The Love of God. 143

who, with the acute inftiné& of forrow-foothing
which women fo eminently poflefs, had purpofely
come at this the young mafter’s ‘* dark hour,” to
try if it could be kept back by the charm fhe had
feen working a fhort time before. ‘‘ The little
fellow is quite fit to come in now, Sir, if you’d
wifh to fee him before he’s put to bed.” And
her efforts were rewarded by feeing a look of in-
tereft light up poor Theodore’s eye. The boy
was now ufhered in, and his improved appearance
and cleanlinefs were very ftriking. ‘Theodore
took hold of his hand—‘* There, you need not be
afraid; you may fit down upon that chair. Are
you comfortable?” ‘* Yes.” ‘* Have you had
plenty’to eat?” ‘ Yes, plenty.” And the child
laughed a little.

‘© T hope you are a good boy.”

He looked ftupid. ‘‘Can you fay your prayers?”
“© What’s that ?”

“Ah! I was afraid not. You never heard
about God?” ‘ Yes; but the woman ufed to
keep that to herfelf.” ‘Keep what!”

“ Why, ‘ for God’s fake, when fhe begged.
She didn’t let me fay it, but fhe always faid it her-
felf; and then, when people wouldn’t give us any
thing, fhe ufed to fay ”

“© No, no! I will not hear about that ;” inter-
rupted Theodore, ‘“ but I hope fome day you
will learn about God.”

“In the begging? muft I fay it in the begging

next time?”