The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-06-02


turned his head, that his sister might not
see his distress; but she put down the bas-
ket she had brought on her arm. and lean
ing over him, with the tears in her eyes,
said kindly, Does it hurt very much,
Hal?"
1T don't seem to hurt at all, said the
boy; but the doctor says IN going to die I"
Alice sprang up, and looked wildly at
the old gentleman as if in hopes he might
contradict the boy, but he only answered
her by rubbing his spectacles, and lower
ing his eyes. 40 Hail. she cried, throw
ing her arms around the boy, /" love you
SOL Then she wept convulsiyely for a
moment, when she controlled herself suf-
ficiently to ask the old gentleman if he
did not think the doctor could do some
thing to make him well.
II am afraid not, my dear. But he is
in the hands of good God, and you may
ask him to let him stay aslong as possible"
HAL, said the child, won't you letme
go and ask the minister to come and pray
to God to let you live little longer?"
I reckon if you pray like you do some
nights when 1 m in bed, and you think m
asleep it'll do"
''But | don't know much except Now
l lay me, and Our Father :"
"Say Our Father like you do at home,
with something else at the end
With fearful face the child kneeled
down, regardless of her surroundings, and
with folded hands and closed eyes, re-
peated simply and touchingly that beauti-
full prayer first used by our Saviour; then
she added sweetly: Dear good Lord, l
don't know how to ask you hard and
strong like minister; but want you to
let my dear brother live It's so lonely
when he's away; and guess, if he dies
I'd like you to let me die too; for there
won't be any one to take care Of me, and
no one to love me when he's gone Amen. 4"
The old gentleman had occasion to put
his handkerchief to his eyes more than
once during the childs prayer; but he
kept close watch of the boy, who when it
was over, turned sadly ts his sister, and
said =
Reckon you don't know that l am
sorry FOR what l did yesterday"
40 Hall" said the girl, coloring, AZ
know you were sorry for that right after
wards. But" lifting up the basket, as if
to turn his thoughts from herself, see
what brought you'll took some money
| had saved, and brought it all cooked,
because 1 knew you would like it so
much"
"Bully for you'll" said Hal, raising him
self suddenly, but as suddenly did he fall
back again, while the expression of his face
changed to one of intense suffering, and
became deadly pale
AS soon as he was able to speak, the
old gentleman questioned him closely as
to the nature of his suferings; and when
he had described them, he said, with a
faint smile: IF I'd been a girl, reckon
I'd have screamed when it struck me
quickly; but you see couldn't do it well,
because I'm a boy.
"Humphl" murmured the old gentle
man as he turned away. 81 think he has
the right kind of stuff in him, if he could
be managed well. Hope it's all right
now
When he returned, Alice was holding
her brothers hands in her own, and they
were in earnest conversation but he had
brought physician with him, and they
were disturbed to give away to second
and minute examination of the injured
boy. Poor Alice, forgotten by those
about her. stood little apart, the tears
running down her face as she saw the suf-
fering of her brother
When the physician turned to go he
nodded to the old gentlemen, and said,
cts all right
Whereupon the old gentleman went to
Alice and whispered something in her ear.
She ran to her brother, and opening
her eyes wide, said joyfully 30 Hal he
says you are going to get well after all
Ism that splendid and don't you think
God is very good? l guess we'd better
thank him right away for it.
AS simply as she asked for his life, she
now gave thanks for it.
Dear good Lord, you can look right
down in our hearts, and see how glad we
are, and how much we want to thank you
for letting Hal live. Please let him get
well right soon. Amen"
The old gentleman, too, gave thanks be-
fore retiring that night 1t was the first
time for years, but it was by no means the
last
He had been unaccountably attracted
by the boy when he saw him fall, and fol-
lowed him to the hospital. He was not
in the habit of doing such things; but he
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