Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed.

_A Bit of_

_Rough Road_

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By

_Amy Le Feuvre_

_Author of_
_"Probable Sons," "The Mender," "Heather's Mistress," etc._

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_"Oh! dost thou complain that Heaven's way is rugged?. . ._
_Be the oftener walking in it, and that will make it smooth."_

GURNALL.

_Illustrated by Percy Tarrant_

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_London_
_The Religious Tract Society_
_4, Bouverie Street; & 65, St. Paul's Churchyard_

_BY THE SAME AUTHOR_

The Mender Jill's Red Bag
On the Edge of a Moor Odd Made Even
Dwell Deep Legend Led
A Puzzling Pair A Little Maid
Heather's Mistress The Carved Cupboard
Miss Lavender's Boy, and Other Sketches Odd

THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY, 4 BOUVERIE STREET;
& 65 ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD, LONDON, E.C.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. STRANGE THOUGHTS

II. A QUIET HOUSE

III. A NEW FRIEND

IV. TAKEN BY SURPRISE

V. CONFLICTING DUTIES

VI. A BUSY DAY

VII. SETTLING DOWN

VIII. HOPE'S CHOICE

IX. A HOLIDAY

X. HESTER'S BEES

XI. TROUBLE

XII. THE NEW HOME

XIII. KITTY

XIV. THE LITTLE FLAGGED PATH

XV. A SPEEDY PARTING

XVI. A LONG NIGHT

XVII. HOMELESS

XVIII. AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE

XIX. BOY AND GIRL

XX. A VISIT TO LONDON

XXI. A SUCCESSFUL SEARCH

XXII. ALONE

XXIII. WAITING

XXIV. WEDDING BELLS

XXV. IN THE BORDERLAND

XXVI. A YORKSHIRE HOME

XXVII. VISITORS

XXVIII. A CONFESSION

ILLUSTRATIONS

"DO YOU REMEMBER IT—'PEACE, PERFECT PEACE'?" _Frontispiece_

HOPE SLIPPED AWAY TO HEAR THE FAMOUS PREACHER

"MR. ST. CLAIR KEEPS ASKIN' IF YOU'VE COME"

"HOPE, YOU ARE CHANGED," JIM SAID, SUDDENLY

"YOU CAN DO NOTHING FOR HIM, BUT JUST WATCH HIM"

"SIT STILL AND SEE A MAN MAKE TEA"

"WHAT IS IT?" HE INQUIRED. "CAN I DO ANYTHING FOR YOU?"

"I THINK YOUR NAME OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN PEACE," SAID KITTY

THE WATER WAS SLOWLY BUT SURELY MOUNTING THE STAIRS

SHE GAVE HIM MISS RILL'S ADDRESS

"WHAT ON EARTH HAVE YOU BEEN DOING WITH YOURSELF? YOU'RE A WRAITH!"

HER SURROUNDINGS SEEMED TO MELT AWAY, SHE WAS WAFTED INTO A LITTLE
PARADISE

HOPE PUT HER FACE IN HER HANDS AND SOBBED ALOUD

HOPE RAN DOWN TO MEET THEM

"YOU MUST TELL ME WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE FOR THE FUTURE"

"OH, LANCELOT, HOW GLAD I AM TO BE HOME AGAIN!"

_Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?_
_The blood of Jesus whispers peace within._

_Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties press'd?_
_To do the will of Jesus, this is rest._

_Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?_
_On Jesus' bosom nought but calm is found._

_Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away?_
_In Jesus' keeping we are safe and they._

_Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?_
_Jesus we know, and He is on the throne._

_Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours?_
_Jesus has vanquish'd death and all its powers._

_It is enough: earth's struggles soon shall cease,_
_And Jesus call us to Heaven's perfect peace._

E. H. BICKERSTETH.

_(From the Hymnal Companion. By permission of Messrs. Longmans,_
_Green & Co.)_

A Bit of Rough Road