th brief and formal. They were not
so to-night, however; for they were led by Mr Craig, the book-man, a
cheerful and earnest Christian, to whom, it was easily seen, God's
worship was no mere form, but a most blessed reality. Indeed, so
lengthened was the exercise to-night that the little ones were asleep
before it was done; and so earnest was he, so elevated were his
ascriptions of praise, so appropriate his confessions and petitions,
that the elder members of the family, notwithstanding their weariness,
could not but listen and join with wonder and delight.

"_He_ believes that it is worth one's while to pray, at any rate," said
Christie to herself; and all at once it flashed upon her that a part of
_her_ prayer had been answered. Aunt Elsie had not spoken one word of
reproof for her long delay by the side of the brook. Not a little
startled, Christie paused to consider the matter further.

"She could hardly have scolded me while a stranger was here. And,
besides, Effie's here, too, and I wouldna have much cared if she had.
And it's no' too late yet. She'll be sending me to my bed the moment
the dishes are put by."

But she did not. Long after the little ones, and even Annie and Sarah,
were asleep, Christie was allowed to sit without rebuke, listening to
the pleasant talk of her father and Mr Craig, and now and then saying a
word to Effie, on whose lap her head was laid. The only words that Aunt
Elsie spoke to her that night were kind enough; and some of them were
spoken while Effie was not there.

"So that it couldna be to please her," thought Christie. "What if God
should hear my prayer, after all?"

The thought was quite as startling as it was pleasant. Then she
wondered if Effie had brought the book. She did not like to ask her.
She did so want to believe that she might fall back on God's help in all
her troubles; but if Effie had not brought the book she could not be
sure that her prayer had been heard. "Could it be possible?" she said
to herself. It seemed altogether too good, too wonderful, to be true.
And yet there were verses in the Bible very plain, very easy to be
understood--"Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find;" and
many more besides that.

She repeated the words slowly and earnestly. That must be true, she
thought. Every one believed the Bible. And yet how few live and pray
and trust as though they really do believe it! She had heard
discussions, many and long, betwe