ve your innocent and loving wish." She then gently raised the
bed-clothes and placed him beside his father.

The poor pale boy sat up in the bed for about a minute, during which he
glanced at the still features of the departed, then at his mother, and
then at the pool of blood on the floor, and again he shuddered. All at
once, however, he started and looked about him; but in a manner
that betokened delight rather than alarm--his eyes brightened--and an
expression almost of radiance settled upon his face. "Mother," said he,
"kiss me, and let Mr. Harman kiss me."

They both did so, and his poor mother felt her heart relieved, by the
happiness depicted on his face. "Glory be to God," she exclaimed, "see
what a change for the better has come over my blessed child."

Father Roche looked at Harman, and shook his head--"Blessed he will be
soon," said he, in a low whisper, "the child is dying."

The boy started again, and the former serenity lit up his pale features.

"Bryan, you are better, darling of my life; you look a thousand pounds
better than you did awhile ago."

The boy looked into her face and smiled.---"I am," said he, "but did you
not hear it?"

"Hear what, jewel of my heart?"

"There it is again;" said he, looking eagerly and delightfully about
him, "my father's voice;--that's three times it called, me, but it
didn't come from the bed, although he's in it. I will kiss him and then
sleep--but I will miss his arms from about me, I think."

He then fixed himself beside that loving parent, aided by his mother,
and getting his arm around his pulseless neck, he kissed him, and laying
down his fair head, he fell asleep in that affecting posture. There was
a solemn stillness for some minutes, and a strange feeling of fear crept
over his mother's heart. She looked into the eyes of those who were
about her, but the looks they returned to her carried, no consolation to
her spirit.

"My child," she exclaimed--"Oh, my child, what is this? Bryan, my
life--my light, what ails you?" She stooped, and gently turning him
about so as to see his face, she looked keenly into it for a few
moments, and there certainly was the same seraphic expression which so
lately lit it tip. Still she felt dissatisfied, till putting her ear to
his mouth and her hand to his heart, the woeful truth became known to
her. The guiltless spirit of her fair-haired son had followed, that of
his father.

When the afflicted widow saw the full extent