on the veranda, the rest having gone away,
except Max, who lingered at a little distance, now and then casting a
wistful glance at her.

At length catching one of these, she gave him, an encouraging smile and
beckoned him to her side. "What is it, Max?" she asked. "Don't be afraid
to tell me all that is in your heart."

"No, ma'am, I don't think I am; only I shouldn't like to be troublesome
when you are so very kind to me--as well as to everybody else."

"I shall not think you so, but be very glad if I can help you in any
way," she answered, taking the boy's hand and looking into his eyes with
so kind and motherly an expression that his heart went out to her in
truly filial love.

"I hardly know just how to say it," he began with some hesitation, "but
it's about the school and the new boys I'll meet there. I don't know what
sort of fellows they are, and I--you know, Grandma Elsie, I'm trying to
be a Christian, and I--I'm afraid if they are not the right sort of boys,
they--I might be weak enough to be led wrong as I have been before."

"Yes, my dear boy, I understand you; you fear you may fall before
temptation and so bring dishonor upon your profession. And doubtless so
you will if you trust only in your own strength. But if, feeling that to
be but weakness, you cling closely to Christ, seeking strength and wisdom
from Him, He will enable you to stand.

"The apostle says, 'When I am weak, then am I strong,' and the promise
is, 'God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye
are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye
may be able to bear it.'"

"Thank you, Grandma Elsie; I'll try to do it," he said thoughtfully. "I'm
glad that promise is in the Bible."

"Yes; it has often been a comfort to me," she said, "as which of His
great and precious promises has not? Max, my dear boy, never be ashamed
or afraid to show your colors; stand up for Jesus always, whether at home
or abroad, in the company of His friends or His foes.

"The acknowledgment that you are His follower, bound to obey His
commands, may expose you to ridicule, scorn, and contempt; but if you are
a good soldier of Jesus Christ, you will bear all that and more rather
than deny Him."

"Oh, Grandma Elsie! could I ever do that?" he exclaimed with emotion.

"Peter did, you remember, though he had been so sure before the
temptation came that he would rather die with his Master than deny Him."

"My fathe