One of Mrs. Ford’s first cares was to provide her with some needed clothing from Bessie’s outgrown garments, which otherwise would have been stowed thriftily away for little Jenny.  Lucy added her contribution for the same object, and it was considered a good opportunity for teaching her what she so much needed to learn—­plain sewing.  Mrs. Ford, who was a capital seamstress as well as housewife, undertook to make Nelly a good needlewoman, if she would be diligent in trying to learn; and she was too grateful, and too anxious to please, not to try her best, though the long, tedious seams often tried her restless, active spirit.  When she found herself getting so impatient that she felt as if she could not sit still any longer, or, at any rate, could not force herself to do the work with patience and care, she would remember the injunction to “tell Jesus” her troubles and difficulties, and the restless spirit would become quiet, and the strength to fulfil her good resolutions would come back.  As it was too far for her to go to Lucy now for her daily lessons, Lucy resigned her to Bessie’s tuition, though somewhat unwillingly, for her teaching had become a source of real pleasure to her, and she felt that in it she was doing some definite work for her Saviour.  She had not yet got into the habit of looking upon everything she was called in duty to do as work done for Christ, just in proportion as it was done in a spirit of cheerful faith and dependence, “looking unto Jesus” both as the master and the friend.

But dark days were at hand for Lucy too,—­days when she would need all the support her faith could give.  Mr. Raymond’s never robust constitution had been for some time gradually failing, though Lucy, seeing him daily, and accustomed to consider her father “not very strong,” had not observed it.  Late in November, a long, cold drive in sleet and rain to visit a dying parishioner brought on symptoms of fever, which rapidly increased, till the doctor, who had been summoned to attend him, looked very anxious, and pronounced his patient in a most critical condition.  Lucy had been so long accustomed to his occasional illnesses, that she was slow to admit the idea of danger to her father, the possibility of losing whom had scarcely ever occurred to her mind.  Therefore, though she could not help seeing her aunt’s extreme anxiety, she resolutely turned her thoughts to the happier prospect of her father’s recovery, when he would again occupy his wonted place, and the house would be like itself again.

Even when Mr. Raymond’s extreme weakness forced the others to give up hope, Lucy still hoped and prayed, by the sick-bed and in her own chamber, as she had never prayed before.  Surely, she thought, if she prayed humbly and earnestly, her prayer would not be denied by Him who has said, “Ask, and ye shall receive;” and her father would be restored to her.  She did not consider that as regards earthly things the promise must be limited, or the conditions of human life would have to be altered.  If our prayers that our dear ones should be spared to us were always to be granted, when would they ever attain that blessed rest in the Father’s house—­the haven they have been looking for through all the cares and troubles of their mortal pilgrimage?