"Come, you young monkeys-" and he lifted them up and kissed one after the other.

"Now we're friends all round," said he in high good-humour," so we'll strike our camp without more delay. And I own I'm heartily glad not to have to go back to look after those plaguy chains. Are you going our road, master?"

"Yes, for a mile or two," said Claude, "and if you will put my bag in the cart, I'll carry the little girl on my shoulder."

CHAPTER XIV.

HOME

SICKNESS.

HE child must be covered up, or people

"THE

will see her gratis," said Philippa; whereon Josepha was inducted into a shapeless blouse of coarse canvas, and her head was covered by a large, coarse, flapped straw hat. As Fritz fastened the button of her collar she gently and timidly stroked his hand-the hand that had flung the stone.

"Come now, don't be too endearing," said he bluntly; but the repulsion of the speech was neutralized by his kindly patting her cheek, and lifting her up on Claude's shoulder.

"I do believe you've found me the secret of managing her," cried he, as the caravan set forth, with Philippa and Conrad seated on the baggage.

"It was a lucky chance, after all, that threw in my way. Are you going to the fair?"

"No, I turn off, a few miles hence."

you

"How came you to be sleeping in the open air last night? Was everybody in the village gone to bed?"

"Not everybody, but they would not take me in." "Beds full, perhaps, on account of the fair?” "No, they had been set against me.”

Set against you? For what reason?”

Claude briefly told his tale. Fritz became interested in it, and asked him many questions. The adventures of the colporteur drew him out of himself; they were simply but graphically told; and Claude had always the power of winning his hearers' attention and sympathy as long as he steered clear of anything that did not provoke the old quarrel of the natural heart against God;just as St. Paul found an attentive auditory among the excited Jews of Jerusalem till he began to speak of imparting the gospel privileges to the Gentiles. They gave him audience unto that word, and then lifted up their voices and cried, “Away with such a fellow from the earth; for it is not fit that he should live!"

A pause at length ensued, during which Fritz appeared immersed in a train of deep thought. Claude had no disposition to interrupt it. The silence, however, was softly broken, by a low singing sound, as of a little bird, over his head; and Josepha patted his cheeks to let him know how happy she was, and then left off her cooing. You make me wish to see Switzerland," at length said Fritz, abruptly, "perhaps we may go there another summer; and so on through Savoy into Italy. Albinos may be as great or greater wonders there than here."

Claude resumed the story of his native land, interweaving it here and there with a word of spiritual tendency, just as much as he thought Fritz's untutored mind able to bear. His companion again became plunged in thought. Presently they came before one of those carved and vulgarly coloured representations of our Saviour on the cross, as large as life, which are frequently to be met with by the road-side on the continent; and which to Protestants have something so repulsive, while to many who have beheld and reverenced them from infancy, they bring feelings of devotion. Fritz was of the latter sort,

"We'll halt here a moment," said he, stopping the horse. Then, uncovering his rough head, and approaching the sculptured figure with solemnity, he crossed his hands on his breast and said earnestly,―

"Lord Jesus, I here promise and vow in thy adorable presence to keep my word faithfully to this man thy servant, and never to lay hands on or violently strike the children I have under my charge. So help me Saviour and all Saints! Amen."

Claude could not forbear embracing him. Philippa wiped away a tear.

"Here then, we part," said Claude, gently setting Josepha down and kissing her, "and may God's blessing be on you all. I am thankful to have met you, and shall be glad if we meet again."

After a few more cordial words, they each went on their several ways.

And now, each step brought Claude nearer and more near the scene of his approaching triumph. But he must first step out of his path, across some quiet fields, to the house of a woman

called Mary. She was one who had been