"Sir, you don't know what pleasure they give me. I am very glad you gave me that little book of Hymns for Children." A severe fit of coughing interrupted her speech for a while. The woman held her head. It was distressing to observe her struggle for breath, and almost, as it were, for life. "Poor dear!" said the woman; "I wish I could help thee, and ease thy pains; but they will not last for ever." "God helps me," said the girl, recovering her breath; "God helps me--he will carry me through. Sir, you look frightened. I am not afraid--this is nothing--I am better now. Thank you, dame, thank you. I am very troublesome; but the Lord will bless you for this and all your kindness to me: yes, sir, and yours too. Now talk to me again about the sacrament." "What is required, Jenny, of them who come to the Lord's Supper? There are five things named in the Catechism; do you remember what is the first?" She paused, and then said, with a solemn and intelligent look,-- "To examine themselves whether they repent them truly of their former sins." "I hope and think that you know what this means, Jenny. The Lord has given you the spirit of repentance." "No one knows, sir, what the thoughts of past sin have been to me. Yes, the Lord knows, and that is enough; and I hope he forgives me for Christ's sake. His blood cleanseth from all sin. Sir, I sometimes think of my sins till I tremble, and it makes me cry to think that I have offended such a God; and then he comforts me again with sweet thoughts about Christ." "It is well, my child--be it so. The next thing mentioned in that article of your Catechism, what is it?" "Steadfastly purposing to lead a new life." "And what do you think of that?" "My life, sir, will be a short one; and I wish it had been a better one. But from my heart I desire that it may be a _new_ one for the time to come. I want to forsake all my evil ways and thoughts, and evil words, and evil companions; and to do what God bids me, and what you tell me is right, sir, and what I read of in my Bible. But I am afraid I do not, my heart is so full of sin. However, sir, I pray to God to help me. My days will be few; but I wish they may be spent to the glory of God." "The blessing of the Lord be upon you, Jane; so that whether you live, you may live to the Lord; or whether you die, you may die unto the Lord; and that, living or dying, you may be the Lord's. What is the next thing mentioned?" "To have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ, sir." "Do you believe that God is merciful to you in the pardon of your sins?" "I do, sir," said the child earnestly. "And if he pardons you, is it for your own sake, Jenny?" "No, sir, no; it is for Christ's sake--for my Saviour Jesus Christ's sake, and that only. Christ is all." "Can you trust him?" "Sir, I must not mistrust him; nor would I, if I might." "Right, child; he is worthy of all your trust."