with so much sorrow that I am bereft of all courage and I struggle in
vain against invading sad emotions. Let me hope that as long as I live
it may remain as it is, that for so long it will be guarded with the
sacredness of a relic; but to whom can I bequeath this heirloom with
the assurance that it will be cherished? What will become of those poor
little trifles that are so precious to me?

That work-basket belonging to my mother, and the little drawers of the
old chiffonier are, I doubt not, the things that I will part with most
regretfully when the time comes for me to go into the world.

Truly all of this is very puerile and childish, and I am ashamed of
it;--and yet I am almost weeping as I write it.




CHAPTER LIV.



Because of the haste and confusion brought about by conflicting school
tasks, I had not for many months found time to read my Bible; indeed I
scarcely had time for a morning prayer.

I still went to church regularly every Sunday; that is we all went there
together. I reverenced the family pew where we had assembled for so
many years; and apart from that reason I hold it dear because it is
associated in my memory with my mother.