d a
psalm of penitence. Then he and the family kneeled down to pray. The dear
old man seemed to speak right to the Good Father in behalf of his
sorrowful little niece. And while he pleaded the love of the great
Shepherd for his precious lambs, Jessie felt as if a heavy burden rolled
away from her heart, the big black cloud passed from before her eyes, and
the sweet springs of joy and gladness once more poured their streams over
her happy spirit.

With a light step, Jessie tripped back to her chamber. Emily was still
awake. Thoughts such as she had never cherished before were rushing
through her brain and burning in her heart. She was strongly inclined to
speak to Jessie. But pride set a seal upon her lips, and she kept her eyes
closed in simulated sleep. As for Jessie, after whispering a prayer for
Emily and a song of praise for herself, she laid down beside her cousin
and slept as sweetly as a fairy in a blue-bell, or as a weary angel might
slumber in one of the bright bowers of Paradise. You may be sure her
dreamland was filled with images of love and beauty.

The next morning Jessie awoke wondering how Emily would feel about the
events of the day before. Finding her cousin was also awake, she said--

"Emily!"

"Good morning, Jessie," replied Emily, sitting up in the bed and looking
full in Jessie's face. "I hope you feel more cheery than you did last
night."

"I am very happy this morning," replied Jessie, her eyes sparkling with
delight as she spoke. "Shall I tell you how I came to be so?"

"As you please!" said Emily, shrinking from Jessie's proposal as if she
feared her story might bring back the guilty feeling of the night
previous.

Jessie told her cousin just what she had felt, and how she had confessed
her wrong, and how her sorrow had been rolled away. She did this so
simply, so sweetly, and so kindly, that Emily blushed, and the big tears
stood like dew-drops on her eyelashes. Jessie had found the way to her
cousin's heart.

But when she urged her to confess her faults and to join her in a note of
apology to the Sherwoods, the pride of Emily's heart rose within her, and
dashing away her tears, she said--

"_Apologize_, indeed! I won't do it!"

Just then the ringing of the first breakfast-bell warned them that it was
time to rise. They did so; and Jessie, seeing that her cousin did not wish
to talk any more, dressed herself in silence.

After breakfast Jessie went to her writing-desk, and wrote