like　this！　I　would　go　upstairs；　and　stand　before　the　icons；　and　say　with　a　rapturous　feeling；　“God　bless　Papa　and　Mamma！”　and　repeat　a　prayer　for　my　beloved　mother　which　my　childish　lips　had　learnt　to　lisp—the　love　of　God　and　other　blending　strangely　in　a　single　emotion！

After　saying　my　prayers　I　would　wrap　myself　up　in　the　bedclothes。　My　heart　would　feel　light；　peaceful；　and　happy；　and　one　dream　would　follow　another。　Dreams　of　what？　They　were　all　of　them　vague；　but　all　of　them　full　of　pure　love　and　of　a　sort　of　expectation　of　happiness。　Usually；　also；　there　would　be　some　favorite　toy—a　china　dog　or　the　bedarner　into　the　bed…corner　behind　the　pillow；　and　it　would　please　me　to　think　how　warm　and　fortable　and　well　cared—for　it　was　there。　Also；　I　would　pray　God　to　make　everyone　happy；　so　that　every　one　might　be　contented；　and　also　to　send　fine　weather　tomorrow　for　our　walk。　Then　I　would　turn　myself　over　on　to　the　other　side；　and　thoughts　and　dreams　would　bee　jumbled　and　entangled　together　until　at　last　I　slept　soundly　and　peacefully；　though　with　a　face　wet　with　tears。

Do　in　after　life　the　freshness　and　light…heartedness；　the　craving4　for　love　and　for　strength　of　faith；　ever　return　which　we　experience　in　our　childhood’s　years？　What　better　time　is　there　in　our　lives　than　when　the　two　best　of　virtues—innocent　gaiety　and　a　boundless　yearning　for　affection—are　our　sole　objects　of　pursuit？

Where　now　are　our　ardent　prayers？　Where　now　are　our　best　gifts—the　pure　te