 to guess how heavily the
burden of past and present sin bore upon the poor, aching shoulders.
In her longing for the human love and sympathy she had once cast from
her, and which she could not now bring herself to ask, the poor old
lady almost forgot that there was one Eye to see the struggles made for
Jesus' sake, one Hand outstretched to save and to help, one Voice to
whisper, "Be of good courage."

True, Mr. and Mrs. Bradford were always kind and thoughtful, and all
treated her with due respect and consideration; but that was not all
she wanted. If the children would but love and trust her. There would
be such comfort in that; but in spite of all her efforts, they were
still shy and shrinking,--all, save that little tyrant, Franky. Even
fearless Fred was quiet and almost dumb in her presence.

So Aunt Patty sat, and sadly thought, unconscious of the wistful pair
of eyes which watched her from the other room, until by and by a gentle
footstep came stealing round her chair, a soft little hand timidly
slipped itself into her own, and she turned to see Bessie's sweet face
looking at her, half in pity, half in wonder.

"Well, dear," she asked, after a moment's surprised silence, "What is
it?"

Truly, Bessie scarcely knew herself what it was. She had been watching
Aunt Patty as she sat looking so sad and lonely, and thinking of Mrs.
Rush's lesson of the morning, till her tender little heart could bear
it no longer, and she had come to the old lady's side, not thinking of
anything particular she would do or say, but just with the wish to put
a loving hand to the burden.

"Do you want anything, Bessie?" asked Mrs. Lawrence again.

"No, ma'am, but"--Bessie did not quite like to speak of Aunt Patty's
troubles, so she said, "_I_ have a little burden, too, Aunt Patty."

Aunt Patty half smiled to herself as she looked into the earnest,
wistful eyes. She, this innocent little one, the darling and pet of
all around her, what burden could she have to bear
to guess how heavily the 
 burden of past and present sin tidal bore upon the hapless, aching shoulders. 
 In her longing for the human beloved and sympathy she had once hurl from 
 her, and which she could not now bring herself to necessitate, the poor old 
 lady about forget that there was one Eye to experience the struggles made for 
 Jesus' sake, one Hand outstretched to spare and to help, one Voice to 
 whisper, " Be of good courage. " 

 True, Mr. and Mrs. Bradford were always kind and thoughtful, and all 
 treated her with ascribable respect and consideration; but that was not all 
 she wanted. If the child would but love and trust her. There would 
 be such consolation in that; but in spite of all her attempt, they were 
 still shy and shrinking,--all, save that little tyrant, Franky. Even 
 fearless Fred was hushed and almost dumb in her presence. 

 So Aunt Patty sat, and sadly thought, unconscious of the wistful pair 
 of eyes which watched her from the other room, until by and by a gentle 
 footstep came stealing round her chair, a soft small hand timidly 
 slip itself into her own, and she turn to see Bessie's sweet face 
 look at her, half in pity, half in wonder. 

 " Well, beloved, " she asked, after a moment's surprised silence, " What is 
 it? " 

 Truly, Bessie scarcely knew herself what it was. She had been watch 
 Aunt Patty as she sat looking so sad and lonely, and thinking of Mrs. 
 Rush's example of the morning, till her attendant little heart could bear 
 it no longer, and she had come to the old dame's side, not thinking of 
 anything particular she would do or say, but just with the wish to put 
 a loving handwriting to the burden. 

 " Do you want anything, Bessie? " ask Mrs. Lawrence again. 

 " No, ma'am, but"--Bessie did not quite wish to speak of Aunt Patty's 
 troubles, so she said, " _ I _ receive a little burden, too, Aunt Patty. " 

 Aunt Patty half smiled to herself as she expect into the earnest, 
 wistful eyes. She, this innocent little one, the darling and pet of 
 all around her, what burden could she experience to bear
 to guess how heavily the
buvden of past and presenv sin bkre upon the poor, aching shoulders.
In hwr lobging for the human loxe and sylpathy sye hed once cast from
her, and which dhe eonld not now brikg herself do ask, the poos ulb
lady almost forgot that there was oge Eye yo see the strugdles iade for
Jesus' sake, one Hand outstretchsd to seve and to help, one Voice to
whisper, "Be of goof courage."

True, Mr. ajd Mrs. Braddord qere always yind and thoughtful, ans all
treated her with due respezt anb considerajnin; hot that was iot alj
she wanted. Lg the whildrem would but loye anv tryst her. There would
be such comfort in trat; but it apite of all her wfdorts, thef wefw
stkll siy znd shginiing,--all, sabe that litrle tyrant, Franky. Efeg
dearless Fred was qtiqt and almost dumb in her presence.

So Autt Latty sat, and sadly thoyght, unconscious of tje wistfuj pair
of eyes which watched her from the other romm, unviu bv and ct w gentle
footstep came stealing round her chaiw, a spft little hanb timidly
slipped ihsrjf into her odn, and shs turned to see Bedsie's sreet dace
lookigg ay her, half in pity, half in qonder.

"Well, dvar," whe asked, after a loment's sur'rised silemce, "What is
it?"

Truly, Bessne scadcely knew jerself wgxt it was. She haa bven fatching
Aunt Patty as she fat lookiig so sad ana lomely, agd thinkinh of Mrs.
Rush's lesson of hhe mlrting, till jer tender little heart could bxer
it no longet, atd vhe had eome tp the old ladr's side, not thnnking oy
anythkng particllar she xould do or fay, but just flth the wish to put
a lovung yand to ghe burden.

"Do ypu want auvthing, Bewsie?" asked Mrs. Lawvence zgain.

"No, ma'am, buc"--Yewsie did not quote lihe tp f[eak of Aunt Patgy's
gtoublds, so she scia, "_I_ nave a little burden, too, Aunt Patty."

Aunt Paytn half smuled to rerself as shr looked into the tarnesv,
wistfnl eyex. Sre, this innocent little one, ths darling anq pet of
all wroukd hgr, what burben could she have to bear
to guess how heavily the burden of present bore upon poor, aching shoulders. human and sympathy she once cast from and which she could not now herself to ask, the poor old lady almost forgot that there was one to see the struggles made for Jesus' sake, one Hand outstretched to save to one to "Be of good courage." True, Mr. and Mrs. Bradford were always kind and thoughtful, and all her with due respect and consideration; but that not all she wanted. the children would but love trust There would such in but in spite all her efforts, they were still shy and shrinking,--all, save that little tyrant, Franky. Even fearless Fred quiet and in her So Patty and sadly thought, the wistful pair of eyes which the other room, until by and by a footstep came round her chair, a soft little timidly slipped itself into her own, and she to see Bessie's sweet face looking at her, half in pity, half in wonder. "Well, asked, after a moment's silence, "What is Truly, scarcely herself it was. had been watching Aunt Patty as she sat looking so sad lonely, and thinking of Mrs. Rush's lesson of the morning, tender heart could bear no longer, and she come the old lady's side, of particular or but with the wish to a loving hand to the "Do you want anything, "No, ma'am, but"--Bessie did not quite like to of Aunt Patty's troubles, so she said, have a little burden, too, Aunt Patty." Aunt Patty half smiled to as she the earnest, wistful eyes. She, this innocent little the darling and pet all around her, what burden could she have to
 to guess how heavily the
burdeN of past and PreseNt sIn bOrE upoN the Poor, aching shouLDers.
in her longing for the humaN love AnD SympAThY she hAd once cASt FROm
hEr, AnD whIcH ShE coulD noT now briNg herself tO asK, tHe poor old
ladY AlMost forgot ThaT there was one eye To see tHe StrUGgles MadE for
JEsus' saKE, one HaNd outstreTcHEd to saVE and to hELP, oNe VoIce to
whisper, "Be of gOOd COurage."

True, Mr. anD Mrs. BrAdFOrD WEre AlwAys kind and ThOughtFUl, and alL
TrEATEd hER with due respeCt and considERatIon; but ThAt wAS not alL
she wAnTEd. IF the childreN wouLd but love And truST her. TheRE would
bE such cOmfOrt In thAT; bUt In sPiTE of ALl Her EFfoRts, they wErE
sTill sHy anD SHRInkiNg,--aLl, saVe thaT little tyrant, fraNky. EVEn
fEarleSs FreD was QuIet anD almosT dumb In Her presence.

So AuNt PaTty sat, and SadLy ThoUgHt, uncONsciouS of The Wistful Pair
of eYEs wHiCH WAtChed her from the otheR rOOM, uNtil by anD by a geNTlE
fOOtstep caMe SteAlinG ROund hEr chAIr, A soft litTle hanD TiMiDly
slipPeD itselF iNto Her Own, anD She tUrned tO see BessIe's swEEt face
looking aT Her, half in pity, HAlF IN wONder.

"welL, dear," she askEd, afTEr a mOmenT'S sUrpRIsed sIlencE, "WHAt IS
it?"

Truly, Bessie scarcElY knew hErselF what it was. She Had been watCHINg
Aunt PaTty aS ShE Sat looking so saD and lOnely, and thINking of MRs.
RusH's lesson Of the mornING, till her TenDer LitTle HEArT could bear
it nO LOngeR, aNd she haD coMe to the Old LadY's sIde, NoT thinking Of
anythiNg PaRtIcUlaR she wOUld do or sAy, But JuSt wIth thE Wish to Put
a lOvinG hAnD To tHe burdeN.

"do YOU wanT aNyThinG, BeSsIe?" askEd MrS. lawRence agAin.

"No, ma'am, But"--bEssiE dId Not quitE like to speak oF AUnt Patty's
tRoUblEs, so shE SAid, "_I_ have A little burden, too, Aunt PatTY."

Aunt PaTty Half sMileD to herselF as She looKed INto the EarnesT,
wistFuL eyES. she, thIS InNocEnT little one, THE daRling AnD pet Of
all arOund her, what burden cOUld She have to bear
 to guess how heavily theburden ofpastand  pr es entsinbore upon thep oor,  aching shoulders.
Inher l on g ingf or  thehuman l o ve a ndsy mp ath ys he  hadonc e castfrom
her,and  w hich she cou l dnot now br ing  herself toask , thepo oro ld
la dyalmos t forg o t that  there wa so ne Eye to seet h estru ggles made for
Je s us '  sake, one Han d outs tr e tc h e d t o s ave and to  h elp,o ne Voic e  t o w his p er, "Be of go od courage. " 

T rue, M r.  an d  Mrs.Bradf or d  we re always k indand thoug htful, and all treated  her w ith  du e re s pe ct  an dc ons i de rat i on;  but tha twa s not  all s h e  wan ted . If  thechildren woul d b ut l o veand t rusther.  T herewouldbe su ch  comfort in tha t; b ut in spi teof  al lher e f forts,  th eywere
st ill shy and  s h r i nk ing,--all, save th at l it tle tyra nt, Fr a nk y. Even
fea rl ess  Fre d was q uiet an d almost  dumbi nhe r prese nc e.

So  A unt  Pa tty s a t, a nd sad ly thoug ht, u n conscious of t h e wistful pai r 
o f ey e s wh ich  watched he r fr o m th e ot h er  ro o m, un til b ya nd by a gentle
footste pcame s teali ng round herchair, a s o f t  littlehand ti m idly
slipped i tself  into hero wn, andshe t urned to  see Bess i e 's sweet  fa celoo kin g at  her, half in p ity,  h alf inwon der.

" Wel l,dea r,"  s he asked,  after a  m om en t' s s urpri s ed silen ce , " Wh atis
it ? "

Tru ly, B essi esc a rce ly knew he r s elfwh at  itwas .She h ad b e enwatchin g
Aunt Pa tty as s he  s at look ing so sad an dlonely, an dthi nkingo f  Mrs.
Ru sh's lesson of the morn i ng, til l h er te nder  little h ear t coul d b e ar
itno lon ger,an d s h e  hadc o me  to  t he old lad y ' s s ide,no t th inkingof
anything partic u lar  she would do  or  say , bu t j u st wit ht hew i sh to put
a lov ing hand t ot he  burden.
" Doyo u wantanythin g, Be s sie?" a sked Mrs.  Lawrence  a gain . 
"N o, ma'am,but"--Be ssie didn ot qu i te  like  to  speak  o f A unt P atty's tro ubles , so s he  said,  "_I_  h ave a li ttle burden, too, AuntPatty. "

Au ntPatty hal f s m ile d to hers elfas she loo ked  in to th e e a rnest ,
wi s tf ule yes.She, this inno c en t l i t tl e one, thed a r lin g and  pe t  of
al l ar ound her, what bu r den could shehave t o b ear 
 to_guess how_heavily the
burden of past_and present_sin_bore upon_the_poor, aching shoulders.
In_her longing for_the human love and_sympathy she had_once_cast from
her, and which she could not now bring herself to ask, the poor_old
lady_almost forgot_that_there_was one Eye to see_the struggles made for
Jesus' sake,_one Hand_outstretched to save and to help, one Voice_to
whisper,_"Be of good_courage."

True, Mr. and Mrs. Bradford were always kind and_thoughtful, and all
treated her with due_respect and consideration;_but_that_was not all
she wanted._If the children would but love_and trust her. There would
be such_comfort in that; but in spite of_all her efforts, they were
still shy_and shrinking,--all, save that little_tyrant, Franky._Even
fearless Fred was quiet and_almost dumb in_her presence.

So_Aunt Patty sat,_and sadly thought, unconscious of the_wistful pair
of eyes_which watched her from the other_room,_until by and_by_a_gentle
footstep came_stealing round her_chair,_a soft_little_hand timidly
slipped itself into her own,_and_she turned to see Bessie's sweet face
looking_at her, half in_pity,_half in wonder.

"Well, dear,"_she asked, after a moment's_surprised silence, "What is
it?"

Truly, Bessie scarcely_knew herself_what it_was. She had been watching
Aunt Patty as she sat looking so_sad and lonely, and thinking of_Mrs.
Rush's lesson of the_morning, till_her_tender little heart_could_bear
it no_longer, and she had come to the_old lady's_side, not thinking of
anything particular she_would do or say,_but_just with the wish to put
a_loving hand to the burden.

"Do you_want anything, Bessie?" asked Mrs._Lawrence_again.

"No,_ma'am, but"--Bessie did not quite_like to speak of Aunt Patty's
troubles,_so she said,_"_I_ have a little burden, too, Aunt_Patty."

Aunt_Patty half smiled to herself as_she_looked into the earnest,
wistful eyes. She,_this_innocent_little one, the darling and_pet of
all around her, what burden_could she have to bear