The gates ajar. By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps.

The Gates Ajar. 233
XVI.
October 17.
"The Lord God a'mighty help us! but His
ways are past finding out. What with one
thing and another thing, that child without a
mother, and you with the crape not yet rusty
for Mr. Roy'l, it doos seem to me as if His
manner of treating folks beats all! But I tell
you this, Miss Mary, my dear; you jest say
your prayers reg'lar and stick to Him, and
THe'll pull you through, sure!"
This was what Phcebe said when I told her.
November 8.
To-night, for the first time, Auntie fairly
gave up trying to put Faith to bed. She had
insisted on it until now, crawling up by the
banisters like a wounded thing. This time
she tottered arfd sank upon the second step.
She cried out, feebly: "I am afraid I must
give it up to Cousin Mary. Faith "-the
child clung with both hands to her, -" Faith,
Faith! Mother's little girl!"