distrust and grieve over the
future. I have so often thanked you for teaching me the lesson of the
lilies.'

'I fear you have had too much occasion to practise it.'

'It could not be too much!' said Violet. 'But often I do not know what
would have become of me, if I had not been obliged, as a duty, to put
aside fretting thoughts, and been allowed to cast the shadow of the
cross on my vexations.'

His eye fell on a few bright links of gold peeping out round her
neck--'You have THAT still. May I see it?'

She took off the chain and placed it in his hand. 'Thanks for it, more
than ever!' she said. 'My friend and preacher in time of need it has
often been, and Johnnie's too.'

'Johnnie?'

'Yes, you know the poor little man has had a great deal of illness. This
is the first spring he has been free from croup; and you would hardly
believe what a comfort that cross has been to him. He always feels for
the chain, that he may squeeze Aunt Helen's cross. At one time I was
almost afraid that it was a superstition, he was such a very little
fellow; but when I talked to him, he said, "I like it because of our
Blessed Saviour. It makes me not mind the pain so much, because you said
that was like Him, and would help to make me good if I was patient."
Then I remembered what I little understood, when you told me that the
cross was his baptismal gift to sweeten his heritage of pain.'

John was much affected. 'Helen's cross has indeed borne abundant fruit!'
said he.

'I told you how even I forgot it at first in the fire, and how it was
saved by Johnnie's habit of grasping it in his troubles.'

'I am glad it was he!'

'Theodora said that he alone was worthy. But I am afraid to hear such
things said of him; I am too ready without them to think too much of my
boy.'

'It would be difficult,' began John; then smiling, 'perhaps I ought to
take to myself the same caution; the thought of Johnnie has been so much
to me, and now I see him he is so unlike my expectations, and yet so far
beyond them. I feel as if I wanted a larger share of him than you and
his father can afford me.'

'I don't think we shall be jealous,' was the happy answer. 'Arthur is
very proud of your admiration of Master Johnnie. You know we have always
felt as if you had a right in him.'

Percy and Theodora here returned from the park, rejoicing to find others
as tardy in going in as themselves; Arthur, awakened by the voices, came
out, and as the others hurrie