e acknowledged it to be), seemed a very small matter--a
means very inadequate to the end desired. So it was a doubtful and
hesitating assent that she yielded to the reply of Mr Craig in the form
of a question.

"Is not God's Word His appointed instrument for the salvation of men?
And will He not bless it to that end? I do not doubt it," continued Mr
Craig. "How can I doubt it, in the face of the promise that His word
shall not return unto Him void--that it _shall_ prosper in that
whereunto He sendeth it? I never let a Bible pass from my hands without
asking from God that it may be made the means of a lasting blessing to
at least one soul. And I have faith to believe that my prayer will be
heard and granted."

Aunt Elsie's motions expressed some surprise.

"And is not that presumption on your part?" she asked.

"Which? The prayer, or the expectation?" said Mr Craig. "Not the
prayer, surely, when He says, `Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye
shall find.' `Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, believing, ye shall
receive.' `Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.' Is
it presumption to ask blessings for those whom God so loved that He sent
His only begotten Son into the world to die that they might live? `Will
He not with Him also freely give them all things?' Truly, I think the
presumption would lie in _not_ asking, or in asking and not expecting to
receive."

In the pause that followed, Christie, with a strange feeling at her
heart, pondered the words.

"Well," said Aunt Elsie, in a moment, "I dare say it is as well that you
have these thoughts to encourage you. The Bible can do nobody harm, at
any rate; and it may do good to the bairns at the school."

Mr Craig opened his lips, as though he were going to answer her; but he
did not. By and by he said--quite as much as though he were speaking to
himself as to her:

"Yes; it is indeed a good thing to have God's promise to fall back upon.
My work would be vain and weary work without that. And so would any
work to which I could put my hand. There _are_ folk in the world who
live with no hope or trust in God's promised blessing. How they do it I
cannot tell."

"God is good to many a one who thinks little of Him or of His care; or
what would become of the world and the thousands in it?" said Aunt
Elsie, with a sigh.

Mr Craig gave her a quick look.

"Yes: He is kind to the evil and the unthankful. But I was thinking of
the blesse