Year: 1865

ory IN my heart? | remembered little
Susy and the world where she was going
and tried to grow calm.
For fortnight after that she failed
fast Of course | went to see her every
day, and it carried me strengthly near to
the eternal world whittier her footsteps
tended. You cannot think what change
it seemed, to come back to the thorough


y earthly atmosphere Of my fashionable
establishment-to see the bright hued
silks, and laces white and dainty as hoar
front-to hear the perpetual talk about
what was stylish and what was becoming
and be complimented about my invention
my. Charming taste. 1t was like turning
back to earth from the gate of Heaven.


At length there came dayit was
toward the last of April-when / went
earlier than usual to see little Brains
She had been so weak the day before that
| felt axnious. | carried her the first May
flowers had seen, The little creature
had a sort ofpassionate fondness for flow
.ers not unusual in such an organization.
She loved and cherished them as if they
were DeT own kindred.


When went in l saw DIR. Sargent
was in the room, and with him his back
toward the door, another gentleman The
Doctor heard my footsteps and came ont.


"A friend of mine is there" he said
"Dr Weir, from New York. He came
on to visit me, and | brought him to see
the child There is no hope, of course !;
but he might think of something to re-
Ieve her that | did not "


| felt my face turning crimson nnder
bis searching glance But neither be or
| made any comment. As soon as | felt
sufficiently mistress of myself I went into
the room. Calmness stole over my
spirit as | crossed its threshold. l felt
as if | were in the presence Of waiting an
gels / met Horace Weir's eyes. hut |
scarcely knew it as | went up to Snsy,
and saw the strange, seraphic light which
made her little wan face seem as the face
of an angel. | gave her the flowers, and
she took them and my hand together in
to her clinging hold.


Dear, kind Miss Macgregor," she
said fondly ynn won't have to bring
me any more flowers. am going where
they bloom all the time. What should l
have done without you2 How thankful
| am that went to your shop !"


"But if you hadn't come there, perhaps
you would have lived" | said as well as
| could for the sobs where choking me-
She thought moment, then she shook
her head


"No, | should not have outlived Gods
time and you have made me so much
happier. If | can pray for anything af
ter die, I shall ask Him, when | get to
His feet, to bless you forevermore. Can
you stay with me little while %


l took off my shawl and bonnet and
sat down at her bedside. DR.. Sargent
came up to bid her good night.


6" must 60 now," he said. "but I will
come very early in the morning. Will yon
stay awhile, Weir, in case anything
should be wanted 2"


Certainly" answered a voice, every
tone of which | knew well.


Little Brains looked up with such
bright smile


=" How kind every one is," she said
How kind you've always been, Dr.
Sargent Good by |"


Moved by some sudden impulse of ten
derness. DR.. Sargent bent over and kiss
ed the little, wistful face of the child he
had tended SO long and patiently Next
time he sees her it will be after he too
has gone over the river. He will not be
sorry then that he "did it unto the least of
these" Christ's little ones.


Weir sat down in the outer room. I
stayed by Susy. Her mother came in and
out restlessly. with white face, and eyes
full of anguished and longing. Body had
cried herself into state of exhaustion,
and she sat on the floor, her head in
chair, sleeping heavily Shall ever for
get the glimpse had that night into the
heart Of that dying child ? Holding that
little hand, looking into those eyes so
full Of meaning, and SO soon to close for
ever. | drew nearer than | ever had be-
fore to the mysteries of death and of life
1t was midnight, | think, when a sudden
light ilumined all her face, and as if in
answer to call we'did not hear. she
said:


I" | am ready"


Her mother clung to her in a passion
of tears and prayers Her sister, wide
awake now, was sobbng at her side She
kissed them both fondly


"God loves you," she said.


Then she looked at me with wistfnl
eyes, | bent down and kissed her, my
tears falling fast on her white face.


=" God loves you, too" she said and
then. moment after. she spoke again, as
if that voice we could not hear were once
more calling


"Al ready"


Then she turned her face, with that
last smile on it, to the wall, and went
home.


An hour afterward she lay, as we had
robed her, in white garments, with closed
eyes, and look so calm and sweet upon
her face you would have thought her