eathers."

"I remember that very well," said Mrs. Burton, with a smile.

"Of course," agreed her husband; "and many a joke we used to have about
it. I called her my little blackbird."

"And then," continued Miss Jemima, "there was another thing. A few days
before the child's disappearance, she fell down and hurt her knee; and
there were two scars, one on the knee, and another just below."

"Ah," said Mrs. Burton, "I remember those scars. Don't you, John?"

"Yes; and I used to tell her she was an old soldier, and had been in the
wars."

"So you did; and--dear me, how old memories are beginning to come
back!--she talked a great deal, not only of her 'daddy,' but of 'Aunt
'Mima.' I wonder I didn't think of that before. Perhaps, ma'am----"

"That's me!" cried Miss Jemima. "My name's Jemima; and 'Aunt 'Mima' was
what she always called me. There, Thomas, do you want any further proof?"

"Cobbler" Horn was lying with his hands over his face, and the bed was
shaking with his convulsive efforts to repress his strong emotion. Fear
had impelled him to withstand his growing conviction that his long-lost
child had been restored to him--fear of the consequences of a mistake,
both to himself, and to the bright young girl whom he had already learnt
to love as though she were indeed his child. But now, one after another,
his doubts had been beaten down. He had listened eagerly to every word
that had been spoken around his bed, and conviction had taken absolute
possession of his mind. Yet, for the moment, the shock of his great joy
seemed almost more than his weakened nerves could bear.

His friends stood around the bed, fearing for him. But, in a few moments,
he withdrew his hands from his face, which was wet with the gracious tears
of joy.

He clasped his hands, and looked reverently upward.

"'My soul doth magnify the Lord; and my spirit hath rejoiced in God, my
Saviour.'"

That was all.

"You would like us to leave you, brother?" asked Miss Jemima.

"For a very short time."

He was quite himself again.

"She is out still, isn't she?"

"Yes," replied Miss Jemima. "She will be in soon, no doubt. You would like
to see her. Well, leave that to me."

Then they left him to his blissful thoughts.

For many minutes, he gratefully communed with God. He was thankful his
child had come back to him so beautiful, and clever, and good. He could
regard her with as much pride as love; though he told himself he would
have love