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"A

ND there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the

field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring

you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." LUKE ii. 8, 14.

THE SAVIOUR'S VOICE IN THE SICK ROOM.

HRISTMAS Comes in spite of sickness. It does not wait for health or strength. Some, indeed, it finds ready to hail it with joy. But there are others to whom Christmas comes as a sad reminder of friendships lost, of loving ties severed, of health not to be restored, and of hopes that are blasted. Such a one was Ruth Davis, who for twelve years had been laid on a bed of sickness. As each Christmas found her with one trial more to bear, and one earthly solace less to cheer, we might have expected that Christmas would have nothing for her but sorrow.

As

To the Christian, however, the happy season is one that brings tidings of great joy, ever new and ever welcome. the birth of the Saviour is brought to mind, even on the bed of pain, in the bereaved home, in the aching void of a deserted heart, the voice of Divine love speaks the comforting words, "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, shall He not with him also freely give us all things?"

"Don't let her go till after Christmas, mother?"ssaid Tom Davis, when he heard that a recommendation had been given for his sister to the hospital.

"No; she shan't go till the new year, Tom," answered the widow.

"I wonder where we shall all be next Christmas ?" exclaimed Ruth.

"Oh, here, of course," replied Tom; "I shan't leave mother and you."

"I hope we may be able to keep together," sorrowfully said Mrs. Davis; "but I can't do the work I did, for my eyesight fails, and I don't know how we can pay rent for this house much longer."

"I wish I could help you, mother; perhaps the life will

come back to my arm, and then I shall be able to work as I used to do," sighed Ruth.

"Ah, my girl, the Lord has other work for you; and to lie still, and bear patiently, is harder work than ever you did with your needle," replied Mrs. Davis.

"So it is, mother, but God can give me strength for it; he will provide; I am sure he will.”

Ruth's tears stopped her speech, and all was silent. Tom said nothing; he thought of his mother's words over and over again, wishing he could devise a plan for keeping on their little cottage, and providing for his mother and sister.

Tom was not twenty years of age, and was young to be left with such a charge. His father had been head-gardener at the squire's, and Tom had worked under him. At his father's death, the son was kept on, and his mother and sister were supplied with needlework. Ruth had always been too delicate for service, and the shock of her father's death brought on a serious illness. Just as she was recovering, and able to do a little sewing, she was seized with paralysis, it was supposed from over-exertion and cold, to a system already weakened by illness and sorrow.

The squire's family had been very kind, and it was through their help that Ruth was indebted for a recommendation to the hospital, at the seaside.

She did not go till after Christmas; she spent that day and the following week at home; and though a very quiet, it was not an unhappy time with either of them, for all looked hopefully to the effects of hospital treatment, and bracing sea-air.

Alas! when months had passed away, the hopes they had indulged had vanished. All means had been tried, and all in vain; and towards another Christmas, Ruth had to be dismissed from the hospital as incurable.

It was bad news for the widowed mother, whose eyesight had now quite failed. But there was no help for it: and so Tom had to go and fetch Ruth home.

"Mother frets so," said Tom, when he saw his sister; "she wants you back."

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'Oh, Tom! I can't bear to be ill, and she ill too! What will you do with us both on your hands, Tom ?" And Ruth put her arm round his neck and cried.

Tom tried to hide his own tears, as he said, "I can do a good deal if you only keep up your spirits; but you must not fret and lose heart, Ruth, or I shall break down."

"Tom, let us pray. God can, and will help us,” said Ruth.

Brother and sister sent up an earnest petition for help; and scarcely had they finished their short prayer before the idea came into Ruth's mind, that she and her mother could keep a little shop. This would require no strength greater than they could put forth.

"I'll beg a little myrtle of the gardener," said Tom, "and we will dress it up like a Christmas-tree, and put it in the window; those little nick-nacks you've been making since you came to the hospital will do to dress it with. People may look, and want to buy.”

"Oh, Tom, how nice! God is very good to put something in our mind to do. If only mother could see it all! I shan't mind so much going now." Ruth looked up brightly as she spoke.

The journey nearly over, poor Ruth prepared for her mother's greeting. It was sad to see the blind widow put her arms round her paralysed girl, and weep a welcome home.

"God has spared us, dear mother, to spend Christmas together once more; and now I'm going to help Tom take care of you. We shall have a Christmas-tree, and begin a shop. You will open it with a prayer, I know, mother dear! and then God's blessing will come down."

Poor Ruth had said all this with a struggle, for tears almost choked her.

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"God is with us, I am sure," spoke the widow at last. Ah, my child! though I can't see you, I can hear you, and

I feel you have brought God's blessing with you. Our Tom's is a heavy burden."

"It is, mother; but if we put our shoulder to the wheel, God will help us to lighten it for him. You make a pad for his shoulder, and I'll see if I can't give a little lift with my left hand. He must have a bright Christmas, in spite of

sorrow."

“Oh, Ruth! what a girl you are! What do you mean by a pad for his shoulder?"

"Why, mother dear, I thought if you would only speak bright, and not sigh, that would be as good to Tom as a pad for his burden, and he would not be fretted with carrying us. And then, mother dear, if we were to talk of helping him with the shop, it would be better than talking of our troubles; and if we spoke of the blessed Saviour, we might all get comfort, for He is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother, and you know he has promised never to leave us, nor forsake us. Oh! it was so comforting to think of this when I was away from you!"

"Thank God, dear Ruth, that he sent you his own consolation. I missed you sadly; but when the squire kept sending a recommendation to keep you on, I could not bear to fetch you home; and I know the good nursing and doctoring and sea-air have strengthened you. I can tell that by your voice; and if it is God's will to keep you helpless, you need not be useless. You are a nice scholar; you might teach a little school."

"Oh! so I could; and you could take care of the shop, for I could sit by the window, and reach what people. asked for."

Tom looked delighted, and said, "If you are both going to be so busy I must stir myself;" and he hurried off to his work, that he might be in time to attend to the fires at the green-houses.

The Christmas-tree raised two shillings and sixpence, and with that Ruth bought cotton and tape, pins and needles, a