smiles and tears like an April shower was lifted to his, the "confirmed
old bachelor" took to his heart the little maiden whose very existence
had so annoyed and distressed him only a few months before.

"Uncle Edward," she said, a little time after, "do you know if that
prodigal son you told me about last night has come back to God?"

Sir Edward was silent for a minute, then very gravely and solemnly he
said:

"I think he has, little one. It has been a very happy Christmas Day to
him, and you must pray now that he may not be ashamed to own his Lord,
who has so mercifully brought him back through the instrumentality of
one of His lambs."