ful sons and daughters, ever ready to do all in their power
to promote her happiness, or afford her pleasure. Does she not, children?"

"Yes, grandpa, indeed she does!" they replied in chorus.

Her sweet soft eyes glistened with happy tears as she sent a loving glance
round the little circle; then all becoming perfectly quiet and attentive,
she began to read.

Edward's first item of news was that the marriage had just taken place;
the next that Lester's health was steadily improving. Then came a
description of the rooms they were occupying; both as they were when first
seen by Elsie and himself and as they had become under his renovating and
improving hands.

After that he drew a vivid picture of Elsie's appearance in her bridal
robes, told who were present at the ceremony, who performed it, how the
several actors acquitted themselves, and what refreshments were served
after it was over.

He said he thought happiness was working a rapid cure with Lester, and
that from all he could see and hear, his success as both painter and
sculptor was already assured.

Elsie's themes were the same, but she had much to say of Edward's kind
thoughtfulness, his energy and helpfulness; "the best and kindest of
brothers," she called him, and as she read the words the mother's eyes
shone with love and pride in her eldest son.

But her voice trembled, and the tears had to be wiped away once and again
when she came to that part of the letter in which Elsie told of her
feelings as she robed herself for her bridal with none to assist but
Dinah; how sad was her heart, dearly as she loved Lester, and how full of
longing for home and mother and all the dear ones so far away; then of the
comfort she found in the idea that possibly the dear departed father might
be near her in spirit.

"Was it wrong, mamma," she asked, "to think he might perhaps be allowed to
be a ministering spirit to me in my loneliness? and to find pleasure in
the thought?"

"Mamma, what do you think about it?" asked Herbert.

"I do not know that we have any warrant for the idea in the Scriptures,"
she answered; "it seems to be one of the things that is not revealed; yet
I see no harm in taking comfort in the thought that it may be so. My poor
lonely darling! I am glad she had that consolation. Ah, papa, what a
different wedding from mine!"

"Yes," he said, "and from what we thought hers would be. But I trust she
will never see cause to regret the step she has take