nothing to keep herself, so she had ord tred her to stop at home and help her wash.' She then shut the door rudely in their faces, and would say no more.

"Well, I must go home then now,' said the poor man. 'I won't bring you all the way, my boy. I think I can find it; it is not far from here.'

"But there's a crossing,' said little Mark; 'you had better let me come. I'm not a bit tired, and I

should like to come.'

"So he took the poor man safe to the almshouses. "Thank you, my boy,' he said. God will bless you for this and every good act you do in His name and for His poor.'

"How happy Mark went home! Was not this serving God? Would the clergyman think so, he wondered. He told his mother directly what he had done, and she said it was quite right, and that he might go every day to help the poor man until he was old enough to go to work. And so he did, until at length his regular attendance and his good behaviour at service excited the attention of the precentor, and he stopped him, and asked him if he would like to learn to sing and be one of the choristers. Mark said, he should indeed, very much; so his mother was consulted, and consented; and soon Mark Stavely was numbered amongst the choristers, and sat there in his white surplice, his loud clear voice singing God's

praises with his lips and echoing them in his heart. He led the poor blind man to and fro, though, just the same, and tears of pleasure flowed from those poor sightless eyes the first time Mark's sweet voice was heard amongst the choir. But they did not either of them forget the little girl who had first performed this charitable office. Mark often met her and talked to her, till they grew quite old friends; and when she, after some time, went to a situation, Mark used to write to her, and tell her how their poor blind friend got on.

"Thus, you see," said Millicent, in conclusion, "that the smallest child among you can, by some kind act of charity to a poor neighbour, have the happiness of serving God and receiving His blessing. Never think you are too young for this. As the clergyman told Mrs. Stavely, 'The youngest child that possesses sense and speech can serve God, if they really do all, not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.' Now can any of you tell me in what other way Mark obeyed God's laws besides this one act of Christian kindness?" asked Millicent.

"Sang in church," suggested one child.

"I do not know that there is any commandment which orders that, Jane. Think again. Did I not tell you that he loved his mother, and obeyed her, and

endeavoured to help her, and amuse her, and would rather do this than play?"

Many voices then readily answered,

fifth commandment."

66

Kept the

"That is right. I hope you will not forget this little story. But remember, that young as you are, you can keep God's commandments if you strive earnestly to do so, and that they are meant to be the rule of life for young and old, rich and poor. It is time now to finish work for to-day. Maria, collect it."

The girl addressed rose and collected the work and put it away in a drawer, after Millicent had overlooked it. She then praised Maria for having worked very well during the last story, and read prayers, when the children departed to their several homes, full of the stories Millicent had related to them.

The school was evidently gaining in popularity, though there had been much gossiping and ill-nature about Millicent.

"Who was she to be so stuck up ?" said one. "I'm sure my girl won't be taught by her," said another. "It's no use my sending her."

But soon the few who did go took such favourable reports home of the pleasant room at school, and the parents were so pleased with the old rags, as they had thought them, made almost new by Millicent's clever

instruction, that the ill-natured remarks grew less frequent, and mothers made efforts to spare their children to this admirable school.

A few days afterwards, a new interest sprung up at the Vicarage, more engrossing even than the school. A little sunbeam, in the shape of a tiny baby, lighted their home and gladdened their hearts; and with her little treasure beside her, and her hand clasped in her husband's, Edith Ponsonby looked and felt entirely happy.

CHAPTER XII.

"All yet seems well; and if it end so meet,
The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet."
All's Well that Ends Well.

AND now the wedding-day was close at hand: but one more evening would Millicent's bright face be beneath her parents' roof, henceforth she would be a visitor there; it would be no longer home; but there was no sadness to Millicent in this thought: she loved her parents dearly, she had proved it by her devotion to them, by the happy home her care had made for them, and she was going forth with their blessing to make another home happy,-her husband's home,- that being for whom she was willing to forsake "all others, and cleave only unto him." Nothing but happiness,--a calmı, intense happiness,-shone out of her clear eyes that evening. And Susan was so busy, and so happy, -looking forward to the morrow as a great event