s over and the humble service cleared away, the
youth took his books and applied himself to study on the opposite side
of the table at which his mother sat busied with her needlework. And
there fell a perfect silence between them.

The widow's mind was anxious and her heart heavy; many cares never
communicated to cloud the bright sunshine of her boy's soul oppressed
hers. The rent had fallen fearfully behindhand, and the landlord
threatened, unless the money could be raised to pay him, to seize their
furniture and eject them from the premises. And how this money was to be
raised she could not see at all. True, this meek Christian had often in
her sad experience proved God's special providence at her utmost need,
and now she believed in His ultimate interference, but in what manner He
would now interpose she could not imagine, and her faith grew dim and
her hope dark and her love cold.

While she was revolving these sad thoughts in her mind, Traverse
suddenly thrust aside his books, and, with a deep sigh, turned to his
mother and said:

"Mother, what do you think has ever become of Herbert?"

"I do not know; I dread to conjecture. It has now been nearly three
years since we heard from him," exclaimed the widow, with the tears
welling up in her brown eyes.

"You think he has been lost at sea, mother, but I don't. I simply think
his letters have been lost. And, somehow, to-night I can't fix my mind
on my lesson or keep it off Herbert. He is running in my head all the
time. If I were fanciful, now, I should believe that Herbert was dead
and his spirit was about me. Good heavens, mother, whose step is that?"
suddenly exclaimed the youth, starting up and assuming an attitude of
intense listening, as a firm and ringing step, attended by a peculiar
whistling, approached up the street and entered the gate.

"It is Herbert! it is Herbert!" cried Traverse, starting across the room
and tearing open the door with a suddenness that threw the entering
guest forward upon his own bosom; but his arms were soon around the
newcomer, clasping him closely there, while he breathlessly exclaimed:

"Oh, Herbert, I am so glad to see you! Oh, Herbert, why didn't you come
or write all this long time? Oh, Herbert, how long have you been ashore?
I was just talking about you."

"Dear fellow! dear fellow! I have come to make you glad at last, and to
repay all your great kindness; but now let me speak to my second
mother," said Herbert, return