believing--'is the
gift of God.'"

"You don't mean _dat_, Miss Elsie! You don't mean dat God will save poor
ole Dinah, an' gib her hebben, an' all for nuffin?" she inquired, raising
herself on her elbow in her eagerness.

"Yes, Dinah; God says without money and without price; can't you believe
him? Suppose I should come and put a hundred dollars in your hand,
saying, 'Here, Aunt Dinah, I _give_ you this; you are old, and sick, and
poor, and I know you can do nothing to earn it, but it is a _free_ gift,
just _take_ it and it is yours;' wouldn't you believe me, and take it?"

"_'Deed_ I would, Miss Elsie, kase you nebber tole nuffin but de truff."

"Well, then, can't you believe God when he says that he will save you?
Can't you believe Jesus when he says, 'I _give_ unto them eternal life'?"

"Yes, yes, Miss Elsie! I do b'lieve; read de blessed words again,
darlin'."

Elsie read the verse again, and then finished the Chapter. Then closing
the book, she asked softly,

"Shall we pray, now, Aunt Dinah?"

Dinah gave an eager assent; and Elsie, kneeling down by the bedside,
prayed in simple, childlike words that Jesus would reveal himself to poor
old Dinah, as _her_ Saviour; that the Holy Spirit would be her sanctifier
and comforter, working faith in her, and thereby uniting her to Christ;
that God would adopt her into his family, and be her God and portion
forever; and that Jesus would be her shepherd, so that she need fear no
evil, even though called to pass through the dark valley of the shadow of
death.

"Amen!" was Dinah's fervent response to each of the petitions.

"De good Lord bless you, darlin'," she said, taking Elsie's little white
hand in hers, and pressing it to her lips; "de good Lord bless an' keep
you, an' nebber let trouble come near you. You knows nuffin 'bout trouble
now, for you's young, an' handsome, an' rich, an' good; an' Massa Horace,
he doats on you; no, _you_ knows nuffin 'bout trouble, but ole Dinah
does, kase she's ole, an' sick, an' full ob aches and pains."

"Yes, Aunt Dinah, and I am very sorry for you; but remember, if you
believe in Jesus, you will soon go to heaven, where you will never be
sick or in pain any more. But, Dinah,"--and the little voice grew very
mournful--"we cannot always know when others are in trouble; and I want
you to pray for me that I may always have strength to do right."

"I will, darlin', 'deed I will," said Dinah earnestly, kissing the little
hand again er