ing
and very tantalising; but the Lord knows best how to deal with his own."

"O Thomas," exclaimed his sister, "this seems almost more than I can
bear!"

"I know it, I know it, Jane; and yet remember the promise, `He will not
suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the
temptation make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.' Nay,
cheer up, darling! `the Lord does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the
children of men.' He'll never let his people be vexed a moment longer
than's good for them. I feel certain now as the bag'll be found sooner
or later. Whether _we_ can find it or no, one thing's certain,--the
Lord knows where it is he's got his eye upon it; and it'll turn up just
at the right time. Now, my dearest sister, just take this for your
comfort. The Lord's sent you this letter just to show you that
deliverance is on the road; it'll come, I'll be bound, afore so very
long. Just you help yourself along by the light of his promises, and by
my two walking-sticks, `Do the next thing'--`One step at a time.' The
next thing for you now is to wait his time in faith and patience.
Remember those precious words of the psalm: `Commit thy way unto the
Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall
bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the
noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him!'" Jane dried
her tears, and held out her arms to her brother, who drew her tenderly
to his heart, and again bade her take comfort. "And now," he said, "I
must go to poor Jim."

"Well, Thomas," said Barnes, on the return of his friend, "I hope
there's nothing very bad come of my losing the bag?"

"James," replied the other, gravely, "I can't say that; I wish I could.
The loss of the bag is a serious business to us; but we must do our best
to try and find it, and you must help us."

James looked very sad and crestfallen. "Thomas," he said, "I wish I'd
only knowed as that bag were of so much consequence. But then that's
nothing to do with it; I ought to have brought it to you at once--I know
that. I'll do my very best, however, to find it; and, come what will,
I've had a lesson as I shan't easily forget. The inside of the public
has seen the last of me."

"Stick to that, Jim," said the other, "and put a prayer to it to the
Lord to keep you; and that'll do more to make up for the loss of the bag
than anything you can possibly do for us. Good