devotion to his mother. With a consideration seldom found in older hearts, he watched her wishes, and often anticipated them, and was ever ready most promptly to deny himself any gratification for her sake. In the midst of her seclusion and apparent loneliness, Alice enjoyed much real peace. When the duties of the day were over, she walked with her children on the green hills that surrounded their home, and endeavoured to lead their young hearts to the God of the Everlasting Hills, and to spiritualize every flower that bloomed beneath their feet.

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"Mother," said Walter one bright evening, we have not had our walk for several days— my head aches sadly this afternoon, and I think I should feel better if I could breathe some of the fresh air-are you not sufficiently at leisure to go a short distance with me, mother?"

Alice looked up as her son spoke, and, observing that his face was pale and his eye heavy, quickly laid aside her work and prepared herself for a walk.

Walter, whose bounding step would often leave his mother and sister far in the distance,

now walked pensively by their side, and they had proceeded but a short distance when he expressed a wish to return, complaining of fatigue and an increase of pain in his head. As soon as they reached the house he laid down, and a flushed cheek and excited pulse followed the paleness and languor that his mother had remarked an hour before. She perceived the necessity of immediate and active treatment, and, without waiting for the coming of her husband, whose return she was expecting each moment, she administered such remedies as her judgment directed. Walter took his medicine without speaking, and then gently laid his head on his pillow and tried to sleep. His mother sat by his side till the shades of night gathered round them, and then left him but for a few moments to attend to the wants of little Ellen.

"Has not father come yet?" asked Walter.

"No, my son, but I am expecting him every moment-he promised to return to us to-night, and I have been looking for him the past hour."

"I wish he would come," said the sick child. "Hark! do I not hear the sound of his

horse's feet? Do open the door, mother, and listen."

In a few moments Mr. Fleming was at the bed-side of his little boy-he bent anxiously over him and inquired about his feelings.

"I have felt sick for two or three days, father, but I thought I should get over it, and that I had better not trouble mother while you were away, but my head ached so much this evening that I could not help telling her. I am glad you have come home, dear fatherplease sit down and stay with me.”

The anxiety of Mr. Fleming would not permit him to do this. Walter was his first-born child-his darling, only son. The little boy not only gratified his father's pride by his intelligence and generosity, but was bound to his heart by his affectionate and dutiful conduct.

Mr. Fleming perceived that the attack of his child was violent, and determined not to rest until he had procured medical advice. Although much fatigued by a wearisome ride of two days, he remounted his jaded horse and proceeded to the nearest town, which was ten or twelve miles distant. It was near midnight

when he reached the house of Dr. D, who readily yielded to his urgent request that he would return with him immediately.

As the day dawned they reached the cottage, and found the little Walter under the influence of a burning fever. Dr. D pronounced

his case an alarming one, and proceeded at once to administer the most active remedies.

"Can you take this bitter draught, my little fellow?" he asked, as he held up the glass that contained the medicine.

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"I can take anything, sir, that you and my parents think best," and, as he spoke, he raised himself in the bed and extended his hand for the medicine, which he drank without hesitation.

"I do not find many such patients among children of a larger growth," said Dr. Dto Mrs. Fleming. "Your little son has been well disciplined, madam."

"He has required but little discipline, sir. We have been greatly blessed in possessing in Walter a filial and obedient child."

As the symptoms of Walter became more alarming, Dr. D― resolved to spend the remainder of the day with him, that he might

minutely watch the progress of his disease. The little sufferer rolled restlessly from side to side of the bed, and towards night became unconscious of the presence of the kind friends who ministered to his wants. Alice calmly bent over him, bathing his burning brow and wetting his parched lips; but the anguish of the father knew no bounds when he perceived, by the wild brilliancy of his child's eye, that the inflammation had proceeded to his brain.

Dr. Dwas obliged to leave the distressed family at sunset, but returned at noon the next day he stood by the little cot for a few moments, and then turned mournfully aside to prepare some medicine.

Mr. Fleming could not trust himself to ask his opinion.

"You can say nothing to encourage us, sir?" said Alice.

"I will not deceive you, my dear madamthe symptoms are at present obstinate, but they may yield. May God assist our feeble efforts!"

From that moment Alice surrendered her child to her Maker. Something told her that he must go, and, with an almost bursting heart, she submitted to the Lord's will. It was not