"Yes, sir," she replied.

"Well, then," rejoined he, "if you please, 1 walk in, for I've got some news to tell you. B first I'll bring in the children, for the little thin have been riding all day, and are pretty tired.”

"Certainly, sir, bring them in and let the rest, and I will give them a cup of milk," replic the kindly matron.

A little boy and girl were lifted from the wago and led in. Mrs. May made an exclamation o joyful surprise. The very vision she had had i her mind a few minutes previous stood before he bodily! She took the little girl in her arms an covered her face with kisses. 66 Why, bless you little soul!" she exclaimed; "how much you loo like my daughter Jenny!

"My name ith Jenny," lisped the little one.

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Why, you see, ma'am stammered the stranger; he paused, in an embarrassed way, and smoothed the nap of his hat with his sleeve. "You see, ma'am" he resumed; then, breaking down again, he suddenly seized the boy by the hand, led him up to her, and said, "There, Robin! that's your good old granny, you 've heard so much about."

With a look of astonishment, Mrs. May said to him: "And where is my daughter, sir? Surely these little children would n't come so far without their mother."

The man again began to say,

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You see

nia'am " but his heart came up and choked his voice with a great sob. The old mother understood its meaning. She encircled the two children with her arms, and drew them closely to her side. After a brief silence, she asked, in a subdued voice, "When did she die?"

Her calmness reassured the stranger, and with a steady voice he replied: "You see, ma'am, your daughter and her husband have been neighbors of mine ever since they went to Illinois. There's been an epidemic fever raging among us, and they both died of it. The last words your daughter said were, Carry the children to my good mother. I've been wanting to come and see my old father, who lives about three miles from here, so I brought them along with me. It's sorrowful news for you, ma'am, and I meant to have sort of prepared you for it; but somehow I lost my presence of mind, and forgot what I was going to say. But I'm glad to see you so sustained under it, ma'am."

"I thank God that these are left," she replied; and she kissed the little faces that were upturned to hers with an expression that seemed to say they thought they should like their grandmother.

"I'm so glad you 're helped to take it so,” rejoined the stranger. “Your daughter always told me you was a woman that went straight ahead and did your duty, trusting the Lord to bring you through."

"I am forgetting my duty now," she replie "You must be hungry and tired. If you 'll dri to Neighbor Harrington's barn, he will take go care of your horse, and I will prepare your suj per."

"Thank you kindly, ma'am ; but I must jog o to my old father's, to take supper with him."

Some boxes containing the clothing of the chi dren and their mother were brought in; and, hav ing deposited them, the stranger departed ami thanks and benedictions.

Mrs. Harrington had seen the wagon stop a Mrs. May's door, and go off without the children Being of an inquiring mind, she straightway pu on her cape-bonnet, and went to see about it. She found her worthy neighbor pinning towels round the children's necks, preparatory to their supper of brown bread and molasses, which they were in a great hurry to eat.

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Why who on earth have you got here!" exclaimed Neighbor Harrington.

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They are my daughter's children," replied Mrs. May. "Bless their little souls! if I'd have known they were coming, I'd have had some turnovers ready for them."

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I guess you'll find they'll make turnovers enough,” replied Mrs. Harrington smiling. "That boy looks to me like a born rogue. But where's your daughter? I did n't see any woman in the wagon."

The Lord nas taken her to himself," replied Mrs May, in quivering tones.

"You don't say sc!" exclaimed Neighbor Harrington, raising both hands. "Bless me! if I'd known that, I would n't have come right in upon you so sudden."

They sat down and began to talk over the particulars which the stranger had related. Meanwhile, the children, in hungry haste, were daubing their chins and fingers with molasses. The little four-year-old Jenny was the first to pause. Drawing a long breath, expressive of great satisfaction, she lisped out," O Bubby! larthiz top on bread! what can be dooder?"

Robin, who was two years her senior, and felt as if he were as much as ten, gave a great shout of laughter, and called out, "O Granny! you don't know how funny Sissy talks."

Grandmother went with a wet towel to wipe their hands and faces, and when she heard what the little Tot had said, she could not help smiling, notwithstanding the heaviness of her heart. As for Neighbor Harrington, she laughed outright.

"You see they are just as well satisfied as they would have been with a dozen turnovers," said she. But this is a sad blow for you, Neighbor May; coming, too, just at the time when you were taking so much comfort in the thoughts of going to see your daughter; and it will be a pretty neavy load for a woman of your years to bring up *hese orphans."

"O, it's wonderful how the dispensations Providence are softened for us poor weak mortal replied Mrs. May. "Only think what a mercy is that I have these treasures left? Why, looks so much like her dear mother, that I seem have my own little Jenny right over again; and can't seem to realize that it is n't so. You s Neighbor Harrington, that softens the blow wo derfully. As for bringing up the children, I ha faith that the Lord will strengthen those who tru in him."

"That's just like you," rejoined Neighbor Ha rington. "You always talk in that way. Y always seem to think that what happens is t best that could happen. You're pretty much li this little one here. If you don't get tarts a turnovers, you smack your lips and say, 'Lass top on bread! what can be gooder?'”

The neighbors bade each other a smiling goo night. When Mrs. Harrington returned hom she told her husband the mournful news, an added, "Mrs. May don't seem to feel it so muc as I should think she would." Yet the god grandmother dropped many tears on the pillo where those little orphans slept; and kneeling b their bedside, she prayed long and fervently fo support and guidance in rearing the precious sou thus committed to her charge.

She had long been unused to children; and the did, as Neighbor Harrington had predicted, mak