owards the stair-head, and called to the woman; but ashamed at
the thought of my having probably overheard her expressions, she suddenly
left the house, and for that time escaped reproof.

"Sir," said little Jane, "I am so afraid, if I go to heaven I shall never
see my poor mother there. I wish I may, but she does swear so, and keep
such bad company. As I lie here a-bed, sir, for hours together, there is
often so much wickedness, and noise, and quarrelling down below, that I
do not know how to bear it. It comes very near, sir, when one's father
and mother go on so. I want them all to turn to the Lord, and go to
heaven.--Tell me now, sir, something about being an inheritor of the
kingdom of heaven."

"You may remember, my child, what I have told you when explaining the
Catechism in the church, that the 'kingdom of heaven' in the Scripture
means the church of Christ upon earth, as well as the state of glory in
heaven. The one is a preparation for the other. All true Christians are
heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, and shall inherit the glory
and happiness of his kingdom, and live with Christ and be with him for
ever. This is the free gift of God to his adopted children; and all that
believe aright in Christ shall experience the truth of that promise, 'It
is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.' You are a poor
girl now, but I trust 'an entrance shall be ministered unto you
abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ.' You suffer now; but are you not willing to suffer for his sake,
and to bear patiently those things to which he calls you?"

"Oh yes, very willing; I would not complain. It is all right."

"Then, my dear, you shall reign with him. Through much tribulation you
may, perhaps, enter into the kingdom of God; but tribulation worketh
patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope. As a true
'member of Christ,' show yourself to be a dutiful 'child of God,' and
your portion will be that of an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.
Faithful is He that hath promised. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust
also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."

"Thank you, sir, I do so love to hear of these things. And I think, sir,
I should not love them so much if I had no part in them. Sir, there is
one thing I want to ask you. It is a great thing, and I may be wrong--I
am so young--and yet I hope I mean right--"

Here she hesitated and paused.