Ephesians 4:32. 'Be ye kind one to another.' You know it's before the
'Young Men's Society,' he's preaching to-night."

"And fine words they are to put before any society. I'll ask Mistress to
tell me about it to-morrow. Sure, I've read in some good book, that
kindness to every one would just turn this wicked world into a heaven,
like where the angels live."

"I believe it would," replied Ann, "for if everybody loved, sure there'd
be no stealing, nor lying, nor any such wickedness. And then, why, there
would be no prisons, nor jails. Indeed, Martin, I think it must be the
finest text in the whole Bible."

"Because," added Martin, in an approving tone, "the greatest kindness of
all was, when the Lord of glory himself loved us poor sinners so well
that he couldn't bear to see us ruined forever, and so he gave himself
to die on the cross in our stead."

"Would we have had to die there, if he hadn't?" asked Ann, with a look
of awe.

"Not just there, maybe; but we would have had no hope of being happy,
because there was God with a sword over our heads; and he couldn't take
it away, till somebody, equal to the whole world of people, suffered the
penalty in our stead."

"I see it now, I've heard Master explain, that Jesus being the Son of
God, his blood was more precious than the blood of all the human race;
and if all the sins of all the people were washed in it, there still
would be enough to save millions on millions more."

"Well," murmured Martin, after a pause, "we can't be kind enough to
people after such an example as the Lord has set us."

The great clock on a neighboring church struck nine.

"They'll soon be home now," she added, springing to her feet, "I'll just
bring my baby's cloak and hood from the closet, and have them ready."

"It's a fine night for a ride," said Ann, bringing Josey's coat and
cap, and laying them on a chair. "Baby slept all the way into town, and
I expect she'll sleep going home."

"You have to go nearly twice as far as we do. It's scarce six miles to
Easton Parsonage; but then Mr. Matthews is a very careful driver;
Mistress would like to ride faster than he drives; I wish we were going
the same way!"

Every moment footsteps were listened for; but not till half-past nine
did a carriage drive to the door. Then Aunt Fanny and Mrs. Reed ran up
in a great hurry.

"Come, Ann," said Miss Fanny, hurriedly, "we're late and must be off in
a minute. You put on your sack, and I'll dress