Year: 1875

when she could not help envying
those who were not obliged to toll
so, hard; but this did not often hap
pen, for the little Isabel was blessed
with 4 cheerful and contented spirit,
and she might far more frequently
be heard thanking God that she Had
health to labour, for she was an or
pha1, and had no one to work for
her. Her parents both died when
she whs very young; they were poor
but honest people, and taught her to
love and fear Him who has promised
to be t'the Father OF the fatherless;;"
SO that Isabel did not feel SO lonely
when they were taken away, as she
would otherwise have done.


"a little WHILE" said her mother,
with her dying breath, "and we shall
all be together again: thanks to that
blessed Saviour who loved and gave
himself for u.s."


"a little while" repeated the or
phan child, afterwards, "only little
while.n And she would often look
up and smile as she thought Of the
heavenly home which Jesus had pur-
chased for her with his own life
This it was that made Isabel so
cheerful and happy.


1t was the bright summer time,
when the master Of The factory an
nounced his intention of giving all
the work-people a holiday: "a whole
long day." as Isabel called il, 80 dc
what they pleased in" Most of the
young people had some friend or re-
lative to visit; but the poor silk-wind-
ing girl was an orphan, and alone in
the world. Having nowhere TO go
she thought what a pleasant thing it
would be TO spend the day in the
woods, and look at the blue sky,
and hear the birds sing, and gather
wild flowers, as she used to do when
child. M m


The eventful morning arrived
clear and sunny. Isabel arose with
the lark, thinking of the long, happy
day before her. But she did not
forget, ere she went forth on her
glad holiday, TO kneel down and
pray. Her heart was full of joy and
thankfulness, and she longed to do
something for Him who had done SO
much for her. But what could she
do? She was only little child.


The clock struck six as Isabel
went into the woods singing. She
knew a great many hymns, and had
q habit Eof singing them to herself
when alone. Early as it was, there
was one up before her-a pale, stern
looking man, who was crouching be-
meath the shadow Of the trees as she
passed. second Cain lying in wait
to take away brothers life. The
song which Isabel was singing hap
pened to be one learned years ago,
at his mothers knee. The memory
of his innocent and happy childhood
came back to him as though it were
but yesterday. The little golden
haired brother with whom he used
to play-how they loved one anoth-
er thenl How often they had wan
dered together, with their arms a
round each others hecks, singing
that very hymnl The mans coun-
teEance changed as he recalled those
old times, the weapon dropped from
his grasp; and as he knelt down with
clasped hands, his tears tell fast. A
human life-it may be that human
soul was saved. But Isabel knew it
not, as she passed on singing.


Just within the wood there was q
rude hut, inhabited by poor old
woman, who earned scanty living
in the summer time, gathering wat
er-cresses, or making up nesegays of
honeysuckle, sweet-brer, and wild
flowers, which she sold at the neigh
boring town; and managed to exist
in winter by knitting coarse woolen


r. 4 - Al