the sweet young face is bent earnestly, lovingly, over the
holy book.

On the veranda stands the mother, watching her darlings with eyes that
grow misty with glad tears, while her heart sends up its joyous
thanksgiving to Him who had been the Guide of her youth and the stay and
staff of maturer years.

A step approaches, and her husband's arm encircles her waist, while, as
she turns her head, his kindly gray eyes gaze into the depths of her soft
hazel ones, with a love stronger than life--or than death.

"Do you know, little wife, what day this is?"

She answered with a bright, glad smile; then her head dropped upon his
shoulder.

"Yes, my husband; ten years ago to-day I committed my happiness to your
keeping, and never for one moment have I regretted the step."

"Bless you, darling, for the word! How great are the mercies of God to me!
Yonder is our first-born. I see you as you were when first I met and
coveted you; and here you stand by my side, the true wife who has been for
ten years the joy and light of my heart and home. Wife, I love you better
to-day than ever before, and if it be the will of God, may we yet have
five times ten years to live together in love and harmony."

"We shall!" she answered earnestly; "eternity is ours, and death itself
can part us but for a little while."

THE END.

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