creep on, on while the breath of life remains in them, and never
surrender? It seemed as if Sister Benigna had arrived at a place where
her baffled spirit stood still and felt its helplessness. Could she
do nothing for Elise, the dear child for whose happiness she would
cheerfully give her life, and not think the price too dear?

By and by the children were aware that Sister Benigna had come again
among them: the humblest little flower lifted up its head, and the
smallest bird began to chirp and move about and smooth its wings.

Sister Benigna! what had she recollected?--that but a single day
perhaps was hers to live, and here were all these children! As she
turned with ardent zeal to her work--which indeed had not failed of
accustomed conduct so far as routine went--tell me what do you find in
those lovely eyes if not the heavenliest assurances? Let who will
call the scene of this life's operations a vale of tears, a world of
misery, a prison-house of the spirit, here is one who asks for herself
nothing of honors or riches or pleasures, and who can bless the
Lord God for the glory of the earth he has created, and for those
everlasting purposes of his which mortals can but trust in, and which
are past finding out. Children, let us do our best to-day, and wait
until to-morrow for to-morrow's gifts. This exhortation was in the
eyes, mien, conduct of the teacher, and so she led them on until, when
they came to practice their hymns for the festival, every little heart
and voice was in tune, and she praised them with voice so cheerful,
how should they guess that it had ever been choked by anguish or had
ever fainted in despair?

O young eyes saddening over what is to you a painful, insoluble
problem! yet a little while and you shall see the mists of morning