ore a beautiful gate; it was made of
gold, Christie, and over the gate there was some shining letters. I
spelt them out, and they were, 'Home, sweet Home,' Christie, and I said
to myself, 'I've found it at last; I wish Christie was here.' But just
then someone opened the gate, and said, 'What do you want, old man?' 'I
want to come in,' I said. 'I'm very tired, and I want to be at home.'
But he shut the gate, and said to me very gravely and sorrowfully, 'No
sin can come in here.' And Christie, I felt as if I was nothing but sin,
so I turned round and walked away, and it grew very dark. And just then
came the thunder, and I awoke; I can't forget it, Christie; I can't
forget it," said old Treffy.

And still the lightning flashed and the thunder rolled, and still old
Treffy trembled.

Christie could not comfort him, for he was very much afraid himself; but
he pressed very close up to his side, and did not leave him till the
storm was over, and there was no sound but the heavy downpour of the
rain on the roof of the attic. Then he crept back to bed and fell
asleep.

The next morning it all seemed like a bad dream. The sun was shining
brightly, and Christie rose and opened the attic window. Every thing
looked fresh and clean after the rain. The dull heavy feeling was gone
out of the air, and the little sparrows were chirping in the eaves. It
was Sunday morning, and on Sunday evening Christie was to hear the
clergyman preach in the mission-room. Oh! how he wished it was seven
o'clock, that he might go and find out what old Treffy wanted to know!

The poor old man seemed very restless and unhappy all that long spring
day. Christie never left him, for it was only on Sunday that he could
watch beside his dear old master. He could see that old Treffy had not
forgotten his dream, though he did not speak of it again.

And at last the long, weary day wore away, and at six o'clock Christie
washed himself and prepared to depart.

"Be sure you mind every word he says, Christie, boy," said old Treffy,
earnestly.

The mission-room was only just open when little Christie arrived. A
woman was inside lighting the gas and preparing the place for the
congregation. Christie peeped shyly in at the door, and she caught sight
of him and ordered him off.

"Isn't there going to be any preaching to-night?" said Christie, in a
disappointed voice.

"Oh! you've come to the service, have you?" said the woman. "All right
you can come in, only