face of my Father which is in heaven,"'
continued Miss Anne. 'Stephen, do you wish her to be back again in this
sorrowful world, with Martha and you for companions, instead of the
angels?'

'Oh no!' sobbed Stephen.

'And now, why has God sent so many troubles to you, my poor Stephen? As
I told you before, we cannot understand His ways yet. But do not you see
that sorrow has made you very different to the other boys about you? Have
you not gained much wisdom that they do not possess? And would you change
your lot with any one of them? Would you even be as you were yourself
twelve months ago, before these afflictions came? We are sent into this
world for something more than food and clothing, and work and play. Our
souls must live, and they are dead if they are not brought into
submission to God's will. Even our own Lord and Saviour, "though He were
a son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered." How
much more do we need to suffer before we learn obedience to the will of
God!

'Then there is Martha,' continued Miss Anne, after a pause; 'she and Bess
are both brought to repentance by the death of our little child. Surely I
need not excuse God's dealings to you any more, Stephen.'

'But there comes no judgment upon the master,' said Stephen in a low
voice.

A flush of pain passed over Miss Anne's face as she met Stephen's eager
gaze, and saw something of the working of his heart in his flashing eye.

'Our God will suffer no sin to go unpunished for ever,' she answered
solemnly. '"Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Listen,
Stephen: when our Lord spoke those "blessings" in your chapter, He
implied that on the opposite side there were curses corresponding to
them. But He did not leave this matter uncertain; I will read them to you
from another chapter: "But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have
received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall
hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and lament."'

'That is the master,' said Stephen, his face glowing with satisfaction,
'for he is rich and full, and he laughs now!'

'Yes, who can tell but that these woes will fall upon my uncle,' said
Miss Anne, and her head drooped low, and Stephen saw the tears streaming
down her cheeks; 'all my prayers and love for him may be lost. His soul,
which is as precious and immortal as ours, may perish for ever!'

Stephen looked at her bitter weeping with a longing desire