human
Good evening, all, he said hurriedly.
gpt
Excuse me to-night, brother, to Mr. Minturn, who would have stopped him any way;
human
I want to speak to some people before they get away from me;
gpt
Good evening, Edward. This is Kitty, I think. How do you do, my little girl? Edward, do you know such a Bible verse as this: 'I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplication'?
human
No, sir, answered Tip eagerly;
gpt
Yes, somewhere in the Psalms you will find it. I don't remember just where. Can you feel the truth of it when you think of your sister?
human
Yes, sir, I _can_. God _did_ hear me.
gpt
And you think you love Jesus to-night, Kitty?
human
Yes, sir,
gpt
What makes you think so?
human
I--I don't know; only I pray, and He hears me, and I like to.
gpt
Well, now, Kitty, almost the first thing which people think of after they have found Jesus, is something to do for Him; they begin to look around to see what they can find. What are you going to do?
human
I don't know, sir; I haven't got anything I can do.
gpt
Ah, that's a mistake! you can find plenty of work if you look for it; only don't look too far, because it is the little bits of things which come right in your way that Jesus wants you to do. When you brush up the room, and set the table neatly, and brighten the fire, and do little thoughtful things that help your mother, then you are pleasing Jesus, doing work for Him. Isn't it pleasant to think that in all those little things He is watching over you, and that you make Him glad when you do them well? Do you know that one of God's commands is, 'Honour thy father and thy mother'?
human
No,
gpt
It is; those are the very words; Edward can find them for you in the Bible; and honour means more than obey; it means, try to please them in the very smallest things.
human
Speaking of Bible verses, Edward, I have one for you this evening, in the Saviour's own words: 'Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father which is in heaven.' Good-night.
gpt
I guess Mr. Holbrook don't know just how mother is, or he wouldn't talk so.
human
Yes, but, said Tip quickly,
gpt
God knew all about it always, you know; and yet He said that verse.
human
So He did,
gpt
Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth.
human
Bah, said Will Bailey,
gpt
As true as I live, I'm not, answered Howard earnestly;
human
What's up?
gpt
Why, Howard is telling the biggest yarn you ever heard: he says Tip Lewis went to prayer-meeting last night and made a prayer.
human
Tip Lewis! and Ellis Holbrook's voice was full, not only of surprise, but scorn;
gpt
I should like to hear him.
human
Well, it's true, repeated Howard.
gpt
My father told us about it this morning, and he said it was a good prayer too; he said, Ellis, that your father couldn't keep the tears out of his eyes when he heard him; and Mr. Burrows walked up town with father, and told him that Tip had changed wonderfully, that he was one of the best boys in school.
human
Well, said Will Bailey,
gpt
Oh, well now, answered Ellis,
human
Especially when he trips _you_, the minister's son, up, about twisting the Bible.
gpt
He was right enough about that, he said promptly;
human
Say, Tip, said Will Bailey, hailing him at recess,
gpt
No, said Tip, with the greatest good humour,
human
I didn't.
gpt
Didn't you speak in meeting?
human
I prayed in meeting,
gpt
Oh, well, what did you pray for? Come, let's know.
human
I prayed for _you_.
gpt
Humph! Now, that's clever, certainly. Much obliged.