He waited a minute, and then added gently, "Will you come to Him, Ellen?" Ellen lifted her tearful eyes to his; but there were tears there too, and her own sank instantly. She covered her face with her hands, and sobbed out in broken words, "Oh, if I could--but I don't know how." "Do you wish to be His child, Ellen?" "Oh yes, sir--if I could." "I know, my child, that sinful heart of yours is in the way, but the Lord Jesus can change it, and will, if you will give it to Him. He is looking upon you now, Ellen, with more kindness and love than any earthly father or mother could, waiting for you to give that little heart of yours to Him, that He may make it holy and fill it with blessing. He says, you know, 'Behold I stand at the door and knock.' Do not grieve Him away, Ellen." Ellen sobbed, but all the passion and bitterness of her tears was gone. Her heart was completely melted. "If your mother were here, and could do for you what you want, would you doubt her love to do it? would you have any difficulty in asking her?" "Oh no!" "Then do not doubt His love who loves you better still. Come to Jesus. Do not fancy He is away up in heaven out of reach of hearing--He is here, close to you, and knows every wish and throb of your heart. Think you are in His presence and at His feet,--even now,--and say to Him in your heart, 'Lord, look upon me--I am not fit to come to Thee, but Thou hast bid me come--take me and make me Thine own--take this hard heart that I can do nothing with, and make it holy and fill it with Thy love--I give it and myself into Thy hands, O dear Saviour!'" These words were spoken very low, that only Ellen could catch them. Her bowed head sank lower and lower till he ceased speaking. He added no more for some time; waited till she had resumed her usual attitude and appearance, and then said-- "Ellen, could you join in heart with my words?" "I did, sir,--I couldn't help it, all but the last." "All but the last?" "Yes, sir." "But, Ellen, if you say the first part of my prayer with your whole heart, the Lord will enable you to say the last too,--do you believe that?" "Yes, sir." "Will you not make that your constant prayer till you are heard and answered?" "Yes, sir." And he thought he saw that she was in earnest. "Perhaps the answer may not come at once,--it does not always; but it will come as surely as the sun will rise to-morrow morning. 'Then shall we know, if we _follow on_ to know the Lord.' But then you must be in earnest. And if you are in earnest, is there nothing you have to do besides _praying_?" Ellen looked at him without making any answer. "When a person is in earnest, how does he show it?" "By doing everything he possibly can to get what he wants." "Quite right," said her friend, smiling; "and has God bidden us to do nothing besides pray for a new heart?" "Oh yes, sir; He has told us to do a great many things."