Elwood had gone out on some business before the change took place, and had not yet returned, and the girls were too young to be allowed to witness such a scene. A neighbour was staying with them down stairs, and the doctor had just left the house, after doing all that could be done to ease the poor man's dying moments. Many a neighbour would have been glad to crowd into the chamber; but Mr Walton begged them to refrain, for they could be of no use, and would but oppress the dying man.

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Again Mr Walton knelt, and offered up the prayer for the departing soul in the service for the visitation of the sick, and just as he concluded, the sick man once more opened his eyes, which instantly rested upon his kneeling son. A smile of content lit his face, while, in the lowest possible whisper, he said, 'God be with you, my own dear child, and a dying father's blessing rest upon you,' and almost before he had done speaking, with one slight shudder, his spirit fled to God who gave it.

Even that slight shudder told Fred the truth. He knew that all was over, and that he could no longer distress his father by his grief; and once more burying his face in the bed, he sobbed a low gentle sob. His grief was too sacred to be interrupted, and Mr Walton let him weep-nay, even wept with him. It was not altogether sorrow that made him weep, there was something like comfort mingled with it, for God was with him, the father's blessing did rest upon his dutiful son.

Fred did not allow himself to indulge in his sorrow long. He raised his eyes and once more fixed them upon his father; and again, how great was the change! The look of care, of pain, of weariness, was gone, and peace, undying peace, had taken its place. It seemed impossible to believe that, not half an hour before, that calm placid frame had been in suffering; for now there was not a trace of it

in the still, unclouded brow, which lay cold in death. How much comfort did that long earnest look bring to little Fred! It seemed to give assurance that the spirit was indeed in peace.

In a moment afterwards he heard his mother's voice, and hurriedly turning to Mr Walton, said, 'I must go to her.'

Mr Walton took his hand gently, and led him down the stairs, saying, as he did so, 'Try to be a comfort to her now, my boy, and you will best please him who has gone from you for a season.'

On the Sunday after, John Elwood's body was laid in its long resting-place; many were its followers, and many were those who mourned his loss, but none were there who grieved with a grief so real, so deep, so pure, as little Fred's, and yet his calmness surprised even Mr Walton; it was not until all had left the grave that Fred really gave vent to his feelings; and even then there was nothing hopeless in his grief. It seemed as if his father's blessing still supported him.

It was soon fixed that Fred should go to his situation the following week, and many times it was said in the course of this Sunday, 'We shall only have poor Fred with us one more Sunday.'

'I shall be so sorry, so very sorry to lose him,' said Alfred; 'I do love Fred.'

'You must not distress him by talking about his leaving to-day,' said Miss Walton; he will have enough grief in the thought of his poor father.'

'Please, ma'am,' said Francis, I saw him this morning, and he said he should like to come to you this afternoon; and please, ma'am, he said he wished you were not going to explain the Collect until the afternoon, for he should so like to hear it. He said he would rather be with you teaching us than anywhere, and that he did not like missing the last lesson but one that he should have.'

I am glad you told me, Francis,' replied Miss Walton, for indeed he shall be gratified. We will leave the Collect for the afternoon, when you may all come to my house, for we must have a very quiet lesson. You must not distress his feelings by idle mirth.'

'Oh, no! ma'am,' cried several, we would not vex him. Poor Fred!'

The boys kept their promise, and assembled very quietly for their lesson, hardly liking to speak to each other above a whisper; and several eyes filled with tears when Fred and Miss Walton entered together; for Miss Walton had met him, and spoken a few words to him in quiet, before he entered the room; and now he was quite calm: she thought it best, therefore, to go on with the lesson just as usual.

They all said the Collect, and then read the Epistle and Gospel.

Why,' asked Miss Walton, 'do we say that God shows light to those in error?'

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Several. To the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness.'

Miss W. What do you mean by 'error?'

Edward. Fault.

'Does it not mean mistake?' asked Francis.

Miss W. Yes, that is one meaning; we speak of error in belief, which means a mistake in belief. Edward, however, is also right in saying fault or sin, but it is literally a wandering from the way. What does God show to those who are in sin?

Fred. The light of His truth.

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Miss W. But when He shows them the light,' is it that they may look at it, and admire it, and yet still go on in the way of error?

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Alfred. No, but in order that they may return. into the way of righteousness.'

Miss W. Exactly so. The light is not to shine for nothing, but to the intent that those who are in

error may find their way back into the way of righ teousness. When people have strayed in the dark from the right path, what do they stand in need of to guide them back again?

Francis. A light.

Miss W. Who is called the Light of the world? George. Jesus Christ. I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.' (St. John, viii. 12.)

Miss W. And again, what did our Saviour say of Himself in St. John, xiv. 6?

Samuel. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.' Miss W. Yes; and once more, what did He say about truth as he stood before Pilate?

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David. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice.' (St. John, xviii. 37.)

Miss W. When was it, then, that God first so abundantly showed the light of His truth?'

Edward. When Jesus Christ was born as man.

Miss W. Yes; He, the true Light, brought light and truth with Him. And for whom did this light shine?

Several. For the whole world.

'A light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of My people Israel,' repeated George.

Miss W. Yes, the whole world was, as it were, in darkness before the true light shined; but to what nation was the light of truth first shown?

Charley. To the Jews.

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Miss W. The day-spring,' or the light from on high' visited them-why?

All. To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.' (St. Luke, i. 78, 79.)

Miss W. Into the way of peace, or into the way

of righteousness. But what was the great sin of the Jews? Look at St. John, iii. 19.

George. This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.'

'He came unto His own,' repeated Fred, and His own received Him not. The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.' (St. John, i. 5, 11.)

Miss W. Yes; this was their great sin: the 'light of truth' shone upon them, and they refused to receive it. Their deeds were evil, therefore they hated the light, and came not to the light, lest their deeds should be reproved. (See St. John, iii. 20.) And what was the consequence?

Edward. The light was taken from them. 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.' (St. Matt. xxiii. 37-39.)

Miss W. Yes; to this day the Jews are in the darkness that they then chose. They judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life, and the light was sent to the Gentiles. Now we are like the Jews, 'the light of truth' has shone upon us, for-into what have we been admitted?

All. Into the fellowship of Christ's religion.'
Miss W. When were we so admitted?

Several. At Holy Baptism.

Miss W. What is the fellowship or company which has the 'light' of Christ's religion?

Edward. The Church, the pillar and ground of the truth.' (1 Tim., iii, 15.)