"Mamma," whispered little Elsie, with a wistful, tender gaze into the soft
sweet eyes still swimming in tears, "dear mamma, something has made you
sorry. What can I do to comfort you?"

"Love me, darling, and be good; you are mamma's precious little comforter.
See dears," and she held the photograph so that all could have a view, "it
is dear Uncle Walter in his soldier dress." A big tear rolled down her
cheek.

"Mamma," Elsie said quickly, "how good he looks! and he is so happy where
Jesus is."

"Yes, daughter, we need shed no tears for him."

"Dear Uncle Walter," "Poor Uncle Walter!" the other two were saying.

"There, papa has finished reading; go now and bid good-night to him and
Uncle Harold," their mother said; and they hastened to obey.

They climbed their father's knees and hung about his neck with the most
confiding affection, while he caressed them over and over again, Harold
looking on with glistening eyes.

"Now some dood fun, papa: toss Vi up in oo arms," said the little one,
expecting the usual game of romps.

"Not to-night, pet; some other time. Another sweet kiss for papa, and now
one for Uncle Harold."

"After four years of camp, prison, and hospital life, it is a very
pleasant change to be among the children," Harold said, as the door closed
upon Elsie and her little flock.

"I feared their noise and perpetual motion might disturb you," Mr.
Travilla answered.

"Not at all; yours are not boisterous, and their pretty ways are very
winning."

Aunt Chloe and Dinah were in waiting, and soon had the three small figures
robed each in its white night-dress.

Then mamma--seated upon a sofa with little Violet on her lap, the other
two, one on each side--was quite at their disposal for the next half hour
or so; ready to listen or to talk; her sweet sympathy and tender love
encouraging them to open all their young hearts to her, telling her of any
little joy or sorrow, trouble, vexation, or perplexity.

"Well, darlings, have you remembered your verses and our little talk about
them this morning?" the mother asked. "Elsie may speak first, because she
is the eldest."

"Mamma, I have thought of them many times," answered the sweet child
voice; "we had a nice, nice walk with papa this morning, and the little
birds, the brook, and the trees, and the pretty flowers and the beautiful
blue sky all seemed to say to me, 'God is love.' Then mamma, once I was
tempted to be naughty, and I said in my heart, 'L