Poplar Walk. Fortunately, this time Mrs. Lane was at home, and she told Mr. Stanley that, owing to her husband's indifference on the subject, neither of the children had been baptized when they were babies, and she had never thought of it since. But when told of her boy's request she thanked Mr. Stanley for taking so much interest in him, and said she would be very glad if both the children could be baptized, if they were not too old. She was soon satisfied on this point, and then the clergyman tried to show her that she failed in her duty to her children by neglecting them so much. But she told Mr. Stanley she was obliged to move about to get work, and it was quite impossible to take them with her; it was as much as she could do to keep them all three from starvation, and she said she had a friend who took care of them in her absence.

Mr. Stanley knew how far this was true, and he sighed to think of the children having such a parent; however, he had gained his point as to their baptism, and this was a great step in the right direction for them.

That same afternoon there was suddenly a great commotion at the end of Poplar Walk, which joined the main street, and Mrs. Lane, going out to see the cause, was met by Mrs. Green, who cried out,

Oh, Mrs. Lane! poor Harold, poor little fellow !"

"What!" cried the mother

But there was no need to ask, for at that moment a sad procession entered the narrow court. A policeman, carrying a child in his arms, who looked as if dead, with one arm hanging helplessly by his side, followed by a small crowd. Harold had been crossing the street in the fearless way common to those brought up in our crowded streets when the pole of an omnibus knocked him down, and before the driver had time to stop the horses one had trampled on the child, breaking his arm, and it was feared the wheel had partly gone over his body. It was a pitiable sight and happening close to his home, the policeman had picked him up to carry him to his mother at once. When Mrs. Lane recognised the lifeless-looking burden she burst into heart-rending cries, but the policeman suggested he should be taken immediately to the nearest hospital, and the sympathetic crowd immediately seconded the proposal, so that in less time than it takes to relate it, a cab was procured, and the policeman, carrying Harold in his arms, with Mrs. Lane and Nellie, who had run out with her mother, were driving towards the hospital. When they arrived there, Mrs. Lane and Nellie had to wait during the doctor's examination of Harold. When it was over, the

house-surgeon came in and broke the news as gently as he could to the poor mother, that her child was so terribly injured recovery was quite hopeless, but that he might linger some little time, and that everything that was possible should be done to alleviate his sufferings, which were great, as on returning to consciousness the least movement caused him terrible pain. The surgeon then told Mrs. Lane she might come whenever she liked to see her child, and if any change came on during her absence she should be sent for at once. When the poor woman went into the ward, the first time she had ever been inside one of our large London hospitals, she felt glad her boy had been brought there: the clean beds, the bright-looking pictures and flowers and gentle attentive nurses in their neat uniform, all testified to the good management of the institution. The poor boy lay only half conscious, there was a screen drawn round the cot in which he lay, and as extreme quiet had been ordered, Mrs. Lane soon went, after assuring herself there was nothing left for her to do, but it was not easy to get Nellie away, and it was only by dint of much coaxing on the part of the nurse in charge that she could be persuaded to leave the boy quietly. In fact, Harold's love for Nellie had been all in all to her though she knew from experience very little of a mother's love and tender care, few children possessed such affection in a brother. Even so does it often happen in this world where so many are apt to say things are unequally divided; but to those to whom one blessing is given in small measure, if we will only look closely, we shall surely find some other bestowed in rich abundance.

:

When Janie heard of the accident, she begged Mrs. Lane to let her go and see Harold at once, and take Nellie back with her. Mrs. Lane was very glad of the offer, for though wishing to hear of her child again that night she was only too willing to be spared another long walk to the hospital. Janie first went round to S. Michael's vicarage to tell Mr. Stanley of the accident, and explain that Harold would not be able to come that evening for his usual instruction in baptism.

Mr. Stanley was much grieved to hear the sad news, and learning they were on their way to the hospital, he said, “Give my love to the poor little fellow, and tell him I am coming to see him to-morrow, and," added he, with a compassionate glance at little Nellie, "you must not let this child walk much further to-day, she looks quite tired out already; get into an omnibus at the corner here, which will take you straight down to the hospital," and saying this he put sixpence into Janie's hand.

Harold was much more sensible when Janie arrived to see him, as the effect of the strong opiate which had been given him to allay the pain, caused by the thorough examination he had undergone, was passing off. "Am I going to die, Janie ?" said he.

"I don't know," said Janie, too truthful to say no, for she thought Harold had so changed in the short space of time since she had seen him in perfect health that morning that she thought he looked nearly dead then, every spark of colour had gone from his cheek, and his eyes seemed unnaturally large and dark, and Janie's tears fell fast as she looked upon him.

"Don't cry, Janie, I sha'nt mind much," said the child, wearily, "my pain is so bad-there is no pain in heaven, is there, Janie ?"

"No, darling," and she repeated softly, "GOD shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away-"

There was a pause, broken at last by the sick child saying, “Sing, Janie, sing."

Janie then began in a low sweet voice, increasing in tone, as she forgot herself and where she was, thinking only of Harold and the words she was singing, and as the melody floated down the ward, little children raised themselves in their beds to listen, and the Sister," who was passing through the ward at the time, thought she could never hear the words which then fell on her ear

"O, Paradise! O, Paradise!

I want to sin no more,
I want to be as pure on earth
As on thy spotless shore,
Where loyal hearts and true

Stand ever in the light,

All rapture through and through,
In God's most holy sight,"

without associating them in her own mind with the little group before her. One of them so earnest that no one could doubt the words she sang were the prayer of her heart; the sick child who seemed so very near "that spotless shore," and the little sister so unconscious of the trouble hanging over her.

When Mr. Stanley came the next day to see Harold he stayed a very short time, seeing how weak the child was, and fearing to tire him, but before leaving the hospital he requested an interview with the house

surgeon. Learning from him that probably little Harold might not linger many days, he expressed a wish to baptize him at once in the hospital. Of course, no objection whatever was made to this, and the following afternoon was the time fixed, as the surgeon advised it the sooner the better.

The next morning Mr. Stanley therefore came to prepare Harold, for he had avoided mentioning the subject previously, as he wished to have all things arranged first. Mrs. Lane was to be there, but to come alone, as the least excitement might hasten the end; the Sister in charge of the ward would of course be there, and the surgeon also had signified his intention of being present. Harold was very much pleased to think he might be baptized after all, for, as he afterwards told Mr. Stanley, he had not felt sure about it. He said, "I thought I should have to die without it. I knew I could never go to church again, and I did not know it could be done here."

Very touching was the scene which took place at four o'clock that afternoon in the hospital ward. It was the first time within the memory of any one present that a patient had been baptized within those walls. There was the little child propped up with pillows, and the vicar in his surplice about to receive one more member into the Church of CHRIST. There was the little font reverently brought for the sacred rite.

When the service was over, and the blessing pronounced, Harold said, "I am GOD's own child now."

Yes, now and for ever," said the priest, as it was evident to him that GOD would take home this young soldier ere his baptismal robes could be sullied by taint of earth, and almost as soon as he had begun to fight under the banner of his LORD against the world, the flesh, and the devil.

As Mr. Stanley was about to depart, he noticed the child wanted to say something more, and bending down to listen he caught the words, "You will let Nellie be christened soon, please, won't you ?"

"Yes, my child, very soon, trust me; probably it will be on Sunday afternoon.'

Harold looked perfectly satisfied, and Mr. Stanley, pressing his little hand kindly, left the hospital.

When Janie came that evening and asked what she should sing, Harold said, "The christening hymn, please, if you know it."

"Oh, yes," said Janie, "we have it in church so often on Sunday afternoons," and she sang through, unfalteringly

"In token that thou shalt not fear,
CHRIST crucified to own,

We print the Cross upon thee here,
And stamp thee His alone.

"In token that thou shalt not blush
To glory in His Name,

We blazon here upon thy front
His glory and His shame.

"In token that thou shalt not flinch
CHRIST's quarrel to maintain,
But 'neath His banner manfully
Firm at thy post remain :

"In token that thou too shalt tread
The path He travelled by,

Endure the cross, despise the shame,
And sit thee down on high :

"Thus outwardly and visibly

We seal thee for His own,

And may the brow that wears His cross
Hereafter share His crown."

Day after day did Janie come and sit by Harold's bedside, and sing the sweet hymns he delighted in; and often would the nurses stop in their work to brush away a tear as Janie sang such words as

or,

"JESUS, in mercy bring us

To that dear land of rest,

Who art with GOD the FATHER,

And SPIRIT ever blest;"

"There's a home for little children

Above the bright blue sky."

And they all testified to the patience and gentleness of the little sufferer whose days were so fast ebbing out. It was Harold's one great wish to live until Nellie was christened, and as Sunday dawned it seemed doubtful whether he could linger out the day. Nearly all pain

was gone, a sure sign that the end was near, and the nurse who watched him through the morning thought once or twice he was going, but between four and five o'clock he roused himself a little, and upon the Sister noticing a faint movement of his lips, she bent down to listen, and he whispered, "Will they come soon ?"

"Yes, dear, very soon," replied the Sister, and about ten minutes after in came Harold's mother, Nellie, and Janie, with Mr. Stanley. The latter had begged to be told if any great change should take place, and when it was evident in the morning that Harold's strength