, and the Miss Harlows rode over and
brought books and pictures for the children and work for Sally, and
stopped to show her how to do it, and also to teach the children to
read.

Joseph and Sarah were very grateful. They had long felt that though
they were getting good wages and saving money, it was a sad thing not to
have their children taught nor be able to go to a place of worship.
"Sam is not so bad a scholar, and Bobby and Sally read pretty well, but
Nancy and Bill and Mary will have little chance of getting any
learning," said Joseph to Mr Harlow. "If we could have a master
sometimes, it would help us; and then when there is less work to be
done, the elder children can help the younger; but generally they come
home so tired that all they can do is to take their suppers and go to
bed."

Mr Harlow promised that he would talk the matter over with Mr Ramsay,
and see what could be done for the children on his and the neighbouring
runs. In the meantime, he left some small books and tracts, which could
be carried in the pocket and read at spare moments.

It was a joyful day to Joseph Rudge and to his wife and children when he
was able to say that he could see as well as ever. They did not forget
to thank God who had been thus kind to them.

"It would have been terrible if you had been struck blind all alone in
the forest," said Sarah, "I have often thought of that, and what a mercy
it was that you found the black."

"Yes indeed, wife," answered Joseph, "I might have been drowned, too, if
I had tried to cross the creek by myself. One thing I know, and I often
thought of it while I was without sight, that God orders all things for
our good, though we do not always see the why and the wherefore things
are done."

It took a long time before the sheep were quite cured of the distemper
and the flocks were allowed to mingle as before.

Sam and Bob and old Mat had worked very hard, but they could not have
got on alone, if Tom Wells had not been sent to help them. Tom was a
first-rate rider, and a fair stockman, so he was sent to look after the
cattle. He was lodged in old Mat's house. He had been thus employed
only a day or two, when Peach managed to meet him.

"Stock keeping better than bullock driving, lad, eh?" were the first
words Peach uttered.

"I should think so, mate," said Tom.

"More profit to be made of it," observed Peach.

"Wages is wages," observed Tom. "If I agree for so much, I take it, an