She had brought them each, as a little parting remembrancer, a pretty gift-card, bearing on one side the illuminated motto, “Looking unto Jesus,” a text the blessed influence of which she herself had long experimentally known.  And in words so simple as for the most part to reach even little Nelly’s comprehension, she spoke earnestly of the loving Saviour to whom they were to “look,”—­of that wonderful life which, opening in the lowly manger of Bethlehem, and growing quietly to maturity in the green valleys of Nazareth, reached its full development in those unparalleled three years of “going about doing good,” healing, teaching, warning, rebuking, comforting; not disdaining to stop and bless the little children, and at last dying to atone for our sins.

She explained to them, that although withdrawn from our earthly sight, He was as really near to them now as He had been to those Jewish children eighteen hundred years ago; that their lowest whisper could reach Him; that if they would but ask Him, He would be their truest Friend, ever at their side to help them to do right and resist temptation, to comfort them in sorrow and sweeten their joy.  Her earnest tone and manner, even more than her words, impressed the children, and fixed even Nelly Connor’s bright hazel eyes in a wondering gaze.  It was very new and strange to her to hear about the mysterious, invisible Friend who was so loving and kind; the idea of a friend of any kind being novel to the lonely, motherless child, more accustomed to harsh, unsparing reproof than to any other language.  Miss Preston, glad to see at least that her interest was excited, was fain to leave the germs of truth to take root and develope in her mind, under the silent influence of the divine Husbandman.

“Now, my dear children,” she said in conclusion, “whenever you are tempted to be careless or unfaithful in duty, to think that it doesn’t matter because no one will know, remember that your Saviour knows,—­that whatever the duty before you may be, you have to do it ‘as to the Lord, and not unto men.’  Whenever you are tempted to get tired of trying to do right and resist temptation, or when you may feel sad for your sinfulness and unworthiness, think of the text I am leaving you, ‘looking unto Jesus.’  And if you really and earnestly look to Him, you will always find help, and strength, and guidance, and comfort.”

On the reverse side of the illuminated card she had brought for her class was printed, in clear, distinct characters, the hymn,

    “I lay my sins on Jesus,
      The spotless Lamb of God;
    He bears them all, and frees us
      From the accursed load.

    “I lay my wants on Jesus,
      All fulness dwells in Him;
    He heals all my diseases,
      He doth my soul redeem.”