Answer to a Child's Prayer [pp. 226]

THE LADIES' REPOSITOR.
"Nor sun fade it?"
"No, neither can the rain wet it."
"0, grandmother! I know now, it's made
of asbestos-you mean an asbestos dress," and
she leaned upon her grandmother's knee, looking into her face. Perhaps all children know
that asbestos is a mineral that can be made into
threads, and wove into garments which heat can
not consume.
The grandmother shook her head.
"If it's such a beautiful white I shall soil it
very easily, I suppose."
"Yes, you could easily soil it; even a thought,
a wrong thought, would sully its delicacy."
"0, grandmother!" cried the little girl looking
very incredulously upward, "how funny! I
should be afraid to wear it."
"But it will shield you from harm."
"I should like that; is it so very strong,
then?"
' So strong my little girl would never wear it
out, and then it becomes more beautiful the
longer you keep it, if you keep it carefully," said
the good lady.
"How careful Nancy would have to be in
washing it!" exclaimed the child.
" I do not think it will ever need washling."
"0, grandmother! well, will it be becoming?
shall I look pretty in it?" asked the little girl
eagerly.
"You could wear nothing so beautiful. It
has some precious ornaments, a great deal handsomer and more costly than your gold chain or
your coral necklace." The eyes of the child
danced with delight.
"Are they always worn with it?"
"Yes, always. You should never lay them
aside for fear of losingsthem."
"Why, I never saw such a dress," and she
looked thoughltfully. "Where can I buy one?"
"There is one already bought for you, my
child."
"0!" and she looked surprised, "0, I am so
glad! who did buy it for me?"
"Your best Friend."
"You, grancldmother, did you buy it? How
very, very good of you," said she, earnestly re garding her grandmother's face.
"No, it was not I-a better friend than I,'?
and she spoke solemnly.
"O, you mean something, grandmother," cried
the child. "Please tell me what you do mean.
What is this dress, so wonderful! I am sure I
want one.",
"This dress, so wonderful, is the garment of
salvation. It was bought by Jesus Christ at a
great price, even his life; its ornaments are a
meek and quiet spirit. Will my dear little girl
wear this beautiful garment?" The sweet and
solemn earnestness of the lady touched the
heart of the child.
"I wish I could," breathed the little one, her
head bowed low.
"Then would you have a wardrobe for eternity, my Mary, fitting you for the company of
the heavenly hosts of the world to come where
the redeemed shall hymn their songs of praise;"
and the grandmother pressed the little child to
her bosom and breathed over her the prayer
of love.
Who will not wear this beautiful garment?
who will get ready his wardrobe for eternity?
ANSWER TO A CHILD'S PRAYER.
N one of the narrow streets near the Marche
St. Honore resides a poor working family
who have lately been laboring under great distress. The wife had been for some time ill, and
the husband has just met with an accident
which has prevented him from following his
usual occupation, so that his family of five children often suffer from hunger. Among the chlildren was a little intelligent girl who every day
attended the charity school, but who has been
obliged to stop at home, to attend, as best she
could, to her little brothers. She had been
taught at school that those in distress ought to
address themselves to God, and the idea entered
her mind that if she sent a letter to God, relief
would follow. She, therefore, got pen, ink, and
paper, and wrote the letter asking for health for
her parents, and bread for herself and brothers.
Thinking that the poor-box which she had seen
in the church of Saint Rock was the letter-box
of God, she took an opportunity of stealing
quietly out of the room and running off to the
church. While looking round to see that no
one was near, an elderly lady noticed her move ments, and, thinking she was at some mischief,
stopped her and inquired what she wxas doing.
After some hesitation she confessed the object
of her visit to the church, and showed the letter.
The lady took it and promised the child that
she would take care that it should reach its des tination, asking at the same time to what address
the answer must be sent, which the child gave,
and returned home with a light heart. On the
following morning on opening the door of the
room she found a large basket filled with differ
ent articles of wearing apparel, sugar, money,
etc., the whole packed up, with a direction-card,
on which was written "Response du bon Dieu."
Some hours after a medical man also came to
give advice.
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