As he thought over the little story he had been reading, he retraced his steps towards his own village, at first rather slowly, but soon at a quicker pace, and he entered his father's house very quietly, and without either whistling or making a noise, as he generally did.
"You have not then been to the fete," said Josephine.
Mark.—(A little ashamed.)—"I dared not go, I was afraid my father would beat me."
Josephine.—"It would have been better, Mark, if you had been equally afraid of offending God."
Mark was on the point of ridiculing her, as he always did, but he recollected Andrew and Julia, and was silent.
Josephine.—(Kindly.)—"But is it not true, Mark? would it not be better to fear God, than to be always offending him?"
Mark.—(Knitting his brow.)—"Yes, as Andrew and Julia did! would it not?"
Josephine.—(surprised.)—"Of whom do you speak, Mark? Is it of "The Happy Family," in which an Andrew and a Julia are mentioned. Have you ever read that beautiful story?"
"Here it is," said Mark, drawing the tract from his pocket, and giving it to his sister.
Josephine.—"Yes, this is it, exactly! But brother, where did you get it, for it is quite new; did you buy it of a Scripture Reader."