e sick man. Carmen had absented herself during the day; but
she returned in time to assist Dona Maria with the evening meal,
after which she went at once to her bed.

Late at night, when the sympathizing townsmen had sorrowfully departed
and Jose had induced Dona Maria to seek a few moments rest on her
_petate_ in the living room, Carmen climbed quietly out of her bed and
came to where the priest sat alone with the unconscious Rosendo.

Jose was bending over the delirious man. "Oh, if Jesus were only here
now!" he murmured.

"Padre dear."

Jose looked down into the little face beside him.

"People don't die, you know. They don't really die." The little head
shook as if to emphasize the words.

Jose was startled. But he put his arm about the child and drew her to
him. "_Chiquita_, why do you say that?" he asked sorrowfully.

"Because God doesn't die, you know," she quickly replied. "And we are
like Him, Padre, aren't we?"

"But He calls us to Him, _chiquita_. And--I guess--He is--is calling
your padre Rosendo now."

Does God kill mankind in order to give them life? Is that His way?
Death denies God, eternal Life. And--

"Why, no, Padre," returned the innocent child. "He is always here; and
we are always with Him, you know. He can not call people away from
where He is, can He?"

_Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world._ The
Christ-principle, the saving truth about God and man, is ever present
in an uncomprehending world.

Jose knew that there was no material dependence now. Something told
him that Rosendo lay dying. There was no physician, no drug, in the
isolated little town. There was none but God to save. And He--

But only sinners are taught by priests and preachers to look to God
for help. The sick are not so taught. How much more deplorable, then,
is their condition than that of the wicked!

"I told God out on the shales this afternoon that I just knew padre
Rosendo wouldn't die!" The soft, sweet voice hovered on the silence
like celestial melody.

_If ye ask anything in my name_--in my character--_it shall be given
you_. Carmen asked in the character of the sinless Christ, for her
asking was an assertion of what she instinctively knew to be truth,
despite the evidence of the physical senses. Her petitions were
affirmations of Immanuel--God with us.

"Carmen," whispered the priest hoarsely, "go back to your bed, and
know, just _know_ that God is here! Know that He did not make pad