s.

"It's no use to waste our oil: we have nothing to read or interest
us," said one of two lonely women, on the night Hope came to the earth.
So they sat down gloomily together, the darkness adding to their
cheerlessness, while a bright glow within would have gladdened them and
all without.

Hope went by, laden with garlands, just as they took their seats in the
shadows. She would gladly have left them, for she had enough and to
spare; but, seeing no sign of a habitation, walked on.

The two women talked of the dreary world until they went to rest. What
was their surprise, in the morning, to find their neighbors rejoicing
over their mysterious gifts.

"Why had we none?" they said again and again. "The poor never have half
as much given them as the wealthy," they cried, and went back to their
gloom and despair.

"Did you find a wreath on your doorstep this morning?" inquired a
bright, hopeful woman at noon, who had brought them a part of her
dinner.

"No, indeed!" they answered. "Did you find one on yours?"

"The handsomest wreath I ever saw. Who ever could have made
one so lovely? But"--she stopped suddenly, on seeing their sad faces.
"You shall have part of mine: I will cut it in two."

"Never!" said the eldest quickly. "There is some reason why we
were omitted; and, until we can know the cause, you must keep your
wreath unbroken."

It was very noble of her to come out of herself and refuse to accept
what she instinctively felt did not belong to her.

A week passed away. A child in the village had had strange dreams
concerning the gifts, which, in substance, was that a beautiful angel
had come from the stars above, and brought flowers to every house in
which a light was seen.

"We did not have any light that night,--don't you remember?" remarked the
eldest of the women, as their neighbor told them of the strange dream.

"There must be _something_ in it," answered the little bright-eyed
woman. "For all the dwellings had flowers which were lighted."

"I suppose we ought always to be more hopeful," said the women
together. "The lamps of our houses should typify the light of hope,
which should never be dim, nor cease burning."

* * * * *

Hope was taken up, by a golden cord, to her abode. The starry group
sang heavenly anthems to refresh her, and Love twined a fresh garland
for her brow. They held another festival in the temple, in honor of her
and her safe return from th