enly rose, and said:

"I am afraid I have been ashamed of Jesus! Let me say now to you, dear
Mother, and to Hatty, that I do wish to serve Him, and I want you both
to help me.

"We will together ask God for his help, which is better than any human
arm, my dear son," said Mrs. Lee, solemnly.

The mother knelt down with her children, and earnestly implored God's
blessing on their young hearts. Fervently she asked the Great Heavenly
Friend so to guide and sustain them in the upward path, that they might
at last be gathered to his Eternal Home, with all those that love Him in
sincerity and truth.

When they rose from their knees, Hatty's heart was too full of joy for
words. She walked to Marcus' side, and putting her arm about him, kissed
him, with a deep, trusting affection she had never felt before.

Now came in Aunt Barbara, leading little Harry, full of glee, while Meg
followed, with her usual cheerful skip.

"Let us have one more hymn before supper," said Mrs. Lee, as she
gathered the little group around her. "We will have 'I want to be like
Jesus,' and only those must sing who really feel what they say."

Mrs. Lee began in her own clear, sweet voice. Hatty quickly followed,
and Marcus united with her in trembling tones, with sober earnestness.
Meg, with her childlike warble, and even little Harry, felt that he
wanted to be like Jesus, and tried to lisp in "sweet accord" his
Saviour's name, blending his baby notes with those that fell from Aunt
Barbara's faltering tongue.

How welcome to the father's ear, as he returned from his daily toil, was
that evening hymn!

At the closing verse his manly tones were heard as a deep, full echo to
the rest, while devout thanksgiving filled the mother's heart.

And Hatty--little Hatty--she felt almost too happy for earth; and fully
she realized the truth, that "Wisdom's ways are pleasantness, and all
her paths are peace."

[Transcriber's Note: The table below lists all corrections applied to
the original text.

p. 009: [added pair of quotes] and say, 'You can't come in, Meg.'
p. 009: [added open quotes] "Jesus' little children never quarrel
p. 011: obey that consicence -> conscience
p. 016: I did'nt know -> didn't
p. 027: [removed wrong quotes] "Marcus was softened -> Marcus
p. 058: [normalized] a store of books and play-things -> playthings
p. 096: [added period] that love Him in sincerity and truth. ]

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Hatty and Ma