a year1 and everything found1 feeding on the fat of the land1 and dressed as smart as a goldfinch6 ,it will be hard if he can't spare something for his poor old ,granny in her need4 ,joe will--,i know that he will4 ,he loves you so much1 cried ,annie4 ,we'll soon see how much1 said old ,janet1 words without deeds are like husks without seeds4 ,and angrily she threw another rotten nut into the fire4 ,annie1 to take off her grandmother's mind from her troubles1 began to tell her what she had seen the day before at the ,hall1 when sent up with some work done for the ladies4 ,oh6 ,granny1 ,i wish you'd been with me yesterday1 and seen the ,christmas presents which ,mrs4 ,poler has given her nieces6 ,there was a doll1 dressed just like a lady1 and the prettiest little set of tea-things4 ,what do ,i care about hearing of such trash1 cried old ,janet4 ,mrs4 ,poler had better spend her money on buying tea for them as wants it1 than on giving children tea-cups no bigger than filberts4 ,annie was afraid to remind her ,granny how kind ,mrs4 ,poler had been in filling her own little apron with apples to carry home to old ,janet1 or to mention the hundredweight of coals which the lady had sent before ,christmas4 ,annie only remarked1 ,i suppose that ,mrs4 ,poler gives toys to her nieces because she loves them so much4 ,giving toys when one has lots of money to buy them with is no great proof of love1 cried the old woman4 ,when these little ladies had the smallpox1 ,mrs4 ,poler never so much as went near them1 for fear of catching it4 ,perhaps ,mrs4 ,poler knew that she could not nurse them2 not every one can nurse as you do1 ,granny1 said the child4 ,what care you took of ,joe when he had that bad fall down an area1 and broke his poor leg1 the very first month that he went into service in ,london4 ,ah6 ,poor fellow1 he slipped on the steps one cold1 frosty day2 and his master sent him all the way here to be nursed1 for he knew that no one would look after him like his old ,granny4 ,didn't ,i sit up three nights with my boy when the pain made the fever run high2 and didn't ,i tear up my own handkerchiefs into bandages for his leg1 and half starve myself to scrape up money to pay the doctor8 ,joe will never forget all you did1 said ,annie4 ,i hope that he'll give a proof now that he does not1 began ,janet1 when she caught a sight through the window of some one coming up to the door4 ,here's the postman at last6 she exclaimed1 starting up from her seat in such a hurry that she knocked over her basket1 and sent a good many of her nuts flying in every direction over her cottage floor4 ,annie flew to the door1 the postman had no need to knock4 ,here's the letter--the letter from ,joe6 cried the little girl1 joyfully1 as she returned with the note4 ,i was sure1 quite sure1 that he would write soon6 ,i hope that he has done something more than merely write1 said ,janet1 looking very anxious1 with mingled hope and fear in her face as she broke open her grandson's letter4 ,when she had taken out the written sheet1 instead of reading it1 she shook it to see if any money-order would drop out1 then looked into the empty envelope1 and muttered in a tone of great disappointment1 ,i made sure of one pound at least6 ,did ,i not write to him that the rent must be paid to-morrow1 or that we should both be turned out of doors4 ,won't you read ,joe's letter1 dear ,granny8 asked ,annie2 she was very anxious to hear it4 ,you read it to me1 child1 my eyes are getting dim with old age1 said the old woman1 giving her the note4 ,annie glanced up at her ,granny1 and saw that the dimness came from something besides age1 for the eyes of ,janet were brimful of tears which were ready to flow over4 ,annie read out as follows3-- ,dear ,granny1 ,i am very sorry indeed that the pig is dead1 and you in such trouble1 but ,i hope that things will be brighter soon4 ,i have hardly a minute for writing1 but will soon let you hear again4 ,i wish you and ,annie a happy ,new ,year1 and send lots of love to you both2 from your loving grandson1 ,joseph4 ,is that all8 asked ,janet almost fiercely4 ,i have not missed a word1 replied ,annie4 ,she spoke sadly for she was as much disappointed as her ,granny could be1 though she was not1 like her1 angry besides4 ,then you may just fling that letter into the fire after the rotten nuts6 exclaimed ,janet1 trembling with vexation4 ,after all ,i wrote to him about the potatoes and the rent1 to think of his not sending so much as a sixpence to his ,granny1 who nursed him when sick1 and fed him and cared for him--ungrateful1 selfish fellow that he is6 ,oh6 ,granny1 interrupted the poor little sister1 who could not bear to hear such hard words spoken of ,joe4 ,he 'is' selfish1 repeated old ,janet4 ,did he not buy himself a silver watch last summer1 ,i guess that cost him a pretty bit of money1 enough to clear off my debt for rent--and more4 ,think of his buying himself a watch1 and leaving his ,granny and his sister to be turned out of doors for want of a couple of pounds6 ',lots of love' he sends us1 does he6 ,i'd not give a crooked pin for such love6 ,i like proofs1 real proofs of love4 ,i've given him many many such1 though now he forgets them all6 ,poor ,janet put her thin hands before her face to hide the big drops that were now running fast down her wrinkled cheeks4 ,granny1 do let us 'trust' ,joe1 said ,annie softly4 ,perhaps he could not send any money1 he may have spent all before he heard of your trouble4 ,he might have written so then1 said ,janet1 drying her eyes4 ,no1 no1 in the fine big house in ,london he forgets all about the poor little cottage which was his home for many a day4 ,while he feasts like a lord with meat twice a day1 what does it matter to him if we have not so much as a bit of bacon even on ,sundays8 ,he might have thought of 'you1' ,annie1 my poor child1 if my trouble was nothing to him4 ,i am 'sure' that ,joe loves me1 said ,annie firmly1 her cheeks flushing red at the thought that any one should doubt it4 ,for ,annie remembered the old times before ,joe had first gone into service4 ,he had been the kindest of brothers to his little sister1 who was many years younger than he4 ,many a ride had ,annie had on ,joe's knee1 or upon his shoulder4 ,many a sugar-plum or cake the generous boy had given to his sister instead of eating it himself4 ,what pains ,joe had taken to make for ,annie a beautiful boat as a parting present6 ,annie had thought it then the prettiest boat in the world1 and after six years she thought so still4 ,there was the boat now on its shelf1 always kept nicely dusted by ,annie1 and almost as good as new1 reminding her every day of ,joe4 ,oh6 ,young brothers1 if you only knew how much power you have by words and deeds of kindness to make your little sisters happy1 and win their lifelong love1 you would not so often give pain to them when you might so easily give pleasure6 ,annie had never had from ,joe one rough word1 far less one thoughtless blow4 ,he would far rather have hurt himself than have hurt his little sister4 ,annie looked up now at the boat1 her brother's keepsake1 and could not and would not doubt his love4 ,she was quite able to trust him1 and her greatest pain was to see that her grandmother did not4 ,perhaps my reader is inclined to think that ,janet was a cross1 ill-tempered old woman1 proud of what she had done for others1 and expecting others to do a great deal for her in return4 ,and yet ,janet was an honest and kind-hearted woman1 one who loved her ,bible1 and never passed a ,sunday without going to church4 ,janet feared ,god1 and tried to obey ,his commandments1 but she had not yet learned to trust ,his love4 ,janet let the wicked thought lurk in her heart that if the ,lord really cared for her1 ,he would not leave her to be so poor4 ,and if old ,janet thus dared to doubt the love of her heavenly ,father1 who can wonder if she doubted the love of earthly friends6 ,this want of trust made every trial that came to her doubly heavy to ,janet2 this made her temper cross1 and filled her with bitter thoughts4 ,there are many who sin like ,janet1 without half the excuse which she had for her discontented spirit4 ,janet had had very great trials to bear4 ,once she had been well-off2 she had lived with her good husband in a pretty thatched cottage1 and had been as happy and contented a woman as any in the village4 ,but in one year1 poor ,janet had lost both her husband and her married daughter1--and with an almost broken heart had received her two grandchildren into her home4 ,even that home was not to be left to her long4 ,one day as the widow was returning from a distant field in which she had been helping to reap1 she saw thick volumes of smoke rising from the direction of her cottage above the trees which hid it from view4 ,with a feeling of fear she rushed forwards1 and terrible was the sight which was soon before her eyes4 ,her pretty cottage was in flames1 the thatch was burning fiercely1 and though an engine had come from the town1 and firemen and neighbours were doing their best to put out the fire1 they could not succeed1 and what was once a comfortable home was soon but a heap of ashes4 ,janet ,jones was then1 not only a widow1 but a very poor widow1 and hard work she had had to bring up the two orphan children left to her charge4 ,these were no small troubles1 and others1 in ,janet's place1 might have been sorely tempted to murmur4 ,i wish that ',i' could give poor ,granny some proof of love1 thought little ,annie4 ,but ,i have nothing to give1 not one penny6 ,to-morrow is ,new ,year's day1 and it will be such a sad day to her4 ,is there nothing that ,i could do to please her8 ,now when we think hard to discover some way of pleasing a friend1 we are pretty sure to find one4 ,i remember1 said ,annie to herself1 that there was a hymn which took ,granny's fancy in a book which ,mrs4 ,brown lent us to read last summer4 ,granny wished that ,i could write well enough to copy it out fair on the flyleaf of her large ,bible4 ,i can write now much better than ,i could then4 ,i have no ,new ,year's present to give1 but ,i might copy out that hymn2 ,i am sure that ,mrs4 ,brown would lend me the book again if ,i asked her4 ,but this is such a little1 such a 'very' little thing to do for my ,granny4 ,ah6 ,i would do much more if ,i earned wages like ,joe6 ,copying out a hymn was a very little thing1 but it was a proof of love1 and a proof that cost ,annie some self-denial4 ,she did not like writing at all1 and she knew that it would take her hours to copy out six verses quite neatly1 taking care not to make one blot4 ,she resolved however to do so1 and ran out again into the snow1 and went over to ,mrs4 ,brown's to ask her to lend her the book4 ,mrs4 ,brown had a large cheerful home1 and four merry little children full of play4 ,oh6 ,annie1 we're so glad you've come6 cried the eldest1 clapping her hands as ,annie entered4 ,i hope you'll stop all day with us1 said kind ,mrs4 ,brown1 who knew that the girl had a very dull home4 ,oh6 ,yes1--stop1 stop6 cried ,charlie ,brown4 ,we're to have roast beef and roley-poley1 'cause it's the last day in the year4 ,and grandfather's coming1 and he tells us such famous stories1--we'll have games1 and all sorts of fun6 exclaimed little ,bess4 ,annie longed to stop to share the food and the fun4 ,she hesitated1 but only for a moment4 ,she had real love for her ,granny1 and gave a proof of it at once4 ,no1 thank you so much1 she said1 but ,i cannot leave poor ,granny to spend the last day of the year by herself4 ,annie soon returned to her cottage with the book containing the hymn4 ,she got down the little bottle of ink1 and a pen1 and began her copying work1 while old ,janet sat gloomy and sad by the fire1 never speaking a word except to abuse ungrateful ,joe4 ,it was well that ,annie had to give much attention to what she was doing1 so that she scarcely heard what her ,granny was muttering to herself4 ,the verses are so beautiful that they took up ,annie's thoughts as she wrote4 ,they are so suitable for the ,new ,year that ,i will copy them out for my readers1 as ,annie did for her ,granny4 ,i wish that each would learn by heart the loving questions which the ,saviour1 in this hymn1 asks alike of the old and the young3 ,i gave ,my life for thee1 ,my precious blood ,i shed1 ,that thou mightest ransomed be1 ,and quickened from the dead4 ,i give ,my life for thee1 ,,what ,,hast ,,thou ,,given ,,for ,,me8 ,i spent long years for thee1 ,in weariness and woe1 ,that one eternity ,of joy thou mightest know4 ,i spent long years for thee1 ,hast thou spent ,,one for ,me8 ,my ,father's house of light1 ,my rainbow-circled throne1 ,i left for earthly night1 ,for wand'rings sad and lone4 ,i left it all for thee1 ,hast thou left ,,aught for ,me8 ,i suffered much for thee1 ,more than thy tongue can tell1 ,of bitterest agony1 ,to rescue thee from ,hell4 ,i suffered much for thee1 ,,what ,,dost ,,thou ,,bear ,,for ,,me8 ,and ,i have brought to thee1 ,down from ,my home above1 ,salvation full and free1 ,my pardon1 and ,my love4 ,great gifts ,i brought to thee1 ,,what ,,hast ,,thou ,,brought ,,to ,,me8 ,oh6 let thy life be given1 ,thy years for ,me be spent ,world fetters all be riven1 ,and joy with suffering blent1 ,i gave ,,myself for thee1 ,give thou ,,thyself to ,me8 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,new ,,year',s morning dawned bright and clear2 the pure snow gleamed like diamonds in the rays of the glorious sun1 but old ,janet rose with a heavy heart and a gloomy brow4 ,she thought of the landlord calling for the rent2 she thought of her neighbours in their merry homes1 and of her grandson living in comfort in ,london2 she thought of everyone being happy but herself4 ,if ,janet thought also of ,god1 ,i fear that it was with little faith1 little trust4 ,she was so gloomy and sad that she did not even smile at poor ,annie when they first met1 or wish her a happy ,new ,year4 ,annie watched her ,granny as she went up to the table on which lay her large ,bible open at the place where the child1 as neatly as she could1 had copied out the hymn4 ,annie saw her ,granny take out her spectacles1 slowly wipe them1 put them on1 and then sit down to read1 as she always read while the water was boiling for breakfast4 ,i hope that ,granny will be pleased1 thought ,annie4 ,i hope that she will like the hymn now as she did in the summer1 and know that ,i copied it out as a little proof of my love4 ,but dear me6 ,what is the matter6 ,granny is crying--crying over the hymn6 ,for as the old woman read the ,saviour's questions to her own heart1 first her lip trembled1 then her eyes dimmed with tears1 and she had to take off her spectacles and wipe them before she could read any farther4 ,at last1 when she had reached the sixth verse1 the poor old woman murmured to herself1 ungrateful sinner that ,i am6 and fairly burst into tears4 ,oh6 ,granny1 ,i never meant to write out anything to vex you1 ,i never thought that hymn would make you cry6 exclaimed ,annie1 quite in distress4 ,is it not enough to make me cry to think that my ,lord has done all this for me1 sinner that ,i am1 sobbed old ,janet1 speaking not to ,annie1 but to herself1 to think that ,he should have given ,himself for 'me1' suffered for 'me1' died for 'me1' and that all the return which ,i made is to doubt ,him now6 ,what proof of love could the dear ,lord have given more than ,he gave6 ,he kept back nothing1 not even ,his life6 ,and ,i--,i have been finding fault with a poor lad for forgetting the little kindness which ,i have shown1 the little trouble which ,i have taken1 while all the while ,i was ungrateful to the ,lord1 who has done for me a thousand--thousand times more than ever woman did for a child6 ,the words of the beautiful verses had indeed gone straight to the heart of ,janet1 and awoke in it sorrow and repentance1 but other feelings besides4 ,janet felt love1 grateful love to ,him who had first loved her2 and with love came peace1 and hope1 and trust1 for ,he who had done so much for her soul would1 as she now felt sure1 never1 never forsake her4 ,annie scarcely knew whether to be glad or sorry that she had written out the hymn4 ,but she had soon something else to take up her attention4 ,why1 ,granny1 here's the postman coming again1 cried out the child in surprise2 for to have letters two days running was a thing which had never happened before to old ,janet4 ,annie ran to the door to take in the letter1 and returned with a face beaming with joy4 ,it's ,joe's hand--he has written again1 she cried1 as she gave the note to her ,granny4 ,janet had her spectacles on1 and she opened the letter herself1 but as she did so1 a little paper dropped fluttering to the floor4 ,annie picked it up1 and almost screamed with delight as she saw three pounds written on a post-office order4 ,janet clasped her wrinkled hands and softly exclaimed1 ,thank ,god6 then with a trembling voice read aloud the following letter4 ,dear ,granny1 ,i had not enough money yesterday to get you clear out of trouble1 and did not like to do more than let you know that ,i had got your note1 till ,i should find how much my watch would sell for4 ,i am pleased now to send #c2 it is more than you will need for the rent1 but ,i want you to have a real good dinner on ,new ,year's day1--and please1 with the rest of the money1 buy a nice warm cloak for ,annie1 from me4 ,annie kissed her brother's letter again and again2 her heart was full of love and joy4 ,i hope that it's not wrong1 she said1 smiling as she examined the post-office order1 but ,i can't help wishing that ,i could give such a 'proof of love' as ,joe has done4 ,your little hymn has done as much--more for me than this money-order1 said old ,janet1 with a trembling hand taking the paper from the child4 ,this order shows me that ,i did wrong to doubt the love of my boy1 but the hymn has shown me how faithless and sinful it was in me ever1 for one moment1 to doubt the love of my ,saviour6