HE words themselves are simple enough, but like many other simple words, they have a comprehensive meaning.

Through Life and Beyond!

Yes!

Still rang the words in the ears of Tom Gordon as he leaned his head upon his hands. the words seemed still spoken to him, although the lips which had uttered them were closed for ever.

Through Life and Beyond!

The words were written on the fly-leaf of his bible; but the fond mother whose hand had traced them was now lying cold in death.

Yes! they were but a few simple words, but to that sorrow-stricken youth how full of meaning.

Raising his head, Tom Gordon looked round the room. It was a large well-furnished parlour, indeed, none other than the best room of Ingle Farm. In a large old-fashioned arm-chair sat a girl of ten years and a boy of seven. She had clasped him in her arms, and though her eyes were red with weeping, she had dried her tears, locking them in her own bosom, that she might soothe her sobbing brother.

Had it been a case of danger instead of grief, she would have rushed to this very boy for support, and he would at once have been her protector; but now, when both were bowed down by a great sorrow, he turns to her for comfort, and how naturally she takes the place of comforter. Woman's rights! surely this is one of them; for what prouder position can she hold than that of consoler in the hour of affliction.

It was a touching picture—the little black-eyed, tear-stained face of Jenny Gordon bending over her weeping brother, Jack.

On the hearth-rug, his head buried in the shaggy coat of a great shepherd dog, lay Harry, a boy of eleven years. His grief had been terrible to behold in its first intensity, and only the strong arms