Thank God, it is over at last; and oh, may He, in His great goodness and mercy, spare us a renewal, of it." "I say amen to that!" responded Mrs.Howard earnestly.

"My poor Ned! my brothers! my crippled husband! Oh, I sometimes think my heart will break!" It was some minutes ere she could speak again, for weeping, and the others wept with her.
But resuming.

"We were visited by both armies," she said, "and one did about as much mischief as the other; and between them there is but little left: they did not burn us out at Pinegrove, but stripped us very bare." "Aunt Lora, dear Aunt Lora!" Elsie sobbed, embracing her with much tenderness; "we cannot restore the loved ones, but your damages shall be repaired." "Ah, it will take a lifetime; we have no means left." "You shall borrow of me without interest.

With the exception of the failure of income from Viamede, I have lost nothing by the war but the negroes.

My husband's losses are somewhat heavier.