w,
seemed to melt away. He fell on his knees beside the bed, his face in
the coverlet, and knelt there sobbing.

It was as in church, at the moment when each single heart withdraws
from all the rest to offer up its own silent prayer.

* * * * *

The old woman lay resting in her bed; her face wore the same look of
sorrowful gentleness that it had done for years, despite the ravages
of sickness.

But to-day, signs of uneasiness were apparent; shadows of fear seemed
flitting ever and anon over her features.

Olof wiped his mother's forehead gently. "You are not so well to-day?"
he asked.

"'Tis not that--no. I called you, there was something I wanted to say.
But I'm not sure--perhaps it would be better not...."

He took her withered hand tenderly in his.

"Why do you think that, mother? You have never said anything but what
was good."

"'Twas meant to be so--ay, that's true. But there's times when it's
hard to say what's best to do, and it's so with me now. For years I've
been thinking to tell you before I closed my eyes the last time.
And it's been a comfort to me in many trials. But now I come to say
it...."

The sick woman's breast heaved, and drops of sweat stood out on her
forehead.

"Best not to think too much if it worries you," said Olof, wiping her
brow once more. "'Twill be all right in time."

"'Tis right enough--I know that really. 'Twould be a wrong to myself
and you, and to all I've hoped and believed, if I didn't speak--yet
it's hard to begin. Come closer, you too, Heikki--I can't speak so
loud...."

The elder brother, who had just come in from the fields with his
muddy boots on, had sat down close to the door. He moved his chair now
nearer the bed.

The sick woman lay for a while in thought, as if weighing the matter
in her mind. Then she looked long and earnestly at her two sons.

"You two will have to divide what's left," she said at last. "And I've
not said a word of it before; you're not like to quarrel over it, I
know. But there's one thing in the place that I want to keep separate
from the rest, and give it up to you now, before I go."

She sighed, and was silent for a while, as if needing rest before she
could continue. The two young men watched her expectantly.

'"Tis nothing of great value, but it's all tied up like with something
that happened once, and all the thoughts of it--and 'tis valuable to
me. I mean the cupboard there."

The sons gl