"Ah, there is Johnny!" exclaimed the stranger, holding out his hand. "Don't you remember me?"
It was, indeed, an old friend,—the man who had been watched and nursed by Mrs. Talbot and her husband, and from whom she had never since heard. He had spent a week in searching for her, he said; and now he meant to take care of her and the children.
After supper, he rocked Ella to sleep, and then begged to hold her awhile; for, he said, "I have something to tell you."
"You know I had not fully recovered when I went away," he began. "I tried to thank you, but I couldn't; my heart was too full. I heard of Dexter's death, and felt that I had lost a brother. The next thing I did was to make a resolution to be a brother to you and yours. I worked hard and saved every penny. Not that I thought money could pay you for your care of me; but I felt that you might need help.
"There," he added, holding out a package, "is the first I earned. I laid it aside for you."
The widow's face flushed as she saw written on a corner of the wrapper, "Two hundred dollars."
"I found a good place and succeeded well. Every day I repeated the prayer Johnny taught me on my sick-bed, and God answered it. I saw my need of a Saviour, and gladly accepted the one offered me in the Bible. I wrote again and again to you, sending my letters to our old place; but I had no reply. At last I grew too anxious to wait longer, and, settling my business, I set out to find you. I wish I had started a year ago."
"God's time is the best time," murmured the widow, her eyes full of tears.
Then Mr. Hardy bade Johnny bring the Bible, and they had reading and prayers together.