the good tidings came that, through the mercy of God, their friends
had reached that distant country, safe and well. Louisa danced and
clapped her hands; and Emma felt very happy, sitting beside her
mother, and looking up in her face, while she read the letter through
tears of pleasure.

Mrs. Harding had written a few lines to the children, which their
mother read aloud to them, and then allowed them to look at for
themselves. The words were these: "I often think of you, dear Louisa
and Emma, and pray for divine blessings upon you both; and I hope to
hear that you are giving yourselves to the Saviour, who died upon the
cross for you. You know the love of Jesus for the young; his kindness
to them when he was upon earth; and the tender way in which he still
invites them to come to him. Go, then, to Christ without delay: ask
him to be your friend, and you will be happy for evermore."

A few weeks after this letter had been received, Mrs. Western's
birthday arrived, when it was usual for her children to have a holiday
and a little treat. On the morning of this day, as Emma was running up
stairs, her mamma called to her from her dressing-room, and desired
her to come in, and to shut the door. Emma did as she was bid; and
then Mrs. Western, with a smile on her face, told her to look round,
and try if she could discover anything in the room that she had not
seen before.

Almost before her mother had done speaking, the little girl fixed her
eyes upon a handsome work-box, standing upon the table with the lid
open, and showing a lining of pale blue silk, edged with silver; while
within were scissors and thimble, an abundance of needles and cotton,
everything, in short, that Emma had long been wishing for in vain.