. "I have nothing to say but what I have said before,
Christie. You are not to stay if you don't like. You are not to let
any thought of any one or anything at home keep you, unless you are
quite content and quite strong and well. And, at any rate, you are to
come home in the spring."

Effie had said all this before; and Christie could only repeat her
promise.

"I am afraid you think I am wrong to go away, Effie?"

"No, dear; I don't think you are wrong. I am sure your motives are
good. I wish you were not going; but there is no use in saying so now.
I hope it will turn out for the best to you and to us all. I will try
and not be anxious about you. God will keep you safe, I do not doubt."

"Effie," said Christie, "do you remember what you said to me once about
God's hearing prayer, and how He always hears the prayers of His people
in the best way, though not always in the way they wish and expect?"

"Yes, I mind something about it. And how all things work together for
good to His people and for His glory at the same time. Yes, I mind."

"Well," said Christie, softly, "if folk really believe this, it will be
easy for them to leave their friends in God's hands. They can ask Him
for what they need, being sure that they will get what is best for them,
and that He canna make a mistake."

There was a few minutes' silence; and then Effie said:

"Christie, if I were sure that you are one of God's people--one of the
little lambs of His flock--I would not fear to let you go. Do you think
you are?"

"I don't know, Effie. I am afraid not. I am not like what the Bible
says God's people ought to be. But I am sure I wish to be."

"Christie," said her sister, earnestly, "you must never let anything
hinder you from reading your Bible every day. You must not rest till
you are sure about yourself."

"Effie," she said, in a low voice, and very seriously, "I think God did
once hear a prayer of mine. It was a good while ago--before father
died. It was one of my bad days; I was worse than usual; and when I
came back from the pasture I sat down by the brook--under the
birch-tree, you mind--and I went from one thing to another, till I said
to myself, `I'll see if there's any good in praying.' And so I prayed
Aunt Elsie might not scold me when I went home; and she didna. But I
didna care for that, because you were at home that night. But I prayed,
too, that you might bring me a book. I meant `The Scottish Chiefs