8+ J. COLE.

no more awake on earth, and we watched
him, fearing almost to move.

Dick held him in his arms all that morning,
and presently towards noon the doctor took
the little wrist, and found the pulse still feebly
beating; a smile lit up his good, kind face,
and he whispered to me, “ There is hope.”

“Thank God!” I whispered back, and ran
away into my own room to sob out grateful
prayers of thanksgiving to Heaven for having
spared the life so nearly lost to us.

When I went back, Joe had just begun to
awaken, and was looking up into his beloved
Dick’s face, murmuring: “ Why, it’s Dick.
Are you a-crying about me, Dick? Don’t ery
—I’m all right—ITm only so tired.”

And having drank some wine the doctor
had ordered should be given him, he nestled
close to Dick’s breast, and ‘again fell into a
sweet sleep, a better, life-giving sleep this
time, for the faint color came to his pale little
lips, and presently Dick laid him down on
the pillows, and rested his own weary arms.
He would not move from Joe’s side for fear
he might wake and miss him, but for many