“Hilda,” said Miss Flint, “I am going up to the village on business, and wish you to be quiet and patient. I will not be long away.”
Hilda made no reply. She was thinking of a picture she had seen at Dr. Lattinger’s where she had been the day before with Miss Flint.
It represented a group of sweet-faced angels, robed in white, grouped about a harp upon which one of their number was playing an accompaniment to their singing.
She had asked the nurse where the angels lived, and was told that their home was in heaven.
“Where is heaven?” she had asked eagerly.
“Do you see that sun?” asked the nurse, pointing to it from the window of the nursery. “That sun is in heaven.”
Hilda had thought of but little else since hearing this. She had at last located the home where her parents and her Aunt Ashley awaited her. All that was required of her was to follow the sun and it would lead her to them. She had watched all day, but the sun had kept itself hidden under dim clouds.
About the time that Miss Flint left the cottage it gleamed forth, and seemed to invite her to follow. A longing to be with father, mother and Aunt Ashley in heaven was too great to be resisted; all was to be gained by following where he led. Without stopping for wraps, the eager child hurried out. The sun, low in the west, seemed very near to her, and she ran to join it on its way. On and on she ran, the snow not crushing under her rapid tread. The air chilled her, but keeping the sun as a guide she pressed on. It sank below the horizon, but Hilda followed, guided by the ruddy glow which marked the spot where it descended. It grew dark and the child became bewildered, retracing her steps or wandering in a circle. Her limbs ached with weariness, and she was about to lie down and rest, when she heard the chatter of happy voices and the sound of sleigh bells, and, encouraged, she followed. But the sound ceased, and again she wandered aimlessly, having nothing to guide her.
At length she saw the gleaming of many lights, and she crept toward them.
“That is heaven!” she said to herself. “It is not far away, but I am so cold, so cold!”