en, as the tones of the old woman's voice died away, Ruth found
herself in the garden again, near her mother's house, and, had it not
been for the fruit and bunch of violets in her pocket, she would have
believed it a dream; but, when she went into the house, and gave Grace
and Jessie the peaches, and her mother the big, beautiful violets, and
began doing all sorts of kind things for every one, she felt how very
real it all had been. And then, too, she would sing that beautiful song
she had heard in the old woman's star, and her father, delighted, caught
her up in his arms, kissing her again and again.

Ruth did not forget what the old woman had told her--how she might bring
the beauty of heaven about her form; and when she grew up people loved
her, and said, "I would rather look like Ruth, to smile and speak like
her, than to have the brightest hair and bluest eyes of any court
beauty."

THE OLD MAN'S STORY.

Come about me, little ones, and I will tell you my story. I seem old to
you now; but once I was as young as you. I had twelve brothers and
sisters; but now they are all gone before me into the better land, and I
remain here alone upon the earth without them.

I am very old. My teeth have fallen away from my mouth one by one, until
they are all gone. My bald head has a very few gray hairs; my ears are
deaf, so I can scarcely hear your young, sweet voices: and the bright
sky is dimmed to my eyes. Slowly my footsteps totter along the earth, as
when I first stepped into my mother's outstretched arms.

My wife long ago went before me to the grave, and I have left many
children there. Many a time have I seen the green sod laid over the
grave of loved ones. Often have I wept at the sight of God's servant,
Death; but when next he comes I shall hail him with joy, for he will be
to me the beloved friend who bears me to my home above.

Now that I am grown old, God lovingly carries me back to the days of my
childhood. He sends many a loving spirit upon the wings of consolation
to bear me into the fair region of youth. The scenes of the few years
since--all the noise and bustle of my manhood's prime--are banished far
away from me, and only the stillness and quiet of my childhood close
around the last moments of my earthly existence. Thus, dear children,
bathing me in the innocence and trustful spirit of my childhood, does
God prepare me for my home in his beautiful garden.

I told you I had twelve brothers and s