In all the trying scenes that followed, Mr. and Mrs. Keith and Mildred were most kind, helpful and sympathizing, and the ties of Christian friendship were thus more closely drawn than ever between the two families. The bereaved family found their home sadly desolated, but there was no murmuring against the Hand that dealt the blow; the language of their hearts was, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." [Illustration] [Illustration] Chapter Twenty-second. "Hail! independence, hail! heaven's next best gift, To that of life, and an immortal soul." --THOMSON. "There is strength, Deep bedded in our hearts, of which we reck But little till the shafts of heaven have pierc'd Its fragile dwelling. Must not earth be rent Before her gems are found?" --MRS. HEMANS. "BOOM!" The loud voice of the cannon rent the air with sudden shock just as eager waiting eyes caught the first glimpse of the sun's bright disc peeping above the eastern horizon. The sound broke suddenly in upon many a dream, woke many a sleeper. "Independence day! the glorious Fourth, the nation's birthday," shouted Cyril, giving Don a kick, then springing out of bed and hurrying on his clothes. "Oh! oh! Fourth of July!" echoed Don, following suit. "I'm so glad, 'cause now we can fire our crackers." Their clatter and another shot roused Fan and Annis who joined in the rejoicing, the latter calling loudly for mother or Milly to come and dress her. "No more hope of sleep," yawned Mr. Keith, in the next room; "so we may as well get up." "Yes," returned his wife, "I wish you would, and watch over the children;--see that they don't burn their fingers or set things on fire. "Yes, Annis, mother's coming." Breakfast was prepared amid the almost constant firing of crackers and childish shouts of exultation, near at hand, and the occasional booming of the more distant cannon. The young folks were full of gayety and excitement, hurrahing, singing "Hail Columbia!" "Yankee Doodle," and "Star-spangled Banner." Rupert came in a little late to breakfast, from a stroll down town, and reported that a wonderfully large flag-staff had been planted in front of the court-house, and that the stars and stripes were floating from its top. The Sunday schools were to unite and march in procession through the streets of the town, then separate, and each school betake itself to its own church, there to enjoy a little feast prepared by the parents and friends of the scholars. There had been a good deal of baking going on in Mrs. Keith's kitchen the day before, and shortly after breakfast a large basket was packed with delicacies and sent to the church. Then mother and Mildred had their hands full for an hour or so in dressing the children and themselves for the grand occasion.