On the prospect of this doubtful income they married, and the first two years of their lives were passed happily. But soon after the birth of their child, Harry Stanford broke down in health. He had worked too hard. Then the bitter struggle began: piece by piece the furniture had to be sold to buy food, and when he died his wife found herself once more penniless, and debarred now from any chance of earning a living as she had formerly done, by reason of her new tie. Still, as long as her strength lasted she had struggled bravely against poverty and misfortune. "’It is not,’ she said, looking up at Agnes’ face, ’that I fear to die. It would be so sweet to lie down and rest--to know that all trouble and pain were over, and that I could go to my husband! But he has left me this little one, the baby he loved so dearly and was so proud of. What will become of her when I go to him? What will he say--our child--our child! With no one to love or care for her--it is terrible!’ "And the poor woman broke into a paroxysm of weeping. "’I cannot die,’ she sobbed, ’I cannot! Oh God! I see her growing up without love--people are cruel to her, and day by day, as she gets older, she will miss more the care of a mother’s watchfulness. If anything should happen--if she should sink down through despair into the depth of sin and misery! I cannot leave her!’ "’Do not distress yourself, dear,’ Agnes said; ’I will try and take your place when you are gone--will try to be a mother to your little one. Give her to me--let me take her in my arms.’ She took the little one from its mother, and the child came not unwillingly. ’There, you see,’ she continued, ’the child trusts me--will you?’ "When the mother heard and understood, the drawn look of anxious pain passed from her face, and a radiant light of rest and peace took its place. "’Do you mean it?’ she cried. ’Will you indeed take charge of my love, my baby, when I am gone? Oh! you don’t know, you cannot imagine what joy you have given me! Trust you! Yes, indeed, no one can look into your eyes and see you touch the child and not know that you can love; and you are sure to love her, the darling! But how can I thank you--it is too good to be true.’ "Though the child was getting near the age when children so often develop shyness, she nestled up and clung to Agnes as though she recognized her touch. The little thing looked up into the sweet face bending over her, and seemed to find there something familiar. It put its baby hands to her cheeks and stroked them, then crowed and laughed with pleasure.