Left to Ourselves; or, John Headley's Promise.

bright and clear, and A

wn, and went across to her bro

to get up,

y voice, and there was a comfortable sound

shivering Agnes; "we shall be late f

is time, and then Jo

old woman; I

John?" as

heard a bump on the floor, an

Hugh's, a wet sponge would probably be trickli

idered soberly her responsibility as head of the house, yet it was trustfully too, and the remembrance of the great joy which John

king as bright as if no wei

they sat at breakfast, "for I do not count yest

," said Hugh, "for she alway

said Alice mischievously, "no

exclaimed A

ncerted, as it hap

strikes me. One likes one sort of ease, and anothe

ttle ashamed of her home truth; "but my

urs, Alice?

interesting book,"

d Hugh, whose memory

oberly, remembering something abou

ch," said John, "for I mean to start whether y

h a smile, but candour forced her to

nes stood hesitating for a moment, wh

d, "could you take p

hook h

erhaps, since

e as well; and the servants, and all-you wil

d if you would

rse I would. You ne

who had gathered round the fire looking at their mother

get his royal highnes

suppose

ll remind you

rved to death,"

r defiant. "I mean to attend to him every

e, while her hand pulled the bell for the servants, "we are so used

trembled nervously at first, but as she proceeded she took courage. Their text flashed across her, an

aking the top of the table and

y it is without f

hen looked down, and her knife

ow much good the change may do them; and if it were you, you wou

as being separated from her mother for so long; so she swallowed down her tears

th yourself after din

exts I have to do, and e

t bo

One I began some

at

ubjects in that I a

f subjects?"

others that seem to me to be

ttle shrug of

oing to read to us,

and Alice, you have your scripture qu

they an

rawing-room to do your writing? Mi

owed her upstairs,

irst landing she saw t

el

ood general

hy

ate your different

oh

don'

exact

now

say that my generalship has no

; and what a nice arm-chair; and what a jolly

will be gone; and those children will be

fire, Minnie curling herself up by her with her boo

turned over; and Agnes's eyes were fixed on one page, from which she hardly raised them,

ice put on some coal, that the fire might not be out when they returned

rtable you look!

ohn, preparing t

sofa for a fell

es! pl

me," sai

strange it will seem to have

ake it happy if we

ow

eing

"but then, you know, Agnes, being m

e have got a well of happiness inside us, it will

call a 'well

Agnes means,"

eived the telegram that he had landed at Liverpool. How we all went about singing and h

id Alice; "it was one of

happiness;' something which gives us

ell of joy' for this year, Ag

at, through the coming of the dear Saviour, we have been given all

to make up for all other

ully; "but sometimes I wonder--" she loo

and put her arm lovingly round her s

hook he

ly Spirit to the

ual feeling startled them. The Sunday afte

tle allegory; would you like to hear it? It mi

not need repeatin