is morning his
mother saw him going out of the yard, with a very sorrowful and
determined look, carrying his pet kitten. She didn't think much more
about it until later on he came in, with the most tragic little face,
and told her, his little body shaking with sobs, that he had drowned
Stripey.

"'Why did you do that?' Mrs. Meredith exclaimed.

"'To bring Jem back,' sobbed Bruce. 'I thought if I sacrificed Stripey
God would send Jem back. So I drownded him--and, oh mother, it was
awful hard--but surely God will send Jem back now, 'cause Stripey was
the dearest thing I had. I just told God I would give Him Stripey if He
would send Jem back. And He will, won't He, mother?'

"Mrs. Meredith didn't know what to say to the poor child. She just
could not tell him that perhaps his sacrifice wouldn't bring Jem
back--that God didn't work that way. She told him that he mustn't
expect it right away--that perhaps it would be quite a long time yet
before Jem came back.

"But Bruce said, 'It oughtn't to take longer'n a week, mother. Oh,
mother, Stripey was such a nice little cat. He purred so pretty. Don't
you think God ought to like him enough to let us have Jem?"

"Mr. Meredith is worried about the effect on Bruce's faith in God, and
Mrs. Meredith is worried about the effect on Bruce himself if his hope
isn't fulfilled. And I feel as if I must cry every time I think of it.
It was so splendid--and sad--and beautiful. The dear devoted little
fellow! He worshipped that kitten. And if it all goes for nothing--as
so many sacrifices seem to go for nothing--he will be brokenhearted,
for he isn't old enough to understand that God doesn't answer our
prayers just as we hope--and doesn't make bargains with us when we
yield something we love up to Him."

24th September 1918

"I have been kneeling at my window in the moonshine for a long
time, just thanking God over and over again. The joy of last night
and today has been so great that it seemed half pain--as if our
hearts weren't big enough to hold it.

"Last night I was sitting here in my room at eleven o'clock writing a
letter to Shirley. Every one else was in bed, except father, who was
out. I heard the telephone ring and I ran out to the hall to answer it,
before it should waken mother. It was long-distance calling, and when I
answered it said 'This is the telegraph Company's office in
Charlottetown. There is an overseas cable for Dr. Blythe.'

"I thought of Shirley--my heart