Year: 1868

| ing; sne looked towards heaven, and waS 81
lent; when Felix who was still by her side
in the attitude Of prayer, jumped up, and
stretching out his hands exclaimed: 20,
mother, what is that? There is little light
| lowering there; it is a star flying. See it is
lowering about the window o, see, it is
coming in! How beautiful it shines 1t is
like green light. 1t is almost as beautiful
as the evening star. Look, now it is hover
| ing about the ceiling. 1t is very wonder
full"


That is a FREELY, my child" said Mary !;
''by day it is a mean little insect and by
night it is very beautiful"


May catch it ?'' said the child "Will
it not hurt me, and shall l not be hurt by
the light?"


1T will not burn you,' said Mary. and
she smiled through her tears catch it and
examine it carefully without hurting it /: it
is one of the wonderful works of God"
Felix had now forgotten all his sorrow,
and tried to catch the glittering fly, which
was at one moment under the table, and at
another under the chair, and sometimes
near the focr.


But, . dearl" said the child, for the fly
had corcealed itself behind the great chest
that stood against the wall, at the moment
when he held out his hand 10 catch it,
L
| very plainly" said he, There it sits, close
to the wall and the white wall and the floor,
and the dust shine quite bright around it,
just as if the moon were shining on them.
But cannot reach it, my arm is not long
enough.


Have patience, said Mary; ''it will
soon come out again.


The child waited little while, and then
went to his mother, and in gentle entreat-
ing tone of voice said, 20 mother, do reach
1t for me, or move out the chest little
from the wall, and then can easily catch
it.


Mary stood up and moved the chest, and
Felix took the fire fly, and looked at it as he
held ii In the hollow of his hand, and it
gave him as much pleasure as another would
have derived from the purest diamond
But Mary's attention was directed to an
other object. In moving the chest, some
thing which was between it and the wall h ad
fallen to the ground. She picked it up, and
uttered loud cry. and said, God has
brought US through our troubles! This is
| the last years almanac which had sought
for SO long In vain. thought it had been
destroyed by some of those who were here
during my long illness, and who, during the
time that lay almost without recolocti
did not take the best care of my house. We
shall now find that my husband paid the
money that Is demanded of Inc. Who would
ever have thought that the almanac lay be-
hind the chest that he bought with the
house, and which has probably never been
moved since it was first placed where it
stands? p
She instantly lighted candle, and looked
over the almanac with tears of thankfulness
running down her cheeks. All was regular
ly entered what her husband still owed at
the beginning OF the year, and what he had
paid off by his work and in cash. At the end
of the account were few words written by
the old farmer: At Martinmas l settled
accounts with John Blum, and he only owes
me fifty forms. Mary clasped her hands
with joy. embraced her child and exclaimed
with rapture, 90 Felix, thank God with
me, for we shall not be turned out we shall
not have to quit our home.


did | not say SO ~ said the child snow
this is owing to me. If [ had not begged
| you to move the chest you would never have
found the almanac.


But Mary said, "N'y child, it is God s
doings, not yours. feel overpowered with
awe and thankfulness when think of it.
Even whilst We were praying He sent that
| brilliant fly, and by its light pointed out to
us the very place where those papers lay con-
cealed. Yes, God indeed directs all things.
Without His knowledge not hair ia Is
| from our heads Remember this as long as
you live, and trust to Him always, especial
ly in times of distress. He does not require
an angel to help Him, but can use little
fly as messenger of His mercy And how
soon has He answered our prayer! o my
child, let us never forget to pray to Him T.


Early the next morning Mary went to the
magistrate, who caused the farmer tc be
brought before him. When he saw the pa
per, he could not help feeling ashamed OF
his unkind behavior; and when the poor
woman proceeded to relate the whole story
of her prayer, and the entrance of the fire.
fly, he became much affected and exclaim-
ed with tears in his eyes, "Yes, it is indeed
true that God is the Father of the widow
and the fatherless. He is also their aven-
ger. Forgive the cruelty 1 have used to-
wards you. And now to recompeDse the
injury have done you, keep the remaining
fifty forins, and if ever you shou d be IN
want, come to me, and will always help
you. see clearly that whosoever trusts In
God will never be forsaken."


Only love and fear the Lord,


Serve Him still in faith and prayer,


Do His will, and keep His word,


God will for His Children care.