s he said, "I used to
pray when I was a little shaver like you. My mother taught me."

"Where is she now?" asked the boy.

"She has gone up there, long ago," said the man, softly pointing his
finger upward.

"Well," said Frankie, earnestly, "you can't go to heaven and live with
her there, unless you are a good man and love God. I used to be naughty
once, but my mother whipped me to make me good."

"That's too bad," said the cripple.

"No; it's just right. The Bible says she must. I'm trying now to be a
good boy; and I wish you would try too."

"I guess there isn't much danger of you," said the man. "You're the
most wonderful chap I ever saw."

"I don't know what _chap_ is," replied Frankie. "When I say my prayers
to-night, I am going to ask God to give you a new heart; and then you
can't help being good."

"I wish you would," whispered the man, drawing his shirt sleeve across
his eyes.

He pushed his chair back from the table, saying, "I've had a first-rate
supper; and I thank you and your mother a thousand times for all your
kindness."

Willie then stepped into the kitchen, and helped him from his chair into
his carriage, at the back door. The man gave Frankie two of his
handsomest pictures, saying, "Don't forget what you promised to do for
me to-night. I have nobody else to pray for me now."

CHAPTER VII.

THE RAINY DAY.

MISS GRANT gave her scholars Wednesday and Saturday afternoons for play.

One Wednesday morning it rained very hard; and as Nelly was not quite
well, her aunt thought it not best for her to go to school. Margie too
had been unwell for a few days; so Mrs. Gray sent for her to come up to
the nursery, that they might amuse themselves with their dolls.

Margie was eleven years of age; but she liked to play as well as ever.
She had Frankie's black Dinah for her child; and then she had a large
rag baby of her own, while Nelly had great Fanny and two smaller dolls.

These they set up in a row, and played school; but just as they were
ready to begin, Ponto walked into the room, and tipped the scholars
over.

"O Ponto, how naughty!" exclaimed Nelly, laughing aloud, as he carefully
stepped over the pupils, who were lying on their faces. "Now let us
begin again."

So Dinah, and Fanny, and Lily Gray, and Jenny, Margie's doll, were all
placed in nice order again, their backs up against the wall; and after a
few words, charging the scholars to be very good and say their lessons
wel