"Oh, we've had such a dreadful time with poor Joe. He got in that
terrible way again last night. I had to go for Doctor Green and
leave him all alone. When I came back, he was in bed with Mary;
and she, dear child, had her arms around his neck, and was trying
to comfort him; and would you believe it, he went off to sleep,
and slept in that way for a long time. The doctor came, and when
he saw how it was, left some medicine for him, and went away. I
was in such hopes that he would sleep it all off. But about twelve
o'clock he started up, and sprung out of bed with an awful scream.
Poor Mary! she too had fallen asleep. The cry wakened her, and
frightened her dreadfully. She's been getting worse ever since,
Mrs. Slade.

"Just as he was rushing out of the room, I caught him by the arm,
and it took all my strength to hold him.

"'Father! father!' Mary called after him as soon as she was awake
enough to understand what was the matter--'Don't go out, father;
there's nothing here.'

"He looked back toward the bed, in a frightful way.

"'See, father!' and the dear child turned down the quilt and
sheet, in order to convince him that nothing was in the bed. 'I'm
here,' she added. 'I'm not afraid. Come, father. If there's
nothing here to hurt me, there's nothing to hurt you.'

"There was something so assuring in this, that Joe took a step or
two toward the bed, looking sharply into it as he did so. From the