Yet there were times when her spirit craved exclusive companionship with
her nearest and dearest; other seasons when she would be alone with Him
whom her "soul desired above all earthly joy and earthly love."

An hour had been spent in secret communion with Him ere Rosie and
Walter came for the half hour of Bible study and prayer in mamma's
dressing room, before breakfast, to which they had been accustomed since
their earliest recollection.

And not they only but their older brothers and sisters before them,
every one of whom had very tender memories connected with that short
service; memories that had been a safeguard to them in times of
temptation, a comfort and support in the dark hours that sooner or later
come to all the sons and daughters of Adam, and made them feel it even
yet a privilege to participate, when circumstances would permit.

Sometimes Edward and Zoe joined the little circle, and Harold and
Herbert seldom failed to do so when at home. They all did so this
morning and with an enjoyment that made the allotted time seem far too
short.

Their mother had always been able to interest her children in Bible
lessons.

Breakfast and family worship followed; then attendance upon the morning
service of the sanctuary.

After that Sunday school for the blacks in the school house on the
estate, the mother and all her children acting as teachers.

The afternoon and evening were given to reading, conversation and music
suited to the sacredness of the day; then all retired to peaceful
slumbers, from which they rose in the morning rested and refreshed in
body and mind, and ready to enter with zest upon the labors and
pleasures of the new week.

According to the arrangements made the previous week the whole Ion
family, and all who had been guests there at that time, repaired to
Fairview at an early hour, where they spent the day together in social
festivities similar to those with which they had enlivened their stay
with Grandma Elsie.

Harold and Herbert gave a magic lantern exhibition, some charades were
acted, and Cousin Ronald contrived to add not a little to the fun by
timely efforts in his own peculiar line; the very little ones were
delighted to hear their toy dogs bark, roosters crow, hens and geese
cackle, ducks quack, horses neigh and donkeys bray.

They could hardly believe that the sounds which seemed to come from the
mouths of the toy animals were really made by Cousin Ronald, and when
assured