out the room, and her hands grasped convulsively
Elise's white dress.

"Don't go," whispered she, "or else they will come and murder me."

Elise took the child's hands in hers, and repeated a simple and pious
little prayer, which she had taught to all her own children. Sara said
the words after her; and though it was only mechanically, she seemed to
become calmer, though shudderings still shook her frame, and she hold
fast by Elise's dress. Elise seated herself by her, and at the request
of the other children, "Mother, sing the song of the Dove--oh, the song
of the Dove!" she sang, with a pleasant low voice, that little song
which she herself had made for her children:

There sitteth a dove so white and fair,
All on the lily-spray,
And she listeneth how, to Jesus Christ,
The little children pray.

Lightly she spreads her friendly wings,
And to heaven's gate hath sped,
And unto the Father in heaven she bears
The prayers which the children said.

And back she comes from heaven's gate,
And brings--that dove so mild--
From the Father in heaven, who hears her speak,
A blessing for every child.

Then, children, lift up a pious prayer,
It hears whatever you say,
That heavenly dove, so white and fair,
That sits on the lily-spray.

During this song, the dove of peace descended on the soul of the child.
Pleasant images passed before her mind: the girl and the rose-bush and
the singing Elise were the same person--the rose diffused pleasant
odour; and whilst the long dark lashes approached her cheek yet nearer
and nearer, it seemed to her as if a white lovely singing-bird spread
out his wings caressingly and purifyingly over her breast. By degrees
the little hand opened itself, and let go the dress which it had
grasped, the tearful eyes closed, and the sweetness of repose came over
the fatherless and the motherless.

Elise raised herself gently, and went to the beds of the other children.
The dove on the lily-spray sent sleep also to them; and after the mother
had pressed her lips to their cheeks, had spoken with Brigitta about the
new comer, and had received from the child-loving, good-natured old
woman, the most satisfactory promises, she hastened back to her husband.

He listened with curiosity to what she had to relate of Sara. This new
member of the family, this increase of his cares, seemed to have
expanded and anima