under all her coverings; still she lay
looking at the stars in that square patch of sky that her shutter
opening gave her to see, and thinking of the golden city. "They shall
hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on
them, nor any heat. For the lamb which is in the midst of the throne
shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters:
and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." "There shall be no
more curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and
his servants shall serve him."

"His servants shall serve him"--thought Nettie; "and mother will be
there,--and father will be there, and Barry,--and I shall be there! and
then I shall be happy. And I am happy now. 'Blessed be the Lord, which
hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me!'"--And if that
verse went through Nettie's head once, it did fifty times. So did this
one, which the quiet stars seemed to repeat and whisper to her, "The
Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants, and none of them that trust in
him shall be desolate." And though now and then a shiver passed over
Nettie's shoulders, with the cold, she was ready to sing for very
gladness and fulness of heart.

But lying awake and shivering did not do Nettie's little body any good;
she looked so very white the next day, that it caught even Mr.
Mathieson's attention. He reached out his arm and drew Nettie toward
him, as she was passing between the cupboard and the table. Then he
looked at her, but he did not say how she looked.

"Do you know day after to-morrow is Christmas day?" said he.

"Yes, I know. It's the day when Christ was born," said Nettie.

"Well, I don't know anything about that," said her father; "but what I
mean is, that a week after is New Year. What would you like me to give
you, Nettie,--hey?"

Nettie stood still for a moment, then her eyes lighted up.

"Will you give it to me, father, if I tell you?"

"I don't know. If it is not extravagant, perhaps I will."

"It will not cost much," said Nettie, earnestly. "Will you give me what
I choose, father, if it does not cost too much?"

"I suppose I will. What is it?"

"Father, you wont be displeased?"

"Not I!" said Mr. Mathieson, drawing Nettie's little form tighter in his
grasp; he thought he had never felt it so slight and thin before.

"Father, I am going to ask you a great thing!--to go to church with me
New Year's day."

"To church!" said her fathe