Tom was silent; and after a few moments he said: "Could you say they come from a little boy who loves Jesus?"
"Yes, dear, I will; anything else?"
"And say I am like him, but that the Lord Jesus has comforted me, and I don't mind so much now."
"Which bunch shall it be, Tom?" she asked. She held each in turn where he could see them comfortably, and he decided on what he considered the best.
"Then I think I shall take them vase and all," said Nellie, "and tell him I shall fetch the vase when I think they are faded."
"Yes, do; they will look prettier so. I suppose there will be plenty of flowers in heaven," said Tom musingly.
"I should not wonder, for trees are spoken of; but I believe, Tom, above everything else will be the joy of seeing Jesus. It says, 'The Lamb . . . shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shalt wipe away all tears from their eyes.'"
"Yes," answered Tom, looking thoughtfully out of the window towards the clear sky, for he was lying in the nursery; then turning round again, "I would like you to go now Nellie, so that he may see them by daylight."
So Nellie fetched a sheet of silver paper, and standing her vase in it, lightly pinned the corners at the top, and telling her mamma where she was going, set forth.
A short walk brought her to one of the "gone down" and miserable-looking streets which abound in London the moment you turn out of the large thoroughfares. She went down this, and presently came to the house she sought. It was not by any means one of the "dens" of the vast city, but miserable and squalid enough notwithstanding. She rang the top bell of the four, and in a minute, a woman looked out from the bottom room and asked what she wanted.