ding her sleeping peacefully, she returned as quietly
as she had come, thinking to pay another visit before descending to the
breakfast-room.

Only a few minutes had passed, however, when the little maid Betty came
rushing unceremoniously in, her eyes wild with affright. "Missus,
missus," she cried, "suffin de mattah wid ole Aunt Chloe; she--"

Elsie waited to hear no more, but pushing past the child, flew to the
rescue.

But one glance at the aged face told her that no human help could avail;
the seal of death was on it.

A great wave of sorrow swept over her at the sight, but she was outwardly
calm and composed as, taking the cold hand in hers, she asked, "Dear
mammy, is it peace?"

"Yes, chile, yes," came in feeble yet assured accents from the dying
lips; "an' I's almos' dar; a po' ole sinnah saved by grace. Good-by,
honey; we's meet again at de Master's feet, neber to part mo mo'!"

One or two long-drawn gasping breaths followed and the aged pilgrim had
entered into rest.

At the same instant a strong arm was passed round Elsie's waist, while a
manly voice said tenderly, "We will not grieve for her, dear daughter,
for all her pains, all her troubles are over, and she has been gathered
home like a shock of corn fully ripe."

"Yes, dear father, but let me weep a little; not for her, but for
myself," Elsie said, suffering him to draw her head to a resting-place
upon his breast.

In the mean while Violet and Grace had wakened from sleep, and the little
girl had told of her new-found happiness, meeting with the joyful
sympathy which she had expected.

"Dear Gracie," Violet said, taking the little girl in her arms and
kissing her tenderly, "you are a blessed, happy child in having so early
chosen the better part which shall never be taken away from you. Jesus
will be your friend all your life, be it long or short; a friend that
sticketh closer than a brother; who will never leave nor forsake you, but
will love you with an everlasting love, tenderer than a mother's, and be
always near and mighty to help and save in every time of trouble and
distress."

"Oh, mamma," said Grace, "how good and kind He is to let me love Him! I
wish I could do something to please Him; what could I do, mamma?"

"He said to His disciples, 'If ye love Me, keep My commandments;' and He
says the same to you and me, Gracie, dear," Violet answered.

"I will try, mamma; and won't you help me?"

"All I can, dear. Now it is time for us