Year: 1873

till il would have bcon dlfficu i
, for light or cold to have entered
by those means again. Then
Myttle's Sunday dress was taken
down an inch or two, that it might
not feel so much above her, and


the waist to Sadie's frock was
eyed till it promised to never
finch from duty again. There
were only fifteen minutes ere the


ciock would strike twelve, but in


ten of them this persevering wo'


men liberated a dashing little but.


terfy from brown silk chrysalis,


and in the remaining tiye folded


up the evenings work and laid at


aside. Then she looked up ia


John, who sat near by, giving him


smile of affection requiring


only one in return to cause her


heart, tired as it was with the


weeks hurry and worry to bound


for very joy. But a stretch and
yawn was all that he sent back


across the wave oflight that had


flashed over at him. Ali, had he


but sent a smile her woman.


heart would have made so much
of il she would have seen it more
than his nature could have possibly
felt; appreciation, sympathy, love
for you remember she conld


make little 60 great way. 1t
would have been to her sweet
blessing, she would have rested
upon it all the coming week, and


rlaced it rs compensation against
every disapp"intment-"John
smiled upon me"-"John thinks
If me'-"John loves me-" But
us it was, ho only said he was
tired, and was glad she was
through for the night. And the
weary woman with an unsatisficd
longing in her soul, a craving in
her heart for sympathy, caught
up her baby from the cradle, and
hugged it tightly to her bosom,
kissing it's fair face again and
again. Baby was asleep, but It's
clumsy fist opened wide of sud
den, and the tiny hand claspcd
itself around tho mother. fin ser,
and would not let go. 1t was a
very little thing for q baby to do,
but it cheered the lonely heart
wonderfully; the haggard look left
her countcnance, and n warmer
hue succeeded. You call her foolish
again and say it was only al ac-
cident---tlat on emotion stirred
the baby. heart of the slumberer.
Perhaps you are right, my friend,
but | love to think that the God
who has hidden from the wise
what he has revealed unto babes
sent comfort 10 tho mother
through the child. Any way, |
know that Ii s blessing rested up.
OIL them that Saturday night in
the Long Ago.


CHAPTER RI.


1t wac in the early winter. Baby
Matthews was wrapped in his
warmest hannelA, but somehow
they did not keep out the cold.
At last, before night came on, the
little fellow who had worried all
the day, begun to breathe very
hard, and gave palpablc evidence
that he was sick. Mary Matthews
feared her boy was attacked with
Group, and wanted a physician
summoned. But tho father of the
child said he would be well over
it by morning 1T was nothing
and he didn't believe in doctors.
lie was correct in the fret par.
ticnlar, for ere the struggling rays
Of light penetrated that little bed.
room, baby Matthews pnt up his
little hands IN great pain, and the
Savior looking down upon the
suffering child, had compassion
upon it, and took it upin his arms
aud healed il. Earthly eyes pro-
nounccd it dead, after that, and
so the treasure was buried in the
ground.


1t would be doing injustice to
John Matthews to say he did not
miss tho little thing, though do
not think he mourned. lie could
labor all day and never feel bis
loss till he entered his homo at
night, but with Mary, bis wife, the
case was different. In all her work
had the little face been associated:
kneading her bread she had watch.
ed the baby on the floor, that no
harm might come near; in wash
ing her dishes she had handled
them gently that the sleeper might
when baby cried ont from
any cause, there had always been
n song on her lips TO ouiot him.