Left to Ourselves; or, John Headley's Promise.

eadley tearfully, on that last morning when all was ready for dep

" said Hugh, trying to hid

u, dear; to Ag

to mind John; and to mind I am kind to Minnie; and to

don't want to hear your

mother gently, "that there was one

tting her arm round her fondly, "we'll

urned to her husband with a mute appeal. "Tell them,"

ulty, in all circumstances, say to yourselves, 'Lord, what wilt Thou have

r the answer to their question,

God. But you be wiser, my children. In the waiting

k from a paper a large painted card in an oak frame, whic

in crimson and gold and b

wilt Thou ha

each from their mother, and with an earnest "God bless you" to each from their father, the travelle

d put her arms round them both lovingly. "We'll be ever so happy together when we once get

lice with a sob, tryi

er all, and her mother had gone. She threw her

and gave way to such violent grief that the elder sister was almost frightened, and looked tow

eyes fell on the new text, and her heart, with a

so that must mean to-day. 'Lord,

, and clasped her arms tighter round the tre

ad our text since fa

for an instant, then she

"do you think you are carrying

d clung more lovingly than

t think Jesus wants us to help it; but we ought not to give w

am?" asked the

you think

know," he

attered about, so I will lay you on the sofa and cover you up warm; then you can think about it

t Minnie, but now turned round with alacrity. To

e a picture, her long curls tossed about over the sofa cushion like a halo, her da

ice in a low tone. "I though

wn upon her. "But, Alice, the boys will be b

id not aunt Phyllis say

ing. Just take up that heap and come upstairs with me, Alic

h says," answered Alice earnestly, a tear

ill make everything so mu

an to

went up with their loads-papers, string, packing-ca

atched and handed them to her, and at last all was done and th

nd in a moment she admitted a little lady, whose pale delica

d have a few things to do after such an early starting,

Agnes, leading her aunt into the now orderly

d in search of little Minnie, and

ssuring herself with her

ment, I think, and grief.

for her. And the

utterly dreadful it would be to

bility rested on her alone she had been brave, but now with her a

"do not mind me, my child; co

r aunt's shoulder, while one or two conv

ld; but the Lord knows just that, and has sent forth strength for thee to meet it a

n it soon," w

for my back. He told me he could not help me at all, for my case was so very peculiar, and he had nothing to suit me. But that's not like the Lord, my child. He knows us too intimately for that. He d

eautiful young woman of twenty had caused her life-long suffering, and obliged

those gentle words, and str

He understands perfectl

tie, I wish you ha

in every trial that has ever come to me, I ca

ard along the pavement, which came springing up the steps, and in another moment the two boys, fresh from their wa

hat you? So you've come to look a

asked, looking up as quietly as if s

her was cheerfu

had a fo

e servant s

them someth

t have a

not leave any

s Agnes has pumped me dry, l

ire, deeply buried in a book and now turned round to it again

ed a step nearer, and hi

mother a body with questions. O

w; I haven't

you're t

red Alice,

ou're such a long way o

lice, putting her hand

I really

t was becoming too hot for poor Al

o dinner to-day, my dears, a

forgot it was my duty now to see after dinner! I do no

ded you, I dare say,"

going to do this mo

urn out for the holidays, and shall not b

thing," said

giving his aunt a kiss, and disappearing through the door b

g to do?" asked Miss H

nodding towards the crou

an in Earl Street, and wanted you to carry my bask

ight,

" said Minnie, sleep

h me, darling; would

think I 'm goin

of apology, but Miss Headley answered by a look that it was not needed, and in a few moments took her leave, followed

Alice woke up from her bo

aught the unaccustomed frame upon the wall, and she could

houlders nearer to the blaze. "It's holiday time, and I ha

irst she determined to shake it off, but by-and-by her book fell close

y I am keeping my res

wilt Thou ha

ords as if they would shine out with an answer. And so they did;

ime. I wonder if Agnes wants me? Or if not, I promised mother to practise a whol

ng out from among the golden curls and crimson

ts you t

ith her finger

Minnie, com

ou were there, or I shou

s said, because I w

iting for what the little

ve liked me to cry so much

b she rushed past her sist

lock, John opened his bedr

he landing, with her hat on,

ngements," he said, o

u--Oh!" with a start, "why,

to be sure, and these eyes, and t

d prepared with such care downstairs, only that Joh

see it more up her

gh slyly, "that I should h

ht of you at a

said Agnes, comin

irs, and the brother and

to her, as he busied himself at one of his drawers, "and I've m

th a feeling that there was s

d to take it as

oh

been thinking about it, on and off, for a year past

, her soft cheek resting agai

she whi

hat the first thing I had

sure

know," said

feeling as if she wanted to under

d astonished; "I should not have said a