His is love beyond a brother’s,
Costly, free, and knows no end.
Newton.
A mother with three children was once returning home, at a late hour of the night, through one of those dark and lonely passes which abound in the Alps mountains.
The night was so very cold that she drew two of her children close to her side, and clasped the youngest to her breast, in order to keep them from freezing.
They thus journeyed on, drawn rapidly over the smoothly beaten road by their faithful horse, dreaming only of the warm fire and affectionate welcome which awaited them at their mountain home, little thinking of the danger which lurked so short a distance behind them.
Presently she heard in the far-off distance the faint howl of a wolf.
In a few seconds that of another, and another, fell upon her ear.
The sound grew louder and louder, and the number seemed to increase every moment.