ut her at her ease again, he turned the leaf and showed her other
pictures, and the story which went with them, from which he was copying
something. And he said--

"This is for another book, to show how the grace of the Father was
beautiful in some homes and families. It is not the great history, but
connected with it: and there are many who love that better than the
story which is more great."

Then the Pilgrim looked in his face and said--

"What I want most is, to know about your homes here."

"It is all home here," he said, and smiled; and then, as he met her
wistful looks, he went on to tell her that he and his brothers were not
always there. "We have all our occupations," he said, "and sometimes I
am sent to inquire into facts that have happened, of which the record is
not clear; for we must omit nothing; and sometimes we are told to rest
and take in new strength; and sometimes--"

"But oh, forgive me," cried the little Pilgrim, "you had some who were
more dear to you than all the world in the old time?"

And the others all looked up again at the question, and looked at her
with tender eyes, and said to the man whom she questioned, "Speak!"

He made a little pause before he spoke, and he looked at one here and
there, and called to them--

"Patience, brother," and "Courage, brother." And then he said, "Those
whom we loved best are nearly all with us; but some have not yet come."

"Oh," said the little Pilgrim, "but how then do you bear it, to be
parted so long--so long?"

Then one of those to whom the first speaker had called out "Patience"
rose, and came to her smiling; and he said--

"I think every hour that perhaps she will come, and the joy will be so
great, that thinking of that makes the waiting short: and nothing here
is long, for it never ends; and it will be so wonderful to hear her tell
how the Father has guided her, that it will be a delight to us all; and
she will be able to explain many things, not only for us, but for all;
and we love each other so, that this separation is as nothing in
comparison with what is to come."

It was beautiful to hear this, but it was not what the little Pilgrim
expected, for she thought they would have told her of the homes to which
they all returned when their work was over, and a life which was like
the life of the old time; but of this they said nothing, only looking at
her with smiling eyes, as at the curious questions of a child. And there
were many othe