is that all is mercy from first to last! and that sweetens
the blessing, my child. Are you not willing to give Christ all the
honour of your salvation, and to take all the blame of your sins on your
own self?"

"Yes, indeed, sir, I am. My hymn says,--

'Blest be the Lord, that sent his Son
To take our flesh and blood;
He for our lives gave up his own,
To make our peace with God.

'He honoured all his Father's laws,
Which we have disobeyed;
He bore our sins upon the cross,
And our full ransom paid.'"

"I am glad you remember your hymns so well, Jenny."

"Sir, you don't know what pleasure they give me. I am very glad you gave
me that little book of Hymns for Children."

A severe fit of coughing interrupted her speech for a while. The woman
held her head. It was distressing to observe her struggle for breath,
and almost, as it were, for life.

"Poor dear!" said the woman; "I wish I could help thee, and ease thy
pains; but they will not last for ever."

"God helps me," said the girl, recovering her breath; "God helps me--he
will carry me through. Sir, you look frightened. I am not afraid--this
is nothing--I am better now. Thank you, dame, thank you. I am very
troublesome; but the Lord will bless you for this and all your kindness
to me: yes, sir, and yours too. Now talk to me again about the
sacrament."

"What is required, Jenny, of them who come to the Lord's Supper? There
are five things named in the Catechism; do you remember what is the
first?"

She paused, and then said, with a solemn and intelligent look,--

"To examine themselves whether they repent them truly of their former
sins."

"I hope and think that you know what this means, Jenny. The Lord has
given you the spirit of repentance."

"No one knows, sir, what the thoughts of past sin have been to me. Yes,
the Lord knows, and that is enough; and I hope he forgives me for
Christ's sake. His blood cleanseth from all sin. Sir, I sometimes think
of my sins till I tremble, and it makes me cry to think that I have
offended such a God; and then he comforts me again with sweet thoughts
about Christ."

"It is well, my child--be it so. The next thing mentioned in that
article of your Catechism, what is it?"

"Steadfastly purposing to lead a new life."

"And what do you think of that?"

"My life, sir, will be a short one; and I wish it had been a better one.
But from my heart I desire that it may