ettie got up to put away her books, her lips
burst forth into song; and never more clear nor more sweet than she sung
then, sounded the wild sweet notes that belong to the words--favourites
with her. There was no doubt in her voice at all.

"Great spoils I shall win, from death, hell, and sin,
'Midst outward afflictions shall feel Christ within;
And when I'm to die, Receive me, I'll cry;
For Jesus hath loved me, I cannot tell why."

Mrs. Mathieson sobbed at first; but there came a great quietness over
her; and as the clear beautiful strain came to an end, she rose up,
threw her apron over her face, and knelt quietly down by the side of
her bed; putting her face in her hands. Nettie stood and looked at her;
then turned and went up the stair to her own praying-place; feeling in
her heart as if instead of two weary feet she had had "wings as angels,"
to mount up literally. She knew that part of her prayer was getting its
answer. She knew by the manner of her mother, that it was in no
bitterness and despair but in the humbleness of a bowed heart that she
had knelt down; and Nettie's slow little feet kept company with a most
bounding spirit. She went to bed and covered herself up, not to sleep,
but because it was too cold to be in the garret a moment uncovered; and
lay there broad awake, "making melody in her heart to the Lord."

It was very cold up in Nettie's garret now; the winter had moved on into
the latter part of December, and the frosts were very keen; and the
winter winds seem to come in at one end of the attic and to just sweep
through to the other, bringing all except the snow with them. Even the
snow often drifted in through the cracks of the rough wainscot board,
or under the shutter, and lay in little white streaks or heaps on the
floor, and never melted. To-night there was no wind, and Nettie had left
her shutter open that she might see the stars as she lay in bed. It did
not make much difference in the feeling of the place, for it was about
as cold inside as out; and the stars were great friends of Nettie.
To-night she lay and watched them, blinking down at her through her
garret window with their quiet eyes; they were always silent witnesses
to her of the beauty and purity of heaven, and reminders too of that eye
that never sleeps and that hand that planted and upholds all. How bright
they looked down to-night! It was very cold, and lying awake made Nettie
colder; she shivered sometimes