LINKS.

“T WISH I were grown up!” said little
Ruth Hill, as she sat in the window.

“ Why do you wish to be grown
up, Ruth?” asked Miss Trevor.
‘At least, ] mean, why do you par-
ticularly wish it just now,” she

. added, as if the wish itself was
only what might be expected from
any little girl.

‘Because then I would go out
to be a missionary to the blacks, or
else I would be a nurse in a hos-

pital, like Aunt Mary is,” answered Ruth.

‘“And why do you wish to be a missionary to the blacks, or a nurse in a
hospital ?” asked Miss Trevor.

‘“ Because I want to be of use in the world,” said Ruth grandly.

“Dear child,” said Miss Trevor, “for each of us, the world is only the
place we are in, and the utmost we can do is to make ourselves useful where
weiare.”’

“What can I do?” asked Ruth rather discontentedly; and answered her
own question by remarking, ‘‘ There is nothing to do here.”

‘“What could you do if you were a missionary to the blacks?” inquired
Miss Trevor.

“ Well,” said Ruth, “I could teach them to read, and could tell.them Bible
stories, and show them how to be clean and neat and civilized.”

“Yes,” answered Miss Trevor, ‘ and that would be all very good work, and
very nice for you and for them. Only I wonder you don’t begin to do the
same sort of work now.”

Ruth opened her eyes widely. ‘“ Why, where is there any of that sort of
work?” she asked. ‘‘ Who can I teach, or help in any way?”

‘“Oh yes!” said Miss Trevor in her quiet cheerful way. ‘‘ There is your
little brother Bob. As yet he is as ignorant of Bible stories as any black in