side her. "May I tell you something?
It was that night--at the very last--papa asked me if I was ready to
put on the armour he was laying down; and I said yes; and, mamma, I
meant it. I wished to do so, oh, so much!--but everything has been so
miserable since then--"

"And don't you wish it still, my son?"

"Mamma, I know there is nothing else that, is any good, but I cannot
make myself care for it as I did then."

"David," said his mother, "do you love Jesus?"

"Yes, mamma, indeed I love Him. I know Him to be worthy of my love."

"And you desire to be His servant to honour Him, and do His will?"

"Yes, mamma, if I only knew the way."

"David, it was His will that papa should be taken from us; but you are
angry at our loss."

"Angry! oh, mamma!"

"You are not submissive under His will. You fail to have confidence in
His love, or His wisdom, or in His care for you. You think that in
taking him He has made a mistake or been unkind."

"I know I am all wrong, mamma."

"David, my boy, perhaps it is this which is standing between you and a
full consecration to His service."

And then she spoke to him of his father, and of his work, and how
blessed he had been in it, and of the rest and reward to which he had
gone.

"A little sooner than we would have chosen for our own sakes, Davie, but
not too soon for him, or for his Master."

A great deal more she said to him of the life that lay before him, and
how he might help her and his brothers and sisters. Then she spoke of
his work for Christ, and of his preparation for it, and how hopeful--
nay, how sure she was, that happy and useful days were before him--all
the more happy and useful because of the sorrow he had been passing
through. "As one whom his mother comforteth," came into David's mind as
he listened.

"And it is I who ought to be comforting you, mamma. I know I am all
wrong--" said he, with tears.

"We will comfort one another. And indeed, it is my best comfort to
comfort you. And, Davie, my love, we will begin anew."

There was more said after that--of the work that lay ready at his hand,
of how he was to take out his books again, lest he should fall back on
his studies, and do discredit to his father's teaching, and of how he
was to help his brothers and sisters, especially Violet and Jem.

"Only, mamma, I think they have been getting on very well without me all
this time," said Davie, ruefully.

"Not so well as they will with you, ho