There were no tears in Lily’s eyes, “Mamma, I’m so happy,” she said smiling.  “Dear Vi, you must be glad for me and not cry so.  I have no pain to-day; and I’ll never have any more when I get home where the dear Saviour is.  Mamma, please read about the beautiful city.”

Elsie took up the Bible that lay beside the pillow, and opening at the Revelation, read its last two chapters—­the twenty-first and twenty-second.

Lily lay intently listening, Violet’s hand fast clasped in hers.

“Darling Vi,” she whispered, “you love Jesus, don’t you?”

Violet nodded assent:  she could not speak.

“And you’re willing to let him have me, aren’t you, dear?”

“Yes, yes,” but the tears fell fast, and “Oh, what shall I do without you?” she cried with a choking sob.

“It won’t be long,” said Lily.  “Mamma says it will seem only a very little while when it is past.”

Her voice sank with the last words, and she closed her eyes with a weary sigh.

“Go, dear daughter, go away for the present,” the mother said to Violet, who instantly obeyed.

Lily lingered for several days, suffering little except from weakness, always patient and cheerful, talking so joyfully of “going home to Jesus,” that death seemed robbed of all its gloom; for it was not of the grave they thought in connection with her, but of the glories of the upper sanctuary, the bliss of those who dwell forever with the Lord.

Father, brothers and sisters often gathered for a little while about her bed; for she dearly loved them all; but the mother scarcely left her day or night; the mother whose gentle teachings had guided her childish feet into the path that leads to God, whose ministry of love had made the short life bright and happy, spite of weakness and pain.

It was in the early morning that the end came.

She had been sleeping quietly for some hours, sleeping while darkness passed away till day had fully dawned and the east was flushing with crimson and gold.

Her mother sat by the bedside gazing with tender glistening eyes upon the little wan face, thinking how placid was its expression, what an almost unearthly beauty it wore, when suddenly the large azure eyes opened wide, gazing steadily into hers, while the sweetest smile played about the lips.

“Mamma, dear mamma, how good you’ve been to me!  Jesus is here, he has come for me.  I’m going now.  Dear, darling mamma, kiss me good-bye.”

“My darling! my darling!” Elsie cried, pressing a kiss of passionate love upon the sweet lips.

“Dear mamma,” they faintly whispered—­and were still.

Kneeling by the bedside, Elsie gathered the little wasted form in her arms, pillowing the beautiful golden head upon her bosom, while again and again she kissed the pale brow, the cheeks, the lips; then laying it down gently she stood gazing upon it with unutterable love and mingled joy and anguish.