Year: 1877

S 0"AS "nU hAhNnOoo JVu now SA'OA
us cannot be paid for" and she reached
out the money Mr.. Brown had just Civ
en- her. saying. 81 do not think it all
any too much for what we have receiv-
ed. Please take it ALL"


Mr.. Brown tried to answer but could
only swallow the great lump that kept
rising in his throat. Overcoming it at
length he made out to say, '.Nellie. we
do not need the money and you may.
Besides we do not feel that you are in
the least indebted to US, your presence
has been such a pleasure and comfort to
us. So put up your money and if we
need any we will ask you for it. Besides
we want you to make our house your
home. You don't know how lonely we
had been for the year before you came.
Our Mary was married then. and far
away and when you came, you some
how made her place less vacant. You
must stay with US, Nellie, we cannot let
you CO."


81 am SO thankful for your generosity,
Mr.. Brown. Money cannot pay for the
kindness you have shown the stranger
within your gates. The Lord has dealt
gently with me. When 1 was a stran-
ger you took me in, hungry and you fed
me and life has been less a burden and
more of blessing than for years that
have gone. Sometimes it has seemed as
if there might be little happiness in
the future for me-" and she threw her
arms around my neck and wept. "Bear
with me" she said, as her emotion had
somewhat subsided. "These are the
first tears that have eased my sad heart
for ten long years. Thank Heaven that
the sealed up fountain has at length
burst forth !"


"Poor child p we said, and we wept
with her.


By and by, she raised her head and
her face shone through her tears. Then
she forgot the present and her eyes had
a far away look as if some vision of the
past held her by its fascination. Then
she exclaimed, "Oh those were happy
days but how suddenly they vanished l''
Then overcome with weariness she sank
into slumber, and l carried her as
would child and laid her on her bed.


Mr.. Brown had all the time been look
ing on and his appearance and manner
as looked up at him was startling.


''What is the matter 2" I asked.


Il don't know, I've had very peculiar
impressions tonight. Whether they
will prove true is more than 1 can tell
but don't think it best to make any
explanation of them at present. And
so matters dropped for the evening.
1t was late the next morning when
Nellie came out to breakfast.


81 had such a sweet sleep all night
long-I feel joyful as little bird" and
she sang verse of the song


81 am happy. all so happy"


thought l had never heard anything
so sweet before. Mr.. Brown regarded
her with an earnest, searching expires
sion, reminding me how he looked the
previous evening.


CHAPTER ".


LITTLE BLANCHE DIES.


During the autumn Nellie was al
sunshine, and she was really the ligh
of our dwelling. Thus time went on til
the days of winter crept along, and it
angry storms swept around US. We no
ticed Blanche was growing more slender
She was paler and her eyes wilder ant
DREAMER, and her plaintive cries o
Mamma" were more frequent. TIL
doctor was called in, but he could dis
cern no disease and could do nothing t
help her. She continued to waste awe,
during the winter. When the brigh
days of spring returned, we hoped the.
would give some vigor to her frame. an
strength to her failing limbs. Thes
cheering influences did her no good, AM
we saw that she must pass away. A FEY
more days, and the last hours came. A
the sun was rising one beautiful Ma
morning. her expression changed, he
eyes we're mild and lovely, her voic
was soft and natural. The veil that ha
been upon her mind was removed an
her tongue was loosened.


Dear mamma" she said, so innc
Gently and sweetly that we arose in wor
der.


"Mamma, l am going away now
somebody is calling me. want to te
you how much 1 love you and how


have tried to talk to you and couldn'
Now l must go. Kiss me once NOR
mamma" In that last kiss of mother
love, her spirit passed away never MOI
to be chained to an imperfect body. HI
mother did not break forth in weepin
as expected, but raised her eyes an
reverently said:


"Father, l thank thee for thy lovir
kindness in permitting me to once hes


the sweet voice Of my child speaking
me" Then she kissed the dead chi
and said: "You have gone from wor
/ | e + L.