hen in his face again, as much as to say--Here is a poor motherless
one; she has no friends in the wide world; who will take care of her, if
you do not? Indeed, he fancied that it did say so; and that a voice
softer than silence whispered to him, "Feed my Lambs." His heart was
touched with pity, and he lifted her up in his arms and bore her to the
vicarage.

It was not long before the news spread through the neighboring towns,
and many of their dwellers came to see the White Lamb and the young
child, who grew daily more beautiful and good. The pious seemed to grow
better the moment they beheld the loving pair; and the wicked, who had
sat for years under the droppings of the sanctuary, or mocked at the
goodness of Heaven afar off, grew thoughtful and penitent, and were soon
numbered among the people of God.

The lamb and child were seldom separated. Little Agnes was very unhappy
when parted from it, and it seemed equally unhappy in its turn when
parted from her. Sometimes they used to sit for hours together; she
poring over the vicar's antique missal, which by this time she had
learned to read, and the lamb at her feet, looking up in her face with
its tender and beautiful eyes. Sometimes in the warm summer days they
went off together to the woods and lanes; sometimes, to the meadows
where the daises grew in tufted grass; and little Agnes was wont to
braid them in a wreath around her brow. She said one day on returning
that she would soon wear a wreath of stars. As regularly as the Sabbath
came, they went to the chapel together, side by side. The sexton made a
path for them, as they walked up the broad aisle which was now crowded
with earnest and devout listeners. Their accustomed place was on the
cushioned seat that ran around the altar. When the choir sang their
anthems, the voice of the child was heard above the deep bass singers,
and the full-toned organ; yet it was softer and sweeter than the voice
of a dove. When the vicar read the morning and evening service, her
responses fell on the hearts of all like dew; and a halo seemed to
encircle her as she listened to the words of life.

The people began to consider it a miracle. Cock-fighting and
bull-baiting fell into disrepute; drinking and gaming, to which the
greater part of them had been bred from childhood, lost _caste_ as
amusements, and other vices declined in proportion. It was evident that
a great change was going on in the hearts and habits of all. Profane
o