THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER, 
343 
presence of the mother Alice threw herself upon 
her mother’s neck and wept aloud with excess 
of joy, and it was a long time before she could 
make any reply to the anxious questions by 
which her sympathizing parent sought to know 
the cause of such sudden and deep emotions. 
When at last under sufficient control to speak, 
she said, 
Oh, mother! mother! who do you think 
has been my kind friend through all these long 
months of suffering and want?” 
“ I’m sure I don’t know, my child,” was the 
reply, “ or I should bless him with all my soul, 
as I know that God has already done, for his 
great kindness to me and mine.” 
“Oh, bless him then, dear mother,” said the 
daughter as she seized the hand of Davidson 
and drew him to her mother’s side, “for here 
he is, and let us both bless him with all our 
hearts.” 
The mother looked first at her daughter and 
then at the young man, who had stood silent 
by her side, as though in doubt as to what he 
should do, when the daughter once more ex¬ 
claimed, 
“ Yes, yes, mother, bless him, for he it is who 
