Mrs. Frankham often passed Ben on the road to and from school, and she always had a kindly smile for him, and sometimes a pleasant cheering word. "Are you still trying to be a brave little soldier?" she asked the morning after the adventure in the wood. And when Ben answered with a nod--"Yes, ma'am, as hard as I can:" she replied--"That's right; the Good Captain is watching, and it will be worth all the trouble when we get His smile." Ben gave her a pleased look. "Please ma'am, I heard father say last night he wanted to speak to you about going to see a poor man, who is ill and is not happy. I think he is going to die. Do go and see him!" "That I will most gladly: and will you go too?" "If you'll let me," replied Ben, "I would like to go and take him some flowers--he likes flowers." "I will come in after dinner, and speak to mother about it, Ben. By-the-bye, when does father come in--mid-day?" "A quarter-past one till a quarter to two," replied the little boy. "Very well, I will try to come then, and I shall bring some roses with me." At the appointed time Mrs. Frankham called at Wood Cottage, and heard all that Harry Gray could tell about John Craig. She was very much interested in the account of the family, and started off with Ben to pay them a visit. Mrs. Craig received her visitors very gladly. "I am so anxious that poor John should get peace and rest in his Saviour, for I fear he has taken his father's complaint, and it may be he will never rise from his bed again. He is used to my words, and though he listens he seems to get little good; but from you perhaps the arrow will strike him." "If the Lord guide it. I trust He will give the right word, my friend." Mrs Craig led the lady and Ben into the neat little room, where John lay, and after speaking a few kind words to the sick man, Mrs. Frankham said "This little boy told me about you: he was so anxious I should come and speak to you: he has brought you some flowers, for he says you are fond of flowers." "So I am," replied John, faintly, and eagerly taking them from Ben's hand, he put them in a little glass, where the fragrant smell reached him. "I like little boys too, I am so fond of little children." Ben sat on a stool near the bed, and the sick man scarcely took his eyes off him for some minutes, not till he forgot everything else in his desire to lay hold of the Words of Life. "What I want," said he, "is some one to speak to me of the Saviour. I have wandered from Him, and want to get back, if He will have me; but I sometimes wonder if He will." "You doubt His willingness. Listen, His word says--'If we confess our sins, _He_ is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from _all_ unrighteousness' (1 John i. 9). _He_ is faithful. We forget Him; He never forgets us. It is sad to grieve Him, but the only way is to confess it to Him, take a humble place before Him, and He will pardon for His own name's sake."