Part 4 (1/2)

”I love him,” continued the child, ”and I should think you would;” then, after waiting a moment, he asked, ”Did he cut your legs off?”

”No,” said the man, laughing; ”the doctor did it.”

”I'm glad of that,” said Frankie. ”You ought to love G.o.d, and pray to him every day. Perhaps, if you did, he would let your legs grow again.”

Willie almost laughed aloud; but Frankie was so eager to do the man good, that he did not hear him.

”I am afraid you are a wicked man,” he said, ”if you don't pray any.”

Mrs. Gray saw the cripple lay down his knife and fork, and gaze at the child; presently he spoke, but his voice trembled as he said, ”I used to pray when I was a little shaver like you. My mother taught me.”

”Where is she now?” asked the boy.

”She has gone up there, long ago,” said the man, softly pointing his finger upward.

”Well,” said Frankie, earnestly, ”you can't go to heaven and live with her there, unless you are a good man and love G.o.d. I used to be naughty once, but my mother whipped me to make me good.”

”That's too bad,” said the cripple.

”No; it's just right. The Bible says she must. I'm trying now to be a good boy; and I wish you would try too.”

”I guess there isn't much danger of you,” said the man. ”You're the most wonderful chap I ever saw.”

”I don't know what _chap_ is,” replied Frankie. ”When I say my prayers to-night, I am going to ask G.o.d to give you a new heart; and then you can't help being good.”

”I wish you would,” whispered the man, drawing his s.h.i.+rt sleeve across his eyes.

He pushed his chair back from the table, saying, ”I've had a first-rate supper; and I thank you and your mother a thousand times for all your kindness.”

Willie then stepped into the kitchen, and helped him from his chair into his carriage, at the back door. The man gave Frankie two of his handsomest pictures, saying, ”Don't forget what you promised to do for me to-night. I have n.o.body else to pray for me now.”

CHAPTER VII.

THE RAINY DAY.

MISS GRANT gave her scholars Wednesday and Sat.u.r.day afternoons for play.

One Wednesday morning it rained very hard; and as Nelly was not quite well, her aunt thought it not best for her to go to school. Margie too had been unwell for a few days; so Mrs. Gray sent for her to come up to the nursery, that they might amuse themselves with their dolls.

Margie was eleven years of age; but she liked to play as well as ever.

She had Frankie's black Dinah for her child; and then she had a large rag baby of her own, while Nelly had great f.a.n.n.y and two smaller dolls.

These they set up in a row, and played school; but just as they were ready to begin, Ponto walked into the room, and tipped the scholars over.

”O Ponto, how naughty!” exclaimed Nelly, laughing aloud, as he carefully stepped over the pupils, who were lying on their faces. ”Now let us begin again.”

So Dinah, and f.a.n.n.y, and Lily Gray, and Jenny, Margie's doll, were all placed in nice order again, their backs up against the wall; and after a few words, charging the scholars to be very good and say their lessons well, Nelly rang her aunt's small table bell, for them to take their places in the cla.s.s.