"All my anxiety has gone," she said, in a cheerful tone; "I know my heavenly Father is able and willing to help us. Johnny, my precious boy, how could I murmur when you and Ella are spared?"
"I prayed in my heart all the way home," faltered the boy; "I didn't know what we should do; but I kept saying to myself,—
"'God knows all about it,—just as he did about Joseph in prison.'"
His mother drew him to her side, and kissed his forehead.
"Now you must go to bed," she said. "Though we trust God for the future, we must do all we can to help ourselves. I have work for another week; and you must be off early to yours. When this fails, I feel sure that we shall be provided for somehow."
Johnny lay quiet on his couch, and his mother thought him asleep. She read chapter after chapter of God's holy word, comforting herself in his gracious promises, when she was startled by hearing her boy say,—
"Mother, there's my silver dollar, you know. That will buy a good deal."
"Yes, dear."
Her voice trembled. She knew how much he prized that dollar, and how often Mr. Miles had asked to see it, "to be sure," he said, "that it was not lost or forfeited." She resolved that not until everything else had been sacrificed should that dollar be parted with.
Two days later Johnny ran home with the joyful announcement,—