270 
THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
“ Excuse us, gentlemen,” said Alice; “ the 
news has been so sudden, and the transition so 
complete, as to put us quite off from our bal¬ 
ance. It was only this morning that we almost 
gave up in despair. The cold weather is com¬ 
ing on, and we well knew that neither rhother 
nor myself could live through the winter in this 
place, but how to secure a more comfortable 
abode we knew not. The poorhouse seemed 
to be the only way of escape left us; it was a 
terrible alternative, worse than would have been 
the grave, to which I began to look as the only 
refuge from suffering. But while we were yet 
talking of the dark prospect, our dear, good 
friend, Doctor Dean, came and put this paper 
in our hands; and do you wonder at our joy? 
Just think of it! We have a ‘home, sweet 
home,’ once more; and oh, may all the bless¬ 
ings which Heaven has to bestow fall with un¬ 
ceasing richness upon the kind friends who 
have done this deed of kindness to us 1 Oh, 
sirs, may you never know the pangs which we 
have suffered, but I wish you could realize a 
share of the happiness which we now feel; for 
I am sure that nothing this side of heaven can 
be sweeter, except the pleasure which they 
