"But I do not know Him; I have not thought about Him all my life; I have done nothing good, and it is too late now." "But the thief on the cross had done nothing good, even to the very last, and yet Jesus says to him, `To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise,'" said Selina. "Yes; let me read it for you," said Frederica eagerly. "But he could do nothing, and Mr Jerome says I could give money to clothe the naked and feed the hungry, and that I could give my children to the Church, and then I should be safe. But I never trusted Mr Jerome; I am afraid of him; and yet he may be right." "Miss Agnace says something like that too," said Tessie, "and I think we ought to ask Mr St. Cyr to give some money, if it would set mama's mind at rest." "But it does not say that is the way in the Bible," said Frederica gravely. "Yes, it says something like that. Some one was told to sell all his goods to give to the poor. Don't you remember?" "But it says, `Thanks be to God, who _giveth_ us the victory!'" said Selina. "And there must be some people so poor that they have nothing to give Him back." "Yes, and in another place He says, `I _give_ unto my sheep eternal life,'" said Frederica. "It cannot be that one can buy it." "And in another place it says, `He that believeth shall be saved,'" said Selina. The mother's eyes turned eagerly from one to another. They knew little, but they knew far more than she did about that which she was so anxious to learn. "Miss Agnace always says I must send for a priest, and confess to him, but my father hated all that, and your father would be very angry." "But mama, if it would make you happy, he need not be told," said Tessie; "and we might send for some one else than Mr St. Cyr's brother." "But that would be giving up what the Bible says; for it does not tell us to confess to priests, or that they can pardon us," said Frederica. "It says something, I think," said Selina, "`Whosesoever sins ye remit, they shall be remitted.' Oh, if we only had some one to tell us what we ought to do?" And was there no one among a whole cityful to tell these children and their mother how they might be saved? Doubtless there were many who would gladly have pointed them to Jesus as the only hope of the sinner, if they had made known their need to such. But it was quite true of those with whom they came in contact, the way was not clear to them. "I spoke to Caroline about it," said Frederica, "and she said we must be good, and say our prayers, and go to church, and do our duty always. But there must be some other way; for mama can do nothing now. She cannot even give money, unless Mr St. Cyr is willing; and it would do no good, if she could." "Miss Agnace says that she knows a sister who Is very good and wise, and who would gladly teach us. Mama, shall we send for Sister Magdalen?" asked Selina.