would not leave her corner, would neither play nor learn her lessons; and when teatime came she refused to eat anything, and looked quite pale and exhausted.

'This will never do, missy,' said Nurse. 'We shall have you poorly if you go on like this. Come, eat a slice of bread-and-butter, like a good girl. It is very silly and babyish to go on fretting about a stupid little kitten.'

Nurse did not mean to be unkind, but she was rather out of patience; and thought, besides, it might rouse the little girl to be spoken to somewhat sharply.

But Susy only cried the more; so, after tea, Nurse slipped downstairs and spoke to her mistress, bringing back a message that Susy was to go into the drawing-room to her mother.

"Why, what is this I hear?' Mrs. Fletcher said, drawing the child tenderly towards her. 6 Nurse tells me you will do nothing but cry. It is very sad, certainly, about poor pussy; but fretting will do no good. See, bring me that large blue book off the table, and we will look at some pictures together. And shall I see if I can beg another little kitten for you somewhere?'

'But that would not be Tiny,' was the sobbing reply.

'No, to be sure not, so we won't think of it for the present,' said Mrs. Fletcher, 'But now, my child, leave off crying, and listen to me, I want you to

'I never, never shall be happy again,' sobbed poor Susy.

It is a great trouble to you, I am sure,' said her mother; but don't you know that God sends much heavier troubles to little people sometimes? Suppose, for instance, little Frank or Harry were to be ill and die.' 'Oh, mother! I cannot bear to think of that.'

'Or your father, or myself,' went on Mrs.

Fletcher; that would be worse-would it not ?'

'Don't talk of it--don't!' Susy begged, with a shudder.

And yet many little children have to lose their parents, Susy, when they are no older than you. My darling, I am very sorry indeed about Tiny; I don't think you are silly for grieving about her. But I want you to understand that every year of our lives, and perhaps every day, things will happen to grieve us; and that, since God lets it be so, we may be quite sure it is for our good in some way. God wishes to make us patient, and to lead us to think more about Him and Heaven. As we grow older, much harder trials come to us. I think the little troubles and crosses are sent to children, that by learning to bear them patiently first, we may be able when we are men and women to bear the heavier ones patiently also. If, when father is unhappy, he sat at home fretting instead of going to the office and working, as usual, I don't know what would become of us all. And if I neglected you and your little brothers every time I am in trouble, I don't think God would be very pleased with me. You can't help feeling sorry about Tiny; no one would wish that; but you must try and learn your lessons all the same, and play with Frank and Harry as usual.'

'And I won't vex Nurse by crying any more,' Susy said, drying her eyes at last.

TIMOTHEUS AND PHILEMON.

(Continued from p. 292.)

T

CHAP. XV.-HAPPY NEWS.

HE Pacha arose, and said to Omar, who was sitting writing in the ante chamber, Take these two boys to their father, have his chains taken from him, and bring him hither.'

The boys went with Omar. They trembled when they went down the narrow steep steps into the dungeon. The iron door was opened; they looked into the dark cell, into which a little light came only through the open door. Their beloved father sat laden with his heavy chains on a low stone, to which he was bound. The tears came into their eyes when they beheld his sad condition; but their sorrow soon gave way to joy. Both boys hastened up to their father, embraced him, and exclaimed, full of delight, O dearest father, you are free! The Pacha will do you no more harm, but only good. He will tell you this himself. We are to take you to him.'

'What a marvellous change!' cried the father. 'Oh, my dear children, what a great and unexpected joy has God prepared for us! Yes, Thou great and Almighty God, Who guidest the hearts of kings and princes like the water-brooks, this great change Thou alone hast wrought! Oh, how I thank Thee! O God, how good Thou art!'

not seem to hear us; but now He has indeed, and in a much more wonderful way than we could ever have thought.'

Yes, indeed,' said Philemon. Then, when we were in that cave-ah, how heartily we prayed that He would at least save our dear father, and yet our father was bound and carried away between two horses! I was very sad indeed, then. I could not understand why God did not hear us; it seemed to me as if He no longer troubled Himself about us. our prayer to Him was not in vain. He knows how to do everything much better than we can either wish or hope. We must only have patience and wait.'

The father's chains were now removed, and he went out of his prison, accompanied by Omar; and leading his boys by the hand, he entered the Pacha's apartment. The Pacha advanced a few steps to meet him, held out his hand to him, and said, 'Let us be friends, Lucius! I have done you an injustice. The father of such good children cannot be a bad man. Come, sit down beside me.' He led him to the sofa, and Lucius had to sit by his side.

Now both boys, with upraised hands, came before Abdallah, and said, eagerly, "O noble Pacha! set our dear teacher at liberty, too. He is that good gardener about whom we had to tell you so much. Ah, grant us his life, too!'

'It is very good of you,' said the Pacha, 'that you should think of him, and remind me of him. You are good children. G and tell him, that henceforth he, as well as your father, shall have me for a friend. He is to come hither; Omar will again accompany you.'

Each of the boys took one of Omar's hands. They went with hasty st drawing him after them. Antonius ku

nothing whatever of all that had happened. When he heard steps in the passage to his cell, and soon after the heavy bolts and bars of the door being withdrawn, he expected nothing else than that he was about to be led to his death. The doors opened, and both boys jumped in, full of joy, and exclaimed, Dearest Antonius, rejoice! You are not to be executed; you are free! The Pacha is no longer angry with you now; you are to come to him. Our father is with him. The Pacha is now quite kindly disposed towards both of you; he called you both his friends. Oh, come with us at once.'

'Is it possible?' cried Antonius, amazed. 'This cometh from Thee, O God! This is the finger of God! Man could not have done it. Thou, O merciful God, Thou hast heard my prayer!'

Antonius had prayed fervently in his dungeon that God would grant that the dear children should not be deprived of their father; that the noble lady should not be executed; and that the Pacha should not stain his hands with the blood of his pious wife.

'For myself it is no matter,' he frequently repeated; but O, Thou gracious God, only save the noble father of those good boys! save that excellent lady! This man and this woman can do more good in the world than I, a worn-out old man. Take me to Thyself!'

He was, nevertheless, greatly rejoiced at the boys' tidings, and went with them. With them he entered the splendid apartment. The Pacha had never seen Antonius before. He was much amazed at the venerable appearance of the good man, and gazed on him for several minutes.

"Oh, how terrible it would have been,' he said, if, through my fault, such a head had fallen to the executioner's sword!"

Abdallah now went up to Antonius, offered him his hand, and said, 'Lucius has pardoned me; will you forgive me, too? Be my friend, as he is also now.'

Lucius embraced Antonius with tears of joy. Both were much moved, both thanked and praised God. The Pacha was touched by the sight.

too.

'Allow me,' he said, to embrace you, And now come and sit beside me; we have much to say to each other. But you, my dear children,' said Abdallah to the boys, go to Elmine, my wife, and tell her what has happened here.'

Both boys ran away at once, skipping with joy. They went into the room of the good lady, and exclaimed, 'The Pacha has just this moment been embracing our father and our teacher! We have seen how the tears came into his eyes. All three are sitting together as friends. He, your husband, sent us to ask you, whether he may come to see you?'

The lady had already heard, with amazement, that her husband had changed his mind, and shown himself so gracious to Lucius and Antonius. She expected, therefore, that he would not forget her either. She wept for joy, and pressed both children, who wished to kiss her hands, in her arms. 'Oh, hasten,' she said, 'to tell my husband I shall rejoice to see him!'

The boys hastened back to the Pacha with the message.

Abdallah arose immediately, and went to his wife. He remained standing at the door, and said, 'Oh, most beloved Elmine, can you forgive me? I have deeply injured you! I have caused you much suffering and great sorrow! I have wished to kill you! I beseech you, do not be angry with me!'

Elmine hastened up to him with open

arms.