been away from their only
child in such a time as this. And then he spoke to me of childish fears
about death, and said that, for those who were safe in Jesus, death was
a friend, and not an enemy; and that I must pray that, if it pleased God
Aleck should never get well, he might go to the beautiful home prepared
for all the children of God: and the firm grasp of my father's hand, and
his clear, unhesitating voice, conveyed to my timorous, troubled heart,
a sort of belief in a calm, sheltered haven, that might succeed in time
to the outside tossings on stormy waters, and I felt comforted, though I
scarcely knew how.

Mr. Morton, our clergyman, was away for a month's holidays, and it was a
stranger who performed the service. When I heard the prayers of the
congregation requested for "Alexander Ringwall Gordon, who was
dangerously ill," it seemed almost more than I could bear, the long
formal enunciation of his name sounding so terribly like a
death-warrant.

If ever I tried to _pray_ the Church prayers, and not merely say them,
it was that morning; and it seemed to me quite wonderful how much of
them agreed with my own feelings, how many things there were in the
service that were exactly what I wanted. Hitherto the singing had
appeared the only attractive portion of divine worship; but now that,
for the first time in my life, I knew what it was to have a really
sin-burdened conscience, the sweetest music seemed as nothing in
comparison with the assurance that a broken and contrite spirit would
not be despised of God, or to the comfort of ranking myself unreservedly
amongst the miserable sinners in the Litany--concerning whom I had
hitherto only wondered, Were they so miserable after all?--and pleading
alike with voice and heart for God's mercy, of which I felt myself to
stand so sorely in need.

The Commandments were being read when the little door leading into our
large family-pew was opened, and Rickson softly came in and whispered to
my father, who in his turn leant over and whispered to me. A message had
come from the house, he said, and he must go back at once; he knew I
could be trusted to stay by myself and walk home afterwards. He and
Rickson quietly slipped out, and I was left sole tenant of the large
square pew, with its high partition, and ponderous chairs, and
fire-place, and table, just like a small room, as is the custom in
old-fashioned churches.

Very lonely indeed I felt, as I stood up by myself, a