hymn book," said Nettie,
presently; "and I want to read you this hymn now, and then you will
think of me when you read it. May I?"

"Read," said Mrs. Mathieson; and she put up her hand to hide her face
from Nettie. Nettie did not look, however; her eyes were on her hymn,
and she read it, low and sweetly--very sweetly--through. There was no
tremor in her voice, but now and then a little accent of joy or a shade
of tenderness.

"'Meet again! yes, we shall meet again,
Though now we part in pain!
His people all
Together Christ shall call.
Hallelujah!

"'Soon the days of absence shall be o'er,
And thou shalt weep no more;
Our meeting day
Shall wipe all tears away.
Hallelujah!

"'Now I go with gladness to our home,
With gladness thou shalt come;
There I will wait
To meet thee at heaven's gate.
Hallelujah!

"'Dearest! what delight again to share
Our sweet communion there!
To walk among
The holy ransomed throng.
Hallelujah!

"'Here, in many a grief, our hearts were one,
But there in joys alone;
Joys fading never,
Increasing, deepening ever.
Hallelujah!

"'Not to mortal sight can it be given
To know the bliss of heaven;
But thou shalt be
Soon there, and sing with me,
Hallelujah!

"'Meet again! yes, we shall meet again,
Though now we part in vain!
His people all
Together Christ shall call.
Hallelujah!'"

Mrs. Mathieson's head bowed as the hymn went on, but she dared not give
way to tears, and Nettie's manner half awed and half charmed her into
quietness. It was not likely she would forget those words ever. When the
reading had ceased, and in a few minutes Mrs. Mathieson felt that she
could look toward Nettie again, she saw that the book had fallen from
her hand and that she was almost fainting. Alarmed instantly, she called
for help, and got one of the inmates of the house to go after Mr.
Mathieson. But Nettie sank so fast, they were afraid he would not come
in time. The messenger came back without having been able to find him;
for after the close of the services in the church Mr. Mathieson had
gone out of his way on an errand of kindness. Nettie h