," said Mr Sherwood, gravely; "but I don't think it
is generally supposed that God chooses to comfort His little ones by
means of such a person as I am."

Christie's eyes were fixed wistfully upon him again.

"Such as you!" she exclaimed, quite unconsciously, as Mr Sherwood
thought, for she said no more just then.

"I was writing to Effie to-day, and I tried to tell her how good you
have been to me. But I could not. I could never make her understand
it, I know. She would need to see it for herself."

"My poor child," said Mr Sherwood, smiling, "do you know you are
talking foolishly? and that is a thing you seldom do. You are making a
great deal out of a very little matter. The chances are that you do
quite as much good to me as I shall ever do to you."

"Oh, I wish I could think so! If I could get my wish for you--" She
paused suddenly.

"Well, what would you wish for me?" asked Mr Sherwood, still smiling at
her eagerness. "I dare say I should have no more trouble in this world
if you could have your wish."

Christie shook her head.

"I don't think I ever wished that for you, and yet I have, too, in a
way; for if that which I ask for you every day were to come to pass, you
_might_ have trouble, but it would never seem like trouble to you any
more."

"Well, I suppose that would answer every purpose of not having any more
trouble, and you are very kind to wish it. But you say `_ask_'; so I
suppose it is something which is in the giving of your Friend above?"

"Yes," said Christie, softly; and then there was a pause.

"And what is it? Is it the `new heart and the right spirit' we were
reading about the other day? That seems to be the very best blessing
that one can have, in your opinion. And do you really think I shall
ever get it?"

"I hope you will," she answered, eagerly. "I believe you will, if you
only ask for it."

"Ah, well, I don't know. I have a fancy that your asking will be more
to the purpose than mine."

"I shall never forget to ask it for you. I have never forgotten it
since--" she hesitated.

"Since when?" asked Mr Sherwood.

"Do you remember the day you came into the cedar walk, when I was
telling little Claude the story of the blind man, and what you said to
me that day? I don't think I have ever forgotten since to pray the
blind man's prayer for you."

Mr Sherwood was greatly surprised and touched. That was long ago. He
had been far-away since then. Once or twice,