e was?"

"I'se right well, missy. Granny's asleep."

"How is she?" again, asked May.

"She's heap better, missy; she bin sleep dis ever so long."

"Very well. You can play out here a little longer; but don't go away,
and I will go in and wait until Aunt Mabel wakes," said May, giving her
some ginger-bread she had bought for her. The child, glad of its
freedom, remained watching the birds and clouds.

May opened the door, and entered softly. She went towards the bed, and
saw that the mysterious and awful change, which tells that the
inexorable decree is gone forth, and the "arrow fastened," was fast
settling on old Mabel's features. Yet there was nothing uncouth or
grotesque in that shrivelled and swarthy face, because FAITH, which
leads death captive, had shed over them a supernatural calm, which
ennobled them with a solemn sweetness. Her poor old hand, so long
withered and helpless, dropped beside her; the other, around which her
rosary was wrapped, lay on her breast. May took off her bonnet and
scarf, and knelt down to say the dolorous mysteries of the rosary.
"Remember, oh most loving Mother, by these, thy own dolors, the soul of
thy poor servant, who will soon be engaged in her last earthly
conflict. Rescue, oh Mother of Sorrows, through thy intercession, and
the bitter passion and death of thy Divine Son, from the foes who lie
in wait for her soul, and conduct her under thy safeguard to eternal
light and peace." Thus prayed the Christian maiden by the dying slave;
_caste_, _race_, and _fetters_ were falling together into the deep
abyss of death. She would soon know the glorious freedom of one of the
heirs of Christ.

"Oh, lady! oh, beautiful missis! this is a mean place for your crowned
head and shining robes to come into. And who are those beside you,
glorious and fair?" murmured the old woman, suddenly stretching out
_both_ arms towards the door, and looking earnestly beyond May at
something unseen.

"Queen of Heaven! how is it that you come to me? I am not worthy to
lift my eyes to yours, yet you are here," she continued, while an awe,
unspeakable and sweet, fell on May, who did not move.

"To deliver my soul, and conduct me to the feet of your Divine Son?"
she said, after a short pause, as if some one had answered her, and she
repeated the words.

"Oh grace! oh splendor! oh sweetness! oh clemency! oh hope!" she
exclaimed. "If I could, I would be worthy of such love--I would spread
gold