"'Let Jesus Christ be praised!'"
"How is that such a wonderful secret?" said Tom.
"Just this," she answered earnestly, "that if in every circumstance of life, in every difficulty, danger or fear, we can claim all that is stored up for us in that wonderful name Jesus, we have solace, strength, victory assured to us. I know it, dears, and so will you, if you will believe it."
The room got darker, and the silence was unbroken for some time. Mary's voice had almost startled them with its fervour.
"What is the hymn called?" asked Cecil presently.
"The first verse is:"
"When morning gilds the skies,
My heart awaking cries,
May Jesus Christ be praised
Alike in work or prayer,
To Jesus I repair,
Let Jesus Christ be praised!"
"But I am specially fond of the sixth verse—this:"
"The night becomes as day,
When from the heart we say,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The powers of darkness fear,
When this sweet chant they hear,
May Jesus Christ be praised!"
"I'll learn it," said Nancy, and perhaps the others thought the same, for Tom said gently, as he smoothed his sister's hand, "I should think it was almost worth while being ill!"