oken by
fault-finding; when Maggie grew impatient of her mother's strange
temper; when little breezes disturbed the waters of domestic life in
the two homes--then it was that little Miss Joy's presence was sought,
and her gentle words were truly like oil on troubled waters.

Have we not all felt the presence of such peace-makers to be as a
breath from heaven? And are they not most frequently found amongst
those who have had the cross of suffering laid upon them, and who are
shut out from many of the pursuits and enjoyments of others?

Blessed indeed are the maintainers of peace; blessed, thrice blessed,
are the child-comforters who can love and pity the erring and soothe
the sorrowful, and who by their own beautifully simple child-faith
encourage others to seek after a like precious gift.

Mrs. Harrison sat with Joy's hand in hers for the next hour, an hour of
painful waiting and expectancy. Joy did not say much, but now and then
she would put in a little word of her own thoughts.

"There is the big star! Look, Goody! isn't it beautiful? Oh, I do
like to see the whole sky, and all the stars now! God seems to look at
me as I look at them. It was good of Him to let me come to live here,
though I loved the dear old row very much when I could run about. Then
it is so nice to see mother going about making everything pretty; and
doesn't she work beautifully! That last dress she made was lovely.
She is teaching me to work too. Don't you care to hear my chatter,
dear Goody? You are thinking Jack may come every minute," as Mrs.
Harrison heaved a heavy sigh. "I talk to make the time seem
shorter--that's all. Uncle Bobo is standing by the gate; he will be
the first to tell us when they are coming."

It did seem a long, long time. Bet was constantly running backwards
and forwards from the door of the next house to the gate; and Susan,
with folded arms, was leaning against the side of the house, coming
round the corner every now and then to say it was getting too cold for
Miss Joy to stay in the porch.

"Oh, I am quite warm! let me wait, Susan."

"You must have your own way, I suppose, as usual," was the short reply.

Susan was fond of saying rather sharp things sometimes, to cover her
real love for Joy. She had felt a natural pang of jealousy when she
found the young mother had taken her place of waiting on Joy, or rather
sharing the waiting with Bet and Mrs. Harrison. She was not quite
kindly disposed to Ma