"Yes, Herr Pastor," answered the child without trepidation; for she was not one of those who learned her verses the last minute before Sunday school and then forgot them as soon as she was out of church. She studied them carefully and conscientiously, so that she would be sure of not breaking down in church.
"Won't you come here and say them for me now?"
The pastor seated himself on the wall and motioned Gretchen to a seat beside him. She willingly obeyed, and clasping her hands she said with reverent air:
"Sing, pray, walk in His way,
Do your work as for the Lord;
He will help you when the world
Naught of comfort can afford.
For if your faith be sure,
And your courage endure,
God will be your friend."
"That is very good; but have you ever thought what the poem means, Gretchen?" asked the pastor.
"I have repeated it ever so many times, so that I could say it without stumbling," said Gretchen.
"You have learned it very well indeed," said the pastor; "but I mean something more than that. Let us see what it says: 'Sing,'—that is, be happy like the birds, and do not lose courage or hang your head; 'pray,'—that you must do to keep happy. 'Do your work as for the Lord,' and you will feel that God is with you, and will help you when no one else in the world can. Now think about it, Gretchen. And good-by."
Smilingly the pastor held out his hand to the child, and then went on up the hill.
Gretchen had listened with deep attention to all that he had said, and now as she sat thinking of his words a great weight seemed to be lifting from her heart: she had found comfort. She would do just as the pastor had said; and she repeated the poem again, slowly and thoughtfully, trying to remember all that he had told her. When she reached the last lines she said them out loud joyously and confidently: