r, that the child should
escape these troubles, or live through them, the mother, usually
cheerful and hopeful in such times, could not believe. "And her
father!" thought she, with a sinking heart, while the father was saying
to himself, "Alas for her poor mother;" and out of all their anxious
thoughts, nothing better could come than this; "We must submit to God's
will, whatever it may be."

As for wrapping her up and carrying her away, that was out of the
question. If it had been summertime they might have sent her to a
friend of theirs, who would have cared for the child tenderly and
faithfully. But on the whole it seemed wiser to keep her at home.

"We must just leave her in God's hand," they said to one another, and
they did so entirely. Mrs Hume was kept away from no sick or suffering
household by the thought of possible danger to her little daughter.
Many needed both help and comfort who could not come to the manse to
find them, and to them the minister and his wife went gladly. But the
strain of all she had to do told on Mrs Hume. She also had her turn of
illness, which kept her in the house for a while, and then a part of her
duties to the sick poor in the neighbourhood fell to Allison.

"It is not always that the Lord lets us see at once the good which He
has promised to bring out of what seems to be evil to us; but He has
done so this time," said Mrs Hume, after a little.

For what she had lost in being laid aside from helping others, Allison
had gained in taking her place. It was at some cost to herself, because
of her shyness, and because of other folk's curiosity, not always kept
within bounds when a chance to gratify it came in the way. But on the
whole she held her own among the neighbours, whom she had kept at
arm's-length so long, and won the good opinion of many, and their good
words also, which were, however, oftener spoken behind her back than
before her face, because she would not stay to listen. Her way was to
bring the medicine, or the broth, or the jug of tea, and set it down
without a word, and then go at once, if there was no more needed from
her. But occasionally she put her strong, expert hands to the doing of
some good turn--the firm and gentle lifting of some weary, pain-worn
creature, while the bed was put right, or to the setting in order of the
confusion which soon befalls in a sickroom, where nurses are
unaccustomed, and have besides other cares to fill their time.

Whate