works to do.'

'Now can you tell me why the Lord Jesus Christ died; what does the hymn
say?'

'He died that we may be forgiven, He died to make us good,' quoted
Betty slowly.

'Go on.'

'That we might go at last to heaven, saved by His precious blood.'

'Then how can we get to heaven?'

'Because Jesus died for us.'

'Yes, He died to let you go to heaven, Betty; He did it all, and you
have nothing to do with it. If you let Jesus take your little heart
and wash it in His blood, nothing will ever keep you out of heaven.'

'But if I'm naughty?' asked Betty. 'I've asked God so often to give me
a new heart and wash me in Jesus' blood, and sometimes I think He has
done it; but then I'm always getting into mischief, and nurse says it's
only the good children go to heaven.'

'I think Jesus will teach you to be good, if you ask Him, and you
mustn't expect to be quite good all at once; always go to Him when
you've been naughty, and tell Him about it, and ask Him to help you to
be good. He loves you, Betty, and He will always listen to you and
answer your prayers.'

Betty's blue eyes were looking intently at the speaker; and her little
lips took a resolute curve.

'I will be good,' she said; 'I do love Jesus, and I'll ask Him all day
long to keep me from being naughty.'

Then after a pause she said,--

'Have you gone through tribulation?'

'I have had a great deal of trouble.' And a sad look came over Nesta's
face.

'My old man said he had had a lot of trouble, and he told me Mr.
Russell had. Trouble always means people dying, doesn't it?'

'There are troubles worse than death,' Nesta said gravely; 'God grant
you may never know such!' Then with a change of tone she said
brightly, 'Don't look for trouble, darling; Jesus means you to be
happy. Now shall we sing one more hymn, and then I must go.'

Betty joined in delightedly when Nesta began,--

'There's a Friend for little children.'

After it was finished Nesta asked,--

'What did you mean, Betty, by saying that a Mr. Roper had told you I
would teach you? Who is Mr. Roper?'

Betty told her, repeating as much of the conversation she had had with
him as she could remember; and Nesta laughed aloud when she discovered
the origin of the 'lady who taught.'

'He meant Mother Nature, Betty; a very different teacher to me.'

'Do you know her, then? Where does she live?'

'I will take you to see her when next we meet. You see her every day,
Be