unusual must have taken place
followed her husband to the room of Earnest.

By the tearful request of Earnest, she examined the package, which had
for so long a time remained in her keeping. First there was a Bible and
Hymn Book, the books were elegantly bound, and had silver clasps. Then
there was an old-fashioned locket of gold, containing a picture of the
father and mother of Ernest, which had been taken many years before.
Between the leaves of the Bible was placed a letter addressed to Ernest,
in the hand-writing of his mother. The letter had been written at
different times as her strength permitted, during the last few days of
her life. It read as follows:--

"My dear little Earnest,--Long before your eyes will rest
upon these lines, the hand that traces them will have mouldered
into dust. The contents of this package with my prayerful blessing,
is all I have to leave you. As I write these lines you are playing
about my room a happy, innocent child. Would that my knowledge
could extend into the future, that I might know what manner of
youth you will be, when this letter is placed in your hands. But I
fear that I am wrong in thus wishing to know the future which a
kind Providence has mercifully hidden from us. It is my anxiety for
you alone that prompts the desire. I leave a request that this
letter be not placed in your hands till you shall have attained the
age of fourteen years. For should your life be spared to that
period, you will then be capable of reflection. It is my earnest
prayer, that you should grow up a good and dutiful boy, and by so
doing, reward Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey for the care and instruction,
which, I feel confident they will bestow upon you. But, O! my son,
should it be otherwise, and you have been led astray by evil
companions, I beseech you, my child, to pause and think. Listen to
the voice of your mother as if speaking to you, from her grave.
_Again_, I say, 'pause and reflect.' If you have evil companions,
forsake them at once, and forever. But I trust that these sad
forebodings are needless, and that when you read these lines, you
will be all that the fond heart of a mother could desire. The Bible
and Hymn Book which I leave you belonged to my father, who was a
minister of the Church of Scotland. Is it too much for me to hope
that you will follow in the footsteps of your deceased grand