asure, and wondered. For they considered not the
miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.'"

"Oh, grandma, I don't want my heart to be hardened like that--so that I
won't believe in Jesus and love and trust him," Elsie said earnestly.

"No, dear child; ask God very often not to let it ever be so hardened; but
to give you strong and abiding faith; faith that will never for an instant
doubt his power or love. Remember he says, 'I love them that love me, and
those that seek me early shall find me.'"

"Early in the morning, grandma?" asked. Ned.

"Yes, dear; and early in life--while you are a little child."

"How, grandma? What's the way to do it?"

"Perhaps you may sometimes want papa when you do riot know exactly where
he is, and you go about the house and grounds looking for him; that is
seeking him; and when you have found papa you say to him what you wish to
say. But Jesus, being God, is every where; he sees you and hears all you
say, knows all your thoughts; so if you speak to him only in your heart
he will know it--know all you want and listen to your prayer; for he is so
good, so kind, so condescending that he will not turn away from anyone who
really prays--asks with all his heart to be cleansed from his sins and
made truly good--such an one as will be pleasing in the sight of God."

"Yes, grandma," said Elsie, "that's what papa and mamma, too, have told
Neddie and me many times; and I do ask God earnestly very, very often to
give me a new heart and make me his own dear child. Grandma, papa often
tells me he loves me very dearly, but that Jesus loves me still more."

"Yes, dear child, the Bible tells us so and it is very sweet and
comforting to think of. Jesus loves to have us carry our troubles to him
and he feels for us in them all. He says, 'As one whom his mother
comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted.'"

"And mamma is such a dear comforter when we are in any trouble or
suffering pain," remarked Elsie.

"Yes, your mamma loves you very dearly, but Jesus' love is still stronger.
Now I will read of another time when Jesus stilled the waves with a word.
"'Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his
disciples: and he said unto them, let us go over unto the other side of
the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and
there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with
water, and were in jeopardy. And t