nt of the work he had been carrying on, opening up
the plans he had made for future work. In particular was he anxious to
enlist the Convener's sympathy in his scheme for a reading-room and
hospital at the Pass. The Convener shook his head at the plan. "I agree
with you entirely," he said, "but the Committee, I fear, will not give
you a grant for a hospital. If it were a church now--"

"Well," argued Shock, "it will serve for a church."

"You may count on me to do my best for you," replied the Convener, "but
I am not sanguine. The Committee are extremely cautious and
conservative."

But when the Convener came to ask about the difficulties and trials of
his life his missionary became silent. There were no trials and
difficulties to speak of, no more at least than the rest of the people
had to bear. They were all good to him.

"That's all right," said the Convener, "but there are difficulties,
none the less. It is a hard country, and sometimes it lays burdens upon
us almost greater than we can bear. There are the poor McIntyres, now,"
he continued. "How did you find them?"

"Very well," replied Shock. "But, indeed, I didn't notice much."

And then the Convener told him of the story of their great grief.

"It is a common enough story in this country. The little baby was five
months old, singularly bright and attractive. McIntyre himself was
quite foolish about it; and, indeed, the whole congregation were quite
worked up over it. Took suddenly ill, some mysterious trouble; no
doctor within forty miles; before he arrived the baby was gone. They
were dreadfully cut up about it."

"I--I never noticed," said Shock, with a sense of shame. "I wasn't
thinking."

There was no demonstration of sympathy on the part of his people when
Shock returned to his work. One by one they came up after the evening
service to shake hands with him and then to leave him alone. But that
night, when all had gone except Ike, who was hovering about downstairs
within call of Shock,--who, was sitting upstairs alone in the room
which, in the fulness of his joy, he had set apart for his mother,--a
voice was heard asking cautiously:

"Is he in?"

"Yes, but I guess he's pretty tired," replied Ike doubtfully.

"I'd like to see him a minute," replied the voice, with a sudden
huskiness.

"Oh! It's you, is it?" said Ike. "Well, come in. Yes, come right
upstairs." And Carroll came heavily up the stairs with Patsy in his
arms.

"Why, Carroll,