id the minister, thoughtfully. And it seemed to have stopped
his talk.

"Is Mrs. Rogers the other one?" Matilda asked.

"The other one?" repeated Mr. Richmond.

"The other opportunity. You said there were two in Lilac Lane, sir."

"I do not know Mrs. Rogers."

"But she is another one that wants the Bible read to her, Mr. Richmond.
She lives just across the way; I found her out by going to borrow a
tea-kettle."

"You borrowed your tea-kettle?"

"Yes, sir. Mrs. Eldridge has none. She has almost nothing, and as she
says, there is nobody that cares."

"Well, that will not do," said the minister. "We must see about getting
a kettle for her."

"Then, Mr. Richmond, Mrs. Rogers is a _third_ opportunity. She has been
sick a-bed for five years, and there is not a Bible in the house."

"There are opportunities starting up on every side, as soon as we are
ready for them," said the minister.

"But Mr. Richmond--I am afraid,--I am not ready for them."

"Why so, my dear child? I thought you _were_."

"I am afraid I was sorry when I found out about Mrs. Rogers."

"Why were you sorry?"

"There seemed so much to do, Mr. Richmond; so much disagreeable work.
Why, it would take every bit of time I have got, and more, to attend to
those two; every bit."

There came a rush of something that for a moment dimmed Mr. Richmond's
blue eyes; for a moment he was silent. And for that moment, too, the
language of gold clouds and sky was a sharp answer--the answer of
Light--to the thoughts of earth.

"It is very natural," Mr. Richmond said. "It is a natural feeling."

"But it is not right, is it?" said Matilda, timidly.

"Is it like Jesus?"

"No, sir."

"Then it cannot be right. 'Who being in the form of God, thought it not
robbery to be equal with God; but made Himself of no reputation, and
took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness
of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and
became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.'

"Who 'pleased not Himself.' Who 'had not where to lay His head!' Who,
'though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor.' 'He laid down
His life for us, and we ought to lay our lives down for the brethren.'"

Matilda listened, with a choking feeling coming in her throat.

"But then what can I do, Mr. Richmond? how can I help feeling so?"

"There is only one way, dear Matilda," said her friend. "The way is, to
love Jesus so much, that yo