erself time for a prelude, gave herself to the beautiful and
well-remembered words:

"How much owest thou?
For years of tender, watchful care,
A father's faith, a mother's prayer--
How much owest thou?

"How much owest thou?
For calls, and warnings loud and plain,
For songs and sermons heard in vain--
How much owest thou?

"How much owest thou?
Thy day of grace is almost o'er,
The judgment time is just before--
How much owest thou?

"How much owest thou?
Oh, child of God, and heir of heaven,
Thy soul redeemed, thy sins forgiven--
How much owest thou?"

Flossy had heard Mr. Bliss, with his grand and glorious voice, ring that
out on a certain evening at Chautauqua, where all the associations of
the hour and place had been solemn and sacred. It might have been in
part these memories, and the sense of something missed, that made her
have a homesick longing for the place and song again, that gave to her
voice an unusually sweet and plaintive sound. Every word was plain and
clear, and wonderfully solemn; but when she reached the words,

"Oh, child of God, and heir of heaven,
Thy soul redeemed, thy sins forgiven,"

There rang out a note of triumph that filled the room, and made the
hearts of her listeners throb with surprise and wonder. Long before the
song was closed her father had laid aside the _Times_, and, with
spectacles pushed above his eyes, was listening intently. Absolute
silence reigned for a moment, as Flossy's voice died out in sweetness;
then Charlie, clearing his throat said:

"Well, I van! I said I didn't consider the song remarkable. But I take
it back; it is certainly remarkable. Did you ever hear anything that had
so changed since you last met it?"

Col. Baker did not at once reply. The very first line had struck him,
for the reason that above most men, he had reason to remember a
"mother's prayer." There were circumstances connected with that mother
of his that made the line doubly startling to him. He was agitated by
the wonderful directness of the solemn words, and he was vexed that they
agitated him; so when he did speak, to conceal his feeling, he made his
voice flippant.

"It is a remarkable production, worthy of camp-meeting, I should say.
But, Miss Flossy, allow me to congra