a

SHE HATH DONE WHAT SHE

Some wise angel prompted Bertha to take

no notice of this speech, but to ask simply,COULD.'

* Where are the other children ?' (Concluded from p. 79).

The poor overwrought woman wiped her
N her sober moments she was tear-stained face, and looked up bewildered.

a fond mother, and now she In the House,' she said, shortly; but I
was overwhelmed with grief I must get them out, and she rose as if to
at her loss, and specially be- go at once.
moaned that she had not been But Bertha took her to a neighbour's
by at the last.

cottage, and got her tea and a comfortable *He'll never have a kind meal, and then put her in the carrier's cart thought of me now, up in Heaven,' said the for Widebridge. poor thing; ‘for the last word I gave him • Come and see me in my room the day was a hard one, let alone blows.'

after to-morrow,' said Miss Moore to CharThen Bertha gently raised her up, and lotte Haig. I shall want to know where

' told her that Tim had forgotten all that, you settle.' and how his only wish in dying was that It would take too long to tell you how it she, his mother, should be cared for.

all came to pass, but somehow the poor And Charlotte Haig, the terror of the daily governess gained a hold over the alley, the byeword among decent women, at wretched hopeless woman, and won her back liearing of this sat by the new-made grave, to a quiet and better life.

Not all at once, and wept the softest tears she had shed for there were slips and falls, but the kind band many a long year.

was always outstretched to help. You did for him ? you minded him dy- And Charlotte Haig was won back to ing?' she questioned Bertha.

something more than mere outward decency. Bertha signed a “Yes.'

I can believe in a good God now, she * And he was none of yours,” she said, as said one day to her friend, since He sends if reflecting

such people as you on earth. As you can • Are you one of those good people who love us, perhaps He does too.' go about trying to look after poor folk, and And Bertha, who would have hushed the do them good ?'

words as almost blasphemy, was fain to see Bertha shook her head. No,' she said, that in following our Lord's example in car.but I saw him, your boy, and I loved him. ing for the poor and needy she had unwitI am only a poor woman like yourself,' tingly brought a poor sinful soul to His feet,

' she added, gently.

and made the angels in Heaven rejoice. But Charlotte Haig looked at her, and It was for this, then,' she thought, that said bitterly, "No, not like me, not like me! mother and Janie were taken ? I was too I often think I'll make an end of myself. selfishly happy with them to care how the I'm no good to no one, and the children poor and wretched in the world fared. Well, would be better without me, but I daren't. God knows best. To some He gives peace It's no use any one thinking of caring for and rest, like my dear ones and little Tim; me,' she added, in her despair. 'Go away, and to me He gives work to do, because I please ; you was good to Tim, but it's no use am not fit for His Home yet. I shall not your trying on anything with me.'

too in time, and I think He will. Last It had been a glorious victory; why, week she brought me all her wages, and she then, should her father grieve and rend his says she shall always do so for the future, clothes ? she wondered. that she may not be tempted to wish to Do you know the story, sad and mysspend them wrongly.'

terious, that Jephthah poured out to bis Bertha's life was one of privation and child ? hard work for some years; but a time came He had vowed to the Lord, that if He when she occupied a post she had always would deliver the children of Ammon into looked to as the happiest one in life, that of his hands, he would yield up to Him as a Superintendent of a Cottage Hospital. burnt-offering the first that came out of his

Under her orders works a strong but worn- door to meet him on his return. looking woman, who yet is tender and con- And this first was his only child, a tender siderate with the patients, and specially with maiden. the young children.

She must, one would think, have had It is Charlotte Haig; two of her children some of the spirit of the mighty man of are with her, two cared for by a relative, valour, her father, within her; for she neither one safe in the neighbouring churchyard. wept por pleaded for mercy, but quietly For this is Mooreside.

accepted the necessity of keeping the vow. My tale is told now. Do you think the She only asked for two months' liberty, title is ill-chosen ?

H. A. F. which she spent wandering on the moun

tains with her young companions, and then

she came back to her father; and he did JEPHTHAI'S DAUGHTER.

with her according to his vow which he had SHERE was joy in Israel and re- vowed. That he actually offered her up as

joicing. Rumours of a great a burnt-offering we cannot really believe,
victory over the children of for God has never asked for a human sacri-
Ammon had reached the fice; but in some way her gay, happy,
camp at Mizpeh, and the earthly life, came to a full end.
fair young daughter of the There was more fighting in store for
leader of the expedition had the bereaved father, more victorious home-

called her maidens and gone comings; but never again would his young out, as the custom was, to meet and wel- daughter's smiling face greet him on his come the returning army.

return. Close by his own hearth-stone she met If the vow was a rash one, it was sorely her victorious father, but her blood must punished. Not long did this judge and have frozen and her heart stood still at the captain survive the loss of his child; not look he cast upon her.

Not so was the many years did he watch the daughters of brave man Jephthah accustomed to gaze on

Israel go up at stated times to lament their bis only child. The timbrels were silenced, companion ; after judging Israel only six and the dancers stayed their feet, while years Jephthah the Gileadite died, and was the surprised girl looked anxiously in the buried in one of the cities of Gilead. woe-stricken face of the Captain in Israel,

H. A. F. and eased his trembling bands of his heavy

fighting gear.