She still had possession of all her faculties, was very active for one of her age, and felt unabated interest in the welfare of kindred and friends. She had by no means outlived her usefulness or grown querulous with age, but was ever the same bright, cheerful, happy Christian that she had been in earlier years.
The birthday party was to be held under her own roof, and a numerous company of near and dear relatives were gathering there and at the houses of the Duncans and Allisons.
Richard and Lottie, Harry and May were at the depot to meet the train on which our travellers arrived.
It was an altogether joyous meeting, after years of separation.
The whole party repaired at once to Miss Stanhope's cottage, to greet and chat a little with her and others who had come before to the gathering; prominently among them Mr. and Mrs. Keith from Pleasant Plains, Indiana, with their daughters, Mrs. Landreth, Mrs. Ormsby, and Annis, who was still unmarried.
Very glad indeed were Mrs. Keith and Mr. Dinsmore, Rose and Mildred,
Elsie and Annis to meet and renew the old intimacies of former days.
Time had wrought many changes since we first saw them together, more than thirty years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Keith were now old and infirm, yet bright and cheery, looking hopefully forward to that better country, that Celestial City, toward which they were fast hastening, and with no unwilling steps. Dr. and Mrs. Landreth and Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore had changed from youthful married couples into elderly people, while Elsie and Annis had left childhood far behind, and were now—the one a cheery, happy maiden lady, whom aged parents leaned upon as their stay and staff, brothers and sisters dearly loved, and nieces and nephews doated upon; the other a mother whom her children blessed for her faithful love and care, and delighted to honor.
This renewal of intercourse, and the reminiscences of early days which it called up, were very delightful to both.
The gathering of relatives and friends of course formed far too large a company for all to lodge in one house, but the three—Aunt Wealthy's and those of the Duncans and Allisons—accommodated them comfortably for the few days of their stay, or rather the nights, for during the day they were very apt to assemble in the parlors and porches of the cottage.
It was there Elsie and her younger children and Violet and hers took up their quarters, by invitation, for the time of the visit.