Christie paid another visit to the suburban road that week. Little Mabel and her mother were coming out of the house when Christie reached the gate. The little girl ran eagerly forward when she caught sight of the organ and begged her mamma to stay whilst she turned the handle just six times!
The lady spoke very kindly to Christie; she asked him several questions, and he told her about old Treffy, how ill he was, and how he had not another month to live. The tears were in the lady's eyes, and she asked Christie where he lived, and wrote it down on a white tablet which she carried in her pocket.
"Mamma," said little Mabel, "I want to whisper something to you."
The lady bent down her head to listen, and then said kindly,—
"Yes, if you like."
Mabel darted into the house, and returned with a large bunch of single white snowdrops, prettily arranged with sprigs of dark myrtle leaves. Very white, and pure, and lovely they looked.
"Here, organ-boy," said Mabel, as she put them into his hands, "these are my own dear snowdrops; Aunt Helen gave me them, and you must take them to Master Treffy, he'll like them, won't he?" she said.
"Ay! that he will, missie," said Christie, warmly.
"Mabel," said her mother, "you must teach Christie the little prayer I told you always to say when you looked at the snowdrops."
"Yes," said Mabel, "I will. This is it, Christie: 'Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.'"