ther for thee, and gave My
whole Body and Blood for thy food, that I might be wholly thine, and that
thou mightest continue Mine unto the end.'

So he might think of all that he went through as capable of being made a
free offering, which God would accept for the sake of the One Great
Offering, 'consuming and burning away' (as the book said) 'all his sins
with the fire of Christ's love, and cleansing his conscience from all
offences.' It was what he now felt in the words, 'Thy Will be done,'
which he tried to say in full earnest; but he thought he should be very
happy when he should go along with the offering ourselves, our souls, and
bodies, to be a 'reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice.'

Each of Mr. Cope's readings brought out or confirmed these refreshing
hopes; and Paul likewise dwelt on such thoughts. Hardship had been a
training to him, like sickness for Alfred; he knew what it was to be
weary and heavy laden, and to want rest, and was ready to draw closer to
the only Home and Father that he could claim. His gentle unresisting
spirit was one that so readily forgot ill-will, that positively Harold
cherished more dislike to the Shepherds than he did; and there was no
struggle to forgive, no lack of charity for all men, so that hope and
trust were free.

These two boys were a great deal to the young deacon. Perhaps he
reckoned on his first ministration as a priest by Alfred's bedside, as
much or even more than did the lad, for to him the whole household were
as near and like-minded friends, though neither he nor they ever departed
from the fitting manners of their respective stations. He was one who
liked to share with others what was near his heart, and he had shewn
Alfred the Service for the Ordination of Priests, and the Prayers for
Grace that would be offered, and the holy vows that he would take upon
him, and the words with which those great Powers would be conferred--those
Powers that our Chief Shepherd left in trust for the pastors who feed His
flock.

And once he had bent down and whispered to Alfred to pray that help might
be given to him to use those powers faithfully.

So wore on the early spring; and the morning had come when he was to set
out for the cathedral town, when Harold rode up to the parsonage door,
and something in his looks as he passed the window made Mr. Cope hasten
to the door to meet him.

'O Sir!' said Harold, bursting out crying as he began to speak, 'poor
Alfred is took s