sheep?" Matilda persisted. "His sheep follow
Him. Did you ever do that, ma'am? Were you ever a servant of the Lord
Jesus?"

"A servant? I warn't no servant, nowheres," was the answer. "I had no
need to do that. We was 'spectable folks, and we had our own home and
lived in it, we did. I warn't never no servant o' nobody."

"But we all ought to be God's servants," said Matilda.

"Eh?--I hain't done no harm, I hain't. Nobody never said as I done 'em
no harm."

"But the servants of Jesus love Him, and obey Him, and do what He
says," Matilda repeated, growing eager. "They do just what He says, and
they love Him, and they love everybody, because He gives them new
hearts."

"I don't know as He never give me nothing," said Mrs. Eldridge.

"Did you ever ask Him for a new heart? and did you ever try to please
Him? Then you would be one of His sheep, and He would take care of you."

"Nobody takes no care o' me," said the poor woman, stolidly.

"Listen," said Matilda. "This is what he says--

"'I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth his life for the
sheep.' He cared so much for you as that. 'I am the good shepherd, and
know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so
know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep.'

"He cared so much for you as that. He died that you might be forgiven
and live. Don't say He didn't care?"

"I didn't know as He'd never done nothing fur me," said Mrs. Eldridge.

"He did that. Listen, now, please,"

"'My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I
give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall
any pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is
greater than all; and none is able to pluck them out of My Father's
hand. I and My Father are one.'"

Matilda lifted her head and sought, in the faded blue eye over against
her, if she could find any response to these words. She fancied there
was a quieter thoughtfulness in it.

"That has a good sound," was the old woman's comment, uttered
presently. "But I'm old now, and I can't do nothing; and there ain't
nobody to take care o' me. There ain't."

Matilda glanced over the desolate room. It was dusty, dirty, neglected,
and poverty stricken. What if _she_ had been sent to "take care" of
Mrs. Eldridge? The thought was exceedingly disagreeable; but once come,
she could not get rid of it.

"What do you want, Mrs. Eldridge?" she asked at length.