t to say my prayers."

And slipping from her father's knee, she knelt on the floor, with her
hands covering her face which, as it pressed his knee, was hidden by
the mass of golden ringlets clustering and falling about it. Not a man
stirred or spoke. All were so silent that the sifting of the snow
against the logs, the moaning of the gale and the soft rustle of the
embers that broke apart on the hearth were audible. But all these were
as the "voice of silence" itself, so that when the child began her
prayer in a low voice, every syllable was heard.

"Now I lay me down to sleep.
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
God bless papa, mamma and make Nellie a good girl; bless--"

Wheeling short round at the silent, awed group, she looked at the
landlord and asked:

"What is your name?"

"Or-ti-gies," he replied, pronouncing it carefully.

She made rather sorry work at first, but there could be no doubt that
the One to whom she was addressing the petition understood her wishes.
When she had satisfied herself and included the landlord in her
prayer, she ceased again, and this time looked up at her father whose
hand was resting on her head.

"I must pray for _all_ of them, musn't I?"

"Certainly, my child."

"But I don't know dere names."

"They will all tell them."

No act of worship in church or grand cathedral was more solemn and
reverential than that of the men, as each in turn stepped softly
forward with bowed head, and repeated his name to the tiny petitioner,
who immediately included it with those for whom she had already prayed
and it was wafted upward through space to Him who delights to hear and
answer such petitions.

She did not forget one. To make sure, she looked up while still on her
knees and asked:

"Did I fordot any of you?"

"No," replied the parent; "you have not missed any. That's a good
girl."

"And I know they will all be good, for I asked God to make 'em so."

The father now rose to his feet with her in his arms, and she
called a general good night, flinging a kiss to all. Landlord
Ortigies had lit an extra lamp and with it in hand, he led the way to
the rear room, where as he stated, comfortable quarters were
provided for the little one. Since the Heavenly Bower was the only
place in the mining settlement where the wanderer, who occasionally
made his way into that remote part of the world, could e