now when I told you that you were born blind. On a closer examination
of them, I am still tempted to think that if you were not born blind,
you never had the full use of your eyes. How are you going to prove to
me that I'm mistaken? If you can prove that it came after your
sickness,"--he hesitated a little--"I'm not so sure but that something
might be done for you."

At that Tiny's anger was not much lessened; and he was in doubt as to
what he should do, until the child said to him, "Sing to him about your
mother." The words had the effect of a broad ray of light streaming
into a dark and dismal place, and without another word Tiny began to
sing. His voice was faint and broken; it never once rose into a high
strain of pride, as if he had his merits as a singer to support; he sung
with tears, and such pathos as singer never did before, of his Mother
and her Love. By the words of his song he brought her there into that
very room, with her good and pleasant looks, her loving eyes and tender
smile, so that they who heard could also behold her. He sung of all
that she had been to him in his childhood, of the brightness she made in
their home, of all that she had done for him, and concluded with the
prayerful longing that his eyes might once more receive their sight,
that so he might behold her.

"The doctor is weeping," whispered the little girl in Tiny's ear.

It was a long time before the doctor spoke; but at length he arose and
laid some pieces of silver in Tiny's hand; and he said, "I cannot help
you. But what you have to do is to go to the Beautiful Gate, and there
you will find a physician famous for the cure of such cases as yours.
True enough you weren't _born_ blind--far from it. I ask your pardon
for the mistake. I wish there were more blind in the way you were. Go
your way to the Beautiful Gate."

As the doctor spoke he arose and walked quickly towards the door, and
the children followed him out. All at once Tiny recollected that they
had yet one very important thing to learn, and he cried out--

"But, sir, which way shall we go in order to arrive at the Beautiful
Gate?"

Too late! while he spoke the doctor stepped into his carriage, the
coachman closed the door with a loud bang and drove away, and Tiny and
the little girl were left quite in the dark as to what they should do
next. For a long time they stood still in perfect silence. At last
Tiny said, "Lead the way, little girl, for I am blind