his nurse up to
his grandmother's pew. It was very near the pulpit, and when sitting
down Bobby could not see over the top of it. He was not very fond of
church. It was a long time to sit still, and Nurse would not let him
talk to Nobbles. In fact she had threatened more than once to leave
Nobbles behind when they went to church if he persisted in playing with
him.

To-day Bobby was pleased by hearing one of his hymns sung that he knew
by heart, and when the clergyman began to talk in the pulpit of this
very hymn he could not help listening.

There's a Friend for little children
Above the bright blue sky,'

said the clergyman. 'Now I am going to talk to you about seven things
you have above the sky. Will you say them after me? A Friend, a rest,
a home, a crown, a song, a robe, and a harp with palms of victory.'
Bobby's attention was fixed for a time as the clergyman spoke of these
one by one. He described heaven with all its glories, and Bobby nodded
his head as he listened.

'Me and you have seen it, Nobbles,' he whispered. 'We sawed it in the
picsher.'

When the robe and harp were described Bobby drew a long breath of
delight. It seemed all so certain that he was going to be inside the
gates one day. He went into dreams after that, and then started in his
seat as he heard the very solemn closing words of the sermon: 'So
remember, dear children, you must have your white robe on _before_ you
enter those golden gates, or they will close upon you, and you will be
left outside.'

Poor Bobby thought and thought of these words as he trotted home with
Nurse; but he felt that if he asked for them to be explained Nurse
would only tell him to be quiet.

When he was in bed that night he confided his fears to Nobbles.

'Me and you may be shut outside, like those peoples, if we don't have
those white gowns. How can I get one, Nobbles, dear? I wonder if my
father would give me one! And I wonder if you can buy them, and wheres
they comes from!'

Tired out with such conjectures, he fell asleep.

Chapter IV.

HIS NEW FRIEND.

It was four o'clock, and Bobby was sitting out upon the lawn with his
new friend, Lady Isobel. His grandmother at first told Nurse that she
considered him too small to accept such an invitation; but Nurse for
once spoke up for him, and said she thought it would do him no harm.
It appeared she knew Lady Isobel's housekeeper, and was not sorry to
have an excuse for takin