Meade L. T. - A London Baby: The Story of King Roy стр 3.

Aint it a hard, hard thing when a little child loses of his mother? she said to herself. Oh! my little darlin Roy, if mother had been there he wouldnt a been kep waiting fur his dinner.

She went over, knelt down by her little brother, and kissed his soft cheek. Then a further thought occurred to her. That was a pretty story the ragged girl in Regents Park had told her to-day. She had never heard it before, though her mother, when alive, had often spoken to her about Jesus, but somehow this story, the sweetest of all, had never reached her ears before to-day.

I wish as Jesus wor alive now, and I could take Roy to him, she said to herself. She felt that if Jesus took Roy in his arms and blessed him, that then he might not miss his mother so much; that the great fact of his having received the blessing of Jesus would make up to him for the loss of his mother.

But wots the use, continued Faith very sadly to herself, when Jesus be dead years ago?

At this juncture in the little girls thoughts, the room-door was opened, and a neighbour, who had often been kind to both the children, came in. She had come to borrow a saucepan, and was in a hurry; but seeing the tears on Faiths cheeks, she stopped to inquire the cause.

There be nothink wrong wid the little un, I ope, Faith, she said.

Oh, no, answered Faith. Roys well enough. Tis only as Im so sorry as Jesus is dead.

Mrs Mason, the neighbour, stepped back a pace or so in some astonishment.

Bless us and save us! she exclaimed. Wot a queer child! But it aint true, Faith, fur Jesus aint dead. Hes as alive as possible!

Do the Bible say that? asked Faith.

Yes, the Bible says it hover and hover.

And could I go to him, and take Roy? Could I, Mrs Mason?

Bless us, child, youre a queer un; but the Bible sartin do say as Hell receive all as come to Him. Yes, in course you can go; but I cant tell you the exact way. There, Faith, child, why dont you go to Sunday-school, same as the other little lads and lasses about? They teach everythink about coming to Jesus in Sunday-school.

I wish with hall my heart I could go, answered Faith.

Well, child, I see nothink agen it. Theres one jest round the corner, and the bells a-ringing now; but there, I cant stay another moment.

Mrs Mason hurried away, and Faith still sat still; but a devouring wish was now possessing her. If she only could just once go to Sunday-school and hear about Jesus, and learn that He was really alive, and that she could take Roy to Him! Oh! if only it were possible that Roy might receive this great and wonderful blessing, why it would be worth even her fathers great anger, should he learn that she had disobeyed him. Faith trembled and hesitated, and finally rose to her feet. If only Roy would awake, she could take him with her. But no; Roy was very tired and very sound asleep. By the time little Roy awoke, Sunday-school would be over, and she would have lost all hope of hearing of Jesus for another week.

Suppose she left Roy just for once just for the first and last time in all her life she would only be an hour away, and in that hour what possible harm could happen to the little child? and she would learn so much, oh! so much, which could help him by-and-by.

Yes; she thought she might venture. She would have returned long before her father came back, most likely long before Roy awoke. It was worth the little risk for the sake of the great gain. She placed the fireguard carefully before the fire, kissed her little brother, and with a beating heart slipped out.

No; there was no possible fear for little Roy.

Chapter Four

It was to be a society in every way based on the laws of justice and reason. Religious, and yet allowing all harmless and innocent amusements both for Sundays and weekdays; temperate, but permitting the use of beer and wine in moderation.

Warden felt very virtuous and very useful as he sat down with pen and paper before him. No one could say of him that he spent his time for nought. How blameless and good and excellent was his life! Never, never would it be necessary for those lips to cry to his Maker, God be merciful to me a sinner!

A little restless movement, and faint, satisfied baby sigh from the sofa, interrupted these self-satisfied meditations. He looked round and saw little Roy. Bless us! is the child there? and wherever is Faith? he said to himself.

He got up and approached his little boy. The child was looking as beautiful as such a lovely creature would look in his sleep. Warden went on his knees to watch him more earnestly. Yes; the golden-brown eyelashes, the tangled mass of bright hair, the full pouting lips, the rounded limbs, made up a picture which might well cause any fathers heart to beat with love and pride; and doubtless there was much of both in Wardens soul just then. He gazed long and earnestly. Before he rose to his feet he even bent and kissed the little flushed cheek.

Yes, he said to himself; hes a very, very lovely boy. If ever a man had cause for ambition I have. With Gods help, that boy shall take his place with any gentleman in the land before I die.