rything
is quiet and sound travels a long distance. After listening carefully
for the tinkling of the cow-bells, Bessie was bewildered, for she could
seemingly hear them in every direction. At last, thinking she had
located the sound, she set out in that direction. When she had walked
about two miles, she stopped to listen again. The bells were still
tinkling, but they seemed to be just as far away. She knew, though, that
the cows sometimes went a long distance. She had been following the
road, but thinking the sound came from the woods, she started off in
that direction. She saw that the sun was just going down behind the
trees; that she was on an unfamiliar path, and was getting farther and
farther from home. But she must get the cows, and on she went, stopping
now and then to locate the sound of the bells.

She suddenly found herself standing upon a point of land where a deep,
wide ravine extended on either side. The distance across the ravine she
could not see on account of the shadow and the trees. What should she
do? A few minutes previously she had thought about its being late, but
had hoped to find the cows and to make them guide her home. This hope
failing, she did not know what to do. The bells were still tinkling
ahead of her; but she did not dare to try to cross the ravine in the
darkness, now fast gathering around her, and how could she return
through those dense woods! She thought of calling for help, but as
quickly realized how useless the effort would be, since there were no
houses near.

As she stood wondering what to do, these words from a psalm she had
committed to memory a short time before, came to her mind: "If I say,
Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about
me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the
day; the darkness and the light are both alike to thee." Two more
precious promises came to her mind: "I will guide thee with mine eye"
and "He leadeth me beside still waters." Oh, what encouragement those
words were to Bessie! Surely God would guide her home. With a thankful
heart, Bessie started to return. As she had passed through several
clearings in her search for the cows, she had no little difficulty in
finding her way; but the moon rose early and gave her considerable
light, and as she neared home, she began to recognize some familiar
objects.

But, in the meantime, how were her parents feeling? The cows returned
early and were mi