closet. "Lie down a while-you'll be better soon."

"But the ironing must be done, the clothes are all sprinkled, and the strange gentleman coming, and nothing cooked, not even his room fixed. Oh! oh, dear!" said Katy, more despairing than ever.

It was rather a dismal picture.

"Never you mind, Katy-leave it all to me; go, bundle off to bed, and while you are taking a snooze, I'll put every thing in apple-pie order."

With a little more coaxing Katy consented, saying, however, "Don't do any thing, Miss Minnie, honey; I'll come down soon."

Minnie and Laurie were left alone in the kitchen. Her prospect of reading to-day, as she had planned, had disappeared, and she bore her disappointment as well as she could.

Her smile vanished as she heard Katy's receding footsteps, and a shade, passed over her face as she thought of the day's work,

sweeping, dusting, cooking, ironing,—all for her inexperienced hands to do.

"I'm not my own-I'm bought with a price-I mustn't be selfish." This thought cheered her.

"I'll do the best I can, said she;" and with a light heart and step she was soon busily engaged.

Laurie played around the room till he was tired, and pussy was tired, too; so he sat down in his little chair, and talked with his sister.

"You don't sing as usual, when you work, Minnie. Why don't you?"

"I was thinking, Laurie." "Do you like to think?"

แ

"Yes, very much, about some things."

"Of what were you thinking just now?"

"How people may become 'perfect through suffering.'

"Yes, if they love the hand that sends the trials."

"Trouble makes us patient, doesn't it?"

"It ought to; don't you remember how you used to fret because you were blind? and now you very seldom speak of it."

"I think of it, Minnie," said he, in a low tone.

"It will not last for ever, Laurie."

"No! in heaven I shall see! Last night I dreamed I was dead, Minnie, and I went to heaven and saw dear mamma there. Jesus was sitting on a throne with a rainbow around it. There were-oh! so many little children there, all singing,

"With crowns upon their foreheads,

And harps within their hands.'

Mamma was so happy! you know I never saw her face before, but she looked as I know you look, Minnie. I asked her if I might stay, and she said, 'Not yet; wait until the flowers come, and the little birds sing again; and when the flowers droop, and the little birds fly away, I'll come for you.' Oh! Minnie! I wish she would!"

"Do you want to leave me, Laurie?"

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You will come soon, Minnie. You won't miss me, long. I sha'n't go till Jesus comes,

Minnie; and when He calls, you know I must go."

Miriam did not speak to him for more than an hour; her heart was busied with new, strange thoughts.

2

VI.

The Strange Visitor.

EVERAL times during the day Minnie went up to Katy's room. About four o'clock she found her quite comfortable; the "agony in her face had gone away," she said, and she insisted upon coming down to finish. Minnie was in no wise reluctant, but glad to be released from her domestic duties. Taking her sewing, she went with little Laurie to the sitting-room. Soon, from the window, she saw her sisters; they were having a fine chase. Gracie's bonnet was swinging in her hand, her black curls dancing in the wind, her cheeks flushed with exercise, and her eyes sparkling with fun. Even the quiet Nellie had joined in the chase: they all ran to the

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