re long,
however, she recovered sufficient strength to speak, and turning
toward Widow White, clasped her hand affectionately.

"I feel that my life is fast ebbing away," she began in a subdued and
thrilling voice. "A few short hours will pass by, and this body will
be a soulless mass. But I do not fear to die; for me, death has no
terror, nor the grave a victory. I am standing upon its very brink,
and look down into its blackness without an emotion save that of
pleasure. This is a vain and heartless world! I have found it so,
again and again, and the grave is the only place where I can find rest
from its temptations and persecutions, and I feel glad that the time
is almost here, when rest, both for body and soul, will be attained.
But there is one thing that troubles me. My husband slumbers beneath
the heavy sod in the village grave-yard; I am standing upon the very
brink of eternity; I have no relatives living on this side of the
Atlantic, and when I am gone, what is to become of my poor friendless,
motherless child? I know there is One above who has promised to take
care of the orphan, but still, it would give me a pleasure to know,
that when my mouldering body reposes in 'that bourne whence no
traveler returns,' that the light of a pleasant home would shed its
radiance on her girlish years. I fear to trust her to the world. I
fear its buffetings--I fear its bitterness--I fear its selfishness!--I
have keenly felt them all, and they bowed my strength of spirit almost
to the dust!--they sullied my purity of purpose, and my love of God!
Three years ago I took up my abode in this community. Life was in its
spring-time of joyousness. Pleasure opened her thousand portals, and
nature breathed in beauty. Then a stern blight came upon it all! The
gloom of death shadowed my dwelling, and soon the cold and rigid form
of my beloved partner was carried out, and laid in the narrow bier
where the 'dust returns to dust as it was.' The feeling of desolation
entered my heart; I sorrowed in tears, and life almost became a
weariness. Then you, Widow White, came to me in my distress, like a
ministering angel; advised me, prayed with me, and led me on, until a
light broke in upon my soul, and a new life spread out its million
paths to happiness. From that moment I loved you as my own mother in
heaven. And now I have a request to make--the request of a dying
woman--will you grant it?" and she grasped the arm of the listener
with a wild ea