one gorgeous canopy of gold and ruby; it appeared to him as the curtain of that unseen world, where Charley lived, full of blessedness, and where he might yet behold that happy face of his childhood's friend, whom he had loved with a deep and tender love. A sudden thought startled him; he put by the fond hand that rested on his shoulder, and looking fully in Mrs. Ellis's face, he asked, "But where shall I be, if I die before I have a new heart-before I am pardoned?" "Alas! my child; would you be fit for heaven? There are only two abodes for departed spirits, so the Word of God teaches us. What is the other place?" "Hell!" replied Norman, with a shudder; "to dwell for ever with the devil and his angels.' Never to see Jesus, whom Charley loves; never to know Charley, who is gone to live with Him! Oh! how dreadful! Oh! why I did I wish I were dead? Will God have heard my wicked, wicked wish, and will He have written it in his Book, and will He make me miserable for ever?" "No; He will not make you miserable for ever, if you will only accept of His mercy. "The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin;' and if you believe this, and plead it before God, He will receive you to a Father's forgiveness, and to a Father's blessing. Can you then, Norman, go to rest to-night without coming to Him?" "I do not think I can, until I believe that God has forgiven me." "Jesus has died-that you may be forgiven." "Ah, Aunt! I was miserable this morning, because I thought God was an angry God; and now I am more miserable, because He is such a good God! If He heard my wish to die, don't you think He hears my wish to be made like Charley ?" "Oh, more than that, my child! Long to be like Jesus. You must seek no other modelbuild on no other foundation than the ROCK. You must turn from the miserable wages of the pleasures and gains that the prince of this world offers you, for the gift of eternal life which is in Christ Jesus. What say you?" Norman did not speak; he hid his face upon his Aunt's knee, and her hands rested fondly on his head. There was a long, deep pause. The bees had ceased their pleasant chime, the bird's Not a sound broke the sweet song was hushed. Sabbath stillness. The lips of the widow moved. No word was heard on earth; but through the crowded courts of heaven went up the wrestling supplication for the soul of this little child. Who knows what triumphant songs of gladness echoed through the host of angels and archangels, as the boy raised his eyes in fearless confidence, and exclaimed, "If God will pardon me, because Jesus Christ died for me; if He will give me a good heart this night, and now put his Holy Spirit within me, I shall be his child. I will love Him for evermore!" "Evermore! Amen! amen!" said the childless widow, as her soul sung softly with the angels; and on the summer air her voice seemed again like an echo......." Love Him for evermore." Mary Ellis returned to her dwelling that evening with a son given to her, for him she had lent to the Lord. The orphan boy had found a mother and a home; and, ah! far more, an inheritance among the children of light. Another jewel for the Redeemer's crown was rescued from the enemy of souls. And some sad heart may bless the fruit of silent prayer that led the little mourner from the empty grave to the throne of God. "COME, ye toiling hearts that labour, Drink new draughts of consolation, Fly not to the gloomy covert With the wound the archers gave; See! He waiteth to receive thee, Come, thou soul with grief opprest; Come, and Christ will give you rest." |