THE sun was setting upon the day succeeding that of the great
railroad accident, that, for weeks, filled the whole land with
horror and indignation, when a young girl, driving rapidly along a
country-road at a point about five miles distant from the scene of
the disaster, met a child walking slowly toward her, whose
disordered dress, bare head, and wild, sweet face, attracted her
attention and curiosity.

Checking her spirited horse with some difficulty, the young girl
looked back, and found that the child had stopped, and stood
watching her.

"See here, little girl!" called she. "Are you lost? Is any thing the
matter with you?"

The child fixed her solemn eyes upon the face of the questioner, but
made no answer.

"Come here, sissy! I want to talk to you; and I can't turn round to
come to you. Come here!"

The little girl slowly obeyed the kind command, and stood presently
beside the wagon, her pale face upraised, her startled eyes intently
fixed upon the clear and honest ones bent to meet them.

"What is your name, little girl?"

"Sunshine," said the child vaguely; and her eyes dropped from the
face of her questioner to fix themselves upon the far horizon, where