"She says I must act just as I feel is right." "I certainly wouldn't have him at all, Ess, if I didn't love him; and if I did, I shouldn't let the money stand in the way--so, good night!" Charlie slept very late the next morning, and was scarcely dressed when Esther knocked at his door, with the cheerful tidings that her father had a lucid interval and was waiting to see him.
Dressing himself hastily, he followed her into their father's room.

When he entered, the feeble sufferer stretched out his mutilated arms towards him and clasped him round the neck, "They tell me," said he, "that you came yesterday, and that I didn't recognize you.

I thought, when I awoke this morning, that I had a dim recollection of having seen some dear face; but my head aches so, that I often forget--yes, often forget.

My boy," he continued, "you are all your mother and sisters have to depend upon now; I'm--I'm----" here his voice faltered, as he elevated his stumps of hands--"I'm helpless; but you must take care of them.

I'm an old man now," said he despondingly.
"I will, father; I'll try _so_ hard" replied Charlie.
"It was cruel in them, wasn't it, son," he resumed.