not ask Thee to
take her to Thyself, but only to preserve her from harm. Let Thy holy
truth preserve her. Thy word is truth. Grant, O heavenly Father, that
the child whom Thou hast given me may at last be admitted to the place
where I hope to go. Through Jesus Christ my Saviour. Amen."

Mary repeated, as well as her sobs would allow her, her father's
_Amen_. "Yes," continued the old man, "yes, my daughter, in the
kingdom which Jesus had from the beginning of the world, we shall see
Him, and we shall see each other." He again lay down on his pillow to
rest a little. His hands continued to hold the New Testament, which he
had bought with his first money saved from the purchase of food after
he left Eichbourg.

"Dear daughter," he said, some minutes afterwards, "I am grateful for
all the affection and tenderness which you have shown me since my
illness commenced. Trust in your heavenly Father, Mary, and you will
receive of Him your reward. Poor and forsaken as I am, I can give you
nothing, when I leave you, but my blessing and this book. Live in the
ways of righteousness, and this blessing will not be without effect.
The blessing of a father with the confidence of the Lord is better for
a virtuous child than the richest inheritance. This book, which I wish
you to take in remembrance of your father, cost me, it is true, but a
few shillings, but if it be faithfully read and its precepts put in
practice, I shall have left you the richest treasure. If I had left you
as many pieces of gold as the spring produces leaves and flowers, with
all that money you could not buy anything so valuable as this book. It
is the Word of God. Read it every day, no matter how much work presses
upon you; read at least one passage. Preserve it and meditate upon it
in your heart during the day."

About three o'clock the next morning James said, in a faint voice, "I
feel very ill. Open the window a little." Mary opened it. The moon had
disappeared, but the sky was brilliant with stars, and presented a
magnificent sight.

"See how beautiful the sky is!" said the dying man. "What are the
flowers of earth whose beauty I have so often admired compared with
these stars, whose glory suffers no fading? It is there I am going.
What joy! Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly."

With these words James fell back upon his pillow, and passed peacefully
away. Mary had never seen any one die before, and she thought her
father had only fainted. In her fright she awo