oy at the change she imagined
favourable, bent over him. With a great effort he placed his arms about
her neck; she kissed his pale lips; a smile of strange meaning passed
over his face, and ere she could unwind that loving clasp her little
Johnny was no more. He had gone where the wicked cease from troubling,
and the weary are at rest; but her hopes were blasted; her house was
left unto her desolate; and as she watched, through the long hours of
night, beside the dead body, it was to our Father who art in Heaven her
anguished heart poured itself out in prayer. Think of this, ye rich! who
morning and evening breathe the same petition by your own hearthstones.
Think of it, ye who have authority to oppress! Do not deprive the
poor man or woman of the "ewe lamb" that is their sole possession; and
remember that He whose ear is ever open to the cry of the distressed,
has power to avenge their cause.

THE THIEF AND HIS BENEFACTOR.

"CIRCUMSTANCES made me what I am," said a condemned criminal to a
benevolent man who visited him in prison. "I was driven by necessity to
steal."

"Not so," replied the keeper, who was standing by. "Rather say, that
your own character made the circumstances by which you were surrounded.
God never places upon any creature the necessity of breaking his
commandments. You stole, because, in heart, you were a thief."

The benevolent man reproved the keeper for what he called harsh words.
He believed that, alone, by the force of external circumstances, men
were made criminals. That, if society were differently arranged, there
would be little or no crime in the world. And so he made interest for
the criminal, and, in the end, secured his release from prison. Nor
did his benevolence stop here. He took the man into his service, and
intrusted to him his money and his goods.

"I will remove from him all temptation to steal," said he, "by a liberal
supply of his wants."

"Have you a wife?" he asked of the man, when he took him from prison.

"No," was replied.

"Nor any one but yourself to support?"

"I am alone in the world."

"You have received a good education; and can serve me as a clerk. I
therefore take you into my employment, at a fair salary. Will five
hundred dollars be enough?"

"It will be an abundance," said the man, with evident surprise at an
offer so unexpectedly liberal.

"Very well. That will place you above temptation."

"And I will be innocent and happy. You are my