ories of a gentle girl,
Like passing spirits in a summer night!
Oh, precious curl!"

And that picture of a departed mother which the orphan child presses with
holy reverence to her bosom! As she gazes upon those familiar features, and
reads in them a mother's love and kindness, what scenes of home-life rise
upon the troubled thought, and what echoes of love come through the lapse
of years from the old homestead, touching all the fires of her soul, and
causing them to thrill with plaintive sadness and with painful joy. What
mementoes of a sad, yet pleasing memory are found in the chamber of
bereavement, where death has done his work; the empty chair; the garments
laid by; playthings idly scattered there;--these are pictures upon which
the eye of memory rests with pensive meditation. And our letters from home!
What sweet recollections they awaken as we read line after line; and what
volumes of love they contain from those dear ones who now moulder in the
narrow vaults of death! Oh, how miserable must he be who has no
recollections of home, who is not able to revert to the scenes of
childhood, and amid whose cherished memories of life, the image of a mother
does not glow!

Let us lay the foundation of a joyful, grateful memory. Let us be faithful
to home, that when we leave it, and when the members of it leave us, we
may delight in all the memories which loom up from the scenes of home-life:

"Oh, friends regretted, scenes forever dear,
Remembrance hails you with her burning tear!
Drooping she bends o'er pensive fancy's urn,
To trace the hours which never can return;
Yet with retrospection loves to dwell,
And soothe the sorrows of her last farewell!"

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE ANTITYPE OF THE CHRISTIAN HOME.

"Oh, talk to me of heaven! I love
To hear about my home above;
For there doth many a loved one dwell
In light and joy ineffable.

"O! tell me how they shine and sing,
While every harp rings echoing,
And every glad and tearless eye
Beams like the bright sun gloriously.

"Tell me of that victorious palm,
Each hand in glory beareth;
Tell me of that celestial calm,
Each face in glory weareth!"

The Christian home on earth is but a type of his better home in heaven. The
pious members feel the force of this. Every thing within their earthly
homes reminds them of that happy country which lies beyond the Jordan.
Besides, they behold the impress of c