"What shall we do," cried Ethel, sobbing aloud, "when our peace-maker has gone?"
With a heavenly smile she replied, "You shall be peace-maker. See how God keeps his promise to me. 'They shall be called the children of God.'
"Ethel," she went on, "you've always been like a real brother to me. For my sake will you be kind to Esther?"
"Yes, I will."
"And I too," sobbed Bill; "but we shall miss you dreadfully."
"Give your hearts to Jesus, and 'twont be long before we shall meet again."
The end came at last. Hatty's sufferings were nearly over. She lay propped up with pillows, her head resting against her aunt's breast. Esther sat near, holding her hand, which she continually covered with kisses. Uncle Oliver sat in his arm-chair, at the foot of the bed, his face shaded with his hands, his breast heaving convulsively.
The minister stood where Hatty's eyes rested on him. He was reading from the twenty-third Psalm: "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.... Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
"Yes, yes," murmured the white lips. "He is with me. I'm not afraid. He has pardoned all my sins, and washed me in the fountain filled with blood; I'm—going to be—with him—forever,—I'm so—so happy!"
She lay so quiet that all feared her soul had fled away; but presently, with a bright smile, she murmured,—