120 I GO A-FISHING. 



It came at length. One pleasant morning in the sum- 

 mer, when the birds sang with unusual cheer, and sky and 

 earth seemed to come close together in their affection, the 

 inseparable two walked feebly out together, and down to 

 the old seat on the river bank. Alice was alarmed about 

 them, and followed them herself, but when she saw them 

 seated safely she returned and worked sadly on until 

 noon. But they did not return as usual, and she hasten- 

 ed down the pathway across the field, and sought them 

 by the spring. But they were not there. A wild terror 

 seized on her, and she sank trembling on the seat beside 

 the old man's hat which lay on it. A brief search reveal- 

 ed the sad story. The boy had sought something in the 

 edge of the water, and in his feebleness had fallen. The 

 old man had tried to rescue him, and perished with him. 

 The two were found together, and together carried to the 

 old farm-house, out of which the lights had now forever 

 gone. 



" Ah," said the old lady, " I've heard the passing-bell 

 many, many times in the valley, but I never heard it 

 sound so strange as it did that afternoon when it came 

 up the valley and I counted it. It was ever so long be- 

 fore I got to eighty-seven, and then I knew that Stephen 

 Brand was gone, and I was just thinking how lonesome 

 poor little Steve would be, when it struck again. Upon 

 my word, sir, it almost knocked me off my chair; and 

 when I counted fourteen, I just sat here trembling all 

 over, and then I fell to crying like any child." 



" Mrs. Brand still lives on the farm, I suppose ?" 



" Alice, you mean ? Oh yes. The death of the two 

 who had been so close to her was a heavy affliction, and 

 she was pretty much broken down ; but it brought a 

 blessing that repaid her, for Walter came home at once, 



