homeless, sin-stained creature. Oh the misery, the agony! What hell can
be greater than this! While she is still sitting there the bell begins
to toll, and soon there is a procession moving slowly up the aisle and
four young boys are carrying a little coffin. It too is covered with
white flowers, placed there by loving hands. In the coffin is a little
waxen form almost covered with the same beautiful flowers.

The clergyman who had read the marriage ceremony, is now repeating the
last sad rites for the dead. Again they take up their burden and move
slowly down the aisle. As the coffin passes the woman, one of the white
flowers drops almost at her feet. She stoops reverently and picks it up;
almost hesitatingly as if afraid her touch will soil its purity, and
placing it tenderly by the side of the bridal flower she walks slowly
from the church. Watch her move along hurriedly, till she comes to a
narrow alley and stops in front of a wretched tenement house. Entering
quickly she passes up the rickety stairs and goes into a room where
there is a little child upon a wretched bed. Sickness and poverty have
almost finished their work. The child is sleeping and the woman steals
softly to the bed side and places the white flowers on its breast Even
as she does so the little creature smiles in its sleep. Perhaps the
happy smiling face of the lovely bride has visited it in its slumber,
or the spirit of the dead babe has come with the flowers, to take the
hand of the sick child and lead it "across the river."

* * * * *

* * * * *

I hear the voice of the Pessimist.