over the cradle where she lies to touch her little face with his
dimpled hands, his great eyes lit up, and his whole countenance aglow
with feeling, such as one seldom witnesses in a child. This is only
another kind act for which I have to bless Ben Benson. He found the
infant wandering away from some unknown home in a fearful storm, almost
perished, and unable to tell even her name.

"It is a beautiful child, and the nurse pronounces her a very healthy
one. The General seems quite willing that I should adopt her; so I have
now a daughter--the word sounds sweet, very sweet to me. James looks at
me strangely as I sit with Lina in my lap, and little Ralph by my side,
there is a mournfulness in his face which wrings my very heart;
doubtless he reflects upon the happiness denied him--ah! he need not
envy me a few blessings which have been bestowed upon me.

"Am I happier now! My children are growing all that I could wish. I have
wealth, kind friends--say, am I happy? I would not repine nor be
ungrateful, but, oh! were it not for the little ones Heaven has confided
to my care, how gladly would I seek a quiet resting place in the grave!

"I know now that time cannot alleviate suffering, that nothing can teach
the heart to forget or still it into quietude, save for a little season.
Yet my existence is not wholly vain, and while those youthful creatures
need my care I am willing to live, but there are times when the burden
forced upon my soul seems harder than I can endure. When I fling myself
down in utter despair, feeling unable to tread longer the weary path
which lies before me.

"It seems to me that I should suffer less could I but see James happy,
but his sad silence increases my own pain. He is always gentle and kind,
devoted to the children; full of respect and quiet attentions for me;
but how changed from the bright youth of former years. How distant that
season--through what a fearful gloom I look back upon the brightness of
those summer years! How often I ask myself if I am indeed the dreaming
girl who, in her chamber at Neathcote watching the stars out in a vigil
which was like a charmed vision, believing that life was to be one long
fairy dream of delight.

"I have been thinking of that sail upon the lake. I could not help it!
Ralph brought me some water lilies that he and Lina had gathered; as if
the odor of those flowers had possessed a spell to conjure up the past,
the fleeting happiness of that summer day c