lked. Mrs. Worthington wondered why Bessie did not come
with them, but thought she might have been delayed and would come soon.
She prepared supper; but when she got it ready, Bessie was still absent.

"What can be keeping Bessie tonight?" Mrs. Worthington said anxiously to
her husband. "She should have come home an hour ago."

"Oh, I suppose she has stopped somewhere to play," said Mr. Worthington
carelessly.

"No; I don't think so," replied his wife. "Bessie always tries to be
prompt, and I'm afraid something has happened. If she doesn't come soon,
you had better go to look for her."

"Well, wait until dark," said Mr. Worthington; "and, if she isn't here
then, I'll get some men and we'll search in different directions. Did
you notice which way she went!"

"No," answered his wife, "but I think she went east."

At dark Mr. Worthington started out with the searching party. Mrs.
Worthington tried not to worry; but when nine o'clock passed and
half-past nine came, she felt a great anxiety creeping into her heart.
Many times she offered an earnest prayer for Bessie's protection. After
putting Leroy to bed she stationed herself in front of the house to
watch.

About ten o'clock some one returned to say that he could find no trace
of Bessie.

With straining eyes, Mrs. Worthington looked in the direction in which
Bessie had gone, and at last thought that she could see some one
approaching. As the figure drew nearer, she could see that it was her
child, and with a glad cry ran to meet her. "O Bessie," cried the
mother, "what has happened to detain you? Your father and a company of
men are out searching the woods for you. Dear child, where have you
been?"

Bessie was very tired and hungry; but she related all that had happened
and said: "I'm sorry I couldn't go farther; for I believe the cows were
just a short distance beyond the point where I turned back. But I did
not dare to cross the swampy place and go into the woods on the other
side."

"Why, the cows have been home a long, long time, Bessie; and that is
what had made your delay seem so strange," said her mother. "But were
you not afraid, dear, when you found that you were so far from home!"

Bessie explained how she had felt and how the Lord had encouraged her
and helped her to be brave.

"What time was that?" asked her mother; and when she learned, she said,
"Bessie, that was when I was so earnestly praying for you. Surely our
God is a mighty God and one