Annis's tears fell much longer and faster than her mother's; the letter she wrote to Elsie, giving a graphic account of the preparations and departure, was all blistered with them, even more so than the one telling of Fan's last hours.
"I am the only child left at home now," she wrote. "That was what mother said when we got back from seeing the long train of wagons, with their ox-teams, starting on that long, dangerous journey. She took me in her arms, and cried over me for a few minutes; then she wiped away her tears, and kissed me over and over, saying, 'But we won't murmur, darling, or make ourselves unhappy about it; for they are all in God's good keeping, and one day, I trust, we shall all meet in that better land where partings are unknown.'
"And I have great reason to be thankful that Mildred and Zillah are so near us; it is almost as if they were still at home."
The letter wound up with an earnest request to Elsie that she would pray daily for the safe return of Rupert and Don.
Chapter Ninth.
"A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame."—Prov. 29:15.