Little Frank began to dry his tears, and smile upon his happy friend.

“I have been to see ‘The Crystal Palace,’ Harry, and it is so large and grand!” said he, hoping to amuse him.

“No doubt it will be, when completed, quite like a scene in fairy-land,” said Harry, calmly; “but before that time arrives, angels will have fetched me to one of the ‘many mansions’ that Jesus has prepared for all who love him. (John xiv. 1, 2.) And think what palaces of light and glory they will be, dear Frank!”

“No doubt they will,” said Frank, but looked as if he had no wish to see them either, for the present.

Harry read his little thoughts, and said, “You are glad you are not in my condition too.  You would rather stay on earth with Grandmama, and all the nice things that surround you here.”

“Why, yes, I must confess I would,” said Frank; “but I hope that is not wrong?  Is it anything against me, Harry?”

“By no means, Frank.  And when I was in health like you, I felt the same.”

“Oh!  I am glad of that” said Frank, relieved.

“But now that this earthly house of my tabernacle is dissolving, it is very sweet to feel that I have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, (2 Cor. v. 1); and I want to tell you how you may have one too.”

“I should like to know, I’m sure,” said Frank.

“Yes.  It is the one thing needful, dear; and all the time, and trouble, and labor, spent in getting ready to take possession of it, will be well repaid, the very moment that we see it.  And however fair that house may be I shall be fitted to inhabit it, which is another comfort; for Jesus will present me faultless before his presence, with exceeding joy. (Jude, 24.) He has loved me—­suffered for me—­saved me, and preserved me to this hour; and now he is going to take me to himself.  There I shall see his glory; there I shall love him, and obey him, and adore him, as all the blessed spirits do who are already there.”

“I can hardly wonder that you wish to go,” said Frank, catching the inspiration of his friend.

“No; it is far more wonderful that so many wish to stay.”

“And yet this is a very pleasant place,” said Frank.  “I always feel it so when I am good.”

“And God means it for a very pleasant place, my dear.  He has given us the mountain and the glen, the forest and the grove, the lake and the waterfall, the fruits and the flowers, the beasts and the birds, and all that is beautiful and good for us!  And when I think of these, I repeat my favorite verse, and say—­

    “O God!  O Good beyond compare! 
    If thus thy meaner works are fair—­
    If thus thy bounty gilds the span
    Of ruined earth and sinful man,
    How glorious must the mansion be
    Where thy redeemed shall dwell with thee!”

“I am glad that it is proper to be happy,” said Frank, thoughtfully; “I used to tell George Grant at school I thought it was; but he said that all good people must be dull and sad, and called them ‘spoonies.’”