196 DICK ROOK. 



soon. We were informed in the evening that his 

 patron had no sooner left him, than Dick got up, 

 and, weak and ill as he was, had walked all the 

 way to his cottage. I went to see him the next 

 morning. On entering his room, I found a little 

 girl, with a particularly open, honest countenance, 

 and the picture of neatness, engaged in reading 

 a chapter in the bible to Dick, who appeared to 

 be eagerly listening to some of those merciful 

 promises, which are so abundantly to be found in 

 the sacred volume. Dick motioned to her to 

 shut the book and leave the room. " That child/ 5 

 said Dick, " is now repaying me for the care I 

 have taken of her. She has been doing for me 

 what I am unable to >do for myself she reads 



the bible to me. Ah, Mr. what should I 



have done now without her. I am a poor, igno- 

 rant, outcast, and have nothing to look back to 

 that can give me any comfort. There is, how- 

 ever, in that book,^ pointing to the bible, ee some 

 words that make me hope I may, perhaps have my 

 sins forgiven. She seems to know what they mean, 

 for she reads them in a different way to what she 

 does some of the other parts. Poor child ! she 

 little thinks that a dying man like me has no- 

 thing to comfort him, but what she reads to me." 

 I was much affected at seeing Dick in this 

 state. He was evidently, as he had said, a dying 

 man. His hardihood, his courage, his unshaken 



