Together, mother and father ascended the stairs, she faltering on every step, while hard, dry sobs shook her frame. Ah! what a wan, white Toddlelums lay on his little bed, and, but for the faint breathing, the mother must have known herself childless. The doctors were doing their work, while the agonised parents stood watching and waiting. She would have clasped him in her arms--she would have pressed his little cold body to her breast--but first the doctors had their part to do; the mother must wait. "Edgar," and she turned to him with great, dry eyes, "will my baby die? No, no, it cannot be!" she moaned plaintively. "It would kill me to lose my little Toddlelums." "Dear," he said, and somehow she felt comfort in knowing that his arms were round her; "if I could, I would give my life for his." "No, no," she said, and then she sprang to the bedside; for the doctors had moved away, and Toddlelums was calling "Mammie." "Mother's darling, mother's precious baby!" she cried, twining her arms round him. "And daddy's too," said the weak little voice, for Toddlelums was a very shadowy Toddlelums still. "Yes, and daddy's too," she said, as the man bent over his son and held one tiny hand. "Daddy, you do love mammie, don't you? He said, that horrid Frankie said, that you hated each other"--looking at the two faces. "He said he knew it was true because he heard his mother and father say so. And I told him it was a big, big story, and I fighted him hard--very hard--and then he gave me a push, and I went down, down into the cold water. It isn't true, daddy, is it?" looking at his father with great, earnest eyes; "you do love my mammie?" and he stroked her face tenderly. The man hesitated, looked across at the woman; then he said, "Yes, darling, I love her more than my life." A few seconds of silence, a sigh of content from Toddlelums. Then the mother's voice saying, "And I love my little child, but I love his father more." Eyes meet eyes, hands clasp hands, and the two hearts severed so long are united at last. Blessed little Toddlelums, with your sweet baby face and your manly little heart!--gallantly you fought your first battle, and the victory is yours. The deep waters encompassed you, and the Valley of the Shadow was very near; but the Captain of the Host has yet a greater battle for you to fight, and that is the Battle of Life. LOVE'S DEBT. "From every portion, from every department, of Nature comes the same voice. Everywhere we hear Thy name, O God; everywhere we see Thy love. Creation in all its length and breadth, in all its depth and height, is the manifestation of Thy Spirit; and without Thee the world were dark and dead." Through all the flowers, I love Thee, Through all the joys around, above me-- Through tree and brook, and sea before me, Through bird-songs--I adore Thee.