She raised her languid head for one moment, and replied, "I cannot to-day, dear, I am too weak; come read to me some of the precious Saviour's words; they will comfort me." Madeline selected some passages from the fourteenth chapter of John, those which have cheered so many weary pilgrims on their journey homeward. "In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; I go to prepare a place for you." "'Many mansions,' dear Madeline, and one is mine, purchased by a Saviour's blood, ensured to me by his unfailing truth." Madeline's eyes filled, and her voice trembled as she continued. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." "'I will come again,' Maddy; listen to those words; Jesus will come again, and where he is, I shall be also; with Jesus, dearest; with my mother in Paradise; out in the light; no more blindness, no more darkness, but perfect bliss; this is my hope." Madeline took up the next verse. "And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know." "Yes, blessed be God! I know the way; I have known it so long; my mother led my infant steps in that holy way, and I cannot remember when I did not love my Saviour. O, what cause have I to praise my God! While so many are living in sin, dancing merrily in the way to death, his grace has saved me, Maddy; if I had been like others, rich and healthy, I might have been just as thoughtless, just as vain." Madeline continued until she came to the verse, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me." "He does not leave us, dear, to grope in darkness, when he says, 'Come unto me;' he leads the way himself; he is the truth; he guides us into all truth; he is the life, Maddy, the life of the immortal soul; through him we have pardon, access to God, and the hope of eternal life sure and stedfast; poor, weak, trembling thing that I am, I can cast my little anchor within the vail, and feel it on a rock. I know that this faith must be divine, for I am such a fearful, timid being, afraid of so many things around me, and yet not afraid to meet a pure and holy God in judgment; this faith must be all his work, Maddy." With a heart full of sympathy, Madeline continued until she reached the thirteenth verse. "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it." "'If ye shall ask anything in my name;' think of the promise, Madeline, 'I will do it.' I have believed my Saviour, and I have asked eternal life for you, and my Saviour will, yes dear, he is hearing my prayer, and Roland's too--how often have we prayed together for you." Madeline's head drooped for one moment, and she could scarcely proceed; but she answered,