you have been reading about, and I think it is but fair that you in
return should come and coast with me to-morrow," he said one day, after
she had read to him for some time. "I have had a beautiful new toboggin
made for you, and I am sure it will run faster and straighter than any
in the fort."

"I shall be very glad to come, if mamma will let me, though you are so
very bad a scholar that you do not deserve to have your way," she
answered.

"If I promise to learn better in future, will you ask leave to come?"
urged Laurence. "I should like to be able to read about the wonderful
things you tell me of in your books."

"If you promise, I'll ask mamma to let me do as you wish," answered
Jeanie. "But, remember, God hears every word you say, and knows
everything you think, and the promise made to me is really made to God,
and it will grieve Him if you break it."

"Oh, but I mean to keep my promise, though I cannot fancy that the Great
Spirit cares for what a young boy like me may think or say," answered
Lawrence.

"Oh, yes, yes, He cares for young and old alike," exclaimed Jeanie. "He
tells us that the very hairs of our head are numbered, and He knows
every sparrow that falls to the ground. That is to make us understand
that He is interested in all we think about, and in even the very
smallest thing we do. It always makes me very happy when I reflect that
God cares for me, and loves me even more than my father and mother can
do, though they love me a great deal, because He is so much more
powerful than they are, and He can help me and keep me out of temptation
when I am inclined to be naughty, which they, with all their love and
interest in me, cannot do."

"I wish that I could think as you do, Jeanie," said Laurence. "I must
try to do so, though; then you will ask your mamma's leave to come and
coast on the new sleigh?"

"Yes, I will ask her," said Jeanie. "And you must show that you are in
earnest, by trying to say your alphabet this evening. You missed out a
great many of the letters yesterday, and I felt ashamed of you."

Laurence had hitherto made but very slow progress in his studies. His
head and eyes ached, he said, whenever he looked at a book, though he
really was anxious to learn for the sake of pleasing Jeanie.

Mrs Ramsay did not object to allow Jeanie to try the new sleigh, and
the next morning, accompanied by several other girls, she set out in
high glee with Mrs Ramsay, who went to look