Eleanora H. Stooke

“ Mugford engaged Jim to deliver her customers' purchases out of school hours, everyone said his good fortune was no more than he deserved.
With what pleasure the boy presented his mother with his first week's earnings, and with what pride she received the money!
"Why, Jim," she said, quite brightly, a happy smile lighting up her thin, worn face, "you'll soon be a man. Fancy you able to help me like this!"
"When I'm a man, mother," the boy answered fondly, "I'll work for you so that you won't need to slave like you do now. I mean to save my money, and grow rich. ”

“ She's an affectionate, obedient child, but strange—very. It does seem hard she should be different to other children," in slightly aggrieved tones; "the only girl, too! My boys are right in mind and body; but Molly—why, she don't know more now than a child of five years old ought, and she's eight."
"God has given you a heavy trouble to bear," Marian said, sympathetically.
"He has, indeed, miss. Sometimes I wonder what will become of Molly when she grows up. If anything happened to her father or me, whatever would she do?"
"Her Father in heaven would provide for her, Mrs. Lethbridge." ”

“ Lethbridge smiled, and turned a pleased look on the speaker, as she answered, "Molly's a good child, and that's better than her pretty looks, I take it. She's so sweet-tempered, too, and always as happy as the day is long."
"And your boys are fine little chaps. How does the elder take to work, Mrs. Lethbridge?"
"Oh, very well indeed; and Mrs. Mugford says he's trustworthy, and she's quite satisfied with him."
"That's a great thing, ain't it? You can't trust some boys out of your sight, hardly. Mrs. Mugford will stand his friend, you'll see, if she's taken to him—she's like that. ”

“ As though to be alone in the world had its advantages. But Mrs. Lethbridge did not see it in that light.
"I've heard her say she wished she had children," she said; "and she's real good to mine."
At that moment the conversation was interrupted by Jim, who rushed up in great excitement to his mother, and whispered eagerly in her ear—
"Mother, I've won sixpence for coming in second in the last race! The vicar gave it to me! Look here!"
The boy's face was shining with pleasure, and his smile was reflected on the mother's countenance. ”

“ Molly paused, glancing from one listener's face to the other, but meeting her mother's encouraging smile, continued more fluently—
"There was one little lamb that wouldn't listen to the Good Shepherd, and was very naughty, and was lost!"
A troubled look crossed the child's face; the ready tears welled up into her blue eyes, but in a moment the shadow had fled again, and she continued in quick, glad tones, "But Jesus found him at last, after a long, long while, and brought him home quite safe—the naughty little lamb! ”

“ I'm glad to see Rose Cottage inhabited, anyway. I think an unoccupied house looks so depressing. What else can I do for you, miss?"
"That's all I want to-day, thank you, Mrs. Mugford; good afternoon."
With a nod and a smile, Miss Morris stepped into the street again, just as the door of Rose Cottage opened, and a pale-faced woman came out with a baby in her arms, and a little girl of about eight years old at her side. The woman looked weary, but as she glanced at the vicar's daughter, an expression of interest crossed her face. Acting on the impulse of the moment, Marian went across the road. ”

“ Molly began to cry, and at the sound Mrs. Lethbridge, with a mighty effort, collected her startled wits.
"Dick," she said quickly and imperatively, "do you take baby and Molly upstairs into your own room, and shut the door. Mind and remain there, all of you, till I say you may come out."
Taking the baby in his arms, Dick led the way upstairs, and carried out his mother's instructions. Molly's frightened sobs soon ceased, and the children strained their ears to catch every sound.
"They are carrying him upstairs," Dick whispered; "and that's Dr. Bly's voice. Oh, I hope poor father isn't dead." ”

“ Mugford give her the picture?" he said to his wife, later on, after the children had gone to bed.
"Why should she, James?" Mrs. Lethbridge replied, indignantly. "She's always giving Molly sweets, and sending across things to me. You know how good and kind she is. I expect," getting angry at her husband's ingratitude, "that she thinks you might give Molly this picture if you liked; no doubt she knows well enough how you spend your evenings, and what you throw away on drink!" ”

“ So much had Marian Morris succeeded in teaching Molly, when the child surprised her parents by repeating to them the message of the bells.
That same afternoon, as the little girl tripped along by Marian's side, she continually chanted to herself—
"Will—you—come—and—sing—and—pra-ay?" in a monotonous undertone.
Till her companion remarked—"I did not see you at church this morning, my dear."
"No, miss," the child answered. "Mother could not leave, 'cause of baby."
"Who generally looks after baby when mother and you go to church?" ”

“ Mugford's errand-boy, now," Marian interposed hastily, feeling she could not discuss the father's sin and its consequences with the child, and desiring to change the conversation; "that is a very good thing for him, I should think."
"He carries big baskets," Molly said, eagerly; "such big baskets! And Mrs. Mugford gives him pennies—lots of pennies!"
"I expect Jim works hard for his pennies, and well deserves them, my dear."
"Jim will soon be a man," the little girl remarked, quaintly repeating a remark she had heard from her mother's lips. ”

“ The elder was Jim, and the younger Dick, she explained.
Marian discovered two pennies in her pocket, which she presented to them to spend as they thought fit, and a further search found another penny for Molly. Mrs. Lethbridge smiled her gratitude, and Marian laughed as the children ran out of the cottage, and across the road to the shop to invest their money in sweets.
"I never mind so long as Molly is with the boys," the mother explained; "they think a deal of their sister." ”

“ The Good Shepherd looking so glad 'cause He's found the little lamb!"
"Oh, you know all about it, I see," Mrs. Mugford said aloud, whilst inwardly she was saying, "This is the child folks say is not right. It strikes me she's right enough!"
"I go to Sunday-school," Molly continued, encouraged by the kindly look in the eyes that were watching her so sharply, "and Miss Morris told me all about Him. He is the King of love; the hymn says so."
"What hymn, my dear? Ah, I remember. Well, now, about this picture; how many pennies have you?" ”

“ Where's the harm?"
"There is harm," she said, vehemently, "and you must know it, James. You took good care not to show the rabbit when the children were here, because you thought they might wonder how you got it! It's stealing, for the rabbit don't belong to us; and if you were found out, you'd be sent to prison, and then what would become of your family?"
"I'll take care not to be found out. I don't call trapping a rabbit stealing, if you do. The farmers complain dreadfully that the rabbits are a perfect plague, and eat up all their crops."
"Mr. Talbot would discharge you if he knew!" ”

“ His arms and shoulders ached, but there was an exultant feeling in his brave young heart that he had had his start in life, and that he must work hard to help his mother. He was not long undressing, then he knelt down by the side of his bed to say his prayers, to ask God to bless all those he loved, and make him a good boy. ”

“ Talbot at the Hall has engaged him as under stableman. The wife's a sickly-looking, pale-faced poor body; but there are two sturdy boys, a little girl and a baby. I went across last night to see if there was anything I could do for them, but Mrs. Lethbridge didn't ask me in," she added in slightly aggrieved accents.
"Perhaps she wants to get her new home in good order before seeing strangers," suggested Miss Morris, smiling, for she guessed Mrs. Mugford would have liked to have found out more about her neighbours. ”

“ He was a kindhearted man, with little ones of his own, and he cast a pitying look at the children.
"Will my father live, sir?" Jim enquired.
"I cannot tell, my boy. He has broken his right leg, and has other injuries besides, but he may pull through. We must hope for the best. Well, little girl," patting Molly's golden head, "what have you been doing to your eyes? Crying, eh?" ”

“ Don't cry;" for Mrs. Lethbridge was beginning to shed tears again. "Crying never does any good, and it'll only make you ill. I'm sorry for your husband, Mrs. Lethbridge."
"Sorry!" she exclaimed, looking up in surprise, for many expressed blame, but few sorrow, for him who was the cause of all her heart-break. "Sorry!"
"Yes, indeed I am," said Mrs. Mugford.
"He used to be so different before he took to drink. You wouldn't think now he was the same man I married."
"He's wandered away from Christ's fold, but the Good Shepherd—Him your little maid talks about—He won't forget him ”

“ That won't mend matters. You'll be wanted to help nurse your poor father; and I can't have tears in a sick-room, you know. That won't do."
"No, sir," said Molly.
"That's well said. I fancy you'll make a capital little nurse, anyway; we'll see!" and the kindly doctor went on his way, having cheered the children considerably.
"We must hope for the best," Jim said, repeating Dr. Bly's words, "and perhaps God will let poor father live after all!"
CHAPTER VIII. A GREAT CHANGE.
JAMES LETHBRIDGE did not die, though it was several days before the doctor declared his life to be out of danger. ”

“ Lethbridge found her husband in such excellent spirits that she looked at him in surprise.
"I told Mr. Talbot about the poaching, Jenny," he explained in answer to her look of enquiry. "I thought I ought. He was surprised, I could see; but he was so kind, and says when I'm well enough I'm to come back to the Hall, and let bygones be bygones. I mean to start life afresh!"
And James Lethbridge kept his word. He did start life afresh; and though at first, he found it a hard matter to pass by the "White Hart," yet he was true to his determination to abstain from drink.
"Molly, my dear," Mrs. ”

“ It seemed that because Molly had the one thing needful, a firm trust in her Saviour, she wanted nothing else.
And now we must take leave of the family at Rose Cottage. Mr. Talbot speaks of pensioning old Burt, because he's getting old, and of putting James Lethbridge in his place. Evidently, he can trust him now!
Mrs. Mugford, too, feels that she is getting up in years. She is saying that by the time Jim is ready to leave school, she will be wanting help in the shop, and that he will be the very boy for her assistant.
Molly still keeps her picture of the Good Shepherd in the same place. ”

“ Jim grumbled, "that father should keep you waiting for him like this, when he's only amusing himself at the 'White Hart,' and he'll stay there till they turn him out at eleven o'clock. He's always the last to go. ”