rection in which the eyes were
turned, then at the figure. She seemed very much dissatisfied and
puzzled.

"Why, Gerty," said Willie, "I shouldn't think you knew what praying
was."

"I don't," said Gerty; "tell me."

"Don't you ever pray--pray to God?"

"No, I don't.--Who is God? Where is God?"

Willie looked inexpressibly shocked at Gerty's ignorance, and answered
reverently, "God is in heaven, Gerty."

"I don't know where that is," said Gerty. "I believe I don't know
nothin' about it."

"I shouldn't think you did," said Willie. "I _believe_ heaven is up in
the sky; but my Sunday-school teacher says, 'Heaven is anywhere where
goodness is,' or some such thing," he said.

"Are the stars in heaven?" asked Gerty.

"They look so, don't they?" said Willie. "They're in the sky, where I
always used to think heaven was."

"I should like to go to heaven," said Gerty.

"Perhaps, if you're good, you will go some time."

"Can't any but good folks go?"

"No."

"Then I can't ever go," said Gerty, mournfully.

"Why not?" asked Willie; "an't you good."

"Oh no! I'm very bad."

"What a queer child!" said Willie. "What makes you think yourself so
very bad?"

"Oh, I _am_," said Gerty, in a very sad tone; "I'm the worst of all. I'm
the worst child in the world."

"Who told you so?"

"Everybody. Nan Grant says so, and she says everybody thinks so; I know
it too, myself."

"Is Nan Grant the cross old woman you used to live with?"

"Yes. How did you know she was cross?"

"Oh, my mother's been telling me about her. Well, I want to know if she
didn't send you to school, or teach you anything?"

Gerty shook her head.

"Why, what lots you've got to learn! What did you used to do when you
lived there?"

"Nothing."

"Never did anything; don't know anything; my gracious!"

"Yes, I do know one thing," said Gerty. "I know how to toast
bread;--your mother taught me;--she let me toast some by the fire."

As she spoke, she thought of her own neglected toast, and turned towards
the stove; but she was too late--the toast was made, the supper ready,
and True was just putting it on the table.

"Oh, Uncle True," said she, "I meant to get the tea."

"I know it," said True, "but it's no matter; you can get it to-morrow."

The tears came into Gerty's eyes; she looked very much disappointed, but
said nothing. They all sat down to supper. Willie put the Samuel in the
middle of the table for a centre ornament, and told s