of the blessed
change; and as she stooped and kissed Ruth good night, a tear fell on
the little girl's cheek.

The adopted child slept tranquilly till nearly morning, when she awoke
suddenly, probably from a dream of the home she had left, but thinking
that she heard a voice above her, saying solemnly, "Ruth, little Ruth,
why hast thou forsaken My servant, thy grandfather?"

She was not frightened, yet she could not sleep again, but sat up in
her little bed, impatiently waiting for the day. In the first gray
light of dawn she rose, went to the closet, took out her old clothes,
and dressed herself in them, and casting scarcely a look on the new
clothes or round the sweet little chamber, she stole softly down
stairs. She found a housemaid in the hall, who, not knowing the plans
of her master and mistress in regard to the little girl, let her out,
and she ran swiftly home. She found the cottage door unfastened, for
the poor have little fear of burglars. Entering quietly, and finding
her grandpapa still asleep, she lay down by his side, and when he
awoke, her dear arms were about his neck, and her loving eyes smiling
into his. At first, he forgot she had been away; but after a moment,
he remembered, and exclaimed, "You here, little Ruth? Why did you come
back, against my wish?"

"Because the Lord sent me back," she answered, gravely.

"Why, child, what do you mean?" he asked.

"Grandpapa, dear, this is how it was: There was a voice, such a sweet
and solemn voice, that came and sounded right by me, in the darkness,
and it said, 'Ruth, little Ruth, why forsakest thou My servant, thy
grandfather?' and I was sure it was the Lord's voice, the very same
that spoke to little Samuel, and I could not stay after I heard it. I
will never leave you to live and die alone, even if the queen wants to
adopt me. Why, grandpapa, if God had meant you to be without me, He
would have taken me, instead of little Lilly Kingsley. So don't send
me away from you, dear grandpapa; it would be wicked."

The good old man, with tears in his dim eyes, replied, "No, my darling
little girl shall not be sent away again; it does seem to be the Lord's
will that you should stay with me as long as I stay."

And so she stayed,--the faithful little Ruth. Her good friends at the
Rectory were sorry to lose her, but not displeased with her, and were
more kind than ever to her and her grandfather. The next Sunday, as
she knelt with him among the po