ne who really deserved it."

Mary had as yet known but few temptations. Her life had been so calm
and sheltered, that she had had no experience of contrary winds, and
her natural disposition was so equable, that she had very little
consciously to struggle against. Perhaps her chief temptation lay in a
tendency to placid contemplative Christianity, without sufficient
active interest in others; and Lucy's opposite qualities acted as a
counteracting stimulus, while Mary's peaceful spirit of trusting faith
calmed and soothed Lucy's rather impatient disposition. Thus in all
true loving Christian companionship we may help each other on, making
up what is lacking in one another by mutual edification.

One warm Sunday evening, after a very sultry day, Lucy and Amy were
sitting together in Mrs. Browne's verandah. Mary had just left them,
having walked home with Lucy from the evening service, and they had
been discussing the sermon, which had been chiefly on sin and its
hatefulness in the sight of God, as well as upon the fountain opened
to remove it. After she was gone, they had sat for some time in
silence, watching the fireflies glancing in and out of the dark trees.
Suddenly Amy said, "Lucy, do you expect to go to heaven when you die,
for sure?"

"I am quite sure there is nothing to prevent my going there," said
Lucy, "for I know Jesus is able and willing to take me there."

"Shall I go there when I die, Lucy?" she asked, with a solemn
earnestness that went to her cousin's heart.

"Why should you not, dear Amy, when Jesus died that you might?"

"But 'God will not look upon sin,' the Bible says, and I have a sinful
heart; I feel it," replied the child.

"Well, why should Jesus have died for you if you had not? It was just
to take away sin that Jesus came to suffer."

"But it isn't taken away; I know it's there," persisted Amy, who had
evidently been distressing herself with the question how a heart,
sinful on earth, could be fit for the pure atmosphere of heaven.

Lucy explained, to the best of her knowledge and ability, that while
sin still clings to our mortal natures, Jesus has broken its power for
ever, and taken away its condemnation, so that when we receive Him
into our hearts by faith, God no longer looks upon us as sinful and
rebellious children, but as reconciled through the blood of Christ.
And the same blood will also purify our hearts; and when soul and body
are for ever separated, the last stain of sin w