"You have nothing to fear for Alfaretta; she is a very good, steady girl." "She's good enough and she's steady enough," returned Mr.Dean, shaking his head; "and oh, Mr.Ward, when she joined the church, two years ago, there wasn't anybody (joinin' on profession) better grounded in the faith than she was.

She knew her catechism through and through, and she never asked a question or had a doubt about it in her life.

But now,--now it's different!" "Do you mean," John asked, "that her faith is shaken,--that she has doubts?
Such times are apt to come to very young Christians, though they are conscious of no insincerity, and the doubts are but superficial.

Has she such doubts ?" "She has, sir, she has," cried the elder, "and it breaks my heart to see my child given over to the Evil One!" "No, no," John said tenderly; "if she is one of the elect,--and we have reason to hope she is,--she will persevere.

Remember, for your comfort, the perseverance of the saints.