Year: 1868

OF things. lie had sister, who was child
too, and his constant companion. These
two were used to wonder all day long. They
wondered at the beauty of the flowers, they
wondered at the height and blueness of the
sky; they wondered at the depth of the
blue water they wondered at the goodness
and power of God, who made the lovely
world


They used to say to one another, sometimes,
supposing all the children upon earth were
to die, would the flowers, and the water, and
the sky be sorry? For, said they, the buds
are the children of the flowers, and the lit
tie playful streams that gambol down the
hillsides are the children OF the water, and
the small bright specks playing at hide and
seek in the sky all night, must be the chill
dren of the stars, and they would all be
grieved to see their playmates, the children
OF men, no more.


There was one clear, shining star, that
used to come out in the sky before the rest,
near the church spire above the graves. 1t
was larger aud more beautiful, they thought,
than all the others, and every night they
watched for it, standing hand in hand at the
window. Whoever saw it first, cried out,
Il see the star. And often they cried out
both together knowing so well when it would
rise and where So they grew to be such
friends with it, that, before lying down in
their beds, they looked out once again, to
bid it good night; and when they were
turning around to sleep they used to say,
God bless the star.


But while she was still very young, oh,
very, very young, the sister dropped, anG
came to be so weak that she could no longer
stand in tie window at night; and then the
boy looked sadly out by himself, and when
he saw the star, he turned round and said to
the patient pale face on the bed, II see the
STAR and then smile would come upon
her face, and little weak voice would say,
''God bless my brother and the star.
And so the time came-all too soon-when
the boy looked out alone, and when there
was no pale face on the bed; and when there
was little grave among the graves not there
before and when the star made long rays
down toward him, as he saw it through his
silent tears.


Now these rays were so tright, and they
seemed to make such shining way from
earth to heaven, that when the child went
to his solitary bed he dreamed that, lying
where he was, he saw train of people ta-
ken up that sparkling road by angels. And
the star, opening, showed him great world
of light where many more such angels wait
| ed to receive them.


Ali these angels who were waiting turned
their beaming eyes upon the people who
were carried up into the star; and some
came out from the long rows in which they
stood, and fell upon the peoples necks and
kissed them tenderly. and went away with
them down avenues of light, and were so
happy in their company, that lying in his
bed, he wept for joy. --
But there were many angels who did not
go with them, and among them one he knew.
| The patient face that once had lain upon
the bed was glorifed and radient, but his
heart found out his sister among the host.


His sisters angel fingered near the en-
trance of the star, and said to the leader
among those who had brought the people
hither, 'Is my brother Gomez
| And he said ''no.


She was turning hopefully away, when
the boy stretched out his arms, and cried,
so, my sister, am here! take mel" And
then she turned her beaming eyes upon him
and it was night; and the star was shining
into the room, making long rays down to-
wards him as he saw it through his tears.
upon the star as on the home he was to go
to, when his time should come; and he
thought that he did not belong to the earth
alone, but the star too, because of his sis
ters angel gone before.


There was baby born TO be brother to
the boy; and while he was SO little that he
never yet had spoken word, he stretched
his tiny form upon his bed and died.


Again the boy dreamed OF the open star,
and of the company of angels, and the train
of people, and the row of angels with their
beaming eyes all turned upon those people s
faces. And his sisters angel said to the
leader. is my brother here p


And he said mot that one, but another. :"


As the boy beheld his brothers angel in
her arms, he cried, 80, sister, am here !
take me!' And she turned and smiled at
him, and the star was shining.


He grew to be young man, ,and was busy
at his books, when and old servant came to
him and said: '"rhy mother is no more.
bring her blessing on her darling son.


Again, at night, he saw the star and all
the former company. And his sisters an
gel said to the leader, Is my brother not
come ?''


And he said, ''Thy motter. y


And mighty cry of joy went forth through
all that star, because the mother was re-uni
ted to her two children. And he stretched
out his arms, and cried, so, mother, sister
and brother, am here; take mel And
they answered him, mo. yeti" and the
star was shining.


He grew to be man. whose hair was
turning gray, and he was sitting in his chair
by the freside, heavy with grief, and with
his face bedewed with tears, when the star