"I am happy," Billy said earnestly. "When mother was killed I never thought I should be happy again; but, oh, I am! And things which used to frighten me don't frighten me any longer now. I pray your prayer, 'Be not Thou far from me, O Lord,' and that helps me to be brave—you understand."
"I do understand, my boy."
"I love being here," Billy continued; "I love the hills, and the river, and the woods, and, most of all, I love Grandfer's garden. It was so wonderful in the spring to see everything coming to life. You see I was never in the country, in the spring, before this year. I suppose that's why I thought it so wonderful. Everything—the river, the woods, the grasses in the fields, seemed to be whispering—always saying the same!"
"What was that?" Tom Turpin asked. "Is it a secret?"
"Oh, no!" Billy answered. "I'll tell you. I told little May, and she said she could hear it, too. It was 'The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.' Just that, over and over again."
THE END.
LONDON: PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN
BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED.