HOW WE ACT; NOT HOW WE LOOK.

“O Tommy, what a funny little woman! come and see!” cried Harry Wilde, as he stood at the window of his father’s house, in a pleasant English town. Tommy ran to the window and looked out, and laughed louder than his brother. It was indeed a funny sight to see. In the midst of a pelting rain, through mud and running water, there waddled along the queerest, quaintest little roly-poly figure you can imagine. It was a dwarf woman, who, though no taller than a child of seven or eight years, wore an enormous bonnet, and carried an overgrown umbrella. Her clothes were tucked up about her in a queer way, and altogether she was a very laugh-at-able little creature. As she passed, she looked up, and such an odd face as she had! The nose was large and long, as though it had kept on growing after the other features gave out. Indeed, it was so big that the eyes had got into a way of looking at it constantly, which did not improve their beauty. The hair was bushy, and of a lively red, but the mouth was quite sweet and good-humored, and the little crossed eyes had a merry, kindly twinkle in them.

“Well,” said Harry, “if I were such an absurd looking body as that, I wouldn’t show myself. I ’d hide by day, and only come out by night, like an owl, would n’t you, Tommy?”

“Yes,” said the little boy, and then asked, “Did God make her, Harry?”

“Why yes, He made what there is of her, and then I suppose He concluded it wasn’t worth while to go on with her!”

“Harry! Harry!” cried the mother of the little boys, “you must not talk so; it is wicked. That poor little dwarf may be of much use in the world, and do a great deal of good, if she has a kind heart; and she looks as though she had.”

“I should like to know of what use such a poor wee thing can be,” said Harry, shrugging his shoulders.

“God knows,” said Mrs. Wilde, “and He did not make her in vain.”

The next day was Christmas. The rain was over, and it was clear and cold.

“Hurrah!” cried Harry from the window, “here’s our wee bit woman again. Her hair is as fiery as ever. I wonder the rain didn’t put it out. She might warm her hands in it, if it weren’t for carrying that big basket.”

Mrs. Wilde looked out. The dwarf was trudging slowly along, bearing a heavy basket. The good lady was seized with a strong desire to know more about the strange little creature; so she hurried to her room, put on a bonnet and cloak, went out and followed after her, quietly. She had to go a long way before her curiosity was satisfied; but at last she saw the dwarf enter a miserable house, in the suburbs of the town. Mrs. Wilde stole up to a window, and ventured to look in. She saw the dwarf surrounded by a crowd of shouting children, to whom she was giving Christmas-cake, toys, and clothes from her basket. She saw her give food and medicine to a poor woman, who lay on a bed in a corner. She heard her say, “Have the coals come?” and the woman answer, “Yes, and the blankets; God bless you!” She saw her take up the baby, feed it, and play with it, so big a baby, that Mrs. Wilde thought it ought to take turns in tending, with the good little dwarf. Then the lady turned away in tears, and went home. When she had told Harry what she had seen, he blushed deeply, and Tommy said: “God knew better than brother what the funny little woman was good for, did n’t He?”

A CHARADE

O be my first, my darling child,
Whatever may betide;
Meet falsehood with its best rebuke,
An open, earnest, honest look,
Clear-browed, and fearless-eyed.

Be like my second, thoughtful, wise,
And in life’s summer prime,
Gather and hoard a goodly store
Of truth and love, and priceless lore,
To cheer its winter time.

But never let thy frank young heart
Consent to play my whole;
Let will and honor in it meet,
Let Duty ever guide thy feet,
And keep thy steadfast soul.

Tru-ant

LITTLE FOOTMARKS IN THE SNOW.

It was at a rectory, in the South of England, that two young children, a boy and a girl, were looking out of a nursery window, on Christmas morning, the morning of the first snow. The girl, who was about seven years old, was a beautiful, simple-hearted, amiable child, the daughter of English parents, residing in India. Some months previous to this winter morning she had been sent to England, on account of her delicate health, and confided to the care of her mother’s sister, Mrs. Graham, the Rector’s wife. Her name was Margaret Pelham; but she was called Meggie and Meg, Peggy and Peg, and various other odd nicknames by her English cousins.

Little Margaret’s chief playmate at the Rectory was her cousin Archie, a boy only two years older than herself, but feeling ever so much bigger and wiser; for he was an only son, a clever and rather conceited young gentleman. He was good-natured, and loved his cousin; but he loved better to tease and hoax her. Having lived all her little life in India, Meggie was exceedingly ignorant of customs and things in her new home, and was continually making laughable mistakes, and asking the most absurd questions. This “greenness,” as he called it, gave Archie immense delight, and he was never tired of mystifying and hoaxing the sweet-tempered little girl, who never resented his quizzings and practical jokes. Of course it never occurred to the silly boy that he was just as ignorant about India as Meggie was about England.

This morning, the children being left for a time alone in the nursery, he was having a rare time at his favorite amusement. Meggie had never before seen snow, and was full of innocent wonder and admiration. “O Cousin Archie!” she said, “the pretty white clouds we saw yesterday all fell down in the night! Did you hear the noise?”

“Clouds!” cried Archie, with a snort of contemptuous laughter; “why, you poor little Hindoo, that’s snow, and it came down so slow and soft that nobody heard it.”

“O, is that snow?” said Meggie, laughing good-humoredly at her own ignorance. “How beautiful it is! so soft and white. It looks just like my little dovey’s feathers. I think, Archie, the angels’ beds must be made out of snow, aren’t they?”

“O yes, of course, it would be so warm and comfortable, you know.”

“Yes, it looks nice and warm. I think God must send it down to keep things from dying of cold. He puts the grass and flowers to bed so, don’t He?” said simple and wise little Meggie.

Archie could not stand this. He shouted and clapped his hands, and even rolled on the carpet in an ecstasy of boyish fun, crying out, “O, how jolly green! how jolly green!”

“What?” said Meggie, “I don’t see anything green. All is white, as far as I can see. The trees and bushes look as though they had night-gowns and night-caps on. How pretty the snow is, how clean and soft! I should like to run about in it, wouldn’t you, Archie?”

“O yes, it’s prime fun,” replied the mischievous boy, “but it’s no rarity to me. I ’m used to it, you know. But you would delight in it, especially with bare feet. That way it is jolly, better than wading in a brook. Suppose you try it, Peg?”

It required little urging to persuade the simple child to take off her shoes and stockings and run down with her cousin to the great hall door. She threw on her little cloak, for she said to herself, “The wind may blow cold, for all the warm snow on the ground.”

The children met no one on their way. Archie, with some difficulty, opened the door, then said, “Now, Peg, run quick, away out into the pretty snow, and see how nice it feels, just like down.”

Meggie did as she was bid, and Archie slammed the door after her, and bolted it, laughing uproariously. You may be sure the poor little girl soon found how cruelly she had been hoaxed, and ran back again. She knocked at the door, crying, “O Cousin Archie, do let me in! The snow isn’t nice at all; it’s so cold it freezes my feet. Do, do let me in.”

But Archie only laughed and danced like a young savage for a minute longer, then seemed to be trying to open the door, and called out in some trouble that he could not move the bolt. Little Meggie sat down on the door-step and waited patiently till she was almost frozen. At last, after getting nearly exhausted in tugging at the heavy bolt, Archie succeeded in shoving it back. He found his little cousin so benumbed that he was obliged to carry her in his arms all the way to the nursery. Then he sat her down by the fire, chafed her hands and feet, and put on her stockings and shoes, saying many times, “I am sorry, Meggie, dear; I am so sorry!”

“O, never mind, it was only a joke,” said Meggie, and tried to smile, though she suffered a great deal more than Archie knew of.

But Meggie’s troubles were only begun. When they went down to breakfast, Mrs. Graham, who had seen from the parlor window the tracks of little bare feet in the snow, questioned the children about them. Meggie owned up at once that she had run out barefoot in the snow, because it looked so soft and nice, but said not a word about Archie’s having prompted her to the foolish act; and I really blush to say that Archie himself was not frank and brave enough to acknowledge his fault. The fact is, he was afraid of his father, who was a stern and godly man, and had small mercy for the sins of little folks. Both the Rector and his wife reproved Meggie for her thoughtlessness, and the gentle little girl shed some silent tears; but, after all, I think Archie, who sat trying to gulp down his breakfast with a bold face, suffered the most. All day long he was unusually kind to his cousin, and she soon got over her sadness, and was as merry and loving as ever.

The next morning, when the nursery-maid came to awake Archie, she told him that his cousin had been taken very ill in the night, so ill that they had had to send for the doctor, who feared that she might never get well. She had taken a violent cold, some way, he said.

Archie hurried on his clothes, and ran down to the nursery. He found his mother sitting by Meggie’s little bed, looking very sad and anxious. He stole up to his cousin, and taking her little hand, hot with fever, bent down and kissed it, with a burst of bitter tears, sobbing out, “O Meggie, forgive me, do, do forgive me!”

“Forgive you for what, Archie?” asked Mrs. Graham.

“For being cruel and cowardly, mamma. It was I who sent Meggie out into the snow, bare-foot, and then was afraid to take my share of the blame. I was so miserable all day. I came near owning it when you kissed me good night, but papa looked so solemn, I could n’t. I did n’t say my prayers; I felt too mean to pray.”

“God forgive you, my son!” said Mrs. Graham, somewhat sternly; but little Meggie murmured, in a sweet, faint voice, “O Cousin Archie, why did you tell? Maybe I would have died, and nobody but us would ever have known anything about it.”

Meggie did not die, however. She got well after a long illness, quite well. But this was the last of Archie’s hoaxing.

BABIE ANNIE TO COUSIN J.

ACKNOWLEDGING THE CHRISTMAS-GIFT OF A CHAIN.

You should have seen me, when papa
Brought me your gift, an hour ago;
I almost hopped out of my shoes,
And raised a mighty bantam crow!

I shook my hair about my eyes,
I flung my chubby arms about,
I hugged it, and an eager score
Of “pretty pretties” sputtered out.

I grasp it, gloat upon it now,
My fingers glide from link to link;
I like its shine, I like its feel,
I like its golden chink a-chink.

I thank you don’t I thank you, though!
My darling, dashing, handsome cousin!
I ’ll pat your whiskers, when we meet,
And give you kisses by the dozen.

I ’ll promise not to pull your hair,
When on your shoulder next I mount,
Nor bore my fingers in your ears,
Too often bored on my account.

Those fingers light shall never leave
On velvet waistcoat one faint crease,
Nor give your profile, clear and fine,
Another needless touch of Greece.

I will not bend the killing bow
Of that nice neck-tie, “rich, but neat,”
Nor put a ruffle in your shirt,
Nor break the white plaits with my feet.

The sacred collar shall not bear
The impress of a touch of mine;
Your sparkling diamond studs, like dews,
Shall on the lawn inviolate shine.

I will not fumble for your seals,
Nor listen where your tick-tick lies,
Nor dare to call in anger down
The heavy lashes of your eyes.

In short, I ’ll be a tender sprig,
A greenwood blossom small and sweet,
To hang upon your button-hole,
Or breathe love’s fragrance at your feet.

THE DAY AT THE CASTLE.

The Reverend Charles Rivers was the Rector of a small country parish in the North of England. He was a good man, a true minister of Christ to his people. He had a lovely wife, and four beautiful children, and there was no happier or sweeter home in all the country round than the modest little Rectory, embowered in ivy and climbing roses.

Four or five miles from the parish church, on a noble eminence, rise the lofty towers of Glenmore Castle, which for centuries has been the great family seat of the Lords of Glenmore. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens, laid out in the French style, with hedges of box, full ten feet high. Beyond these a noble wooded park stretches away on all sides, for miles, taking in hill and valley, and a fairy little lake. To the southward it is crossed by a lazy, loitering stream, shadowed by willows, fringed with flags, and in the early summer flecked by snowy water-lilies.

The Lord Glenmore of the time of my story was a handsome young nobleman, married to a pretty London lady, very gay and fond of splendor, but kind-hearted and gentle to every one.

Whenever Lord Glenmore came up from London to his northern estate, usually in the shooting season of the early autumn, the happy event was made known to his tenants and friends, by the running up of a flag on the loftiest turret of the Castle.

Mr. Rivers had been his tutor, and his Lordship always hastened to renew his intimacy with his old friend and instructor, for whom he had a warm regard, running into the Rectory in his old, boyish, unceremonious way, and frequently inviting the Rector and his wife to dine at the Castle.

During one of these pleasant dinner-parties, Lord Glenmore, turning to Mrs. Rivers, said: “I know from happy experience that you and your good husband are always ready to lend a helping hand when one is in need. Now Laura and I want a little help. We have had a rather embarrassing arrival at the Castle, the motherless little son and daughter of my brother, Colonel Montford. They were sent over from India, at our suggestion, but we hardly know what to do with them. They are shy and homesick, and thus far have had little to say to any one but their dusky old Ayah, their Indian nurse. Now, children can get on best with children, and so, my dear madam, I beg that you will lend us yours, those charming little daughters, staid Margaret and roguish Maud, and that fine lad Robert. As for wee Master Alfred, my baby godson, I make no demand on him for the present. We think that if they could spend a day at the Castle now and then, they would help to break the ice between us and our unsocial little relations!”

Mr. and Mrs. Rivers willingly consented to their friends’ request, and the next day was fixed upon for the first visit, both Lord and Lady Glenmore promising to do all in their power to entertain their young guests.

Early on a lovely autumn morning the children at the Rectory were made ready for the important visit. As soon as Lord Glenmore’s carriage appeared in sight, they ran into the nursery, their faces bright with joyous anticipations, to bid their mamma good by. She was sitting with the baby on her lap, and they all bent down to kiss “the dear little fellow,” ere they went.

“Why, mamma,” said Margaret, “how hot Ally’s lips are! is n’t he well?”

“I am afraid not quite well,” Mrs. Rivers replied; “he seems feverish. Now, my dears, I hope you will be very good and gentle all day. You, Margaret, must take good care of your sister, and Maud,” she added, as she bent forward to tie in a smoother knot the strings of the little girl’s hat, “you must not run quite wild with merriment. Robert, don’t put yourself on your dignity with young Montford, on account of his shyness. Remember, almost everything is strange to him here, and he is sad. I am sure he does not mean to be haughty.”

“O yes,” replied Robert, turning from the canine playfellow he was affectionately patting, “I mean to treat him just the same as though he were a true-born Briton. He isn’t to blame for being only an unfortunate Cawnpore boy, born among heathens and boa-constrictors and Juggernauts, and not knowing how to skate, or make snowballs. Good by, mamma, don’t trouble yourself about me; I ’ll carry myself ’this side up with care.’ By by, baby. No, no, old Rover, you can’t come; you would n’t know how to behave with my lord’s Italian greyhound, and my lady’s dainty King Charles Spaniel.”

Mr. Rivers, after seeing the children off, entered the nursery, to find his wife still troubled by the heat and crimson redness of the baby’s cheeks and lips, though the old Scotch nurse, who was holding him, said cheerily: “Eh, dinna fash yoursel’. It’s only a little teething fever, the bairnie will soon be weel. Gang about your ain affairs, and trust auld Elspeth.”

But the mother dared not leave the little one till he was asleep. He slept very soundly until noon, and when he awoke it was evident that he was seriously ill. Mrs. Rivers again took him on her lap, but to her grief perceived that he did not seem to know her. Soon, his sweet blue eyes were rolled upward, his brow contracted, his lips were set, and his tender limbs grew rigid. Medical aid was called at once, but the little sufferer passed from one spasm into another, till almost ere physician and parents were aware that he was going, poor little Alfred was gone!

After the first wild burst of sorrow was over, Mr. Rivers said to his wife, “Shall I send to the Castle for the children?”

“No, Charles,” replied the good mother, “though I yearn for them inexpressibly, I will not so sadly cut short their day of pleasure. The night of sorrow will come speedily enough.”

Early in the evening, Lord Glenmore’s carriage came dashing through the rustic gateway of the Rectory. Mr. Rivers was at the hall door awaiting the children. Margaret noticed that her papa looked serious, and that he kissed her with more than usual tenderness; but the others were too much occupied with the pleasant stories they had to tell of the day at the Castle, to remark on any change in him. They ran into the silent house, laughing and chatting merrily. They found their mamma in the little family parlor, sitting in the twilight, which prevented them seeing that she was very pale, and that her eyes were swollen with weeping.

They displayed before her presents of choice fruit and flowers from Lady Glenmore, and some curious Indian toys which the little Montfords had given them.

“O mamma,” said Robert, “we have had such a glo-ri-ous day! Arthur Montford and I got on famously together. I taught him all the English plays I could think of, and he let me gallop about on his Shetland pony, a splendid wild one, mamma, till I lost my hat, and was all out of breath, and got thrown three times. Didn’t hurt me, though. Altogether, we had such prime sport, that I wished for that old Bible hero, Aaron, no, Joshua, to command the sun to stand still, so that our day would never end.”

“And, mamma,” broke in little Maud, “dear Lady Glenmore, and her sister, Lady Fanny, played and sung for us, and showed us pictures and jewels, and Alice Montford has got such a world of dolls, and her nurse is such a dark, dark woman, and talks such a queer language, Latin, I suppose. I did n’t pretend to understand it, but I told Alice my papa could.”

“Well, Margaret, dear,” said Mr. Rivers, “what is your experience?”

“O papa, it was indeed a charming day; but the best part was while the ladies were dressing for dinner, when Lord Glenmore took us girls down to the little lake on the other side of the Castle; and he was so kind in leading us along by the water, helping us over the bad places, and plucking flowers for us. He even sat down with us in the grass, and told us stories, while we made daisy-chains. Then he took us in his boat on the lake, and rowed about, and, O mamma, what do you think! as we were passing a thick clump of flags, he parted them with his oar, and showed us a swan’s nest! I thought of Mrs. Browning’s poem of little Ellie, and her ‘Swan’s Nest among the Reeds.’ O, I had almost forgot! Lord Glenmore intrusted to me the sweetest gift for baby Alfred: see! this lovely coral necklace. He ordered it expressly from London, for his little god-son, he said. That makes me think! how is baby to-night, mamma?”

The time was come. Mrs. Rivers glanced at her husband; but he turned away his head. He could not tell them. Then, calmly, though her voice trembled a little, the mother began: “Listen, my darlings, I have something important to tell you about baby.”

The children gathered closer about her, and were very still.

“While you were away, a great Lord sent for little brother, too.”

“What for? to adopt him as his heir?” asked Robert.

“Yes, my son; and Ally has gone to a mansion far grander than the Castle, where the gardens are fairer, and the fields greener than any you have ever seen; and, Robert, the sun never sets over that beautiful land.”

“Did he go in a carriage with a coronet on it, and two powdered footmen behind?” asked Maud.

“No, love; but gentle beings, more good and beautiful than those kind ladies of the Castle, bore him away, and will tend him, lovingly.”

“I think he will miss nurse Elspeth, and cry for her, and they will have to send him home again,” said poor, bewildered little Maud.

“Why, mamma,” cried Margaret, “we can’t spare baby to the greatest lord on earth!”

“But, my daughter, to the ‘Lord of lords’ we must spare him. He will ‘lead’ him as you were led to-day, ’beside the still waters, and cause him to lie down in pleasant pastures,’ and our darling will never know pain, nor hunger, nor sorrow.”

“O mamma, mamma, I know what you mean now! baby is dead!”

Then went up the children’s united voices, like one sad wail, “Baby is dead!”

“Yes, my children,” said their father, in a voice broken by grief, “our precious little Alfred is gone. But, try to say, and try to help us say, ’The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’”

The poor children could not say it then, for their bitter crying; but, before they went to bed, they sobbed forth the sacred words, as they knelt by the crib where little Ally lay, still, and very pale, dressed in a snowy muslin frock, with his waxen hands clasped on his breast, and holding a tiny white rose-bud, an emblem of his sinless little life.

A CHARADE.

In the wet rice-swamps and canebrakes tall
My first the driver wields;
It sounds among the dusky gang
In the snowy cotton-fields;
But fast comes on the day that ends
Its reign of blood and fear,
Comes with the sound of breaking chains,
And the freedman’s joyous cheer.

Be kind to such as are my second,
In spirit and in truth;
Have pity on their helpless age
And on their joyless youth.
Remember them whene’er you feast,
And on your downy bed,
For the sake of Him who “had not where
On earth to lay his head.”

Good may my third be in your hearts
Towards all of human kind,
Strong to reclaim the wandering,
And the lost lamb to find;
To help the suffering, and to bear
Thine own adversity;
To speak brave words for truth and right,
And strike for liberty.

My whole is a mournful little bird,
That in the twilight dim
Complains how hardly he’s been used,
Till all must pity him.
But not one word of what he did
Reveals the doleful wight,
His mother’s story could we hear,
We might say, “Served him right!”

Whip-poor-will.

FAITHFUL LITTLE RUTH.

Little Ruth Mason sat one sweet June morning in the church-porch, by the side of her old grandfather, who stood reverently leaning on his staff, with his hat in his hand. They were both watching from that ivied porch a touching and impressive scene, the burial service in the old churchyard.

Mr. Mason had been for many years the sexton of the parish, and though now too old to discharge the duties of the office, he felt such a loving interest in the parish church, one of the finest in England, that he could not keep away from it. Every day he visited the scene of his old labors, and kindly gave the new sexton the benefit of his long experience. Sometimes he might be seen kneeling in silent prayer in the noble chancel, the sunlight that streamed through the stained windows falling in tender glory on his venerable head. Sometimes he would linger by the hour in the beautiful churchyard, beside the graves of his wife, his son, and his son’s wife, all the dear ones God had given him, except one little granddaughter. This last remaining object of his affection and care was a lovely and loving child, of a peculiarly thoughtful mind, and of a sweet, constant, religious nature. She had been carefully trained by a good grandmother, and was prudent and industrious beyond her years. When not in the little village school, she was almost always with her grandfather, his little companion, pupil, and house-keeper.

This interesting orphan child was most kindly regarded by many of the good village people. She seemed so lonely and helpless in the old sexton’s desolate cottage, but a poor place at best. Yet she was hardly an object of pity. Her father and mother had died in her infancy, and after her first childish grieving for her grandmother was past, she seemed quite happy and content with the care and companionship of her grandfather. It was with difficulty that she had been persuaded now and then to leave him to spend an afternoon at the pleasant Rectory, when the Rector’s kind wife sent for her, to amuse a sickly little daughter, who was very fond of her, and in whom Ruth’s health, strength, and cheery spirit excited a pathetic wonder and delight.

It was the burial of this child, poor little Lilly Kingsley, which Ruth and her grandfather were beholding from the shadowy church-porch on that lovely June morning. Mr. Mason stood with his head bowed, intently listening to the solemn burial service, and reverently wondering at the providence of God, which had passed by him, so old, feeble, and almost useless, and taken from the good Rector and his wife their one only darling.

Ruth had wept bitterly over the body of her little friend, as she had seen it that morning, in the coffin, almost covered with white flowers, and nearly as white as they; but now she watched the mournful ceremonies with a rapt and eager interest, too profound for tears. Her young spirit was struggling with the mystery of death, and thoughts of immortality. She knew that the wasted little body let down into the dark grave was not all of her poor playmate, and she strove to picture a little angel like Lilly, only blooming, and happy, and free from pain, borne upwards through the still summer night, by tender angels, who looked back very pityingly on the grieving parents, bending over the death-bed of their risen darling.

So lost was the child in these thoughts, that she did not speak nor move till the service was over, and the weeping group that had stood by the grave had passed out of the churchyard.

A few days after this funeral, little Ruth coming home from school, found the Rector in earnest conversation with her grandfather. She courtesied timidly to the clergyman, but he drew her to his knee, looked kindly into her beautiful dark eyes, and said, “How would Ruth like to live always at the Rectory, and fill the place of our little lost daughter?”

Ruth’s sweet face flushed with delight, and she answered, “O, sir, I should dearly love such a beautiful home, and you would too, would n’t you, grandpapa?”

The Rector looked at Mr. Mason, and the old man, drawing the child to him, said tenderly, “My dear little girl, your old grandfather cannot leave this cottage, in which he was born, and in which he has always lived, until he goes to his long home.”

“Then I’ll not go,” cried Ruth, impulsively flinging her arms about his neck. “I ’ll never, never leave you. Who would take care of you if I were gone?”

The Rector smiled; but the old man answered gravely, “I know I shall miss you, dear, very much; but the Lord will care for me, and He it is who has provided this home for my darling. I bless His name for His loving-kindness. You have always been a good, obedient child to me, and I know you will obey me, even when I send you away from me, for your best good, mind, my darling.”

Ruth still wept, and begged to be allowed to stay with him; but her grandfather was firm, and she yielded at last. He led her to the Rectory, kissed and blessed her, and placed her in the arms of Mrs. Kingsley, then hobbled out of the gate, and back to his desolate cottage, as fast as his poor old limbs could carry him.

Ruth was very sad all the afternoon, though everybody was kind to her, and her new mother strove tenderly to comfort her. As evening came on, her heart would go back to the humble old home, and the white-haired, feeble old man, who she knew must be thinking of her, and missing her so sadly. At length, Mrs. Kingsley conducted her to a pleasant little chamber, which was henceforth to be her own. The good lady helped her to undress, put on her a dainty little ruffled nightgown, and knelt with her by her bedside while she said her prayers. After praying in a broken voice for her poor old grandpapa in his loneliness, the child remembered to ask God’s blessing on her new parents. After seeing her in her snowy little bed, Mrs. Kingsley removed Ruth’s clothes to a closet near by, and brought out a complete suit of garments suited to her new condition. They were very neat and pretty, and Ruth, who loved all beautiful things, smiled on them through her tears, and reaching out her hand, felt of them with simple, childish delight. Then a strange, thoughtful look passing over her face, she said, “Mamma!” Mrs. Kingsley started. It was the first time she had heard that name since her Lilly died, though she had asked Ruth to call her by it when she was first brought to the Rectory. But she answered, with a smile, “What, my daughter?”

“Why, mamma, laying off my faded clothes and putting on those lovely new ones will be like Lilly, leaving the poor, pale body she used to have, for her glorious angel body, won’t it?”

“Yes, darling,” replied the mother, to whose heart the simple illustration brought a sweet, wonderful realization of the blessed change; and as she stooped and kissed Ruth good night, a tear fell on the little girl’s cheek.

The adopted child slept tranquilly till nearly morning, when she awoke suddenly, probably from a dream of the home she had left, but thinking that she heard a voice above her, saying solemnly, “Ruth, little Ruth, why hast thou forsaken My servant, thy grandfather?”

She was not frightened, yet she could not sleep again, but sat up in her little bed, impatiently waiting for the day. In the first gray light of dawn she rose, went to the closet, took out her old clothes, and dressed herself in them, and casting scarcely a look on the new clothes or round the sweet little chamber, she stole softly down stairs. She found a housemaid in the hall, who, not knowing the plans of her master and mistress in regard to the little girl, let her out, and she ran swiftly home. She found the cottage door unfastened, for the poor have little fear of burglars. Entering quietly, and finding her grandpapa still asleep, she lay down by his side, and when he awoke, her dear arms were about his neck, and her loving eyes smiling into his. At first, he forgot she had been away; but after a moment, he remembered, and exclaimed, “You here, little Ruth? Why did you come back, against my wish?”

“Because the Lord sent me back,” she answered, gravely.

“Why, child, what do you mean?” he asked.

“Grandpapa, dear, this is how it was: There was a voice, such a sweet and solemn voice, that came and sounded right by me, in the darkness, and it said, ’Ruth, little Ruth, why forsakest thou My servant, thy grandfather?’ and I was sure it was the Lord’s voice, the very same that spoke to little Samuel, and I could not stay after I heard it. I will never leave you to live and die alone, even if the queen wants to adopt me. Why, grandpapa, if God had meant you to be without me, He would have taken me, instead of little Lilly Kingsley. So don’t send me away from you, dear grandpapa; it would be wicked.”

The good old man, with tears in his dim eyes, replied, “No, my darling little girl shall not be sent away again; it does seem to be the Lord’s will that you should stay with me as long as I stay.”

And so she stayed, the faithful little Ruth. Her good friends at the Rectory were sorry to lose her, but not displeased with her, and were more kind than ever to her and her grandfather. The next Sunday, as she knelt with him among the poor, she was glad in her heart that she was not shut away from him in the Rector’s crimson-cushioned pew.

It was on a Sunday a few weeks later, that her grandfather, after their frugal dinner, called her to go with him to the churchyard, saying, “A year ago to-day, Ruth, your dear grandmother died; let us go and spend an hour or two by her grave.”

They took the family Bible, and read and talked a long time, sitting on the daisied grass, under the pleasant shade of a willow. At last, the good old man seemed to grow weary, and bowing his white head on the grave, with one arm flung over it, he fell asleep while Ruth was singing a hymn which her grandmother had taught her. Then Ruth stole away, and wandered about the churchyard, reading the inscriptions on the tombstones, till the people began to enter the church for evening service. Then she returned to her grandfather, and touched him on the shoulder, to wake him. But he did not move. She called his name, but he did not seem to hear her. Just then the Rector came up, and seeing Ruths trouble, bent down to look into the face of the old man. He raised the withered hand that lay on the mound, and held it a moment, looking anxious and sad. When he laid it down, he put his arms about Ruth, and said, tenderly, My dear child, your grandfather is awake in Heaven. He will never wake on earth. The Lord has taken him.”

With a piteous cry Ruth flung herself by the side of her dead grandfather, and called him by many fond names, weeping bitterly; and strong men wept in pity for her bereavement, and stood with uncovered heads as her grandfather was lifted and borne to his old home.

From that old home he was carried forth to be laid by the side of his dear old wife; but from that lonely cottage little Ruth was led weeping, yet grateful, to her new home by the Rector and his wife, henceforth to be to them a dear and cherished child. Few were the tears she shed in that beautiful home, and tenderly were they wiped away; and if the Lord ever spoke to her again in her peaceful little chamber, through the darkness, it was in “the still, small voice” of blessing, love, and comfort.

CHRISTMAS, A MOTHER’S EXCUSE.

It comes again, the blessed day,
Made glorious by the Saviour’s birth,
When faintly in a manger dawned
The light of God which fills the earth

On this sweet morn, in years gone by,
Around one happy hearth we came,
And wished each other joy and peace,
Embracing in the dear Lord’s name.

Now o’er a weary, wintry waste,
My heart a loving pilgrim wends
Her pious way, this holy time,
To greet you, O beloved friends!

Fondly I long to take my place
Beside your hearth, its joy to share,
To sun me in the summer smiles
Of the dear faces gathered there.

But baby eyes upraised to mine,
And baby fingers on my breast,
Steep all my soul in sweet content,
Charm even such longings into rest.

Yet, dear ones, let my name be breathed
Kindly around the Christmas tree,
And my soul’s presence greet, as oft
In Christmas times ye ’ve greeted me.

No unadorned and humble guest
Comes that fond soul this blessed even
She bears a jewel on her breast
That radiates the light of heaven.

A rose, that breathes of Paradise,
Just budded from the life divine,
A little, tender, smiling babe,
As yet more God’s and heaven’s than mine.

Born in the Saviour’s hallowed month,
A blessed Christ-child may she be,
A little maiden of the Lord,
Room for her by the Christmas tree!