. She wept unceasingly by Ellen's side, and it was
impossible to arouse her to a care for her own health, or to an interest in
what was passing around. On the day that Ellen was to be buried, I went to
the room where she lay prepared for her last long sleep. Death had laid a
light touch on her fair face. The sweet white brow round which her hair
waved as it had in life--the slightly parted lips--the expression of
repose, not only in the countenance, but in the attitude in which her old
nurse had laid her, seemed to indicate an awakening to the duties of life.
But there was the coffin and the shroud, and there sat Lucy, her eyes heavy
with weeping, and her frame feeble from long fasting, and indulgence of
bitter, hopeless grief.

"It was in the winter, and a severe snow-storm, an unusual occurrence with
us, had swept the country for several days; but on this morning the wind
and clouds had gone together, and the sun was lighting up the hills and
river, and the crystals of snow were glistening on the evergreens that
stood in front of the cottage door. One ray intruded through the shutter
into the darkened room, and rested on a ring, which I had never observed
before, on Ellen's left hand. It was on the third finger, and its
appearance there was so unexpected to me, that for a moment my strength
forsook me, and I leaned against the table on which the coffin rested, for
support.

"'Lucy,' I said, 'when was that placed there?'

"'I put it there, ma'am.'

"'But what induced you?'

"'She told me to do so, ma'am. A few days before she was taken sick, she
called me and took from her bureau-drawer, that ring. The ring was in a
small box. She was very pale when she spoke--she looked more like death
than she does now, ma'am. I know'd she wasn't able to stand, and I said,
'Sit down, honey, and then tell me what you want me to do.'

"'Mammy,' said she, 'you've had a world of trouble with me, and you've had
trouble of your own all your life; but I am not going to give you much
more--I shall soon be where trouble cannot come.'

"'Don't talk that way, child,' said I, 'you will get through with this, and
then you will have something to love and to care for, that will make you
happy again.'

"'Never in this world,' said she; 'but mammy, I have one favor more to ask
of you--and you must promise me to do it.'

"'What is it, Miss Ellen?' said I, 'you know I would die for you if 'twould
do you any good.'

"'It is this,' she said,