e wife's hand was firm, as softly she removed the garments from his
mangled limbs. Ah, little had she thought, when she bade him 'Good-bye'
that morning, his return would have been thus. He had said to Davie in
his merry way, laying his hand on the boy's curly head,--

'Ah, young man, soon you will be the bread-winner; your old father will
then be able to sit idle by the ingle and smoke his pipe, whilst mother
looks on.'

He had returned to the ingle, but Davie was still a child!

* * * * *

A few anxious days, and all was over; the end had come, and he and his
fellow-sufferers were laid to rest beneath the fresh green turf in a
distant churchyard, and the poor young widow was alone in the wide
world, with only little Davie!

But the poor have no time to spare for mourning or regrets; they must be
up and doing, even though their hearts fail them for very sorrow; yet
none save those who have suffered can know the utter desolation of
heart, crushing the very soul to the earth with despair, when the
father, 'the bread-winner,' is taken from their midst, and those who
are left know not where to look for help or guidance; and so this poor
widow sat by the fire-light, with her boy's hand clasped in hers, gazing
into the glowing embers as if trying to read the future therein. The
past had been very happy, for her girlhood was spent in a far different
sphere, but she had freely given up all for him who was now no more, and
had never repented of the sacrifice made; but, alas! he was gone,
leaving her alone, and her heart was like to break. And, musing thus,
she recalled the tones of the dear voice that had ever comforted her
when in sadness, now silent for ever!--the brave heart so firm of
purpose that had ceased to beat!--and as she thought of him who had been
so kind, so true, her courage gave way, and, burying her face in her
hands, she sobbed aloud, saying,--

'Oh, Davie, Davie! who will care for us now father is gone?'

The child put his arms lovingly around her bowed head, as though it was
his place to be the comforter.

'Mother darling, the Lord will care for us. He is the friend of the
widow and fatherless.'

There was something in the boy's voice that struck the mother's ear, for
she removed her hands from before her face, and, drawing him nearer to
her, gazed earnestly into those clear blue eyes.

Sudden sorrow often changes the entire nature of people, and the events
of the l