zzie.

"Then I will teach you the game, and you can teach it to your little
brothers, when they get older," continued the clergyman.

"Lizzie!" spoke up Mrs. Royden, "don't you know better than to lean upon
your uncle's shoulder?"

"I didn't think," replied the girl, the smiles suddenly fading from her
warm, bright face.

"O, I love to have her!" cried Mr. Rensford, putting his arm around her
kindly.

"But I thought you must be very weary," said Mrs. Royden.

"It rests me to talk with happy children, at any time."

"You are not much like me, then; for when I am tired I never want them
round."

"Ah! you lose a great deal of comfort, then!" softly observed the old
gentleman, kissing Lizzie's cheek. "I had a little girl once, and her
name was Lizzie, too," he added, his mild blue eyes beginning to
glisten.

"Where is she now?" asked Lizzie.

"In heaven."

The clergyman's voice was scarcely raised above a whisper; but so deep
was the silence in the room, that he was heard distinctly. Hepsy's eyes
swam with tears; and the rest of the family were more or less affected
by the pathetic reply.

"It is a comfort to think she is there, isn't it?" he continued, with a
smile of happiness radiating his calm and hopeful countenance. "How good
God is to us!" he exclaimed, fervently.

Afterwards, he engaged in cheerful conversation with the parents; but
soon expressed a wish to retire, and, kissing Lizzie again and shaking
hands with all the rest, with a pleasant word for each, he took his
candle, and withdrew.

But he seemed to have left the warmth of his presence behind him. The
family had never separated with happier faces and kinder words than on
that night; and Sarah, James and Lizzie, went lovingly up-stairs
together.

Chester remained with his parents, to have a little private conversation
before going to bed. Mrs. Royden broke the silence.

"It is strange what has become of that boy, Samuel. It was time he was
back, half an hour ago."

"I've been thinking about him," replied Chester, with an anxious look.
"If he is riding that horse all over creation, I wouldn't give much for
him, in the morning."

"I never knew the little rascal to do an errand without doing some
mischief with it," added his father. "But he does not mean anything very
bad. There's no danger of his doing much damage; so let us forget him
for the present, Chester, and talk over your affairs."

V.

CHESTER'S CONFESSION.

Ches