A. L. O. E.'s picture story book.

by A. L. O. E.

But very fast beat the heart of Grace, and her courage almost failed her when she had to pass alone the great iron gate, and walk up the stately avenue to the marble steps that led up to the Castle. She wished that she could have held her father's hand, or had her mother beside her. One thought, however, gave her strength to go forward. "The master has written that I—even I—shall be welcome. I have his own express invitation, so why should I fear to appear before him!"

So, with Heartslove, not now in a basket, but held in her bosom, the poor little grateful child drew nigh to the lord's magnificent home.

Grace was met by a kind-looking servant. "My lord has sent me to bring you to him," said the man. "Do not tremble, little one; my lord is very fond of children. See! He is coming down the marble staircase to receive you himself."

Grace eagerly, though timidly, raised her eyes to catch the first sight of her great benefactor, the mighty lord of the land. She had felt afraid to enter his presence, but all her fear passed away when she saw in the form advancing towards her, the same gentle stranger who had met her before at the gate, and who had taken charge of her dove.

"Did I not tell you that the lord of the Castle would prize your bird dearly?" he said, as he stooped and lovingly laid his hand on the head of the child.

Grace was then led by him through the Castle, its splendid galleries, its beautiful halls, where there was everything that could delight the eye of the beholder. In one apartment, she found a new dress awaiting her, spotless and white. She was left alone for awhile to put on the dress, and was then called to a rich feast spread out in a lofty hall. Grace, poor child as she was, then was allowed to sit down with the lord at his table, and to be helped to whatever she liked by his own princely hand.

Nor was her friend's kindness to end here. That most happy hour was but the first of many which Grace was to pass in that beautiful place. With the full consent of her parents, the lord of the Castle adopted the little girl as his own, and brought her up as his daughter. He lavished freely upon her every token of love, gratified every wish, and made the life of Grace so joyful, that every day seemed more bright than the last. And much did the lord value the bird which had been her first token of grateful affection; of all his treasures, none was more prized than the Heartslove of the child.

Shall I leave my young readers to find out for themselves the meaning of my little parable, or help them to trace out the lesson which it contains?

There is not one of them that has not a great Benefactor, to whose free bounty they owe a million times more than Grace and her family owed to the lord of the manor. Have they received all His benefits without a word of thanks, without a thought of grateful devotion? Have they offered nothing to their Heavenly Lord, who has freely forgiven them all their great debt, and loaded them with blessings day after day?

But perhaps a child may reply, "I have nothing to give to the Lord, no money with which to help His poor, no power of working for Him." This may be so, but oh, remember that you have still one offering which you can make; you have your Heartslove to lay at the feet of your Heavenly Friend. Be assured that the Lord will prize your love dearly, far, far more than all the earth's treasures of silver and gold. No being that has offered Heartslove in simple, grateful homage to his Saviour, but will be welcomed by Him to a glorious home in heaven, not to be received as a passing guest, but as a dearly beloved child, adopted into His family, and made happy for ever and ever with Him!