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