"The path of life is dark,
I would not go astray;
Oh, let me have Thy hand
To lead me in the way."
"Fear not; I will not leave thee, child, alone."
She thought she felt a soft hand press her own.
"They tell me, Lord, that all
The living pass away;
The aged soon must die,
And even children may.
"Oh, let my parents live
Till I a woman grow;
For if they die, what can
A little orphan do?"
"Fear not, my child; whatever ill may come
I'll not forsake thee till I bring thee home."
Her little prayer was said,
And from her chamber now
She passed forth with the light
Of heaven upon her brow.
"Mother, I've seen the Lord,
His hand in mine I felt,
And, oh, I heard Him say,
As by my chair I knelt—
"'Fear not, my child; whatever ill may come
I'll not forsake thee till I bring thee home.'"
THE CAT CAME BACK
Jimmy was lying on an old cot out in the orchard, getting some of the nice spring sunshine on his thin body. There was an anxious frown on his face now, and every little while he would turn on his side, look through the orchard, and call "Kittv kitty! kitty! Annette, Come, Ann-ette."