114 Darkne/s and Light.

know what I have done to-day, Mamma. They
told you quite right ; but they forgot to tell you |
have been practifing walking acrofs the leads for
two or three days, that I might be able to go the
great round to-day on purpofe to tell you of it;
becaufe I thought you would be fo much pleafed
to know I could go alone all over the houfe on
the day year when I was firft blind. So now,
Mamma, if ever, when I am grown up to bea
man, an enemy comes and attacks the old Sea
Caftle, I fhall be able to run about and give the
alarm, for you know I could hear them, if I could
do nothing elfe.”

There was another paufe, for Madeline could
not {peak : the often reftrained tears for her fon’s
misfortune had this day burft forth, and could not
be kept back ; but Roderick did not know, and
went on.

“ Certainly thofe old foolifh fears were very
wrong, Mamma. And I can’t think how it was,
for you ufed to remind me always that God could
take care of us by night as well as by day, in
darknefs as well as in light; and ftill fomehow,
though I knew it was true, I didn’t believe it,—at
leaft, not fo as not to be afraid in the dark: how
very wrong it was! Still I had quite forgotten all
about it till this evening. But, as I was going
the laft of the three rounds, I fat down on the
leads for a few minutes to enjoy the air. The
fun was juft fetting, I am fure, for it felt fo frefh
and cool; and it was, as I fat there, that it came