Silas K. Hocking

“ Benny was very fond of Old Testament stories, and granny had humoured his liking in this respect, but the way he mixed up the prophets, patriarchs, and other noted Bible characters, was rather bewildering.
"Never mind," he would say, when granny took him to task on this matter, "so long's I gets hold o' the right hend o' the story, mixin' up the names a bit makes no matter, as fur as I can see."
So granny let him have his way, concluding that he would mend in that matter as he got older.
"But," the old woman would say, "he'll never be like little Nelly. Bless her! ”

“ In fact, it seemed to her as if a great deal the preacher had said had been for her special benefit, and that for her the Saviour had provided a home more beautiful than any of the pictures she had seen in Joe Wrag's fire. As they were leaving, near the close of the service, a young gentleman placed his hand on Benny's shoulder, and said—
"Well, my little man, I hope you have found the Saviour."
"Lor' a massy!" said Benny, with a look of surprise upon his face, "are that little chap lost agin? He can't be well looked arter, that's sartin." ”

“ And once more was Benny delighted with the music, and once more was he soothed to sleep by the sermon.
But not so Nelly. As the preacher explained that wonderful text, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish, but have everlasting life," she seemed to see more clearly what the preacher meant on the previous night. ”

“ I finds myself."
"Dear me!" said the young man, "you mistake my meaning altogether."
"Does I?"
"Yes, my little fellow. But I will talk with you again some other time, when there is more time."
"Will yer?"
"Yes; but now good night."
"Good night," said Benny and Nelly in chorus, and once more they left the warm house of prayer for the cold and wintry street.
"You would understand better, Benny," said his sister, as they journeyed homeward, "if yer would listen to granny, an' not go to sleep whiles the man is talkin'." ”

“ Still, they were filled with a curiosity that they could not resist to peep at the old spot once more, and ascertain, if possible, how far their father and stepmother were pleased or otherwise with their disappearance. They had talked the matter over for several nights as they lay in each other's arms in the warm comer under Betty Barker's stairs. They admitted that there were difficulties, perhaps danger, in paying such a visit; but at length curiosity became too strong for them, and they resolved to risk it. ”

“ She soon recovered herself, however, when the preacher began to speak. Clear and distinct his words rang out:—
"Let the wicked forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon,"
And Nelly eagerly drank in his words as he went on to tell how we were all wanderers from our Father's house ”

“ And Benny looked at his sister and whispered—
"By golly! this are a go. The owd folks 'ave flit, that's sartin."
"Can yer get a peep through the winder, Benny?" said Nelly, with a white, startled face.
"Dunno, but I'll try;" and try he did, but without success.
"Brimstone!" he whispered, scratching his head: "what's us to do? Oh, I 'ave it," he said at length. "Come 'ere, Nell. I's 'mazin' strong, an' I can lift you 'igh 'nough to get a peep." ”