Year: 1878

and instinctively shrunk away from the
beautiful, sad being who had spoken.
and went close up to the other, whose
eyes were fixed beaming and smiling on
her brother.


You are so beautiful" she said, 81 an
look SO bright an happy. Wull yo'
make my boy we'll, so he can enjoy his
self to the fields and woods?"


Then the spirit with the radiant eyes
rose and beckoned to the boy. = have
come to take your brother home,' she
said, where he will be well and joyful
always"


An may l no come too?" the girl
asked, putting her arm around her
brothers neck, as if to keep him with
her. / cannot live withouten him"
Her mouth quivered, and the tears
welled up big and bright into her eyes.


My child" the spirit answered soft
ly, you cannot come with your brother
now-the time is not yet. Some day |
will come for you, and he will come
with me to welcome you. But now, my
sister wants you still, and has work for
you to do


The girl turned and looked timidly up
at the sad-eyed spirit, who said, Yes,
my child, you belong to me; my sister
has called your brother from me. In
that, he is happier than you. But l
will love you too. You need not fear
me, if you will only trust me and be
brave. Will you Gomez" She held out
her arms to her, and the girl, touched
and attracted by the sad face, went to-
wards her and said, still holding her
brothers hand tightly clasped in her
own, am not afeard O you, an, | will
trust you, but cannot give up my boy"


But you must!' the sister spirit an
swered.


In spite of her glowing beauty, the
children felt that her will was inexora-
BILE. " Sister" said the bov, "yo' must
let me 60 l feel her drawing me, an I
cannot stay, wull be so happy And
yo' wull come to me. Kiss me, an let
me go!' She sobbed, but it be so
hard, so hard. We was so happy to-
gether.


Il be so tired!'' he murmured as he
leaned supported in her arms, with his
lips close to hers.


The radiant-eyed spirit approached
them and took the boy by the hand
"Come!" she said gently. Il will take
you home"


My boy! my boy!' cried the girl pit
eously; and tor a moment, as she held
him fast in her strong young arms, it
seemed as though her love were enough
to keep him in spite of the spirits call


Sister, let me go. | wull come to
yo' and fetch yo'.


Then, with a moan, she loosened her
arms and kissed him and let him 90.
Then the spirit wrapped the boy in her
garments, and kissed him solemnly on
brow and eyes and mouth, and behold!
beneath the power of that embrace his
face frightened into health and life and
beauty, and the immortal radiance that
breathed from the spirits form fell up
on him and glorifed him. And as his
sister gazed wonderingly at him. the
spirit took him by the hand, and disap-
peared from her sight Then she with
saddened eyes came to the girl and bent
over her as she wept, and whispered,
laying her hand on her brow: BE
brave, and fear not" and then she too
vanished.


In the morning, the sun was peering
curiously in at the window of the queer
tumble down house in Mile-end. And
this was the sight it saw:


The father was still breathing heavily
on the floor; and on the bed, the broth
and sister still lay close clasped in each
others arms. Her breathing was soft
and regular, and her cheeks were wet
with tears On his face shone a radiant
smile, for his was the sleep of death