In which a tender and vigilant affection awakens in the old man’s heart for the gentle child who endures much, inspiring him to cherish her with unwearied care and quiet devotion amidst the quaint village life that embraces her with fondness and sympathy. In the dim recesses of an ancient church and the companionship of a faithful little friend, the child contemplates the passage of time and the gentle hope of spring, beneath the solemn shadow of things yet to come.