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for help, or to seeing her in such a mood.
    “Help me by trying to be a Christian with me. Won’t you?” she asked eagerly. “We could work together, and help each other then; and I do so want you to belong to Jesus. Will you, John?” She put her hand lovingly into her brother’s, and waited for his answer.
    He closed his fingers about her hand with a warm, earnest pressure, and there was a manly expression on his face. He was very much touched. Perhaps his heart was all ready for the invitation, only no one had ever before given it. “What would I have to do?” he said at length, hesitatingly. Katharine had waited for his reply with her heart throbbing, and sending up eager, longing prayers to her Father in heaven to send his spirit to speak to this dear brother.
    “I am afraid I do not know very well how to tell you.” She said, clasping his hand a little tighter in token of her great joy that his answer had not been “No.” “I’ve only just begun myself, you know. The first thing is to give yourself to Jesus Christ. Tell him you want to be forgiven for all the wrong you have done, and you will be his forever, and try to please him always. Then after that pray every day for help, and read the Bible, and try harder all the time to please him. I’m only just finding out myself how to do it, and I want you to help, you know. You won’t say no, will you? Oh, I need you so much!”
    John hesitated, started to speak two or three times, then waited, and Katharine made several earnest pleas, always ending with her petition, “O John, won’t you do it?”
    At last, just as they reached their own gate, he said in a low voice, so low it was almost a whisper, “I guess so. I’ll try.”
    “O John, I’m so glad!” she said joyfully; and she reached up to her tall young brother and kissed him. He bore the kiss with much embarrassment, and yet was pleased that she should give it. Katharine had never shown him much that she loved him, and he felt very tenderly toward her tonight. It was pleasant to have his sister care whether he became a Christian or not, pleasant to have her want his help. They went in the house together quietly then; and the father and mother noticed the expression on their faces with wonder as they entered the room.
    After that the brother and sister began to get acquainted with one another as they had never done before. They had many talks together about this new subject which was beginning to interest them. John was very shy whenever Katharine spoke about it, and yet he seemed pleased. He entered into the agreement with her at first more from a desire to please her; but little by little he grew to understand how much the promise he had made meant. Katharine watched over him constantly, guarding him from temptations as often as she could. She became wonderfully entertaining, so much so, that John began, to prefer to stay at home, instead of wandering off with “the fellows.” Gradually their religious talks grew longer, until it came about that every Sunday afternoon, as a matter of course, John drew up a large armchair in the library bay window, and settled himself on the sofa opposite, motioning Katharine to take the chair. Then the two would read and talk together, they were trying to study the Bible in such a way as would give them practical help in their daily living, but did not always now the best way to do it.
    Thus the autumn slipped into the winter almost without their knowledge, and they grew daily more attached to one another, and more bound together in all their duties and enjoyments. Helping each other, they helped themselves.
    Christmas came, and with it many beautiful remembrances from the summer friends. Katharine opened them in surprise, and almost sighted as she opened one small, thin package, neatly wrapped in white paper, and addressed in a bold, clear hand. Then she gave her undivided attention to the package, and to the letter accompanying it. The opened paper disclosed