THE SPIRIT-MAID The promise which Israel made to Ruth at her death, that Naomi should not lack for love and tending, he faithfully fulfilled.

From that time forward he became as father and mother both to the child.
At the outset of his charge he made a survey of her condition, and found it more terrible than imagination of the mind could think or words of the tongue express.

It was easy to say that she was deaf and dumb and blind, but it was hard to realise what so great an affliction implied.
It implied that she was a little human sister standing close to the rest of the family of man, yet very far away from them.

She was as much apart as if she had inhabited a different sphere.

No human sympathy could reach her in joy or pain and sorrow.