ooking out also, perceived a bent and shriveled form, seated in
an arm-chair, leaning forward, its two dusky hands clasping a stout cane,
and its chin resting on the top.

As the carriage drew up before the entrance, the figure rose slowly and
stiffly, and with the aid of the cane hobbled across the veranda to meet
them.

"Bress de Lawd!" it cried, in accents tremulous with age and excitement,
"it's one ob my chillens, sho' nuff; it's Miss Elsie!"

"Yes, mammy, it is I; and very glad I am to see you," responded Mrs.
Leland, hurrying up the veranda steps and throwing Her arms about the
feeble, trembling form.

"Poor old mammy," she said, tenderly; "you are not so strong as you used
to be."

"No, darlin', yo' ole mammy's mos' at de brink ob de riber; de cold
watahs ob Jordan soon be creepin' up roun' her ole feet."

"But you are not afraid, mammy?" Elsie said, tears trembling in her
sweet, soft eyes, so like her mother's.

"No, chile, no; for Ise got fas' hold ob de Master's hand, and He holds
me tight; de waves can't go ober my head, kase He bought me wid his own
precious blood and I b'longs to Him; and He always takes care ob his own
chillens."

"Yes, Aunt Chloe," Lester said, taking one withered hand in his, as Elsie
withdrew herself from her embrace, and turned aside to wipe away a tear,
"His purchased ones are safe for time and for eternity.

"'The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory.'"

"Dat's so, sah; grace to lib by, an' grace to die by, den glory wid Him
in heaben! Ole Uncle Joe done 'speriencin' dat now; an' byme-by dis chile
be wid him dar."

"Who dis?" she asked, catching sight of Evelyn standing by her side and
regarding her with tearful eyes.

"My niece, Evelyn Leland, Aunt Chloe," answered Lester. "She has heard of
you, and wanted to see you."

"God bless you, honey," Chloe said, taking the little girl's hand in
her's, and regarding her with a look of kindly interest.

But the other servants had come flocking to the veranda as the news of
the arrival passed from lip to lip; and now they crowded about Lester and
Elsie eager to shake their hands and bid them welcome home again,
mingling with their rejoicings and congratulations many inquiries about
their loved mistress--her mother--and the other absent members of the
family.

And here, as at Fairview, Evelyn received her full share of pleased
attention.

Elsie delivered her mother's messages and directions, an