The children examined all these things with intense interest and a sort of wondering awe, then begged their mother to tell them again about “dear grandma.”

They had heard the story—­all that mamma and mammy could tell—­many times, but it never lost its charm.

“Yes, dears, I will:  I love to think and speak of her,” Elsie said, sitting down in a low chair while they gathered closely round her, the older two, one on each side, the others leaning upon her lap.

“Mamma, it is a sad story; but I love it,” little Elsie said, drawing a deep sigh, as the tale came to an end.

“Yes, poor little girl, playing up here all alone,” said Eddie.

“’Cept mammy,” corrected Vi.

“Yes, mammy to love her and take care of her, but no brother or sister to play with, and no dear mamma or papa like ours.”

“Yes, poor dear grandma!” sighed little Elsie.  “And it was almost as hard for you, mamma, when you were a little girl:  didn’t you feel very sad?”

“Ah, daughter, I had Jesus to love me, and help me in all my childish griefs and troubles,” the mother answered, with a glad smile; “and mammy to hug and kiss and love me just as she does you.”

“But oh, didn’t you want your mamma and papa?”

“Yes, sorely, sorely at times; but I think no little child could be happier than I was when at last; my dear father came home, and I found that he loved me dearly.  Ah, I am so glad, so thankful that my darlings have never suffered for lack of love.”

“I too, mamma.”

“And I.”

“And I,” they exclaimed, clinging about her and loading her with caresses.

“Hark!” she said, “I hear your dear grandpa’s step, and there, he is knocking at the door.”

Eddie ran to open it.

“Ah, I thought I should find you here, daughter,” Mr. Dinsmore said, coming in.  “I, too, want to see these things; it is long since I looked at them.”

She gave him a pleased look and smile, and stepping to the closet he stood for some moments silently gazing upon its treasures.

“You do well to preserve them with care as mementoes of your mother,” he remarked, coming back and seating himself by her side.

“O grandpa, you could tell us more about her, and dear mamma too, when she was a little girl!” said little Elsie, seating herself upon his knee, twining her arms about his neck, and looking coaxingly into his face.

“Ah, what a dear little girl your mamma was at your age!” he said, stroking her hair and gazing fondly first at her and then at her mother, “the very joy of my heart and delight of my eyes! though not dearer than she is now.”

Elsie returned the loving glance and smile, while her namesake daughter remarked, “Mamma couldn’t be nicer or sweeter than she is now; nobody could.”

“No, no! no indeed!” chimed in the rest of the little flock.  “But grandpa please tell the story.  You never did tell it to us.”