to the overstrained nerves and full heart."

Even as he spoke the barriers which for so many hours had been steadily,
firmly resisting the grief and anguish swelling in her breast, suddenly
gave way, and tears poured out like a flood.

Her husband knelt by her side and drew her head to a resting-place on his
breast, while her father, with one of her hands in his, softly repeated
text after text speaking of the bliss of the blessed dead.

She grew calmer. "Don't be alarmed about me, dear Edward, dear papa," she
said in her low sweet tones. "I don't think I am ill; and heavy as our
loss is, dearest husband, how we must rejoice for her. Let me go and
perform the last office of love for her--our precious mother; I am better;
I am able."

"No, no, you are not; you must not," both answered in a breath. "Aunt
Dinah and Aunt Chloe will do it all tenderly and lovingly as if she had
been of their own flesh and blood," added Mr. Travilla, in trembling
tones.

CHAPTER TWENTIETH.

"There are smiles and tears in the mother's eyes
For her new-born babe beside her lies;
Oh, heaven of bliss! when the heart o'erflows
With the rapture a _mother_ only knows!"
--HENRY WARE, JR.

Mrs. Travilla was laid to rest in their own family burial-ground, her dust
sleeping beside that of her husband, and children who had died in infancy;
and daily her surviving son carried his little daughter thither to scatter
flowers upon "dear grandma's grave."

It was not easy to learn to live without the dear mother; they missed her
constantly. Yet was their sorrow nearly swallowed up in joy for her--the
blessed dead who had departed to be with Christ in glory and to go no more
out forever from that blissful presence.

Their house was not made dark and gloomy, the sunlight and sweet spring
air entered freely as of yore. Nor did they suffer gloom to gather in
their hearts or cloud their faces. Each was filled with thankfulness for
the spared life of the other, and of their darling little daughter.

And scarce a week had passed away since heaven's portals opened wide to
the ransomed soul, when a new voice--that of a son and heir--was heard in
the old home, and many hearts rejoiced in the birth of the beautiful boy.

"God has sent him to comfort you in your sorrow, dearest," Elsie
whispered, as her husband brought the babe--fresh from its first robing by
Aunt Chloe's careful hands--and with a very