of others, it shall be done. Young man, you have
acted nobly."

The merchant bent over his desk and wrote rapidly for some time. Lifting
his head at last, he called Guly to affix his name, then folded and put
them once more out of sight.

"There," said he, "it is done; if any error lay there, I have done all
in my power to repair it now."

"And you will receive your reward."

The merchant said nothing, but sat with his head leaning on his hand. "I
cannot tell," said he, "what can have put such thoughts into my mind;
perhaps, 'tis because I am growing old they come there; but I have been
thinking of the other side of the river to-day, the River of Life."

"My dear friend," said Guly, turning suddenly and taking the merchant's
hand respectfully in his; "I am heartily glad that your thoughts have
been turned seriously in this direction. It is a subject which ought to
frequently intrude upon our minds, and I am inclined to think, that
whether our passage across that river be pleasant or painful, lies much
with ourselves. We should live to die, even as we would die to live."

Delancey shook his head.

"I have lived many years," said he, with a sad look which Guly never
remembered to have seen in that hard face before, "and to-day, for the
first time, the thought has forced itself upon me, that I have lived to
very little purpose. I have had no aim for life, and the account of my
stewardship here below must fall far short of what is required."

"There are very few," replied Guly, encouragingly, "who can strike the
balance-sheet of life, and be content. Your reflections are, no doubt,
the natural effect of the sad season we have passed through, and of your
desolate loneliness."

Mr. Delancey leaned forward, and held his hand on Guly's arm,
impressively:--

"Young man, while you are yet young, let me warn you to beware of a
purposeless life; have an aim, have a mark, struggle for it, grasp at
it, and though you may never reach it, you will die happier."

The merchant relapsed again into silence, and Guly turned to a window,
to note the fury of a wild storm which was raging without. Suddenly
there came a blaze of light, instantly followed by a loud and crashing
peal of thunder.

"How fearful! that bolt must have passed near, or struck us," said Guly,
turning toward the merchant. There came no answer, and the boy went up,
and laid his hand upon the old man's shoulder. He was sitting bolt
upright in his chair, with