earnestly to a group of rough looking men, evidently working men. The
speaker does not stand aloof from them as though afraid to come in
contact with them, but is talking freely, and has succeeded in getting
their undivided attention, has won their hearts by his sympathy with
them, has shown them that he is like themselves--subject to human errors
and weakness, and these rough men are listening attentively, as they
would never do to lengthy discourses about things of which they knew
nothing. Here was a Christian--thank heaven there are such--who has not
placed himself on a lofty pedestal, while the hearers feel that he is
far from them both in heart and sympathy, but they feel that he is a
man like themselves; he has touched the human part of their natures, and
the rest will be easy. Little Ned listened, for the minister was
speaking of things with which the listeners were familiar; of sin, of
sorrow, of temptations, speaking cheerful words of comfort, leading them
step by step to something higher and holier than they had ever dreamed
of. At last, in language they could all understand, he told them of
another life, another world where sin and sorrow could not enter. The
child listened, and as he left the building hunger and fatigue were
forgotten. Only half comprehending what the clergyman had said, only
remembering in a confused way that he had spoken of a brighter world;
one wholly unlike this one, one in which there would be no more hunger
and cold, no more blows and harsh usage, the little fellow started in
search, resolved to find it. Surely it could not be very difficult to
find, and it must be some place outside this great city. Little Ned
started on his search, going towards the open country, toward the place
where the moon was rising, never doubting, never fearing, but that he
would succeed. Day after day he wandered on, eating berries which he
found by the wayside, and occasionally asking for something to eat. He
slept in the open air, for he knew no fear; his brain still weaving the
golden threads; still talking to invisible spirits; his face looking so