tell you Clarissa's song, and then you'll know about it."

Nora's great eyes grew more sparkling, and the red spot in her pale
cheeks burned more than ever, as she recited the Song of Paradise; while
Elsli listened with growing wonder to her excited tones. It seemed as if
she saw the beauty that the song described, and her voice trembled with
emotion. When she ceased with the last words, "The sick are well again,"
Elsli sat silent and motionless, oppressed with awe and with this wholly
new experience, while Nora seemed absorbed in her own thoughts.

"Don't you like the song?" asked she at last.

"Oh, yes, indeed!" said Elsli decidedly.

"Wouldn't you like to go with me, where it is so beautiful?"

"Are you going?" asked Elsli.

"Oh, yes, very soon. Clarissa told me long ago about it; and how Philo
went, and I should go too. She has talked to me again and again about
it; and I long to go, because no one is ever sick or tired there. And,
when I go, wouldn't you like to go with me, Elsli?"

"Yes, I should like it," said Elsli, catching the enthusiasm of the
beautiful hope which shone in Nora's eyes. "But can we go whenever we
want to?"

"Oh, no; the good God calls us when our turn comes. I only want to know
if you want to go, as I do, so that we can talk about it together. And
perhaps we shall be called at the same time; and how delightful it would
be to go together and walk in the bright gardens, and pick the roses and
lilies by the shining river, and never be sick or tired any more, but be
happy forever!"

So Nora talked on about the heavenly land, and Elsli's eyes grew larger
as the glories of the future life were pictured to her, and a wholly new
world opened before her. Time flew rapidly by, and they did not notice
its passage.

Meantime, in the house of Dr. Stein, life was moving on in a much more
lively manner. After school, Oscar, Emma, and Fred had started off, each
in a different direction. Each was occupied with his own plans. Fred
took the road towards home. He had a very interesting description of a
rare little animal to read to his aunt, and he was very glad that the
others were bound elsewhere, and he had the way clear before him. When
he saw Feklitus running after Elsli in hot haste, he called out, with a
sarcastic laugh:--

"Hallo, Feklitus! it's a fine thing to have somebody like Elsli to make
use of, isn't it?" For he had noticed that when Feklitus couldn't
understand anything in his lessons