"And, O Lord, please to do the same for mother, because we want her to be different; and help Rob and I to tell her about Jesus, and to sing to her, like we did to him; and may she be washed white in the blood of Jesus; for Christ's sake. Amen."
And lying there, not asleep as her boys had thought, but wide awake, Mrs. Mellor heard Phil's prayer, heard the earnest pleadings that she too might be different, might be saved. The words went home to her heart. "Different? Yes, that was just what she wanted; but was it possible? So many years of sin, of forgetfulness of God! Could she ever be different now?"
And from her heart, so weary, so crushed, so hopeless, there went up an earnest "Amen" to Phil's prayer, inaudible indeed to any mortal ear but heard so quickly, so gladly by that loving Father who is always listening for a sinner's cry, and who said of her that night, as of Saul of old, "Behold, she prayeth."
[CHAPTER X.]
JASPER'S TROUBLE.
TRUE to his promise, Phil asked Forbes to save the text that Jasper so desired to have; and when the Christmas decorations were taken down from the Hall, Forbes himself put aside the crimson banner that had hung over the platform, bearing its Christmas message, "Unto you is born this day a Saviour;" and the next evening, when "off duty," made his way up to Jasper's shed, carrying with him the words that had brought such joy to the old man's heart.
From Phil, Forbes had heard something of the story of Jasper's conversion, and so he was glad of an excuse to go up and rejoice with him in his new-found happiness. But on reaching the shed, and gaining admittance only after repeated knockings, he was surprised to find Jasper sitting with his face buried in his hands, and the tears falling from his eyes.
"Why, Jasper, what's the meaning of this? I thought to find you brimful of joy. What ails you, man?" and the constable laid a kindly hand on the old man's shoulder, as he repeated his inquiry.
For a moment there was no answer, and then, raising his head, Jasper said, "'Tis stupid of me to give way like this, but—but 'twill be the death of me."
"Death of you! What do you mean?"