, for I says to myself, "Reuben,
'tis the Lord's voice to thee." And I drops down on the floor, just
where you're a-sittin', missy, and I says, "Amen, so be it, Lord." I
gets up with a washed soul--washed in the blood of the Lamb.'

There was silence; the old man's attitude, his upward gaze, his solemn
emphasis, awed and puzzled Betty.

'And now you're in the text!' she said at last, somewhat wistfully; as
she drew Prince to her, and lifted him into her lap.

'I shall be one o' these days, for certain sure,' was old Reuben's
reply; 'but 'tis the Lord that will put me there; 'tis His washing that
has done it.'

'That's what Miss Fairfax said; she said it wasn't tribulation would
bring us to heaven. She made me sing,--

"There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin;
He only could unlock the gate
Of heaven and let us in."

But I'm quite sure God won't mean me to stand in the middle of those
people round the throne, if I haven't been through tribulation; I'm
quite sure He won't! I shall find myself in a mistake if I try to
creep in among them; and, oh! I want to be there, I want to be there!'

Tears were welling up, and Prince wondered why he was clutched hold of
so convulsively by his little mistress. Reuben looked at her, rubbed
his head a little doubtfully, and then straightened himself up with a
sudden resolve.

'Look here, little maid; you just a foller me: I'm a-goin' to the
church.'

Up Betty sprang, her tears were brushed away; and she and Prince danced
along by the side of the old man, her doubts and fears dispersing for
the time.

But Reuben was very silent. He led her into the cool, dark church and
up the side aisle to the tomb of little Violet Russell. There he
stopped, and directed the child's gaze above it to the stained-glass
window.

'Can you read the tex', little maid?'

'Yes,' said Betty brightly; 'why, even Bobby and Billy know that:
"Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not."'

'And that's what the Lord says,' the old man went on; 'did He say the
children were to have tribbylation afore they comed to Him? Why, for
sure not! And if you, little missy, go straight into His arms when you
gets to heaven, you'll be safe enough, and He'll know where to put you.'

Betty's little face beamed all over.

'And He will love me, even if I haven't been through tribulation?'

'Why, for sure He will.'

Betty gave a happy little sigh.

'I tell