Katie then took a small lamp in her hand, and sat down to read. It is supposed that, overcome by fatigue, she fell asleep, when the lamp slid from her grasp to the floor and ignited the bottom of her dress. In an instant she was enveloped in flames. Mrs. D—— seized a rug and sprang to her assistance; but Katie, frightened, ran through the hall into the yard, where she fell. By this time their screams had brought assistance. The poor child was raised and carried into the house, but every particle of her light summer clothing had been consumed, and her body burned in the most shocking manner. Medical aid was instantly summoned, and every thing possible done to alleviate her sufferings, but it was at once perceived she could survive only a few hours. Katie received the intelligence with a smile of joy, and instantly remarked, "Now I shall indeed see your daughter, very, very soon." She requested them to send for her own family, and also for her Superintendent, that she might see them once again before she died, or rather hear them, for her sight was entirely destroyed. Her mother was soon beside her, and her agony as she beheld her child was heart-rending. Katie took her hand, saying, "Dear mother, please don't cry so; if you do I cannot talk to you, and I have so much to say. See, I am not crying. Oh, please don't." Katie then told her about the accident, and how happy she felt in view of death; and said, "Oh, mother, it is so blessed to feel that I am going to be with Jesus for ever." Then, with a clear, sweet voice, she sung,

"My heavenly home is bright and fair,
No pain nor death can enter there;
Its glittering towers the sun outshine,
That heavenly mansion shall be mine.
I'm going home, I'm going home,
I'm going home, to die no more."

All through those hours of terrible agony, not a complaint, scarcely a groan, escaped her; but words of prayer and praise were continually upon her lips. "Jesus is my best, my only friend," she said; "he is close beside me now, and I know he will not let me perish." Again she sung this beautiful hymn,

"Rock of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From thy side a healing flood,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Could my tears for ever flow,
Could my zeal no languor know,
This for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and thou alone.
In my hand no price I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyelids close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold thee on thy throne,
Rock of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee."

When she concluded, there was not a dry eye in the room. Perceiving that she was sinking rapidly, the physicians ordered stimulants to be administered; but the moment Katie felt them upon her lips, she turned away and absolutely refused them.

"Don't you know," she exclaimed, "that I belong to the Band of Hope?"

"But, Katie," urged her friends, "your superintendent would give it to you himself, were he here now."

"Well, when he comes and says so, then I will take it."

"But, Katie, you may die before he comes, if you don't take a little now."

"Then I will die," exclaimed the noble girl, "but I won't break my pledge."

She appeared to appreciate every thing which was done for her, and her expressions of gratitude were most touching. Several times she said, "Oh, how I do love everybody, but Jesus best of all;" and then, with clasped hands, she prayed. And as the words of holy trust fell from her lips, there was not one present but felt it