--Cowper.

Violet in her night-dress and with her beautiful hair unbound and hanging
about her like a golden cloud, stood before her dressing-table, gazing
through a mist of unshed tears upon a miniature which she held in her
hand.

"Ah, where are you now, love?" she sighed half aloud.

Her mother's voice answered close at her side, in gentle, tender accents,
"In God's keeping, my darling. He is the God of the sea as well as of the
land."

"Yes, mamma, and his God as well as mine," Violet responded, looking up
and smiling through her tears. "Ah, what comfort in both assurances, and
in the precious promise, 'Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in
all places whither thou goest.' It is his and it is mine."

"Yes, dearest. I feel for you in your loneliness," her mother said,
putting her arms around her. "Elsie is very happy in her husband and
baby, Edward in his wife; they need me but little, comparatively, but you
and I must draw close together and be a comfort and support to each other;
shall we not, my love?"

"Yes, indeed, dearest mamma. Oh, what a comfort and blessing you are to
me, and always have been! And I am happier and less lonely for having my
husband's children with me, especially my darling little Gracie. I feel
that in caring for her and nursing her back to health I shall be adding to
his happiness."

"As no doubt you will," her mother said. "It will be a pleasure to me to
help you care for her, and the others also. Now, good-night, daughter; we
both ought to be in bed."

Violet presently stretched herself beside the sleeping Gracie with a
murmured word of endearment drew the child closer to her, and in another
moment was sharing her slumbers.

When she awoke the sun was shining, and the first object her eyes rested
upon was the little face by her side. The pallor and look of exhaustion it
had worn the night before were quite gone, a faint tinge of pink had even
stolen into the cheeks.

Violet noted the change with a feeling of relief and thankfulness, and
raising herself upon her elbow, touched her lips lightly to the white
forehead.

The child's eyes flew open and with a sweet engaging smile, she asked,
"Have you been lying beside me all night, mamma?"

"Yes, Gracie. You have had a long sleep, dear; do you feel quite rested?"

"Yes, mamma, I feel very well. This is such a nice soft bed, and I like to
sleep with you. May I always?"

"For all winter, I think, dear. I like to ha