drink, that she says she'll never stand in the way of her child
being an abstainer."

"Bless her for that; she'll never regret it," said Thomas.

So the book was brought out, and the signature taken; and then both
knelt, while Bradly commended his young friend to that grace and
protection which could alone secure her stability.

"And what else can I do for you?" he asked, when they had risen from
prayer.

"Please, Mr Bradly, I want you to help me get some situation at a
distance from Crossbourne, where I can earn my own living as a teacher.
Mother is quite agreeable to my doing so; indeed, she sees that our
house is not a safe and proper place for me now, and she'll be very
thankful if I can get a situation where I shall be out of the reach of
so much evil as goes on more or less in a place like ours."

"I'll do that too, with all my heart," said the other, "as far as in me
lies. I'll speak to the vicar, and I know he'll do his best to get you
suited. You've had a good education, so he'll be able to find you
summat as'll fit, I've no doubt.--And now I'm going to ask you, miss,
just to accept a little Bible from me, instead of that one which you've
helped to send back to its right owner; and I want you to make it your
daily guide." So saying, he took from a shelf, where he kept a little
store of Scriptures, a new Bible, and sitting down, wrote Lydia
Philips's name within the cover, and his own beneath it as the giver;
and then, below all, the two texts, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect
peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee;" and,
"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give
you the kingdom." These he underlined with red-ink. "Now," he said,
"you'll keep this little book, I'm sure, to remind you of our meeting
to-night. Read it with prayer, and you'll soon find peace, if you
haven't begun to find it already."

The young woman received the little gift most gratefully, and said, "I
will keep it, and read it daily, Mr Bradly; and I do think that I am
beginning to see my way to peace. Poor Ned Taylor's words have not been
in vain; and what you have said to-night has helped me on the way. I
know I am not worthy to be called God's child, but I think, nay, I feel
sure, he will not cast me out. I have wandered far, very far, from the
fold; but now I really feel and understand the love of Jesus, and that
he has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

When