sister with eyes filled with astonishment.

"You don't mean to say that if Mrs Grey had had her choice she wouldna
have had her son spared to her?"

"I mean that if she could have had her choice she would have preferred
to leave the matter in God's hands. She would never have chosen for
herself."

"Christie," she added, after a pause, "do you mind the time when our
Willie wanted father's knife, and how, rather than vex him, Annie gave
it to him? Do you mind all the mischief he did to himself and others?
I suppose some of our prayers are as blind and foolish as Willie's wish
was, and that God shows His loving kindness to us rather by denying than
by granting our requests."

"Then what was the use of praying for Mrs Grey's son, since it was
God's will that he should die? What is the use of anybody's praying
about anything?"

Effie hesitated. There was something in Christie's manner indicating
that it was not alone the mere petulance of the moment that dictated the
question.

"I am not wise about these things, Christie," she said. "I only know
this: God has graciously permitted us to bring our troubles to Him. He
has said, `Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find.' He has
said, `He that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth.' And in
the Psalms, `Call upon Me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver
thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.' We need not vex ourselves, surely,
about _how_ it is all to happen. God's word is enough."

"But then, Effie, there are prayers that God doesna hear."

"There are many things that God does not give us when we ask Him; but,
Christie, God does hear the prayers of His people. Yes, and He answers
them too--though not always in the way that they wish or expect, yet
_always_ in the _best_ way for them. Of this they may be sure. If He
does not give them just what they ask for, He will give them something
better, and make them willing to be without the desired good. There is
nothing in the whole Bible more clearly told than that God hears the
prayers of His people. We need never, _never_ doubt that."

But Christie did not look satisfied.

"`His people,'" she murmured, "but no others."

Effie looked perplexed.

"I am not wise in these matters, as I have just told you," she said,
gravely. "Until lately I havena thought much about them. But I think
that people sometimes vex themselves in vain. It is to the thirsty who
are seeking water that God promises