d without any fear that she'd abuse my confidence."

"Ah! Maggie, I might say that too if my mind and conscience were as
clear as yours. But they're not. It is true I have long ago brought my
sins to Jesus and had them washed away in His precious blood. And I
never cease to pray for my dear David, but--but--"

"Don't you fear, Nell," said Mrs Davidson, earnestly, and in a tone of
encouragement. "Your prayer is sure to be answered."

"Oh! Maggie, I try to believe it--indeed I do. But when I see David go
down to that--that public-house, and come up the worse o' liquor, an'
sometimes little Billy with him with a cigar in his sweet little mouth
an' the smell o' drink on him, my heart fails me, for you know what an
_awful_ snare that drink is, once it gets the upper hand--and--"

Poor Mrs Bright fairly broke down at this point for a few seconds; and
no wonder, for, not even to her most confidential and sympathetic friend
could she tell of the terrible change for the worse that came over her
husband when the accursed fire-water burned in his veins.

"Nell," said Maggie, laying her work in her lap and taking her friend's
hand. "Don't give way like that. God would never ask us to pray for
one another, if He didn't mean to answer us. Would He, now?"

"That's true, Maggie, that's true," said Mrs Bright, much comforted.
"I never thought of that before. You're young, but you're wise, dear.
Of course, the good Lord will never mock us, and if there's anything I
have asked for of late, it has been the salvation of David and Billy.
What was it, Maggie, that made your Joe first turn his thoughts to the
Lord?"

"It was one of his mates. You remember when he sailed wi' that good
man, Singin' Peter? Well, Peter used often to speak to him about his
soul to no purpose; but that fine man, Luke Trevor, who also sailed wi'
Singin' Peter at the time, had a long talk with Joe one night, an' the
Holy Spirit made use of his words, for Joe broke down an' gave in.
They're both wi' your David and Billy now, so you may be sure they won't
throw away the chance they have of speakin' to 'em."

"God grant them success!" murmured Mrs Bright, earnestly.

"Amen!" responded the younger woman. "But, Nell, you haven't told me
yet what you think o' the Miss Seawards."

"Think? I think that next to Miss Ruth they are the sweetest ladies I
ever met," returned Mrs Bright with enthusiasm. "They are so modest
and humble, that when they are pu