r
and for the salvation of human souls.

His eye was dim and his voice was weak, and it brought tears to the eyes
of the sympathetic among the people to see the old man lose his place
and unconsciously repeat his sentences. But not a shadow of disrespect
mingled with their feelings. There was no mistaking the glow of love
and the kindly fire which flushed the pale face when salvation was the
theme. When he mentioned the name of Jesus, and urged sinners to flee
from the wrath to come, the people _felt_ the truth of that word, "God's
strength is perfected in man's weakness."

The Sudberrys felt very happy that day on returning home. They overtook
old Moggy, stumping along through mud and water, with tears bedewing her
cheeks.

"Why, Moggy, you are all wet!" said Fred, hastening towards her.

"Ay, I fell into a dub as I cam out o' the kirk. But, ech! sirs, I've
heard blessed words this day."

The Sudberrys spent that evening in their usual way. They went to a
particular spot, which Lucy had named the Sunny Knoll, and there learned
hymns off by heart, which were repeated at night, and commented on by
Mr Sudberry. After supper they all got into what is called "a talk."
It were presumptuous to attempt to explain what that means. Everyone
knows what it is. Many people know, also, that "a talk" can be got up
when people are in the right spirit, on any subject, and that the
subject of all others most difficult to get up this "talk" upon, is
religion. Mr Sudberry knew this; he felt much inclined at one time
that night to talk about fishing, but he laid strong constraint on
himself; and gave the conversation a turn in the right direction. The
result was "a talk"--a hearty, free, enthusiastic communing on the
Saviour, the soul, and eternal things, which kept them up late and sent
them happy to bed--happier than they had yet been all that season.

STORY ONE, CHAPTER 19.

A STRANGE HOME-COMING.

Master Jacky made two discoveries next day, both of which he announced
with staring eyes and in breathless haste, having previously dashed into
the parlour like a miniature thunderbolt.

The first was that the bathing-pool was clean swept away by the floods,
not a vestige of it being left. The whole family rushed out to see with
their own eyes. They saw and were convinced. Not a trace of it
remained. Even the banks of the little stream had been so torn and
altered by gushing water and tumbling rocks that it was a