The subject of our narrative was a little woman, not much over four feet in height. Nobody dreamed when she was a girl that she ever would become what she did become. She had a somewhat fiery spirit, which broke out in temper and hot word whenever there was a provocation. She loved excitement and lived for pleasure, with little concern about other aims. She had no real education, for she was doing something else at the period of life when it is easiest to train the mind. But if she had wanted such training ever so eagerly, it would have been difficult to have gained it, for her early home was in a back country district where the schools were poor and took the pupils only through very simple branches of study, with little or no culture. Twenty years ago this little woman found in Christ her own Saviour, and the very highest kind of culture began to show itself in her life. Everybody knew that something had happened. New traits of character bloomed out like fresh spring flowers, and a new kind of life commenced. She had always lived for herself, and never thought of doing anything else. Now, she went to living for Christ and for everybody who needed her.

She did not look for any far-off field, nor did she ache to preach. She bought a little country shop near a "four corners," and went to selling light groceries and such simple wares as she could handle. This shop soon became one of the principal centers of light in the community-a little temple from which spiritual forces radiated. The little woman lived in her shop, and could always be found night or day. Persons who had any troubles soon discovered that the little woman in the shop knew how to comfort them, and so they dropped in to tell their tale of woe and to find sympathy and encouragement. Slowly her feeble body was racked and twisted by rheumatism until almost every joint was stiff and sore, but she did not talk about her own troubles. She would sit and listen quietly to the ills of a neighbor, and her interest and sympathy would go out, and her face would light up as she talked, so that no one guessed that she herself was suffering.

Those who had money to spare and wished to distribute to the needy, gladly made the tiny rheumatic woman the dispenser of their charity; and she delighted to hobble about, carrying sunshine and something more into homes where trial and poverty made the struggle of life hard. She was never happier than when she had something which she could give, and it always seemed as though she was a messenger of love come from God Himself and as though the gift came from Him, only He chose her hand to carry it for Him. The little shop was one of the most joyous places in the whole town. She could laugh as well as mourn, and she could rejoice with those who rejoiced as well as weep with those who wept. Her humor was genuine, and her love of mirth and joy were known everywhere. She enjoyed life as the happy birds do, and the best cure she knew for pain and hardship was thanksgiving and praise. She enjoyed the beauties of nature. The sight of growing flowers, of autumn colors, of sunset tints, moved her as though she had seen through a veil and had caught a glimpse of the Creator behind the visible beauty. When she spoke of her Father in heaven her voice trembled and broke with a quaver, for the joy of relationship with Him filled her heart. It was all so real; it was all so wonderful.

Everybody, hardened sinners and gentle little children, knew that she was one of Christ's flock. In her was vividly manifested the fulfilment of the Lord's prayer for His own, "That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also maybe one in Us:that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me " (John 17:21). She had the unmistakable marks which tell that the family of God, in whatever part of the earth, or with whatever tongue or people they may be found, is one family-from one and the same Father:those marks which witness for Christ in all the world and command attention to the message which they bring.

This transformed little woman, with no thought of herself, showed in her daily life that Christ dwelt in her. She was like Him. She gave cups of cold water; she loved those who suffered; she strengthened the tempted, and encouraged those whose faith was feeble. The little worn and twisted body now lies white and cold. The spirit has gone away. The soul that suffered much is happy with a new and deeper joy. There were few of her own kith and kin to weep by her grave, but an entire village mourned, for the little woman who was their trusted friend had gone home, and many realized that she who seemed an ordinary woman, was really one of God's great ones. R. M. J.