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The visitor praised it as its beauty warranted, and, begging he would not remove its only blossom for her, promised to call again.

The table was strewn with bits of wood, while many pretty little images and toys, carved by his own knife, were ranged in order next the wall.

In this way the poor crippled child supported his feeble life, and provided many a little comfort for his loving mother.

"Do you never get weary of life, Jamie?"

"Sometimes I get very tired, for I am never free from pain ; and often, for whole days, I can not get from my bed into this pleasant little corner, my back pains me so; but I lie still and try to think about Jesus, and of the time when I shall never more get tired with pain."

"Do you feel afraid to die ?"

"It don't seem as though there was any such thing as dying for me, for when I go to heaven I shall just begin to live. I shall not be a cripple there, but shall walk up and down those shining streets, which my Bible tells about, with mother and sister Lucy. No one will there know that I was the 'little cripple,' who always had to ride on his little cart wherever he went."

Shall you not feel sorry to leave your mother, and die alone? -- for we all have to go through death alone; we can not take our loved ones with us."

"The Saviour will take care of me till she comes. Mother taught me this nice text, 'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for those art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.' He seems a precious Saviour to me now; how much more must I love him in heaven."

The lady looked at the child in astonishment.

"You seem in a very happy frame of mind, my dear boy; have you always felt thus?"

"No, I used to be afraid to die, until I heard what Christ did to give me a home in heaven, and what a happy place it is. I know he loves even me, a poor little cripple boy, and, if I believe in him, will forgive me my sins. Sometimes, when I am all alone, I try to keep thinking of Christ.

"He knows that I love him," he added; "for when I am alone I often pray to him, and tell him how dear he is to my soul; and I pray for everybody I know, that he will give them all a happy, happy home in heaven."

"Well, Jamie, I am glad to find you so happy," said the lady. "Life is uncertain, and we ought so to live that each day we may be prepared to hear the voice of our heavenly Father calling us to his arms. As we know not when the hour cometh, we ought to be always prepared to leave these earthly scenes, and enter upon a better state."

"I don't think I shall live long. Every morning when mother goes away, I watch her till she turns the corner, for I think perhaps I may not see her again. Dear mother! I don't tell her of these thoughts, for I know they would only trouble her; and as long as I am here, I will try to be her 'sunshine,' as she often calls me."

"That's right, Jamie; next to God, love that mother who so tenderly cares for you. But I have made a long call; I must go now, though I will try to come again. Good-bye."

A few weeks passed, and the lady was told that Jamie had become much worse. She hurried to see and comfort him. There was no pleasant face at the window as she passed up the court. All was still.

She went in, to find the almost distracted mother weeping over the dead body of her son. There he lay, with his white face calm in death. The little hands, so busy with toy-work during her last visit, were calmly laid by his side. He was now, as he so longed to be, at rest.

Some unfinished toys lay about the room, his chair stood in its usual place, the rosebush, with a bright new blossom, stood where she last saw it. She took the blossom, and, kissing it, laid it upon his little shroud.

How cheerless now, she thought, will seem this abode to the another! How often, as she returns from daily toil, will she shut her eyes and recall the little face she used to see at the windowpane!

When the lady called to mind what a cheerful, happy, loving spirit that afflicted boy displayed ; when his mother told her how, for years, he had rendered happy all around him by his uncomplaining nature, causing all to forget their sorrows by the messages of peace which he repeated from his loved book, the Bible, she grieved to think how many little boys and girls, who have everything that heart could wish, do not love the Saviour, or do anything to advance his blessed cause.

Think, little reader, are you well and strong? If so, what do you do for Jesus, who died for you on the cross, and shed his precious blood to take your sins away? He might have made you like "crippled Jamie." See how much you have to be thankful for. Then give your heart to Jesus and try to do something to promote his glory on earth.

Perhaps you will say, "Why, what can I do for Jesus ?" You can speak kindly to the poor, and show them you love them just as well as the rich. Kind words and bright smiles are worth much to them, and cost you nothing. If you know a little child who has not heard much of Jesus, tell his sweet story, and take that child to the Sabbath school where kind teachers will tell more about him. Strive to do good, and, truly believing in Jesus, he will be a kind friend to you when all earthly friends shall fail.