’And now, why has God sent so many troubles to you, my poor Stephen?  As I told you before, we cannot understand His ways yet.  But do not you see that sorrow has made you very different to the other boys about you?  Have you not gained much wisdom that they do not possess?  And would you change your lot with any one of them?  Would you even be as you were yourself twelve months ago, before these afflictions came?  We are sent into this world for something more than food and clothing, and work and play.  Our souls must live, and they are dead if they are not brought into submission to God’s will.  Even our own Lord and Saviour, “though He were a son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered.”  How much more do we need to suffer before we learn obedience to the will of God!

‘Then there is Martha,’ continued Miss Anne, after a pause; ’she and Bess are both brought to repentance by the death of our little child.  Surely I need not excuse God’s dealings to you any more, Stephen.’

‘But there comes no judgment upon the master,’ said Stephen in a low voice.

A flush of pain passed over Miss Anne’s face as she met Stephen’s eager gaze, and saw something of the working of his heart in his flashing eye.

‘Our God will suffer no sin to go unpunished for ever,’ she answered solemnly. ’"Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”  Listen, Stephen:  when our Lord spoke those “blessings” in your chapter, He implied that on the opposite side there were curses corresponding to them.  But He did not leave this matter uncertain; I will read them to you from another chapter:  “But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.  Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger.  Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and lament."’

‘That is the master,’ said Stephen, his face glowing with satisfaction, ‘for he is rich and full, and he laughs now!’

‘Yes, who can tell but that these woes will fall upon my uncle,’ said Miss Anne, and her head drooped low, and Stephen saw the tears streaming down her cheeks; ’all my prayers and love for him may be lost.  His soul, which is as precious and immortal as ours, may perish for ever!’

Stephen looked at her bitter weeping with a longing desire to say something to comfort her, but he could not speak a word:  for her grief was caused by the thought of the very vengeance he was wishing for.  He turned away his head uneasily, and gazed deep down into the glowing embers of the fire.

‘Not my prayers and love only,’ continued Miss Anne, ’but our Saviour’s also; all His griefs and sorrows may prove unavailing, as far as my uncle is concerned.  Perhaps He will say of him, “I have laboured in vain, I have spent My strength for nought, and in vain.”  O my Saviour! because I love Thee, I would have every immortal soul saved for Thy eternal glory.’

‘And so would I, Miss Anne,’ cried the boy, sinking on his knees.  ’Oh, Miss Anne, pray to Jesus that I may love all my enemies for His sake.’