"No, Sir," said Ellen; "not often."
"You pray to him, don't you?"
"Yes, Sir; but not so."
"But you ought to pray to him so. We are all blind by nature, Ellen; we are all hard-hearted; none of us can see him or love him unless he opens our eyes and touches our hearts; but he has promised to do this for those who seek him. Do you remember what the blind man said when Jesus asked him what he should do for him? he answered, 'Lord, that I may receive my sight!' That ought to be your prayer now, and mine too; and the Lord is just as ready to hear us as he was to hear the poor blind man; and you know he cured him. Will you ask him, Ellen?"
A smile was almost struggling through Ellen's tears as she lifted her face to that of her friend, but she instantly looked down again.
"Shall I put you in mind, Ellen, of some things about Christ that ought to make you love him with all your heart?"
"Oh yes, Sir, if you please."
"Then tell me first what it is that makes you love your mother so much?"
"Oh, I can't tell you, Sir; everything, I think."
"I suppose the great thing is that she loves you so much?"