"
"Oh, Nancy! — little John Dolan, and Eleanor Parsons, and Mary
Huff — all younger than you and I; how can you say so?"
"Well," said Nancy — "at any rate, that ain't reading it
because you love it — it's because you must, like other
folks."
"That's only one of my reasons," said Ellen, hesitating, and
speaking gravely; — "I like to read about the Saviour, and
what he has done for me, and what a friend he will be to me,
and how he forgives me. I had rather have the Bible, Nancy,
than all the other books in the world."
"That ain't saying much," said Nancy — "but how come you to be
so sure you are forgiven?"
"Because the Bible says, 'He that believeth on him shall not
be ashamed,' and I believe in him — and that he will not cast
out any one that comes to him, and I have come to him — and
that he loves those that love him, and I love him. If it did
not speak so very plainly, I should be afraid, but it makes me
happy to read such verses as these. I wish you knew, Nancy,
how happy it makes me."
This profession of faith was not spoken without starting
tears. Nancy made no reply.
As Miss Fortune had foretold, plenty of people came to the
house with proffers of service. Nancy's being there made it
easy for Ellen to get rid of them all. Many were the marvels
that Miss Fortune should trust her house to "two girls like
that," and many the guesses that she would rue it when she got
up again.
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