ad called the elder boy, Josiah, to his side, and the
little fellow had quickly become familiar enough to play with his gold
watch-chain. Seeing it pleased the child, he took the watch and held
it to his ear, at which the countenance of the boy became radiant with
delight. "O, Jimmy," he cried, "it talks."

Mr. Armstrong released the watch into the hands of Josiah, who ran
with it to his brother.

"He will drop it," exclaimed Mrs. Sill, starting forward, taking the
watch from the hands of the disappointed boy, and offering it to Mr.
Armstrong.

"Keep it," he said, "for Josiah, to associate me, when he grows up,
with his father's death."

"You don't mean to give away your gold watch?" said Mrs. Sill, still
holding it out towards him.

"Yes, Mrs. Sill," said Mr. Armstrong, "I intended it for him: I would
give him all I have if I could thereby restore his father to life."

This observation renewed in full force the sorrow of the poor woman.
She sank back into a chair, and covering her face with her apron,
sobbed and wept bitterly.

Faith looked at her father with an expression which seemed to say--do
not refer to the cause of her grief. Armstrong understood the appeal,
but he had that in his mind which was unknown to his daughter, and
after a pause he proceeded.

"I have more property than I deserve, and what better use can I put
it to than give it to the deserving? You will find in that," he
continued, handing a paper to the widow, "what will entitle you to
a little income during your life. I hope it will enable you to take
better care of your children."

Mrs. Sill took the paper mechanically, and gazed upon without opening
it or imagining the extent of the gift. She kept turning it round and
round in her fingers, as if not knowing what to do with it.

"Everybody knows you're a kind man, and as generous as you're rich,
Mr. Armstrong;" at last she said, "But I guess I shant want anything
long in this world."

"I hope you may live long yet," said Mr. Armstrong, "for the sake of
the little boys."

This allusion recalled her more to herself, and without looking at
the paper she put it into her bosom. "I'm sure I thank you with all my
heart, and shall always try to do my duty by them," she said.

Here Mr. Armstrong rose, and Faith, putting down the child, that
seemed loth to leave her, spoke in a low tone some parting words of
consolation.

"I'm sure you're very good; I'm sure I'm very much obleeged to you,"