the vessel sails a day sooner than I had supposed, and therefore I
shall be obliged to start on my journey to-morrow.

"Your friend, ROSE."

Elsie dropped the note on the floor and burst into tears.

"What de matter, darlin'?" asked Chloe, anxiously.

"Oh! Miss Rose, dear, _dear_ Miss Rose is going tomorrow,"
she sobbed. Then hastily drying her eyes, she said: "But I have no
time for crying. I must sit up and finish the purse to-night,
because there will not be time to-morrow."

It was long past her usual hour for retiring when at last her
task, or rather her labor of love, was completed. Yet she was up
betimes, and at the usual hour her gentle rap was heard at Miss
Allison's door.

Rose clasped her in her arms and kissed her tenderly.

"O Miss Rose! _dear, dear_ Miss Rose, what shall I do without
you?" sobbed the little girl. "I shall have nobody to love me now
but mammy."

"You have another and a better friend, dear Elsie, who has said,
'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,'" whispered Rose, with
another tender caress.

"Yes," said Elsie, wiping away her tears; "and He is your Friend,