. "But
there is One who giveth strength."

Father Brighthopes found an opportunity to have a farewell talk with
poor Hepsy. She could not bear the thought of his going away. This was
now her only sorrow; for he had filled her soul with immortal hopes, and
taught her to endure patiently all the ills of life. But she feared lest
she might go back into the dark, when he was no longer near to reflect
the light from above upon her spirit. Had he not promised to write to
her, she would hardly have been consoled for his loss; as it was, it
seemed as if the sun was going into a dense, cold mist.

At length the breakfast was out of the way; the old man had offered up
his morning prayer in presence of the family, as, by request of the
parents, he had been accustomed to do, of late; his trunks were packed
and ready, and the time had come to say the last farewells.

James brought the horse to the door, at sight of which Willie just began
to comprehend that the old man was really going.

"I want to go too!" he cried, clinging to his knees.

Father Brighthopes stooped to kiss his plump brown cheek.

"Oh, let me go!" exclaimed Georgie, who had not thought of such an
arrangement before.

"Would you go and leave your father and mother, and Chester and James,
and all?" asked the clergyman.

"You show me how to do my sums better than they do; and you give me
story-books," replied Georgie, bashfully.

"And they do a thousand times more for you," said the old man, embracing
the boy. "They give you clothes, and food, and send you to school, and
do more things for you than anybody can think of."

"Oh, you will come again next summer, won't you, Father?" cried Lizzie,
kissing him impulsively, when his head was down.

"I am too old and feeble to make any promise for another year," replied
Father Brighthopes, smiling tenderly. "But I shall come and see you all
again, if Providence grant me that indulgence. Be this as it may, I
shall always remember you and love you."

How gently then he kissed the affectionate girl! He turned and gave his
hand to Sarah, whose eyes filled with tears as she received his
blessing.

Mr. Royden took the old man's arm, and led him to the wagon.

"But where is Samuel? I must not neglect him," said Father Brighthopes.

At that moment a groaning was heard behind the shed, under the tree
where the grindstone stood.

"Is that Sam?" asked Mr. Royden.

"Yes, sir," replied James. "Something is the matter