“You and the old man step up here out of the wind by this building, and tell me your trouble.  Are you lost?”

“No, sir, we ain’t lost, but just can’t find the way.”

“Not lost, but can’t find the way?  How is it?  I don’t understand.  Maybe I can help you, if you will explain.”

At this Rosa broke into uncontrollable sobs, and for several minutes could not answer.

At last, with many a pause, the whole story was told.

“And oh,” she added, with all the earnestness of which her intense nature was capable, “can you really tell us?  Please, oh, please do, for I can’t stand it any longer without mother, and she’s looking for me, ’cause Jesus paid the fare.  I just must go!”

[Illustration:  Rosa broke into uncontrollable sobs. [Page 60.)]

“Ah, sweet baby,” he faltered, his massive frame shaking with emotion, “I’ve a mother in the beautiful land looking for me, too!

“Long years ago I promised to meet her there, but, no, I’ve never found the way.  I cannot tell you.”

“If the way’s so hard to find, how do folks get there?  And lots of them are going, for the lady said so.  I do wish mother’d come back for grandpa and me”; and again the child broke into sobs.

“Don’t cry any more, little one.  They say the way is easy to find.  Let me think a minute; maybe I can help you after all.  There’s a big church on the corner there, and I know the pastor loves poor people.  If you should go there tomorrow, he would tell you the way, I know.

“Now cheer up, and get back to your home as soon as possible.  It will be getting dark presently, and you will half freeze.  I will walk down to the corner with you, and point out the church.”

Rosa’s hopes were beginning to rise once more, but upon beholding the massive stone structure indicated by the policeman, she felt less sanguine.

“Are you real sure, mister, we could find the way if we’d go in there?” at length she said.

“Yes, I know it, for the pastor has wanted many times to teach me the way, and I wouldn’t let him.”

Rosa had no idea who or what the pastor might be, and forgot to inquire, because of her unutterable surprise.

It was simply unthinkable that any one could deliberately refuse the information which she and grandpa so earnestly coveted.

“Mister p’liceman, why didn’t you want to know the way?” she gasped, impulsively grasping his big, brawny hand.  “Wouldn’t you like to know now?”

“Yes, little one, I would, and by God’s help I will.  But come, you must be gone!  It is almost dark.  I’ll watch for you in the morning, and take you to the door.  Be sure not to disappoint me.  Goodbye!”

That evening in the quiet of his room a wonderful thing happened.

Tucked away in the bottom of his trunk was a Bible, given to him years before by his mother, when he was but a mere lad.  This he brought forth, and till a late hour poured over its precious contents.  Then falling upon his knees, this prodigal of many years found in Jesus the true way to the beautiful land.  He Himself said that no man cometh unto the Father but by Him.  And an unspeakable peace filled his soul.