nd see the destitution of my family; go to the side of that
lowly bed and press your hand upon the burning brow of my child; call
that little boy and ask him how long he has been without food, look at
a wretched mother's tears, and lot a gracious God remove the hardness
from your heart, and drive us not homeless from this roof. Think not
that the ragged, woman who now stands before you, weeping and
pleading, would have thus supplicated without a cause. There was a
time when I never dreamed of experiencing such suffering and hardship,
such bitter, bitter woe. Oh! sir, let pity reign dominant in your
heart."

He was unmoved. Why should he care for the misery of strangers? Was he
not of the world as man generally finds it? The exceptions to the rule
are not of this earth. They occupy a place in the celestial realms,
for, if even they may have committed sins in early life, their deeds
of charity blots out the record, and they enter Heaven welcomed by the
hosts of angels who dwell there, while their absence from this creates
a void not easily filled.

Mr. Elder answered her not for several minutes. He stood there with
his arms folded, silently gazing upon the thin form of Mrs. Wentworth,
who, with clasped hands and outstretched arms, anxiously awaited his
decision. But he gave no promise of acquiescence, no hope of pity, no
look of charity in his features--they looked cold, stern, and vexed.

There she stood the picture of grief, awaiting the words that would
either give her hope or plunge her forever into the fathomless depths
of despair. The eyes of the soldier's wife were turned on Mr. Elder
with a sad and supplicating look. In any other but the cold,
calculating creature before her, their look might have moved to pity,
but with him nothing availed; not even a struggle for mastery between
humanity and brutality could be seen, and as she gazed upon him she
felt that there was no chance of her wishes being gratified.

Her little son clung to her dress half frightened at the attitude of
his mother, and the stern and unforbidding aspect of Mr. Elder. Ella
strove to rise while her mother was speaking, but fell back on her bed
unable to perform the effort. She was, therefore, content to be there
and listen to the conversation as it occurred between Mr. Elder and
her mother. Her little heart was also tortured, for this had been the
first time she had ever heard such passionate and earnest language as
was depicted in Mrs. Wen