* * * * * [Illustration: “THE GUIDING LIGHT.” (_From the painting by Marcella Walker._)] * * * * * “THE SONG THE RAINDROPS SING.” BY AUGUSTA BRYERS. I stood within my garden, While fell the gentle rain On thirsty leaf and blossom, To bid them smile again. But my heart mourn’d sore the sunbeams And all the joys they bring, Till I heard, like sweet bells chiming, The song the raindrops sing. They told of fading flow’rets, Of little leaves that die, While the lark soars on unceasing, And the sunlight floods the sky. And they said, “We are not teardrops, But tend’rest show’rs of love, To cheer the heart that’s weary, And lift sad eyes above.” And I thought, as fell the raindrops On fainting buds and leaves, So may sweet words and hopeful Wake for the heart that grieves. That to the world’s great garden Each may his harvest bring, Thro’ the sunshine or the storm-cloud, Or the song the raindrops sing. [Illustration] THE HOUSE WITH THE VERANDAH. BY ISABELLA FYVIE MAYO, Author of “Other People’s Stairs,” “Her Object in Life,” etc. CHAPTER III. AS A LITTLE CHILD. The day after the episode with Pollie Captain Grant’s letter duly arrived. He was only too delighted to think that his suggestion had borne fruit with his old friend. “It’s just settled that the _Slains Castle_ will leave Peterhead on the twenty-eighth of this month,” he wrote. “That will give you plenty of time. But as we don’t touch anywhere in Great Britain, you will have to join me here. Don’t take the long railway journey. Like a wise man, come as far as Aberdeen in the steamer, and then you have not much further to travel. As for the hundred pounds, I tell you, my dear fellow, that we don’t intend to be away longer than one year, and that is the precise figure I should name. But I’ll go on to add that if we should happen to be a little longer, you shall not be charged a shilling more. Persuade Mrs. Challoner to come north with you and to bring the boy, and then she’ll see you fairly aboard, and will note what snug quarters you’ll have, and be able to see you with her mind’s eye all the time you are away. My wife hopes she will come.” “You see there is no doubt that you are to go, Charlie,” said Mrs. Challoner. “Everything has worked to that end without one hitch. You are to go, because you are to come back strong and well. It is clearly the will of God that you go. I am so glad that my plans have been carried out beyond my own power. If it had all been my planning, I might have doubted afterwards.”