“She took it, unheeding the cruel remark, and before I could make up my mind how to act, glided quickly away.  I followed as hastily, and continued to walk after her, until I saw her enter a large, old-fashioned brick building.  About this dwelling, there was no air of comfort.  In the door sat a little girl, and two boys, pale, but pleasant-looking children.  One of them clapped his little hands as Constance passed them, and then got up and ran after her into the house.  They all had her own bright eyes.  I would have known them for (sic) her’s anywhere.

“Does it not seem strange that I hesitated to go in at once to my child.  But I am at a loss what to do.  Sometimes I think that I will wait until you come on, and make her heart glad with the presence of both at once.  To-morrow I will write you again.  The mail is just closing; and I must send this.”

After Wilmer had received the kindly proffered relief from his employers, in an increase of salary, he was less troubled about the daily wants of his family.  But other sources of keen anxiety soon presented themselves.  His own health began to give way so rapidly as to awaken in his mind, fearful apprehensions of approaching inability to support his family; and Constance was not strong.  Too often, the pain in his breast and side was so severe as to make his place at the desk little less than torture.  A confirmed, short, dry cough, not severe, but constant, also awakened his liveliest fears.

At the end of a year from the time when his employers began to feel a kind interest in him, he was removed from the desk, and given more active employment as salesman and out-of-door clerk.  The benefit of this change was soon felt.  The pain in his breast and side gradually gave way, his appetite increased, and his cough became less and less irritating.  But this improvement was only temporary.  The disease had become too deeply rooted.  True, he suffered much less than while confined at the desk, but the morbid indications were too constant to leave him much of the flattery of hope.

Another year gradually rolled away, and with it came more changes, and causes of concern.  A little stranger had come into his family, making three the number of his babes, and adding to the list of his cares and his expenses; and it must also be said, to his pleasures.  For what parent, with the heart of a parent, be his condition what it may, but rejoices in the number of the little ones whose eyes brighten at his coming?  But there was a change of greater importance in his prospects.  The firm in whose service he was, became involved and had to wind up their business.  All the clerks were in a short time discharged, and Wilmer among the rest.  The time was one of great commercial pressure, and many long-established houses were forced to yield; others were driven to great curtailment of expenses.  The consequence was that few were employing clerks, and many dispensing with their services.  Under the circumstances, Wilmer found it impossible to obtain employment.  Daily did he call at the various stores and counting-rooms in the hope of meeting with a situation, only to return to his dwelling more depressed and disheartened.