ou must be crying about the cow. I am very sorry,--
very. I had rather have lost anything we have left than the cow, now
George is so ill."--Here he bit his lip, and looked away from George,
lest he should cry like his sister. He went on, however, talking rather
quickly at first, but becoming more composed as he proceeded. He said,
"I have been thinking that it will never do for us who may be near
losing everything we have, and our lives, after all, to grieve over each
separate loss as it happens. When you said your prayers the first night
of the flood..."

"How long ago that does seem!" exclaimed Mildred.

"It does, indeed!" replied Oliver, glad to hear her say something
distinctly. "When we said our prayers that night, and whenever we have
said them since, we begged that we might be able to bear dying in this
flood,--to bear whatever it pleased God to do. Now, our right way is to
make up our minds at once to everything, and just in the way it pleases
God. Let us try to bear it cheerfully, whether we lose the cow or
anything else first; or whether we all die together. That is the way,
Mildred!--And if you and I should not die together, that must be the way
too."

"I hope we shall though."

"I think it is very likely; and that before long. And then how useless
it will have been to be unhappy about anything we can lose here! People
who may be so near to death need not be anxious about this and that,
like those who seem to have long to live. So come, dear, and see this
chest; and help us to settle what should be done with it."

There was nothing about the outside of the chest to show whose it might
be. Everybody agreed that it ought to be opened immediately, lest all
that it contained should be spoiled by the wet. But how to open it was
the question; for it had a very stout lock, and strong hinges. After
many attempts, it was found that nothing short of proper tools would
answer the purpose: and Oliver went to see if his could be reached.
Through piles of rubbish, and a puddle of slimy water, he got to the
spot where he had left them,--hidden behind straw, that the Redfurns
might not discover and spoil them. The straw was washed away, and his
beautiful lump of alabaster reduced to slime; but his tools were
there,--in no very bright condition, but safe. He hastened away from
the spot; for thoughts crowded upon his mind of the day when he had last
used these tools, and the way of life in which he and M