Our Flome. II

 

Much there was to mourn over, much to regret; but
much, how much to be thankful for! There was
nobody in sight ; and obeying the impulse of my
heart, I knelt down in the neglected garden and
acknowledged with a full heart the goodness and
mercy that had followed me all the days of my life.
I prayed for grace to spend the life that lay before
me in the service of Him whose soldier and servant
I was. Remembering all those who had shown me
kindness, I prayed for a blessing on each of them,
and for my father also, that we might all be led to
the one Home.that awaited us beyond, where death
and desolation could not come.

Evening was drawing on; but as I passed up
through the village, I knocked at the old Cad-
walladers’ door, and received a hearty welcome
from them as a friend of Tommy’s. They must
needs have me stay and take a cup of tea, and read
the last letter from him, and talk over his prospects,
before they would hear of my going on. A little
wild-haired elf of a girl came in while I was there,
and they told me that they had taken to the child
since Tommy left—not that she was kith or kin of
theirs, but she did not belong to anyone in parti-
cular, her mother being dead, and they would as
lief have her as not, since there was no keeping her
out of the house. I was glad the kind old couple