60 FAEM ECHOES. 



unburden himself of it to one from whom he thought he 

 might receive comforting advice ? Judge of my surprise 

 and relief, when I found that what he had to communi- 

 cate was the confession of his neglect to inform me, at 

 the time of its occurrence some year or two previous, 

 that one in my employ had left open for a night, a door 

 which ought to have been locked. He found it open early 

 the next morning, and had ever since felt that he had 

 neglected his duty in not at once reporting the fact to me. 

 There was a tone of sadness in his voice which told, as 

 plainly as did his words, his regret at this failure of duty. 

 It was no light matter to him that I had placed confi- 

 dence in him, and that he had seemingly abused it. 



I shall never forget the impression this made upon me, 

 nor, I hope, the lesson it taught me. I exclaimed : 

 " Happy Uncle Bill, to be thus prepared. Is this all that 

 troubles you ? " 



Here was a soul about to enter eternity, as we supposed, 

 and it had no greater burden resting upon it than this 

 trifling matter. To tell of this open door, and then 

 feel that he was prepared for whatever might take place, 

 proved a childlike faith and trust rarely to be met with. 

 The eye of faith was evidently looking upon another 

 "open door," and so steadfastly as not to see any of the 

 difficulties which distress those who do not take as liter- 

 ally as did he, the precious promise of a precious Saviour : 

 " I am the door : by me if any man enter in he shall be 

 saved." Why do so many really good people make such 

 a tremendous mistake as to continually and morbidly 

 dwell upon their " un worthiness," as though self condem- 

 nation were a preparation for Heaven ? We should go to 



