he
good Spirit was all the time leading her back to the light. I can not
retrace for you all the way that she came. I only know that gradually,
surely, the night wore away, and the Sun of peace shone upon her soul.
She went to the church, where the song had that night staid her
footsteps, and listened to the words of life.

Her life became a blessing; for her nature was broadened, deepened and
purified. The sick and needy learned to be glad at her coming, and
little children ran to meet her.

And did Bessie Lane ever come again?

Yes, when June smiled upon the earth, the childish figure once more
paused at the gate, but the blue eyes gazed bewildered around. "This
isn't the place. Aunt Ruth must have moved away." Well might she think
so; the house was neatly painted, the yard fence repaired, and up and
down the path all sorts of flowers were blooming. Just then Bessie
descried a neatly dressed old lady tying up some vines.

[Illustration: "Aunt Ruth must have moved away."]

[Illustration: "Bessie sprang into the woman's arms."]

"Can you tell me where Aunt Ruth Jones has gone that used to"--Bessie
stopped, and with one bound sprang into the woman's arms, for it was
Aunt Ruth herself.

"It is so beautiful here! how did it all happen?" cried the delighted
child.

Aunt Ruth smiled brightly, and, taking Bessie by the hand, passed into
the neat, cheerful room, and up to the south window, where the carefully
tended rose was putting forth beauty and fragrance.

Bessie fairly danced with delight at sight of the rose, but Aunt Ruth
seated the child gently by her side, and told how it had happened; how
the little flower had at first whispered to her heart of the long ago;
of the holy song that would not let her sleep; and, lastly, of God's
good Spirit that had so tenderly led her straying steps to the sun-gilt
path of peace.

[Illustration]

A STORY FOR SCHOOL GIRLS

It was recess at Miss Capron's school. The girls stood together in one
large group, talking very earnestly.

"I think it was a shame," said Marcia Lewis, "for her to make me face
the corner for an hour, just because I spoke half a dozen words to
Nellie Jones."

"I think so, too," chimed in a half a dozen other voices.

"She delights in showing her authority," said Lottie Barnes.

"So she does, or she wouldn't have kept Anna Mory and me on the
recitation seat, for missing one or two questions in arithmetic."

"Don't you think she is drea