Page:Her Benny - Silas K Hocking (Warne, 1890).djvu/177

Rh "Why, what you told me just now, Benny,—how the Lord would provide."

"Oh, ay," said Benny, reflectively, "though I wur as near as nothin' to starvin', the day I fust seed you."

" Were you? Then perhaps the Lord sent me to help you.*'

" Oh, no doubt on that score," said Benny, stoutly; "I's sartin about that matter."

"Do you go to Sunday-school, Benny?"

Benny shook his head.

"Nor to church or chapel?"

"Not since that night me an' Nelly went, that I told you 'bout."

"How is that?"

"Well, we did try to get into another place o' the sort, smarter like, but the gent at the door shoved us out, an' said there wur no room for such brats as us, an' told us to off 'bout our bizness."

"Poor boy!" said Eva, wondering if he came to the chapel she attended if he would not receive similar treatment. At length she looked up and said, "I would go to that chapel again, that you and Nelly attended, if I were you, on a Sunday. It would not be closed then, and I'm sure that kind gentleman would be glad to have you in the Sunday-school."

"Oh, then, I'll go," said Benny, who felt that this little girl's wish was law to him.

Soon after Mrs. Lawrence came in, read her husband's note without a word, and hastily wrote a reply.