me that goes and cries in this silly way. Don't tell any one, it's
all over now. I thought you were asleep, so I just made a little
private moan for my one beauty. How came you to be awake?"

"I can't sleep, I 'm so anxious," said Meg.

"Think about something pleasant, and you'll soon drop off."

"I tried it, but felt wider awake than ever."

"What did you think of?"

"Handsome faces, -- eyes particularly," answered Meg, smil-
ing to herself, in the dark.

"What color do you like best?"

"Brown -- that is, sometimes; blue are lovely."

Jo laughed, and Meg sharply ordered her not to talk, then
amiably promised to make her hair curl, and fell asleep to dream
of living in her castle in the air.

The clocks were striking midnight, and the rooms were very
still, as a figure glided quietly from bed to bed, smoothing a
coverlid here, settling a pillow there, and pausing to look long
and tenderly at each unconscious face, to kiss each with lips
that mutely blessed, and to pray the fervent prayers which only
mothers utter. As she lifted the curtain to look out into the
dreary night, the moon broke suddenly from behind the clouds,
and shone upon her like a bright, benignant face, which seemed
to whisper in the silence, "Be comforted, dear soul! There
is always light behind the clouds."

IN the cold gray dawn the sisters lit their lamp, and read
their chapter with an earnestness never felt before; for now
the shadow of a real trouble had come, the little books were
full of help and comfort; and, as they dressed, they agreed to
say good-by cheerfully and hopefully, and send their mother
on her anxious journey unsaddened by tears or complaints from

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