“It was well with the child,” and no rebellious thought arose in her heart, but ah, what an aching void was there! how empty were her arms, though so many of her darlings were still spared to her.

A quiet step drew near, a strong arm was passed about her waist, and a kind hand drew her head to a resting-place on her husband’s breast.

“Is it so?” he said in moved tones, gazing through a mist of tears upon the quiet face of the young sleeper.  “Ah, darling, our precious lamb is safely folded at last.  He has gathered her in his arms and is carrying her in his bosom.”

There was no bitterness in the tears that were shed to the memory of little Lily; her short life had been so full of suffering, her passing away was so joyful that they must rejoice for her even while they wept for their own heavy loss.

They laid her body in the family burialground and mamma and the children went very often to scatter flowers upon the graves, reserving the fairest and sweetest for the little mound that looked so fresh and new.

“But she is not here,” Rosie would say, “she’s gone to the dear home above where Jesus is.  And she’s so happy.  She’ll never be sick any more because it says, ‘Neither shall there be any more pain.’”

Lily was never spoken of as lost or as dead; she had only gone before to the happy land whither they all were journeying, and where they should find her again blooming and beautiful; they spoke of her often and with cheerfulness, though tears would sometimes fall at the thought that the separation must be so long.

Elsie was much worn out with the long nursing, which she would not resign to other hands, and, as Mr. and Mrs. Daly were well pleased to have it so arranged, they still retained their posts in the household.

But the children again enjoyed the pleasant evening talks, and the prized morning half hour with mamma.  They might go to her at other times also, and it was not long before Vi found an opportunity to unburden her mind by a full account of all the doubts and perplexities that had so troubled her, and the manner in which they had been removed, to her great comfort and peace.

It was in the afternoon of the second day after the funeral, the two older girls being alone with their mother in her boudoir.

Elsie was startled at the thought of the peril her child had been in.

“I blame myself,” she said, “that I have not guarded you more carefully against these fearful errors.  We will now take up the subject together, my children and I, and study it thoroughly; and we will invite Isa and Virgy to join with us in our search after truth.”

“Molly also, mamma, if she is willing,” suggested her namesake daughter.

“Certainly; but I count her among my children.  Ah, I have not seen her for several days!  I fear she has been feeling neglected.  I will go to her now,” she added, rising from the couch on which she had been reclining.  “And you may both go with me, if you wish.”