NETTIE'S MISSION.

CHAPTER I.

OUR FATHER.

In a pleasant little nook, formed by a crevice between two huge rocks, and roofed over by a slab of stone which had fallen from the overhanging cliffs above, there sat one morning a gentleman, who seemed to be more interested in the scene around him than in the book which lay open upon his knee.

He had chosen a very pretty spot for his reading-room. Behind him rose the stern, gray rocks, while before him, rolling its waves almost to his feet, lay the bright sea, rippling up on the beach with a murmuring sound; and, away in the distance, he could see the white sails of ships flapping idly in the slight breeze; while, above all, the soft April sky smiled down upon sea and land, as if to win men's hearts from the beauty of earth to that more glorious land which lies beyond its blue depths.

He was sitting there, watching the ebb and flow of the tide, and thinking, unwillingly, that it would soon reach his retreat, when a low sound, like a suppressed sob, struck on his ear. He raised his head and listened, for he had thought himself alone. It came again, a muffled, uncertain sound, but, unmistakably, the crying of a child. Rising

from his seat, he went out upon the beach and looked up and down the long stretch of sand; but no one was to be seen, and he was about to return to the cave to listen once more for the strange sound, when the flutter of a dress caught his eye. Walking around the point which hid its owner from sight, he almost stumbled upon a little figure crouching down upon the rocks and crying bitterly. Miserably dressed, with her long hair falling in disorder upon her neck, and her cheeks stained with tears, she was certainly a sad sight.

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My little girl, what troubles you so?" asked the gentleman, leaning over her and speaking in a gentler voice than she had heard for many a day.

The child tossed back the tangled hair from her eyes and turned toward him with a wondering look, ceasing to cry as she gazed into those dark, bright eyes, which were fixed upon her with such pity. It was a noble face, with its high broad forehead and firm but kindly mouth; and Nettie Allen gazed at it with astonishment, that such a face should bend tenderly over her.

But when the gentleman asked again, "What troubles you, my child?" her sobs broke out afresh, and she exclaimed, half angrily, half mournfully,

"I wish I was dead! Oh, I wish so I was dead!"

"Hush, hush! You must not say you wish for death in that violent manner. Try to tell me what makes you cry so;" and he drew away one of the hands which concealed her face. "Has any one been unkind to you?" Yes;" and the girl snatched her hand from his, placed her elbows on her knees, and, resting her chin on her clasped hands, sat gazing out over the sea without another word.

But Mr. Thorn was not repelled by her rude answer. Rough as her manner was, she was a child, and a very sad child, too; he could see that in the mournful eyes, which looked so steadily out over the rippling sea.

"Who is it that has injured you?" he asked, very gently. "Everybody," she answered, in the same brusque tone. "Have you no friends at all?”

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No, I haven't."

"Poor child!"

The girl looked toward him again, watching him closely for a moment, and then, her whole manner changing, said tremulously,

"No, I haven't anybody at all. No mother, nor father, nor nobody."

"You have one Father, little one.”

"No! he died long ago, they say, when I was a baby. All the other children have got one, but not me."

"You have a Father. He lives up there.'

Her eyes followed his pointing finger, then fell again to his face, with the old questioning look.

"What do you mean?"

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I mean that away beyond that beautiful sky, far above all the din, and toil, and weariness of this earth, your Father lives-another Father than he who, you say, died when you were a baby."

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'Who told you that?" asked the child.

"He told me. Years ago, a message was given me from Him, telling me that all the little children, whether they were merry and glad, or sad and lonely, were His children, and that I must tell them about Him tell them that He is their Father, and that He will take care of them and keep them safe in His love.”

The eager, wondering eyes fixed on him, told him how new and strange this story was to her.

"I don't know what you mean," she said, as he paused. "I never saw Him."

"No, you will not see Him until He calls you to the home to which He brings all His children. But I can tell you of Him now, so that you may learn how to reach that beautiful home. Would you like to go there?"

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Yes, if that Father loves me; 'cause nobody does here." "Do you live in this village?" asked Mr. Thorn. "Yes; I live with my aunt. Uncle is a fisherman.” "It is strange I never saw you before.

knew every child in the village."

I thought I

"We

"We've only been here a week," said Nettie. used to live ten miles away; but uncle thinks it's safer coming in here with the boat when it storms. I wish they'd all go off in the old boat and never come back," she added, in a muttering tone.

"Your Father in heaven does not love to hear you speak so."

"He couldn't hear, away off there," she answered, quickly.

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Yes, He can hear and see all we do and say. This great Father is not a man like me, He is the holy God of heaven; and it grieves Him to hear you speak wicked, revengeful words."

"Does He watch me all the time ?" asked Nettie. "I don't see how it is."

"You cannot understand it; but you can understand that He loves you very dearly, and that He wants you to make ready to go to Him, by being very gentle and kind, even to those who are not kind to you. Will you try to

do that for Him?"

"Aunt will punish me when I go home," said she, without answering his question, "because I couldn't carry the basket of fish to the house. It was so heavy I let it fall, and the handle broke. Uncle struck me when I did it; and I know aunt will beat me, too."

I hope she will not; but if she does, what shall you do?"

"I'll strike! But did you say the new Father wanted me not to strike back?" she asked, suddenly checking herself.

"Yes. I will tell you what He wants you to do. If