She snapped the lid shut again, replaced the closed trinket in her
bosom, and said:

"Mother, all is over. I shall never open it again. But in case I die
before you, I wish you to have this buried with me."

Mrs. Arnold tried to rally Agnes about this, her first disappointment
of the heart, and had the satisfaction of presently seeing her quite
merry. Suddenly Agnes, as she glanced over the newspaper, exclaimed:

"Mother, what a dreadful thing that yellow fever is! Did you read
this? Whole families are being swept out of existence, and have no one
to help or nurse them. It's frightful, and yet we boast of our
Christianity. It's a sin and a shame!"

She continued to read the fearful despatches that had first attracted
her attention, while her mother remained silent.

"Mother," she resumed, when she had finished, "I am going down to
Shreveport."

"What do you mean, Agnes?" exclaimed Mrs. Arnold, glancing anxiously
at her daughter.

"I am going down to Shreveport, to help to nurse those poor perishing
people."

"Agnes!"

"Yes, dear mother. I believe it to be my duty to go and do what little