leasurable emotion, as she noticed that her dark-eyed Veronica was
conspicuous among all the maidens for the tasteful neatness of her
costume, and for the sweetness and grace of her bearing. The glance which
Veronica cast upon the mother in passing was full of love and gratitude;
and seemed to repeat the words that the faithful girl had spoken in the
morning, as she left her to go to the church. "I cannot thank you enough,
as long as I live, for what you have done for me, mother." A yet brighter
expression of happiness crossed Gertrude's countenance when the young men
came in procession after the girls, as her eyes fell on the well-formed
lad, a head taller than his companions, who nodded at her, and greeted her
with merry laughing looks, kissing his hand again and again, and yet once
again. That was her tall handsome Dietrich. His mother's heart leaped in
her breast at the sight of his fresh young life, so full of hope and
promise. Gertrude waited till the visit to the pastor was over, and the
young people had separated on their various paths. Then she in her turn
entered the parsonage. She wished herself to speak her thanks to this true
and long tried adviser and friend, for all that he had done for her
children.

"You are a fortunate mother," said the aged pastor, after he had listened
to Gertrude's expressions of gratitude. "Those are two uncommon children
that the good God has confided to your care, and I feel the greatest
interest in them. The lad has a clear head, and a winning grace that draws
everyone to him. Veronica is serious and conscientious; she has a calm
steady nature and can be depended upon for fidelity to duty, such as it is
rare to find. The children will be your stay and comfort in your old age.
May you keep them in the paths of virtue."

"With God's help;" said Gertrude, and she left the parsonage with tears of
happiness in her eyes. As she passed the garden of her neighbor Judith,
the latter called out over the low hedge,

"They have just gone by, all four of them. It always seems to me strange
that while all babies in the cradle look just alike, so that you can't
tell them apart, they grow up to be such very different men and women."

"No, no, these four were never alike," replied Gertrude, "but I agree that
they grow more and more unlike every day."

"Yes, that they do. And of you three near neighbors, you certainly have
drawn the best lot in children," said Judith with enthusiasm, "two like