bundle of printed papers in his hand.

"Here comes a schoolmaster," said one. "I wonder now what he wants with
us."

"May be to teach us something we don't know," observed a second.

"If he had come to tell us that our wages had risen, I'd have thanked
him," said a third, with a sneer.

"Maybe he is a parson of some sort," said Joseph Kempson. "I, for one,
should like to hear him, and so would the boys in there. There was a
time when never a Sunday passed but what we went to the house of prayer.
Now, from one end of the year to the other we are not seen inside one."
Joseph sighed, as he spoke.

The stranger had observed Kempson, and seeing something pleasant in his
face, came up and addressed him, "Perhaps you will give me a chair," he
said; "I should like to sit down and read to those who may wish to hear
me."

"Yes, sir, gladly," answered Kempson, bringing out a chair. "I have a
sick boy within; he will hear all you say, as the window is open."

The gentleman read for a short time, and a good many people came round
and listened, and though! what he was reading very interesting. Then he
took out a Bible, and read from that; and, closing the book, told them
of God's great love for man, which made Him send His Son Jesus Christ
into the world, first to show men how to live, not to fight and quarrel,
but to do good to all around them; and then, men being by nature sinful,
and justly condemned, that He might offer Himself up as a sacrifice, and
take their sins upon Himself.

"My dear friends, trust in this merciful loving Jesus," he exclaimed.
"He has completed the work of saving you, it is perfect in every way.
All you have to do is to repent and trust to Him, and to go and sin no
more, intentionally, wilfully that is to say. Oh, my dear friends,
think of the love and mercy of God, through Christ Jesus. He never
refuses to hear any who come to Him. His love surpasses that of any
human being; His ears are ever open to our prayers."

"I should like to have a talk with you, sir," said Kempson, when the
stranger, having finished speaking, was giving his tracts to the people
around. "There are some things which you said, sir, which I haven't
heard for a long time, or thought about, but I know that they are true."

"Gladly, my friend," was the answer.

The stranger had a long talk with Joseph, and promised to come again
before long to see him.

STORY SIX, CHAPTER 3.

Several days passed by. Dick did