ybody's house. Papa, could he get out and come
here again?"

"It is hardly possible," answered her father, looking tenderly down into
her face, and smoothing her curls with caressing hand; "and he would not
want to hurt you if he could come into the house. I don't see how any
one could wish to harm my gentle, kindhearted little Grace."

"Papa, shall I sleep in her bed with her to-night?" asked Lulu.

"Certainly, if she would like it."

"Oh I should!" Grace exclaimed. "I know our heavenly Father will take
care of me, but it's good to feel Lu's arms round me too."

"Then you shall," said Lulu, giving her an affectionate pat, "your big
sister likes to take care of you."

CHAPTER XVIII.

"O Lu, tell me all about it!" exclaimed Grace when Lulu came home the
next day, from her visit to Eliza. "Are they very, very poor and needy?"

"'Liza and her children? Well, not so very; because papa has been seeing
to them for quite a while. They had a good fire ('Liza was ironing for
somebody) and pretty good clothes; but the children are growing too big
for some of their things and have torn or worn holes in others. So papa
says he thinks we should make them some new ones. I'm going to ask
Grandma Elsie to buy some flannel with some of my money, and let me make
a skirt for the baby."

"I'd like to make an apron for one of the little girls," said Grace.

"Well I suppose you can. There are two girls and a boy besides the baby.
Just think what a lot of trouble it must be to keep them all clothed and
fed!"

"And poor 'Liza will have to do it all herself while Ajax is in jail."

"I don't believe he was much help anyhow," said Lulu, with a scornful
little toss of her head; "she says he didn't work half the time and was
always getting drunk and beating her and the children. I should think
she'd want him kept in jail as long as he lives."

"But maybe he'll grow good, and be kind and helpful to her when he gets
out."

"Papa will do all he can to make him good," said Lulu; "he's gone now to
the jail to talk to him. Just think of his taking so much trouble for
such an ungrateful wretch."

"It's very good in him," responded Grace; "and it's being like the dear
Lord Jesus to take trouble to do good to ungrateful wretches."

"Yes; so it is, and nobody can be acquainted with papa without seeing
that he tries always to be like Jesus."

The captain's motive for visiting the jail that day was certainly most
kind and Christian