Year: 1874

OF bed Mt all. The room WAS very bare
and cold As Nat slipped on what
remained of his only pair of shoes,
heavy cloud seemed TO settle down
upon his face. His mother, a little
woman, with n face pale aud worn, but
cheerful, nevertheless, was putting a
few crusts of bead with three or four
cold potatoes, upon plate.


II do say, mother" said Nat, shiv
ering and looking about the room,
lit is no sort of use, we shall have TO
give up. Idon't see but we shall
freeze to death with no fire, and
starvc besides,' aud Nat sat down
upon the side of the bed and leaned
his face upon his hand. 81 can't get
u bit of work 20 do. and there ism
person in the world that cares cent
about us, he continued dojectcdly
1T seems rs il should not care so
much rs if it was just myself; but to
see you cold and hungry is more
than I can bear,r aud Nat burst into
tears.


"Why, my boy" said his mother,
cheerfully, don't give up. Don't
you remember that we have Father
who sees all our troubles, aud if we
only trust HinH lie will help us"


you have said that for the last
three weeks mother said Nat, "ani
have tried TO trust Him, but things
grow worse aud worse


Though He slay ME, yet will
trust in Him, is the trust We want
to have, Matte, said his mother,
sitting down by his side aud putting
her arms around his neck, "Wo have
each other left yet, aud we are not
really sick ' Her ewes growa little iim
rs she looked at Mats palo, thin face,
and then there is that nice teacher
at the mission school, you know, who
thought he could do something for
you


Yes said Nat, wiping his eyes
with the back Of his his hand. "but
have not seen him, aud don't know
that lever shall my clothes have
got 80 bad now that | can't 90 TO
the school.


"Well, dear" said his mother, "we
will eat what we have and be cheer
ful. We shall, not starve TO day,
and maybe you will get a few pen
nies for sweeping, and / may find a
little washing to do. At any rate
wo will try hard one Gay more. We
must look as cheerful aud pleasant Us
we can, too for people will be more
likely to help us if we smile and look
pleasant, than they will if we look
cross and sour.


Nat tried hard to smile and eat his
share of the scanty breakfast. Bid
ding his mother good bye, he took
his old broom and started out. He
walked painfully up street after street
for his feet were covered with chill.
blains, and his old shoes were hard
and full of holes At last he selected
a crossing to sweep where he Thought
rich people might cross, and patient
ly waited trying to look cheerful anl
smiling. Daring the forenoon he
rot few pennies, but as tho after
noon wore on lie felt very faint anl
hungry, and leaning on his broom,
he began to think of what his mother
had said in the morning.


Though he slay," kept ringing in
his head. "Ah,' he thought to him
self. II have not really trus . d.
When everything goes well, the
trusting is easy enough, but when it
comes to the ''slayiug give in
Hearing voices near him he started,
aud looking up, saw the m sion
school teacher. Such Il CLEAN of
hope shot through his heart that it
lighted up his face, and no felt rs il
help had come.


"Ah, Nat, how do you do p said
his teacher pleasantly, while the gen.
tleman who was with him looked on
with some surprise, GLOW are you
getting on now ?


Not at all, answered Nat, trying
to smile.


I'm sorry said lks teacher Il
hoped L was going to get Il chance
for you last week, but lost it. We'll
keep up your courage; ! think we
Iyili find something yet, and the gen
women walked on.


x.Nat looked after them with tears
yaady to come in his eyes, "Cour-


o, with nothing TO eat, he thought,
. Suing on his broom again ''but
wo,t is not trusting, and l mean to
lily trust, for there's nothing else
can do and shutting his eyes for u
moment, he sent an earnest little
prayer TO the loving Heavenly Father
who is just as ready to hear us when
we call TO him from tho noisy street
as from the hush OF the church.


"Hullo, there, youngster," said a
hearty voice. Hold my horse here,
and I'll givo you quarter.


Nat dropped his broom and ran
eagerly to the horse, A portly
gentleman stepped with some diff
Guilty from the carriage Nat looked
at him and smiled pleasantly.


"You think l am rather awkward,
youngster," he said, 'but Tn only
Just oil the water, and your misera-
BILE land traps / can't manage
i "Oh no, sir, did not think so at
all, . said Nat, looking at him wist-
fully, for his own dear father died at
sea, and there was charm about