OF THE FOREST. 53

have ever known ; and tell me, my little girl,
how long your mind has been thus devoted to
heavenly things.”

“JT do not think that I am devoted to
heavenly things, father,” she replied ; “for I
am not good, and people who are devoted are
good, I have heard Madame say so; but it is
now many months since my parents died, and
since I lost my brother and sister, and from
that time I have never had so much pleasure
in anything as in thinking of the time when I
shall see my relations again; and I know
that I never shall see them unless I love my
Saviour, and am enabled to obey him: and
these thoughts are always coming to my mind,
and I cannot get rid of them.”

“ And why, my dear child,” I answered,
“should you wish to get rid of them? Do
they not make your happiness, and do they
not mark your call to a holy life? But think
you not, my daughter, that if you were to in-
tercede with the holy Virgin and the blessed
saints, that they would join their prayers with
yours, and thai you might in this manner
more easily obtain all that you desire?” And
I pointed to the image above the altar, and
directed the child to observe the benign and