,allegories of ,life                    
,,by ,,mrs4 ,j4 ,s4 ,,adams             
#ahgb     ,,contents4          ,i4 ,,the
 ,,bells        ,,ii4 ,,the ,,height    
,,iii4 ,,the ,,pilgrim        ,,iv4     
,,faith         ,v4 ,,hope        ,,vi4 
,,joy ,,and ,,sorrow       ,,vii4       
,,upward      ,,viii4 ,,the ,,oak       
,,ix4 ,,truth ,,and ,,error         ,x4 
,,the ,,tree        ,,xi4 ,,the ,,two   
,,ways       ,,xii4 ,,the ,,urns        
,,xiii4 ,,self-,,exertion       ,,xiv4  
,,the ,,vines        ,,xv4 ,,in ,,the   
,,world       ,,xvi4 ,,faith1 ,,hope1   
,,and ,,charity      ,,xvii4 ,,going    
,,forth     ,,xviii4 ,,the ,,feast      
,,xix4 ,,the ,,lesson ,,of ,,the ,,stone
        ,,xx4 ,,the ,,seeds       ,,xxi4
 ,,only ,,gold      ,,xxii4 ,,the       
,,sacrifice     ,,xxiii4 ,,strangers    
,i4  ,,the ,,bells4   ,in the steeple of
 an old church was a beautiful chime of 
bells1 which for many years had rung out
 joyous peals at the touch of the       
sexton's hand upon the rope4  ,i'll make

 the air full of music to-morrow1 said  
the white-haired man1 as he lay down to 
his slumbers4 ,to-morrow is ,christmas1 
and the people shall be glad and gay4   
,ah1 yes6 right merry will be the chimes
 ,i shall ring them4 ,soon sleep        
gathered him in a close embrace1 and    
visions of the morrow's joy flitted over
 his brain4  ,at midnight some dark     
clouds swept over the tower1 while      
darker shadows of discontent fell on the
 peaceful chime4  ,hark6 what was that8 
,a low1 discordant sound was heard among
 the bells4  ,here we have been ringing 
for seven long years1 murmured the      
highest bell in the chime4  ,well1 what 
of it8 ,that's what we are placed here  
for1 said a voice from one of the       
deeper-toned bells4  ,but ,i have rung  
long enough4 ,besides1 ,i am weary of   
always singing one tone1 answered the   
high bell1 in a clear1 sharp voice4     
,together we make sweetest harmony1     
returned the bell next the complainer4  
,i well know that1 but ,i am tired of my

 one tone1 while you can bear monotony4 
,for my part1 ,i do not mean to answer  
to the call of the rope to-morrow4      
,what6 not ring on ,christmas ,day6     
exclaimed all the bells together4  ,no1 
,i don't4 ,you may exclaim as much as   
you please2 but1 if you had common      
sympathy1 you would see in a moment how 
weary ,i am of singing this one high    
tone4  ,but we all have to give our     
notes1 responded a low1 sweet-voiced    
bell4  ,that's just what ,i mean to     
change4 ,we are all weary of our notes1 
and need change4  ,but we should have to
 be recast1 said the low-toned bell1    
sadly4  ,most certainly we should4 ,i   
should like the fun of that4 ,now how   
many of you will be silent in the       
morning when the old sexton comes to    
ring us8  ,i will1 answered the         
lowest-toned bell1 boldly4  ,if part of 
us are silent and refuse to ring1 of    
what use will the rest be8 said one who 
had remained quiet until then4 ,for a   
chime all of us are needed1 she added1  

sadly4  ,that's just the point1 remarked
 the leader4 ,if all will be still1 none
 will be blamed3 the people will think  
we are worn out and need making over4   
,so we shall be taken down from this    
tower where we have been so long1 and   
stand a chance of seeing something of   
the world4 ,for my part1 ,i am tired to 
death of being up here1 and seeing      
nothing but this quiet valley4  ,a      
murmur ran from one to another1 till all
 agreed to be silent on the morrow1     
though many of the chime would have     
preferred to ring as usual4  ,the man   
who had presented the bells to the      
church returned at midnight1 after a    
long journey to his native valley1      
bringing with him a friend1 almost      
solely to hear the beautiful chime on   
the morrow4  ,as he passed the church1  
on his way home1 the murmuring of the   
bells was just ceasing4 ,the wind moves 
them--the beautiful bells1 he said4 ,but
 to-morrow you shall hear how sweet they
 will sing1 he added1 casting a loving  

glance up to the tower where hung the   
bells4  ,a few miles from the valley1   
close to the roadside1 stood a cottage  
inhabited by a man and wife whose only  
child was fast fading from the world4   
,raise me up a little1 mother1 said the 
dying boy1 so ,i can hear the ,christmas
 chime4 ,it will be the last time ,i    
shall hear them here1 mother4 ,is it    
almost morning8  ,the pale mother wiped 
the death-dew from his brow and kissed  
him1 saying1 ,yes1 dear1 it's almost    
morning4 ,the bells will chime soon as  
the first ray comes over the hills4     
,patiently the child sat1 pillowed in   
his bed1 till the golden arrows of light
 flashed over the earth4 ,day had come1 
but no chime4  ,what can be the matter8 
said the anxious mother1 as she strained
 her eyes in the direction of the tower4
  ,what if the old sexton were dead8    
,the thought took all her strength away4
 ,if death had taken him first1 who     
would lay her boy tenderly away8  ,is it
 almost time8  ,almost1 ,jimmy1 darling4

 ,perhaps the old sexton has slept late4
  ,will the bells chime in heaven1      
mother8  ,yes1 dear1 ,i hope so4  ,will 
they ring them for me                   
if--if--,i--mother6 hark6 the bells are 
ringing6 ,the good old sexton has gone  
to the church at last6  ,the boy's eyes 
glistened with a strange light4 ,in vain
 the mother listened4 ,no sound came to 
her ears4 ,all was still as death4  ,oh1
 how beautiful they sing6 he said1 and  
fell back and died4  ,other chimes fell 
on his ear1 sweeter far than the bells  
of ,st4 ,auburn4  ,for more than an hour
 the old sexton had been working at the 
ropes in vain4 ,no sound come forth from
 either bell4  ,what can be the matter8 
he exclaimed1 nervously4 ,for seven long
 years they have not failed to ring out 
their tones4 ,i'll try once more4 ,and  
he did so1 vigorously4  ,just then the  
figure of a man stood in the doorway4   
,it was the owner of the chime4 ,he had 
gone to the sexton's house1 not hearing 
the bells at the usual hour1 thinking he

 had overslept2 and1 not finding him1   
had sought him at the church4  ,he tried
 the ropes himself1 but with no more    
success than the sexton4  ,what can it  
mean8 he said1 as he turned sorrowfully 
away4  ,it was a sad ,christmas in the  
pleasant valley4 ,to have those sweet   
sounds missing1 and on such a day1--it  
was a loss to all1 and an omen of ill to
 many4  ,the next day1 workmen were sent
 to the tower to examine the bells4 ,no 
defect was perceptible4 ,they were sound
 and whole1 and no mischief-making lad1 
as some had suggested1 had stolen their 
tongues4  ,the bells were taken down and
 carried to a distant city to be recast4
  ,there6 didn't ,i tell you we should  
see the world8 said their leader1 after 
they were packed and on their way4  ,i  
don't think we are seeing much of it    
now1 in this dark box1 answered one of  
the bells4  ,wait till we are at our    
journey's end4 ,we are in a transition  
state now4 ,haven't ,i listened to the  
old pastor many a time1 and heard him   

say those very words8 ,i could not      
comprehend them then1 but ,i can now4   
,oh1 how delightful it is to have the   
prospect of some change before us6 ,thus
 the old bell chatted to the journey's  
end1 while the other bells had but      
little to say4  ,three days later they  
were at the end of their long ride1 and 
placed1 one by one1 in a fiery furnace4 
,instead of murmurs now1 their groans   
filled the air4  ,oh1 for one moment's  
rest from the heat and the hammer6 ,oh1 
that we were all at the sweet vale of   
,st4 ,auburn6 said the leader of all    
their sorrow4  ,how sweetly would we    
sing6 echoed all4  ,it's a terrible     
thing to be recast6 sighed the          
deepest-toned bell2 and he quivered with
 fear as they placed him in the furnace4
  ,at last1 after much suffering1 they  
were pronounced perfect1 and repacked   
for their return4  ,the same tone was   
given to each1 but the quality was      
finer1 softer1 and richer than before4  
,the workmen knew not why--none but the 

suffering bells1 and the master hand who
 put them into the furnace of           
affliction4  ,they were all hung once   
more in the tower--wiser and better     
bells4 ,never again was heard a murmur  
of discontent from either because but   
one tone was its mission4 ,in the       
moonlight they talk among themselves1 of
 their sad but needful experience1 and  
of the lesson which it taught them1--as 
we hope it has our reader1--that each   
must be faithful to the quality or tone 
which the ,master has given us1 and     
which is needful to the rich and full   
harmonies of life4     ,,ii4  ,,the     
,,height4   ,there was once an aged man 
who lived upon an exceeding high        
mountain for many years2 but1 as his    
strength began to decline1 he found the 
ascent so tedious for his feeble steps  
that he went into the valley to live4   
,it was very hard for him to give up the
 view from its lofty height of the sun  
which sank so peacefully to rest4 ,long 
before the sleepers in the valley awoke1

 he was watching the golden orb as it   
broke through the mists and flung its   
beauties over the hills4  ,this must be 
my last day upon the mountain top1 he   
said4 ,the little strength which is left
 me ,i must devote to the culture of    
fruit and flowers in the valley1 and no 
longer spend it in climbing up and down 
these hills1 whose tops rest their peaks
 in the fleecy clouds4 ,i have enjoyed  
many years of repose and grandeur1 and  
must devote the remainder of my life to 
helping the people in the valley4  ,at  
sunset the old man descended1 with staff
 in hand1 and went slowly down the      
mountain side4 ,such lovely blossoms1   
pink1 golden1 and scarlet1 met his eye  
as he gazed on the gardens of the       
laborers1 that he involuntarily         
exclaimed1 ,i fear ,i have spent my days
 not wisely on yonder mountain top1     
taking at least a third of my time in   
climbing up and down4 ,richer flowers   
grow here in the valley2 the air is     
softer1 and the grass like velvet to the

 tread4 ,i'll see if there is a vacant  
cottage for me4  ,saying this1 he       
accosted a laborer who was just         
returning from his toil3 ,good man1 do  
you know of any cottage near which ,i   
can rent8  ,why6 you are the old man    
from the mountain1 exclaimed the        
astonished person addressed4  ,i am     
coming to the valley to live4 ,i am now 
seeking a shelter4  ,yonder1 answered   
the man1 is a cottage just vacated by a 
man and wife4 ,would that suit you8     
,anything that will shelter me will     
suit1 was the answer4 ,dost thou know   
who owns the house8  ,von ,nellser1 the 
gardener4 ,he lives down by the river   
now1 and works for all the rich men in  
the valley4  ,i'll see him to-night1    
said the old man1 and1 thanking his     
informant1 was moving on4  ,but1 good   
father1 the sun has already set2 the    
night shades appear4 ,come and share my 
shelter and bread to-night1 and in the  
morning seek ,von ,nellser4  ,the old   
man gladly accepted his kind offer4 ,the

 vale makes men kindly of heart and     
feeling1 he said1 as he uncovered his   
head to enter the home of the laborer4  
,a fair woman of forty came forward1 and
 clasped his hand with a warmth of      
manner which made him feel more at ease 
than many words of welcome would have   
done4  ,the three sat together at       
supper1 and refreshed themselves with   
food and thought4  ,he retired early to 
the nice apartment assigned him1 and lay
 awake a long time1 musing on the past  
and the present4 ,ah1 ,i see1 he said to
 himself1 why ,i am an object of wonder 
and something of awe to the people of   
the valley4 ,i have lived apart from    
human ties1 while they have grown old   
and ripe together4 ,i must be a riddle  
to them all--a something which they have
 invested with an air of veneration1    
because ,i was not daily in their midst4
 ,had it been otherwise1 ,i should have 
been neither new nor fresh to them4 ,how
 know ,i but this is ,god's reserve     
force wherewith each may become         

refreshed1 and myself an humble         
instrument sent in the right moment to  
vivify those who have been thinking     
alike too much8  ,he fell asleep1 and   
awoke just as the sun was throwing its  
bright rays over his bed4 ,dear old     
day-god1 he said1 with reverence1 and   
arose and dressed himself1 still eying  
the sun's early rays4 ,one of thy golden
 messengers must content me now1 he     
said1 a little sadly4 ,i can no longer  
see thee in all thy majesty marching up 
the mountain side2 no longer can ,i     
follow thee walking over the hill-tops1 
and resting thy head against the crimson
 sky at evening3 but smile on me1 ,sun1 
while in the vale ,i tarry1 and warm my 
seeds to life while on thy daily march4 
,the old man went from his room         
refreshed by sleep1 and partook of the  
bread and honey which the kind woman had
 ready for him4 ,then1 thanking them for
 their hospitality1 he departed4  ,the  
laborer and wife watched him out of     
sight1 and thought they had never seen  

anything more beautiful than his white  
hair waving in the morning breeze4  ,at 
dusk a light shone in the vacant        
cottage1 and they sent him fresh cakes1 
milk1 and honey for his evening meal4   
99       99       99       99       99  
,ten years passed away4 ,the old man had
 cultured his land1 and no fairer       
flowers or sweeter fruits grew in the   
valley than his own4 ,he had taught the 
people many truths which he had learned 
in his solitary life on the mountain1   
and in return had learned much from     
them4 ,he faded slowly away4 ,the       
brilliant flowers within his garden grew
 suddenly distasteful to him4 ,he longed
 to look once more on a pure white      
blossom which grew only at the mountain 
top4 ,with its whiteness no flower could
 compare4 ,there were others1 growing   
half way up1 that approached its purity1
 but none equaled the flower on the     
summit4  ,i should like1 of all things1 
answered the old man1 when they desired 
to know what would most please him1--for

 he had become a great favorite in the  
valley1--to look once more upon my pure 
white flower ere ,i die2 but it's so far
 to the mountain top1 none will care to 
climb4  ,thou shalt see it6 exclaimed a 
strong youth1 who was courageous1 but   
seldom completed anything he undertook1 
for lack of perseverance4  ,the old man 
blessed him4 ,he started for the        
mountain1 and walked a long way up its  
side1 often missing his footing1 and at 
one time seeking aid from a rotten      
branch1 which broke in his grasp and    
nearly threw him to the base4  ,after   
repeated efforts to reach the summit1 he
 found a sweet1 pale blossom growing in 
a mossy nook by a rock4  ,ah6 here it   
is--the same1 ,i dare say1 as those on  
the mountain top4 ,so what need of      
climbing farther8 ,what a lucky fellow  
,i am to save so many steps for myself6 
and he went down the mountain side as   
fast as he could1 amid the rank and     
tangled wood1 with the flower in his    
hand4  ,day was walking over the meadows

 with golden feet when he entered the   
cottage and placed the blossom          
exultingly in the old man's palm4       
,what6 so quick returned8 he said4 ,thou
 must have been very swift--but this1 my
 good young man1 never grew on the      
mountain top6 ,thee must have found this
 half way up4 ,i remember well those    
little flowers--they grew by the rocks  
where ,i used to rest when on my journey
 up4  ,the crowd who had come to see the
 strange white flower now laughed aloud1
 which made the youth withdraw1 abashed 
and much humbled4 ,had he been strong of
 heart1 he would have tried again1 and  
not returned without the blossom from   
the mountain top4 ,many others tried1   
but never had the courage to reach its  
height2 while the old man daily grew    
weaker4  ,he'll die without setting eyes
 on his flower1 said the good woman who 
had given him shelter the night he came 
to the valley4 ,she had not the courage 
to try the ascent1 but she endeavored to
 stimulate others to go to the top and  

bring the blossom to cheer his heart4   
,she offered1 as reward1 choice fruits  
and linen from her stores2 but all had  
some excuse1 although they loved the old
 man tenderly3 none felt equal to the   
effort4  ,towards noon1 a pale1 fragile 
girl1 from a distant part of the vale1  
appeared1 who had heard of his desire1  
and stood at the door of his cottage and
 knocked4  ,what dost thou wish8 he     
asked from within4  ,to go to the       
mountain for the flower and place it in 
thy hand1 she answered1 as she entered  
his room and meekly stood before him4   
,thou art very frail of body1 he        
replied1 but strong of heart4 ,go1 try1 
and my soul will follow and strengthen  
thee1 fair daughter4  ,she kissed his   
hand1 and departed4  ,the morning came1 
and she returned not4 ,the end of the   
second day drew nigh1 and yet she came  
not back4  ,pooh1 pooh6 exclaimed one of
 a group of wood-cutters near by the    
cottage4 ,such a fool-hardy errand will 
only be met by death4 ,the old man ought

 to be content to die without sight of  
his flower when it costs so much labor  
to get it4  ,so think me1 said his      
comrade1 between the puffs of his pipe2 
so think me4 ,our flowers are pretty1   
and good 'nough1 too4 ,sure1 he orter be
 content with what grows 'round him1 and
 not be sending folk a-climbing4 ,this  
said1 he resumed his smoking vigorously1
 and looked very wise4         99       
99       99       99       99  ,the aged
 man of the mountain was passing rapidly
 away4 ,the kind neighbors laid him for 
the last time on his cot1 and sat       
tearfully around the room4 ,some stood  
in groups outside1 looking wistfully    
towards the mountain2 for their kind    
hearts could not bear to see him depart 
without the flower to gladden his eyes4 
,the girl's gone a long time1 remarked  
one of the women4  ,the longer she's    
gone1 the surer the sign she's reached  
the mountain top4 ,it's a long way up   
there1 and a weary journey back4 ,my    
feet have trod it often1 and ,i know all

 the sharp rocks and the tangled        
branches in the way4 ,but she will come 
yet4 ,i hear footsteps not far away4    
,but too late1 we fear1 for your eyes to
 behold the blossom1 should she bring   
it4  ,then put it on my grave--but hark6
 she comes--some one approaches6        
,through the crowd1 holding high the    
spotless flower1 came the fair girl1    
with torn sandals and weary feet1 but   
with beaming eyes4 ,the old man raised  
himself in bed1 while she knelt to      
receive his blessing4  ,fair girl1--he  
spoke in those clear tones which the    
dying ever use1--the whiteness of this  
blossom is only rivaled by the angels'  
garments4 ,its spotless purity enters   
ever into the soul of him who plucks it1
 making it white as their robes4 ,to all
 who persevere to the mountain top and  
pluck this flower1 into all does its    
purity1 its essence1 enter and remain   
forever4 ,for is it not the reward of   
the toiler1 who pauses not till the     
summit is gained8  ,oh6 good man1 the   

mountain view was so grand1 ,i fain     
would have lingered to gaze2 but1       
longing to lay the blossom in thy hand1 
,i hastened back4  ,thou shalt behold   
all the grandeur thy toil has earned    
thee4 ,unto those who climb to the      
mountain summit1 who mind not the sharp 
rocks and loose1 rough grass beneath    
their tread1--unto such shall all the   
views be given2 for they shall some day 
be lifted in vision1 without aid of     
feet1 to grander heights than their     
weary limbs have reached4  ,the old man 
lay back and died4  ,they buried him1   
with the flower on his breast1 one day  
just as the sun was setting4 ,ere the   
winter snows fell1 many of the laborers1
 both men and women1 went up the        
mountain to its very top1 and brought   
back the white blossoms to deck his     
grave4         99       99       99     
99       99  ,the summit only has the   
view1 and the white flower of purity    
grows upon it4 ,shall we ascend and     
gather it8 or1 like the youth1 climb but

 half the distance1 and cheat our eyes  
and souls of the view from the height8  
,,iii4  ,,the ,,pilgrim4   ,one sultry  
summer day a youthful pilgrim sat by the
 roadside1 weary and dispirited1 saying1
 ,i cannot see why ,i was ordered to    
tarry beside this hard1 unsightly rock1 
after journeying as many days as ,i     
have4 ,something better should have been
 given me to rest upon after walking so 
far4 ,if it were only beside some shady 
tree1 ,i could wait the appearance of   
the guide4 ,my lot is hard indeed4 ,i do
 not see any pilgrim here4 ,others are  
probably resting beneath green trees and
 by running brooks4 ,i will look at my  
directions once more2 and she drew the  
paper from her girdle and read slowly   
these words3 ,tarry at the rock1 and do 
not go on till the guide appears to     
conduct you to your journey's end4 ,she 
folded and replaced the paper with a    
sigh1 while the murmur still went on3   
,it's very hard1 when beyond ,i see     
beautiful green trees1 whose long       

branches would shelter me from the      
burning sun4 ,how thirsty ,i am1 too6   
,my bread is no longer sweet1 for want  
of water4 ,oh1 that ,i could search for 
a spring6 ,i am sure ,i could find one  
if permitted to go on my journey4 ,if   
the rock was not so hard ,i could pillow
 my head upon it4 ,ah me6 ,i have been  
so often told that the guide had great  
wisdom1 and knew what was good and best 
for us pilgrims2 but this surely looks  
very dark4  ,here weariness overcame the
 pilgrim1 and involuntarily she laid her
 head upon the rock2 when1 lo6 a sudden 
spring was touched1 and the waters      
leaped1 pure and sparkling1 from the    
hard1 unsightly spot4 ,this was the     
guide's provision for his pilgrim4 ,it  
was no longer mystical why he had       
ordered her to tarry there4  ,when she  
had drank1 and the parched throat was   
cool and the whole being refreshed1 the 
guide appeared rounding a gentle curve  
of the road1 and bade her follow him    
through a dense forest which lay between

 the rock and the journey's end4 ,the   
steps of the pilgrim now were more firm1
 for trust was begotten within her1 and 
the light of hope gleamed on her        
brow--as it will at last upon us all1   
when the waters have gushed from the    
bare rocks which lie in the pathways of 
our lives4  ,at last we shall learn that
 our ,father1 the great ,guide1 leads us
 where flow living waters1 and that he  
never forsakes us in time of need4      
,,iv4  ,,faith4   ,children1 said a     
faithful father1 one day1 to his sons   
and daughters1 ,i have a journey to take
 which will keep me many days1 perhaps  
weeks1 from you2 and as we have no power
 over conditions1--such as storms1      
sickness1 or any of the so-called       
accidents of life1--,i may be detained  
long beyond my appointed time of        
absence4 ,i trust1 however1 that you    
will each have confidence in me2 and1   
should illness to myself or others      
detain me1 that you will all trust and  
wait4  ,we will1 father6 shouted a      

chorus of voices1 which was music to his
 ears4  ,with a fond embrace to each1 he
 left them4 ,slowly he walked down the  
winding path which led from his home4   
,he heard the voices of his children on 
the air long after he entered the       
highway--voices which he might not hear1
 perchance1 for many months4 ,sweeter   
than music to his soul were those sounds
 floating on the summer air4 ,over the  
hill and dale he rode till night came   
on1 and then1 before reposing1 he lifted
 his soul to heaven for blessings on his
 household4  ,with the sun he arose and 
pursued his journey4 ,the summer days   
went down into autumn2 the emerald      
leaves changed their hues for gold and  
scarlet2 ripe fruits hung in ruby and   
yellow clusters from their strong       
boughs2 while over the rocks1 crimson   
vines were trailing4 ,slowly the tints  
of autumn faded4 ,soon the white frosts 
lay on the meadows like snow-sheets2 the
 days were shorter and the air more     
crisp and chill4 ,around the evening    

fire the household of the absent parent 
began to gather4 ,while summer's        
beauties abounded they had not missed   
him so much1 but now they talked each to
 the other1 and grew strangely restless 
at his long delay4  ,did he not tell us1
 said the eldest1 that sickness or      
accident might delay him8  ,but he sends
 us no word1 no sign1 to make us at     
rest4  ,the roads may not be passable1  
replied the brother1 whose faith as yet 
was not dimmed4 ,already the snow has   
blocked them for miles around us1 and we
 know not what greater obstacles lie    
beyond4 ,no1 let us trust our father1 he
 added1 with a depth of feeling which   
touched them all2 and for a few days    
they rested in the faith that he would  
come and be again in their midst4 ,but1 
alas6 how short-lived is the trust of   
the human heart6 how limited its vision6
 ,it cannot pierce the passing clouds1  
nor stretch forth its hand in darkness4 
,together they sat one evening1 in outer
 and inner darkness1--again in the      

shadows of distrust4  ,he will never    
return1 said one of the group1 in sad   
and sorrowing tones4  ,my father will   
come1 lisped the youngest of them       
all1--the one on whom the others looked 
as but a babe in thought and feeling4   
,i am weary with watching1 said another1
 as she went from the window where she  
had been looking1 for so many days1 for 
the loved form4 ,our father has         
forgotten us all1 she moaned1 and bowed 
her head and wept4  ,there was no one to
 comfort2 for all were sad1 knowing that
 naught but a few crusts remained for   
their morrow's food--and who would      
provide for the coming days8 ,lights and
 fuel too were wanting1 and winter but  
half gone4 ,even the faith of the eldest
 had long since departed1 and he too had
 yielded to distrust4  ,my father will  
come1 still whispered the little one1   
strong in her child-trust1 while the    
others doubted4  ,it's because she's so 
young1 and cannot reason like us1 they  
said among themselves4  ,perhaps ,god   

can speak to her because she is so      
simple1 said one of the household with  
whom words were few4  ,they looked at   
each other as though a ray of sunlight  
had flashed through their dwelling4     
,something akin to hope began to spring 
in their hearts1 but died away as the   
chilling blasts came moaning around     
them4  ,three days passed1 while the    
storm raged and threatened to bury their
 home beneath the heavy snows4 ,there   
was no food now to share between them4  
,the last crumb had been given the child
 to soften her cries of hunger4  ,i can 
stand this no longer1 said the eldest1  
wrapping his garments around him1 and   
preparing to go forth to find labor and 
bread for his brothers and sisters4 ,ah1
 that ,i should ever have lived to see  
this day6--he murmured--the day in which
 we are deserted and forgotten by our   
father4  ,the sound of murmuring within 
now mingled with the sighing of the     
winds without4 ,he stepped to the door2 
but for an instant the fierce blasts    

drove him back--yet but for an instant4 
,i will not add cowardice to sorrow1 he 
said to them1 in reply to their         
entreaties not to go in the storm4 ,with
 one strong effort he faced the chilling
 sleet1 which so blinded him that he    
could not find the path which led to the
 highway2 yet he went bravely on1 till  
hunger and chill overcame him1 and he   
could no longer see or even feel4 ,he   
grew strangely dizzy1 and would have    
fallen to the ground1 but for a pair of 
strong arms which at that instant held  
him fast4 ,he was too much overcome to  
know who it was that thus enfolded him2 
but soon a well-known voice rose above  
the wind and the storm1--he knew that   
his father's arms were about him1 and he
 feared no more4 ,in the hour of        
greatest need the father had come4      
,there1 in that hour of brave effort1 he
 was spared a long exposure to the      
wintry blast4 ,a carriage laden with    
food1 fuel1 and timely gifts1 for each1 
was already on the road1 and would soon 

deposit its bounties at the door of     
those whose faith had deserted them4    
,what a happy household gathered around 
the father that night6 ,there was no    
need of lamps to reveal the joy on their
 faces1 and the darkness could not hide 
the tears which coursed down their      
cheeks4 ,the little one awoke shouting1 
in her child-trust1 ,my father has come6
 me knew him would6  ,and they called   
her ,faith from that hour4  ,the only   
alloy in the joy of the others was1 as  
the kind father explained to them the   
causes of his delay1 that they had not  
trusted him with the faith of the little
 child2 and when he told them of the    
strange people he had been among1 who   
needed counsel and instruction1 and     
their great need of his ministrations1  
they sorrowed much that doubt had       
shadowed for a moment their trust in    
their father4  ,thus do we distrust our 
,heavenly ,parent2 and when our needs   
rise like mountains before us1 and all  
seems dark1 we cry1 ,alas6 he has       

forgotten us6 ,and yet in our deepest   
night a light appears1 his strong arm   
uplifts us1 and we are taught how holy a
 thing is ,faith4     ,v4  ,,hope4      
,darkness had been upon the earth for a 
long time4 ,it was a period of war and  
bloodshed1 crime and disaster4  ,the old
 earth seemed draped in habiliments of  
mourning2 and there was cause for aching
 hearts1 for out of many homes had gone 
unto battle sons1 fathers1 and husbands1
 who would return no more4 ,they fell in
 service2 and kind mothers and wives    
could not take one farewell look at     
their still1 white faces1 but must go   
about their homes as though life had    
lost none of its helps4         99      
99       99       99       99  ,the     
poor1 sad earth6 said one of a glad     
band1 belonging to a starry sphere      
above4 ,i long to comfort its people2   
but my mission is given me to guide     
souls through the death valley1 and bear
 them to their friends in the           
summer-land4 ,i must not leave my post  

of duty4 ,who will go8  ,i will1 said   
,love1 in sweet1 silvery tones4  ,you   
are too frail to descend into such      
darkness as at present envelops the     
earth2 beside1 they need another1 a     
different element just now1 to prepare  
the way for better things4  ,who shall  
it be8 they all said1 and looked from   
one to the other4  ,hope1 said their    
leader1 the queen of the starry band4   
,there was to be high festival that     
night1 in a temple dedicated to the     
,muses2 and it was quite a sacrifice for
 any of their number to leave their     
happy sphere1 for one so dark as that of
 earth4  ,hope came forward at the      
mention of her name1 holding in her hand
 the half-finished garland which she had
 been twining for one of the ,graces4   
,wilt thou go to earth to-night1 fair   
,hope8 asked the queen4  ,the star on   
her fair brow glittered brighter as she 
said unhesitatingly1 ,i will4  ,your    
mission will be to carry garlands to    
every habitation which has a light      

within4 ,the others you cannot1 of      
course1 discern4 ,come now1 and let me  
clasp this strong girdle about thy      
waist1 to which ,i shall attach a cord1 
by which to let you down to earth4      
,they filled her arms with garlands1 and
 flung some about her neck1 till she was
 laden and ready to go4  ,now1 said     
their leader1 descend on this passing   
cloud2 and while you are gone we will   
sing anthems for you1 to keep your heart
 bright and linked to ours4  ,then she  
fastened the cord to her golden girdle1 
and let her down gently from the skies4 
99       99       99       99       99  
,in a little cottage by a roadside sat  
,mary ,deane and her sister1 reading4   
,they were two fair orphans whose father
 and brother were lost in battle4       
,let's put out the light1 and look at   
the stars awhile1 said the youngest4    
,not yet1 dear1 it's too early4 ,there  
may be some passer-by1 and a light is   
such a comfort to a traveler on the     
road4 ,many a time our neighbor's light 

has sent a glow over me which has       
enabled me to reach home much sooner1 if
 not in better humor4  ,as you like1    
sister1--but hark6 ,i thought ,i heard  
footsteps4  ,they listened1 and1 hearing
 nothing more1 finished their reading   
and retired to rest4  ,on opening their 
door the next morning1 their eyes were  
gladdened by a lovely garland which hung
 on the knob4 ,the flowers were rich in1
 perfume and color--unlike anything they
 had seen on earth4  ,much they         
marveled1 and wondered from whence they 
came1 and still greater was their joy to
 find they did not fade4  ,hope found a 
great many dwellings with lights in     
them1 but had to pass many1 as there was
 no lamp to signal them4 ,at the door of
 the former she left garlands to gladden
 the inmates4  ,it's no use to waste our
 oil3 we have nothing to read or        
interest us1 said one of two lonely     
women1 on the night ,hope came to the   
earth4 ,so they sat down gloomily       
together1 the darkness adding to their  

cheerlessness1 while a bright glow      
within would have gladdened them and all
 without4  ,hope went by1 laden with    
garlands1 just as they took their seats 
in the shadows4 ,she would gladly have  
left them1 for she had enough and to    
spare2 but1 seeing no sign of a         
habitation1 walked on4  ,the two women  
talked of the dreary world until they   
went to rest4 ,what was their surprise1 
in the morning1 to find their neighbors 
rejoicing over their mysterious gifts4  
,why had we none8 they said again and   
again4 ,the poor never have half as much
 given them as the wealthy1 they cried1 
and went back to their gloom and        
despair4  ,did you find a wreath on your
 doorstep this morning8 inquired a      
bright1 hopeful woman at noon1 who had  
brought them a part of her dinner4  ,no1
 indeed6 they answered4 ,did you find   
one on yours8  ,the handsomest wreath ,i
 ever saw4 ,who ever could have made one
 so lovely8 ,but--she stopped suddenly1 
on seeing their sad faces4 ,you shall   

have part of mine3 ,i will cut it in    
two4  ,never6 said the eldest quickly4  
,there is some reason why we were       
omitted2 and1 until we can know the     
cause1 you must keep your wreath        
unbroken4  ,it was very noble of her to 
come out of herself and refuse to accept
 what she instinctively felt did not    
belong to her4  ,a week passed away4 ,a 
child in the village had had strange    
dreams concerning the gifts1 which1 in  
substance1 was that a beautiful angel   
had come from the stars above1 and      
brought flowers to every house in which 
a light was seen4  ,we did not have any 
light that night1--don't you remember8  
remarked the eldest of the women1 as    
their neighbor told them of the strange 
dream4  ,there must be something in it1 
answered the little bright-eyed woman4  
,for all the dwellings had flowers which
 were lighted4  ,i suppose we ought     
always to be more hopeful1 said the     
women together4 ,the lamps of our houses
 should typify the light of hope1 which 

should never be dim1 nor cease burning4 
99       99       99       99       99  
,hope was taken up1 by a golden cord1 to
 her abode4 ,the starry group sang      
heavenly anthems to refresh her1 and    
,love twined a fresh garland for her    
brow4 ,they held another festival in the
 temple1 in honor of her and her safe   
return from the earth4  ,ever since she 
has been the brightest light in the     
group2 and at night1 when the clouds    
rising from the earth obscure all the   
others1 the star on the brow of ,hope is
 shining with a heavenly lustre1 and    
seen by all whose gaze is upward4       
,,vi4  ,,joy ,,and ,,sorrow4   ,many    
years ago1 two visitors were sent from  
realms above1 to enter the homes of     
earth's inhabitants1 and see how much of
 true happiness and real sorrow there   
were in their midst4 ,hand in hand they 
walked together1 till they entered a    
pleasant valley nestled among green     
hills4 ,at the base of one of these     
stood a cottage covered with roses and  

honeysuckles1 which looked very         
inviting2 and the external did not belie
 the interior4  ,the family consisted of
 a man and wife somewhat advanced in    
years1 an aged and infirm brother1 and  
two lovely young girls1 grandchildren of
 the couple4  ,the pleasant murmur of   
voices floated on the air1--pleasant to 
the ear as the perfume of the roses     
climbing over the door was to the sense 
of smell4 ,it chimed with the spell of  
the summer morning1 and the sisters knew
 that harmony was within4  ,let us      
enter1 said ,joy4  ,sorrow1 who was     
unwilling to go into any abode1 lingered
 outside4  ,within1 all was as clean and
 orderly as one could desire3 the young 
girls were diligently sewing1 while     
before them lay an open volume1 from    
which they occasionally read a page or  
so1 thus mingling instruction with      
labor4  ,joy entered1 and accosted them 
with1 ,a bright morning4  ,very lovely1 
answered the girls1 and they arose and  
placed a chair for their visitor4  ,we  

have much to be grateful for every day1 
but very much on such a day as this1    
remarked the grandmother4  ,you're a    
busy family1 said ,joy4  ,yes1 we all   
labor1 and are fond of it1 answered the 
woman1 looking fondly at the girls4 ,we 
have many blessings1 far more than we   
can be grateful for1 ,i sometimes think4
  ,yes1 ,i tell mother1 broke in the    
husband1 that we must never lose sight  
of our blessings2 in fact1 they are all 
such1 though often in disguise4  ,at    
that moment ,sorrow looked in at the    
open door4 ,it was so seldom that she   
was recognized that she longed to enter4
  ,you have a friend out there3 ask her 
in1 said the woman4  ,joy turned and    
motioned her sister to enter4 ,she came 
in softly1 and sat beside ,joy1 while   
the woman spoke of her family1 at the   
desire of each of the sisters to know of
 her causes of happiness4  ,yes1 they   
are all blessings in disguise1 she said1
 though ,i could not think thus when ,i 
laid my fair-eyed boy in the grave2 nor1

 later1 when my next child was born     
blind4  ,had you none other8 asked ,joy4
  ,one other1 and she died of a broken  
heart4  ,sorrow sighed deeply1 and would
 rather have heard no more2 but ,joy    
wished to hear the whole1 and asked the 
woman to go on4  ,yes1 she died         
heart-broken2 and these two girls are   
hers4 ,it was very hard that day to see 
the hand of ,god in the cloud when they 
brought the body of her husband home all
 mangled1 and so torn that not a feature
 could be recognized2 and then to see   
poor ,mary1 his wife1 pine day by day   
until we laid her beside him4  ,but the 
blessing was in it1 mother3 we have     
found it so4 ,they have only gone to    
prepare the way1 and we have much left  
us4  ,the words of the old man were     
true1 and it was beautiful to see the   
face of his wife as it glowed with      
recognition4  ,at that moment the       
sisters threw back their veils4 ,such a 
radiant face was never seen in that     
cottage as the beaming countenance of   

,joy2 while that of her sister was dark 
and sad to look upon4  ,oh1 stay with   
us1 exclaimed the girls to ,joy1 as the 
sisters rose to depart4  ,most gladly   
would ,i1 but ,i have a work to perform 
in your village2 and1 beside1 ,i cannot 
leave my sister4  ,but she is so dark   
and sad1 why not leave her to go alone8 
said the youngest girl1 who had never   
seen ,sorrow nor heard of her mission to
 earth before4  ,sorrow was standing in 
the door and heard her remark4 ,she     
hoped the day would never come when she 
should have to carry woe to her young   
heart2 but her life was so uncertain she
 knew not who would be the next whom she
 would have to envelop in clouds4 ,she  
sighed1 plucked a rose1 and pressed it  
to her nostrils1 as though it was the   
last sweetness she would ever inhale4   
,how ,i pity her6 said the grandmother1 
her warm1 blue eyes filling with tears1 
as she looked at the bowed form in the  
doorway4  ,ah1 good woman1 she needs it2
 for few recognize her mission to them4 

,she is sent by our master to administer
 woes which contain heavenly truths1    
while ,i convey glad tidings4 ,i shall  
never leave my sister save when our     
labors are divided4  ,thus spoke ,joy1  
while tears filled the eyes of all4     
,then the kind woman went and plucked   
some roses and gave them to ,sorrow1 who
 was weeping4  ,i did not half know     
myself1 she said1 addressing the sad    
form2 ,i thought ,i could see ,god's    
angels everywhere1 but this time how    
have ,i failed6 ,forgive me1 she said to
 ,sorrow1 and when you are weary and    
need rest1 come to our cottage4  ,sorrow
 gave her a sad but heavenly smile1 and 
the sisters departed to the next abode4 
,did you ever see them before8 asked the
 children of their grandparents after   
the sisters had gone4  ,often3 they have
 been going round the world for ages1   
answered their grandparents4  ,but ,joy 
looks so young1 grandpa4  ,that's       
because she has naught to do with       
trouble4 ,she belongs to the bright     

side4 ,she carries good tidings and     
pleasure to all2 while ,sorrow1 her     
sister1 administers the woes4  ,but ,joy
 is good not to leave her sister4  ,she 
cannot1 said the grandparent4  ,cannot6 
,why8  ,because ,providence has so      
ordered it that ,joy and ,sorrow go hand
 in hand1--pleasure and pain4 ,no two   
forces in nature which are alike are    
coupled4 ,day and night1 sunshine and   
shadow1 pleasure and pain1 forever4     
,but ,i should like to have ,joy stay   
with us1 said ,helen1 the youngest1 to  
her grandparent4  ,we shall ever be glad
 to see her2 but we must never treat her
 sister coldly or with indifference1 as 
though she had no right to be among us2 
because1 though in the external she is  
unlovely1 within she is equally radiant 
with her sister1--not the same charm of 
brilliancy1 but a softer1 diviner       
radiance shines about her soul4  ,why1  
grandpa1 you make me almost love her1   
said ,marion1 the eldest1 while ,helen  
looked thoughtful and earnest4  ,the    

seeds of truth were dropped which at    
some future time would bear fruit4      
99       99       99       99       99  
,it was a large and elegant house at    
which the sisters stopped next4 ,a      
beautiful lawn1 hedged by hawthorne1    
sloped to the finely-graded street2     
while over its surface beds of brilliant
 flowers were blooming1 contrasting     
finely with the bright green carpet4    
,they ascended the granite steps which  
led to the portico1 and rang the bell4  
,a servant answered the summons1 and    
impatiently awaited their message4  ,we 
would see the mistress of the mansion1  
said ,joy4  ,they were shown into an    
elegant drawing-room1 so large they     
could scarcely see the farther end4 ,it 
was furnished in a most dazzling style1 
and gave none of that feeling of repose 
which is so desirable in a home4 ,after 
what seemed a long time1 the lady of the
 mansion appeared1 looking very much as 
though her visitors were intruders4  ,a 
lovely day1 said ,joy4  ,beautiful for  

youth and health1 she answered curtly2  
but all days are the same to me4  ,you  
are ill1 then1 said ,joy1               
sympathetically4  ,ill1 and weary of    
this life4 ,nothing goes well in this   
world3 there is too much sorrow to enjoy
 anything4 ,but1 she added after a brief
 silence1 you are young1 and cannot     
enter into my griefs4  ,i have come for 
the purpose of bringing you comfort and 
hope if you will but accept it1 answered
 ,joy1 modestly4  ,a stranger could     
scarcely show me what ,i cannot find4   
,be assured1 young maiden1 if ,i had the
 pleasures you suppose ,i possess1 ,i   
should not be tardy in seeing them4 ,no1
 no3 my life is a succession of cares   
and burdens4  ,joy was silent a moment1 
and then said1 ,but you have health1 a  
home1 and plenty to dispense to the     
needy1 which must be a comfort1 at      
least1 in a world of so much need4  ,my 
home is large and elegant1 ,i admit2    
but1 believe me1 the care of the        
servants is a burden too great for human

 flesh4  ,joy thought how much better a 
cottage was1 with just enough to meet   
the wants of life1 than a mansion full  
of hirelings2 and she said1 hopefully1  
,our blessings ever outnumber our woes4 
,if we but look for them1 we shall be   
surprised each day to see how many they 
are4 ,i am on a visit to earth1         
continued ,joy1 to see how much real    
happiness ,i can find1 and help1 if     
possible1 to remove obstacles that      
hinder its advancement4 ,this is my     
sister1 ,sorrow1 she continued1 turning 
to her1 who1 like myself1 has a mission1
 though by no means a pleasant one4     
,the sisters unveiled their faces4  ,a  
flush of pleasure stole over the sallow 
face of the woman as she gazed upon the 
brightness of ,joy's countenance2 but   
the look quickly faded at the sight of  
,sorrow's worn and weary features4  ,my 
sister must tarry here1 said ,joy1 as   
she rose to leave4  ,here6 ,with me8    
,why6 ,i can scarcely live now4 ,what   
can ,i do with her added to my troubles8

  ,it is thus decreed1 answered ,joy4   
,you need the discipline which she will 
bring to you4  ,and she departed1       
leaving her sister in the elegant but   
cheerless mansion4  ,the mistress of the
 luxurious home had one fair daughter1  
whom she was bringing up to lead a      
listless1 indolent1 and selfish life1--a
 life which would result in no good to  
herself or others4  ,sorrow grew sadder 
each day as she saw the girl walking    
amid all the beauties with which she was
 surrounded1 careless of her own        
culture4 ,she felt1 also1 that she must 
at some time1 and it might be soon1 be  
removed from her luxuries1 or they from 
her4 ,each hour the fair girl's step    
grew heavier1 till at last she was too  
weak to walk1 or even rise from her bed4
  ,all this comes of having that sad    
woman here1 exclaimed the weeping mother
 as she bent over her daughter4 ,i'll   
have her sent from the house this day4  
,and she rang for a servant to send     
,sorrow away4  ,after delivering her    

message to her maid1 she felt somewhat  
relieved4  ,the servant went in search  
of ,sorrow1 but could not find her      
either in the house1 garden1 on the     
lawn1 or among the dark pines where she 
often walked4  ,whither had she fled8   
,all the servants of the house were     
summoned to the search2 but ,sorrow was 
not to be found1 and they reported to   
the mistress their failure to find her4 
,no matter1 she replied1 so long as she 
is no longer among us4 ,go to your      
labors now1 keep the house very quiet1  
and be sure1 before dark1 to lock all   
the doors1 that she may not enter       
unperceived4  ,they need not have bolted
 nor barred her out2 for her work was   
done1 and she had no cause to return4   
,she was sent to the house of wealth to 
carry the blight of death4 ,her mission 
was over1 and she was on her way1       
seeking ,joy4  ,the young girl faded    
slowly and died4  ,the mother mourned   
without hope1 and was soon laid beside  
her daughter4 ,the home passed into the 

hands of those who felt that none must  
live for themselves alone2 that sorrows 
must be borne without murmur2 and joys  
appreciated so well that the angel of   
sorrow may not have to bear some        
treasure away to uplift the heart and   
give the vision a higher range4  ,sorrow
 met ,joy on the road that night4 ,there
 was no moon1 even the stars were dim2  
but for the shining face of her sister1 
she would have passed her4 ,they joined 
hands1 and walked together till morning 
broke4 ,they came in sight of a low     
cottage just as the day dawned4  ,oh1   
dear6 said ,sorrow1 as they approached  
the familiar spot1 how often have ,i    
been there to carry woe6 ,do you go now1
 ,joy1 and give them gladness6  ,if it  
is the master's hour ,i will most       
gladly1 said ,joy1 looking tenderly on  
the weary face of her sister1 who sat by
 the roadside to rest awhile while she  
lifted her heart to heaven1 asking that 
she might no more carry woe to that     
humble home2 and her prayer was         

answered4  ,i feel to go there1 said    
,joy1 as ,sorrow wiped her tears away4  
,wait here till ,i return2 and she ran  
merrily on4  ,she entered the humble    
home with gladness in her beaming eyes1 
and1 as she bore no resemblance to her  
sister1 they welcomed her with much     
greeting2 nor did they know but for     
,sorrow1 ,joy would not have been among 
them4 ,she talked with them a long time1
 and listened patiently to the story of 
their woes4  ,sickness1 death1 and      
adversity had been their part for many  
years4  ,but they are passing away1 said
 ,joy1 confidently1 and health and      
prosperity shall yet be among you4  ,we 
shall know their full value1 whispered a
 voice from the corner of the room which
 ,joy's eyes had not penetrated4 ,on a  
low cot lay an invalid1 helpless and    
blind4  ,the tears fell from her own    
eyes an instant1 and then sparkled with 
a greater brilliancy than before1 as she
 said1 ,and this1 too1 shall pass away4 
,the closed eyes1 from which all light  

had been shut out for seven long years1 
now slowly opened2 the palsied limbs    
relaxed2 life leaped through the veins  
once more2 and she arose from her bed1  
while the household gathered round her4 
,a son1 who was supposed to have been   
lost at sea1 after an absence of many   
years returned at that moment1 laden    
with gold and other treasures far       
greater1 than the glittering            
ore1--lessons of life1 which1 through   
suffering1 he had wrought into his mind4
  ,joy departed1 amid their tumult of   
rejoicing1 and joined her sister4  ,the 
happy family did not miss her for a     
time2 yet when their great and sudden   
happiness subsided into realization they
 sought her1 but in vain4  ,they needed 
her not2 for the essence of her life was
 with them1 while she was walking over  
the earth1 carrying pleasure and        
happiness to thousands2 yet doing the   
work of her father no more than her worn
 and sad-eyed sister4     ,,vii4        
,,upward4   ,there was once an aged man 

who owned and lived in a large house the
 height of which was three stories4 ,his
 only child was a daughter1 of whom he  
was very fond1 and who listened         
generally to his words of counsel and   
instruction2 but no amount of persuasion
 could induce her to ascend to the      
highest story of their dwelling1 where  
her father spent many hours in watching 
the varied landscape which it           
overlooked4 ,it was an alloyed pleasure 
as he sat there evening after evening   
alone1 looking at the lovely cloud      
tints1 and rivers winding like veins of 
silver through the meadows4 ,it         
detracted from his joy to know that the 
view from the lower window offered      
naught but trees thickly set and dry    
hedges4  ,come up1 child1 he called1    
morning and evening1 year after year1   
with the same result4 ,it seemed of no  
avail4 ,she will die and never know what
 beauties lie around her dwelling1 he   
said1 as he sat looking at the wealth of
 beauty4 ,it seemed to him that the     

clouds were never so brilliant1 nor the 
trees and meadows so strangely gilded by
 the sun's rays1 as on that evening4 ,he
 longed more than ever to share with his
 child the pleasure he experienced1 and 
resolved upon a plan by which he hoped  
to attain his wish4  ,i will have       
workmen shut out the light of all the   
stories below with thick boards1 and bar
 the door that she may not escape4 ,i   
will give her a harmless drink to-night 
that will deepen her slumbers while the 
work is being done2 for by these        
seemingly harsh means alone can ,i      
induce my child to ascend4  ,that night1
 while she slumbered1 the work was done1
 and she awoke not at the sound of the  
hammer on the nails4 ,when all was      
completed1 the father ascended to await 
the rays of morning1 and listen for the 
voice of his child1 which soon broke in 
suppliant tones upon his ears3--        
,father6 my father6 ,it's dark6 ,i      
cannot see6  ,come up1 my child6 still  
he cried4 ,come to me1 and behold new   

glories4  ,she gave no answer2 but he   
heard her weeping1 and groped his way   
below to lead her up4 ,she no longer    
resisted4 ,her steps1 though slow1 were 
willing ones3 they were upward now1 and 
the father cared not how slow1 so long  
as they were ascending4  ,many times she
 wished to go back1 but he urged her on 
with gentle words and a strong1         
sustaining arm1 till the last landing   
was reached1 and the light1 now         
streaming through the open windows1 made
 words no longer needful4 ,with a bound 
she sprang to the open casement1        
exclaiming1 ,father1 dear father6 and   
fell1 weeping1 on his breast4  ,his wish
 was granted2 his effort was over1 and  
his child could now behold the beauties 
which had so long thrilled his own soul4
  ,thus does our ,heavenly ,father call 
us upward2 and when he sees that we will
 not leave the common view for grander  
scenes1 and will not listen to his      
voice1 however beseeching1 he makes all 
dark and drear below1 that we may be led

 to ascend higher1 where the day-beams  
are longer1 the view more extended1 and 
the air more rarified and pure4         
,,viii4  ,,the ,,oak4   ,an old and     
experienced gardener had been watching a
 tree for many days1 whose branches and 
foliage did not seem to repay him for   
his care4 ,i see1 he said1 a little     
sadly2 the roots are not striking deep  
enough3 they must have a firmer hold in 
the earth1 and only the wind and the    
fierce blast will do it4  ,it was now   
sunset1 and the faithful gardener put   
away his tools1 closed the garden gates1
 and went into his cottage4 ,soon a mass
 of dark clouds began to gather on the  
horizon4 ,i am sorry to use such harsh  
means1 he said1 waving his hand in the  
direction of the wind clouds2 but the   
tree needs to be more firmly rooted1 and
 naught but a violent wind will aid it4 
,a low1 moaning sound went through the  
air1 shaking every bush and tree to its 
foundation4  ,oh1 dear6 sighed the tree4
 ,oh1 the cruel gardener1 to send this  

wind6 ,it will surely uproot me6  ,the  
tree readied forth its branches like    
arms for help1 and implored the gardener
 to come and save it from the fearful   
blasts4 ,the flowers at its feet bowed  
their heads1 while the winds wafted     
their fragrance over the struggling1    
tempest-tost tree4  ,they do not moan1  
as ,i do4 ,they cannot be suffering as  
,i am1 said the tree1 catching its      
breath at every word4  ,they do not need
 the tempest4 ,the rain and the dew are 
all they want1 said a vine1 which had   
been running many years over an old dead
 oak1 once the pride of the garden4 ,i  
heard the gardener say this very        
afternoon1 continued the vine1 that you 
must be rooted more firmly2 and he has  
sent this wind for that purpose4  ,i    
wonder if ,i am the only thing in this  
garden that needs shaking1 spoke the    
oak1 somewhat indignantly4 ,there's a   
poor willow over by the pond that is    
always weeping and--  ,but1 interrupted 
the vine1 that's what keeps the         

beautiful sheet of water full to the    
brim1 and always so sparkling1--the     
constant dropping of her tears2 and we  
ought to render her gratitude4 ,besides1
 she is so graceful--  ,oh1 yes3 all the
 trees are lovely but me4 ,i heard the  
gardener's praise1 the other day1 of the
 elms and the maples1 and even the      
pines2 but not one word did he say about
 the oaks4 ,i didn't care for myself in 
particular1 but for my family1 which has
 always been looked up to4 ,well1 ,i    
shall die1 like my brother1 and soon we 
shall all pass away2 but1 unlike my     
brother oak1 no one will cling to me as 
you do1 vine1 to his old body4  ,you're 
mistaken1 sir4 ,the gardener said1 but a
 few days ago1 that he should plant a   
vine just like myself at your trunk if  
your foliage was not better1 so that you
 might present a finer appearance by the
 mingling of the vine's soft leaves1 and
 be more ornamental to the garden4      
,i'll save him that trouble if my life  
is spared4 ,i have no desire to be      

decked in borrowed leaves4 ,the oaks    
have always kept up a good appearance2  
but oh1 dear me1 vine1 didn't that blast
 take your breath away8 ,i fear ,i shall
 die2 but1 if ,i do live1 ,i'll show the
 gardener what ,i can do4 ,but1 vine1   
and the voice of the oak trembled1 tell 
the gardener1 when he comes in the      
morning1 if--if ,i am dead--that--that  
the dreadful tempest killed instead of  
helped me4  ,the wind made such a       
roaring sound that the oak could not    
hear her reply1 and he tried now to     
become reconciled to death4 ,he thought 
much in that brief space of time and    
resolved1 if his life was spared him1   
that he would try and put forth his     
protecting branches over the beds of    
flowers at his feet1 to protect them    
from the blazing sun1 and try to be more
 kind and friendly to all4 ,deeper and  
deeper struck the roots into the earth1 
till a new life-thrill shot through its 
veins4 ,was it death8  ,the oak raised  
its head4 ,the clouds were drifting to  

the south4 ,all was calm1 and the stars 
shone like friendly eyes in the heavens 
above him4  ,that oak would have surely 
died but for the tempest which passed   
over us1 said the gardener1 a few weeks 
later1 as he was showing his garden to a
 friend4  ,the gardener stood beneath   
the branches1 and saw with pleasure new 
leaves coming forth and the texture of  
the old ones already finer and softer4  
,it only needed a firmer hold on the    
earth4 ,the poor thing could not draw   
moisture enough from the ground before  
the storm shook its roots and embedded  
them deeper4 ,if ,i had known the       
philosophy of storms before1 ,i need not
 have lost the other oak4  ,here the old
 gardener sat beneath the branches of   
the oak1 and they seemed to rise and    
fall as if bestowing blessings on his   
head4 ,that spot became his favorite    
resting-place amid his labors for many  
years4 ,the oak lived to a good old age1
 and was the gardener's pride4 ,maidens 
gathered its leaves and wove garlands   

for their lovers4 ,children sported     
under its boughs4 ,it was blessed and   
happy in making others so4 ,it had      
learned the lesson of the storm1 and was
 often heard to say to the young oaks   
growing up about it1 ,sunshine and balmy
 breezes have their part in our growth1 
but they are not all that is needful for
 our true development4     ,,ix4        
,,truth ,,and ,,error4   ,amid the      
starry realms there lived an old        
philosopher1 a man deep in wisdom1 who  
had two daughters1 named ,truth and     
,error1 whom he sent to earth to perform
 a mission to its people2 and though he 
knew that their labors must be united1  
he could not explain to them why two so 
dissimilar should have to roam so many  
years on earth together4 ,well he knew  
that1 though ,truth would in the end be 
accepted by the people1 she must suffer 
greatly4 ,his life experience had taught
 him that she must go often unhonored   
and unloved1 while ,error1 her sister1  
would receive smiles1 gifts1 and welcome

 from the majority4 ,it was a sacrifice 
to part with his much-loved daughter    
,truth1 and a great grief to be obliged 
to send ,error with her4 ,he placed     
them1 with words of cheer and counsel1  
in the care of ,hyperion1 the father of 
the ,sun1 ,moon1 and ,dawn1 who         
accompanied them in his golden chariot  
to the clouds1 where he left the two in 
charge of ,zephyr1 who wafted them from 
their fleecy couch to the earth4  ,one  
bleak1 chilly day1 the two were walking 
over a dreary road dotted here and there
 with dwellings4 ,the most casual       
observer might have seen their striking 
dissimilarity1 both in dress and        
manners4 ,truth was clad in garments of 
the plainest material and finish1 while 
,error was decked in costly robes and   
jewels4 ,the step of the former was firm
 and slow1 while that of the latter was 
rapid and nervous4 ,the bleak winds     
penetrated their forms as they turned a 
sharp angle in the road1 when there was 
revealed to them1 on an eminence1 a     

costly and elegant building4  ,i shall  
certainly go in there for the night1 and
 escape these biting blasts1 said ,error
 to her sister4  ,although1 the house is
 large and grand1 answered ,truth1 it   
does not look as though its inmates were
 hospitable4 ,i prefer trying my luck in
 yonder cottage on the slope of that    
hill4  ,and perhaps have your walk for  
naught1 answered ,error1 who bade a     
hasty good-by to her sister and entered 
the enclosure1 which must have been     
beautiful in summer with its smooth     
lawns1 fine trees and beds and flowers4 
,she gave the bell a sharp ring1 and was
 summoned into an elegant drawing-room  
full of gaily dressed people4 ,error was
 neither timid nor bashful1 and she     
accepted the offered courtesies of the  
family as one would a right4 ,she seated
 herself and explained to them the      
object of her call1 dwelling largely on 
the grandeur of her elegant home amid   
the stars1 and tenderly and feelingly   
upon her relationship with the gods and 

goddesses1 and the numerous feasts which
 she had attended1 so that at her       
conclusion her hostess felt that herself
 and family were receiving rather than  
bestowing a favor4  ,the evening was    
spent amid games and pastimes till the  
hour for retiring1 when they conducted  
her to a warm and elegantly furnished   
room1 so comfortable that it made her   
long1 for a moment1 for her sister to   
share it with her2 for1 despite the     
difference in their natures1 ,error     
loved her sister4 ,the soft couch1      
however1 soon lulled her to sleep4 ,she1
 slumbered deeply1 and dreamed that     
,truth was walking all night1 cold and  
hungry1 when suddenly a lovely form came
 out of the clouds4 ,it was none other  
than ,astrea1 whom she had seen often in
 her starry home1 talking with ,truth4  
,she saw her fold a soft1 delicate      
garment about the cold form of her      
sister1 at the same time saying1 in     
reproving tones1 to herself1 ,this is   
not the only time you have left your    

sister alone in the cold and cared for  
yourself4 ,the sin of selfishness is    
great1 and the gods will succor the     
innocent and punish the offender4  ,she 
closed1 and was rising1 with ,truth in  
her arms1 to the skies1 when ,error gave
 such a loud shriek that ,astrea dropped
 her1 and a strong current of air took  
the goddess out of sight4 ,it was well  
for the earth1 which might have been    
forever in darkness1 that ,truth was    
dropped1 though hard for her4  ,error   
awoke from her dream1 which seemed more 
real than her elegant surroundings1 and 
resolved to go in search of ,truth when 
the morning came2 but a blinding storm  
of snow and sleet1 and the remonstrance 
of the family1 added to her own innate  
love of ease1 left ,truth uncared for by
 one whose duty it was to seek her4     
,the days glided into weeks1 and yet    
,error remained1 much to the wonder of  
the poorer neighbors around1 that ,mrs4 
,highbred should encourage and keep such
 a companion for her daughters4 ,they   

could see at a glance that ,error was   
superficial1 that she possessed no depth
 of thought or feeling2 and their wonder
 grew to deep surprise when they saw all
 the gentry for miles around giving     
parties in honor of her4 ,everywhere she
 was flattered and adored1 until she    
became1 if possible1 more vain and full 
of her own conceit4  ,you should see the
 feasts of the gods in our starry       
realms1 she would say1 as each one vied 
with a preceding festivity to outshine  
its splendor4  ,after ,error left her   
sister1 ,truth walked slowly and        
thoughtfully towards the cottage on the 
hill-side4 ,she went slowly up the path1
 which wound in summer by beds of roses1
 to the door1 and rapped gently4 ,it was
 opened by a fair and beautiful woman1  
who bade her walk in in tones which     
matched the kindness of her features4   
,the next moment ,truth felt her gentle 
hands removing her hood and cloak1 and  
felt that she was welcome4 ,a table     
covered with a snowy cloth stood in the 

centre of the room1 on which was an     
abundant supply of plain1 substantial   
food1 more attractive to a hungry       
traveler than more costly viands4 ,a    
chair was placed for her by the bright  
fire1 while the air of welcome entered  
her soul and drew tears from her deep1  
sad eyes4 ,it was so seldom she was thus
 entertained--so often that the manner  
of both high and low made the highway   
pleasanter than their habitations4 ,how 
often had she walked alone all night    
unsheltered1 while ,error1 her sister1  
reposed on beds of down6 ,the sharp     
contrast of their lives was the great   
mystery yet unrevealed4 ,it cost her    
many hours of deep and earnest thought4 
,it was so rare that any one gave her   
welcome that her gratitude took the form
 of silence4 ,for an instant the kind   
woman thought her lacking2 but when her 
grateful look upturned to hers1 as she  
bade her sit at the table and partake of
 the bounties1 all doubt of her         
gratitude departed4  ,truth slept       

soundly all night1 and arose much       
refreshed by her slumbers4 ,the storm of
 the day would not have detained her    
from continuing her journey2 but the    
warm and truthful appeal of the woman1  
who felt the need of such a soul as     
,truth possessed with whom to exchange  
thoughts1 induced her to remain that    
day1 and many others1 which slipped away
 so happily1 and revealed to her that   
rest as well as action is needful and   
right for every worker4  ,truth became a
 great favorite among the poorer classes
 of the neighborhood1 as she always was 
whenever they would receive and listen  
to her words2 and it was not long before
 people of thought1 rank1 and culture   
began to notice her and court her       
acquaintance4  ,mrs4 ,highbred1 hearing 
of her popularity1 concluded to give a  
party and invite her4  ,error had never 
spoken of the relationship between them 
until the day the invitations were sent4
 ,then1 knowing she could no longer     
conceal the past1 she availed herself of

 the first opportunity to communicate   
the same to her hostess4 ,great was the 
surprise of ,mrs4 ,highbred and her     
household to learn that the quiet       
stranger at the cottage was the sister  
of ,error4  ,my sister is very peculiar1
 and wholly unlike myself1 remarked     
,error to her hostess2 and ,i fear you  
will find her quite undemonstrative4    
,although it is my parent's wish that ,i
 should be with her1 you cannot imagine 
what a relief it has been to a nature   
like mine to mingle with those more     
congenial to my tastes1 even for a brief
 period4  ,it must be1 answered ,mrs4   
,highbred sympathizingly1 and ,error    
congratulated herself on having become  
installed in the good graces of so      
wealthy a person4  ,now1 she said to    
herself1 ,i need not go plodding about  
the world any longer4 ,truth can if she 
likes to2 and1 as she feels that she has
 such a mission to perform to the earth1
 she of course will not remain in any   
locality long4 ,but1 thanks to the gods1

 who1 ,i think1 favor me always1 ,i     
shall not be obliged to roam any longer4
 ,truth never did appreciate wealth or  
the value of fine surroundings4 ,she's  
cast in a rougher mold than ,i--  ,ma   
sends you this set of garnets1 and begs 
you will do her the favor to wear them  
on the night of the party1 said the     
bearer of a case of jewels1 as she laid 
them on the table1 and bounded out of   
the room before ,error could reply4     
,indeed1 her surprise was too great for 
words had the child remained4 ,i wonder 
what ,truth will say when she sees them1
 thought ,error1 as she glanced again   
and again at the sparkling gems4        
,nothing could be more striking than the
 contrast between ,truth and her sister1
 both in costume and manner1 as they    
stood apart from the company a moment to
 exchange a few words4  ,error was      
decked in a costly robe of satin of a   
lavender hue1 to contrast with her gems2
 while ,truth was arrayed in white1 with
 a wreath of ivy on her brow1 and the   

golden girdle around her waist which her
 father gave her at parting4 ,she wore  
no gems save an arrow of pearl which    
,astrea gave her when they parted at the
 gate of clouds1 kept by the goddesses  
named the ,seasons1 which opened to     
permit the passage of the celestials to 
earth and to receive them on their      
return4  ,the simple dress and manners  
of ,truth won the admiration of a few1  
while the majority paid tribute to      
,error1 who kept her admirers listening 
to her wonderful adventures amid the    
region of the stars4 ,truth spoke but   
seldom2 but what she uttered was food   
for thought1 instead of a constellation 
of merely dazzling words4  ,a careful   
observer might have seen that the elder 
members lingered1 attracted by her      
simple charms1 near ,truth1 as did also 
the youngest portion of the company1    
while youth and middle age could not    
divine her sphere of pure and earnest   
thought4 ,the few who sought her would  
gladly have continued the acquaintance1 

and they invited her to their dwellings2
 but on the morrow she would set forth  
on her journey1 feeling that she had    
implanted in the minds of a few the love
 of something beyond externals and mere 
materialisms4  ,her earthly mission was 
to traverse hill and plain throughout   
the land1 and sow seeds of righteousness
 which would spring up in blossoms of   
pearl long after her weary feet had     
traversed other lands and sown again in 
the rough places the finer seeds4  ,at  
early dawn ,truth went forth from the   
cottage and the kind woman who had      
sheltered her4 ,they had enjoyed much   
together in their mutual relation4      
,trust met trust1 hope clasped hope1 and
 each was stronger for the soul         
exchange4  ,when the sun rose in the    
heavens ,truth was on her way1 while    
,error1 tossed in feverish dreams upon  
her bed1 thought the ,sun was angry with
 her1 and was sending his fierce rays   
upon her head to censure or madden her4 
,but he was only trying to waken her and

 urge her to go on with her sister4 ,a  
sense of relief came when she opened her
 eyes and found it was1 after all1 only 
a dream4 ,yet the pleasure was brief2   
for a sharp pain shot through her       
temples1 her brow was feverish1 and her 
pulses throbbed wildly4 ,oh1 for the    
pure air and the cool1 refreshing grass6
 she cried4 ,oh1 better the highway with
 its friendly blossoms than this couch  
of down and this stifled atmosphere     
which ,i am breathing6 ,how she longed  
for ,truth then1 to cool her brow with  
the touch of her gentle hand4 ,come     
back1 oh1 come to me1 ,truth6 she cried1
 so hard that the whole household heard 
and came to her bedside4  ,she is ill   
and delirious6 they cried in one voice4 
,the family physician was summoned1 who 
pronounced the case fearful and her life
 fast ebbing4  ,for whom shall we send8 
said ,mrs4 ,highbred1 who was unused to 
scenes of distress and now longed to    
have her guest far from her dwelling4   
,for her sister ,truth1 said one4       

,truth--,truth1 said the physician4 ,is 
it possible8 and he gazed from one to   
another for revelation4  ,truth is her  
sister1 said one of the younger members1
 and added1 ,i think she is far better  
and prettier than ,error1--  ,far       
better1 far better1 continued the       
physician1 looking only at the child1   
and inwardly saying1 ,out of the mouths 
of babes and sucklings come words of    
wisdom4  ,i met her on the hill1--the   
one you call ,truth1 he said1 in answer 
to the searching look of ,mrs4          
,highbred1 who by manner and inquiry    
plainly manifested her desire to have an
 end of the unusual state of things4  ,i
 will go for her4 ,she will return with 
me1 continued the doctor1 and soon we   
will find some spot to which we can     
remove ,error4  ,a look of relief came  
over the face of the lady as he         
departed4  ,truth heard not the sound of
 the horses1 nor the rumbling of wheels 
as they approached1 so intent were her  
thoughts on separation from her sister  

and her own strange mission to earth2   
and she scarce sensed whither she was   
going1 when the kind man courteously    
lifted her into his carriage4 ,but when 
she stood by the fevered1 unconscious   
form of ,error1 a few moments later1 all
 her clearness of thought was at her    
command4  ,carry her to the cottage on  
the hill-side1 she said1 as she bound a 
cool bandage on her sister's brow4      
,they bore her there1 and1 as though in 
mercy1 a dark cloud shut off the sun's  
rays1 and their fierce glare was        
obscured during transit from the home of
 splendor to the humble cottage4  ,there
 for many weeks ,truth nursed her       
sister1 while the kind hostess and kind 
neighbors aided by words and deeds      
through the long night watches4  ,error 
arose from her illness somewhat wiser1  
and firmly fixed in her determination to
 follow ,truth and share her fate to    
their journey's end4  ,thus1 reader1    
shall we ever find them together while  
we dwell on earth1 and perchance in the 

regions above4 ,let us trust that they  
are wisely related2 and1 while we love1 
reverence1 and admire the purity of     
,truth1 let us seek also courteously to 
endure ,error as an opposing force1     
which1 though it may seem for a time to 
work our discomfort and hinder us in our
 progress1 yet gives us strength1 as the
 rower on the stream is made stronger by
 the counter currents and eddies with   
which he has to contend4     ,x4  ,,the 
,,tree4   ,a large shade-tree grew near 
a house1 and under its branches the     
children played every summer day4 ,it   
seemed to take great delight in their   
voices1 and shook its green boughs over 
their heads1 as though it would join in 
their sports and laughter4 ,but1 alas6  
one day it got a foolish idea into its  
head--it grew discontented1 and felt    
that its sphere of usefulness was too   
limited4  ,at that moment dark clouds   
gathered1 a fearful tempest arose1 and a
 strong current of wind1 soon set the   
giant tree swinging with such violence  

that it was torn from the earth and lay 
like a broken column on the ground4     
,now ,i shall be something3 ,i've got my
 roots out of the old earth4 ,bah6 such 
a heap of old black loam1 to be sure1 as
 ,i have been in6 ,i'll soon shake it   
off1 however1 and then the world will   
see that ,i can soar as well as other   
things4  ,there was a terrible quaking  
and noise as the old tree tried to rise 
from its recumbent position4 ,the sun's 
rays were fast parching its roots1      
causing sharp pains to shoot through its
 branches4  ,oh1 dear6 said the tree4 ,i
 hope ,i shall be able to get on my feet
 soon1 else people will be laughing at  
me for lying here so helpless4  ,the    
golden sun went down behind the hills4  
,its rays could not gild the top of its 
branches now1 and the tree missed the   
benediction of its parting rays4 ,a     
feeling akin to homesickness came over  
it1 and a longing1 as the dews of       
evening came1 to be once more rooted to 
the earth4  ,a wild wind sang a dirge   

all through the night1 and ceased not   
till day darted over the hills4 ,it was 
not very pleasant for the old tree to   
hear the children's regrets and words of
 grief as they came around it in the    
morning to play and sit as usual under  
its pleasant shade4 ,it had hoped to    
have been far away by dawn1 and thus    
have escaped the sound of their voices4 
,i'll wait till they are gone1 and then 
,i must be off1 said the tree softly4   
,papa will cut it all up into wood1 ,i  
know1 said the youngest of the group1 a 
bright1 three-year-old boy4  ,i am going
 to have a piece of one of the boughs to
 make a cane of1 said another4  ,and oh1
 dear me6 sighed little blue-eyed ,may4 
,i can't have any more autumn leaves to 
make pretty wreaths of for mamma4  ,poor
 old tree6 how it had mistaken its      
mission and its relation to the earth6  
,so it is with people who lament the    
position in which ,providence has placed
 them4 ,in vain the old tree tried to   
rise3 its branches withered1 its leaves 

dropped one by one away1 and rustled on 
the lawn4 ,it found1 to its sorrow1 that
 it was not made for the air1 and that  
the once despised earth from which it   
drew its nourishment was its true parent
 and source of life4  ,out of respect to
 its former protection and beauty1 its  
owner had its wood made into handsome   
ornaments and seats for the garden to   
keep its memory alive in the minds of   
the children4  ,when any of them repined
 in after years at the lot which ,god   
had assigned them1 the folly of the tree
 was alluded to1 and all restlessness   
was allayed4  ,over the spot where it   
stood a beautiful rustic basket made of 
its own wood was set1 from which bright 
flowers blossomed throughout the summer 
day4     ,,xi4  ,,the ,,two ,,ways4     
,two men were informed1 as they were    
listlessly standing and gazing into a   
dense forest one day1 that beyond it lay
 a fertile and beautiful valley1 reached
 only through the dark and close woods2 
but1 when reached1 it would repay them  

for all their efforts4  ,they started   
one morning1 entering the forest        
together1 and forced their way for a    
while through the tangled woods4 ,they  
held the branches for each other to     
pass1 and walked along in social        
converse4 ,soon one began to grow       
restless and impatient of the slow      
progress made4  ,i must get on faster   
than this1 he exclaimed1 and began to   
quicken his pace1 regardless of         
overhanging boughs and thorny branches1 
which pierced his flesh at every step4  
,he rushed forward1 leaving his         
companion2 and1 so intent did he become 
on reaching the valley with all possible
 speed1 that he no longer noticed the   
briers which pierced him or the         
underbrush which entangled and made his 
feet sore4 ,in a few days he reached the
 valley1 tired1 worn1 and bleeding from 
head to feet4  ,the laborers who were   
working in their gardens looked on him  
with pity1 and several1 at the command  
of a leader1 carried him to a house 7for

 he could no longer walk71 where he was 
cared for and nursed4  ,his companion1  
whom he had outrun1 took a better and   
wiser course4 ,finding the wood so      
dense1 he bethought himself of making a 
pathway as he journeyed4 ,it would take 
much longer1 but the comfort and good to
 others who might follow could not be   
told4 ,faithfully he labored1 cutting   
away the branches which impeded his     
progress1 and clearing the underbrush   
from the ground2 while each day1 in the 
valley beyond1 the wounded man wondered 
that he came not1 and concluded that he 
must have perished in the forest4  ,the 
days passed into weeks1 and yet no sign 
of his companion4 ,if he could only rise
 from his bed1 he would go in search of 
him2 but1 alas6 he was helpless1 lame1  
and sore in every joint4  ,at the close 
of a beautiful autumn day1 when the     
laborers had bound their sheaves and    
were going to their homes1 a traveler   
was seen coming with a firm step from   
the forest4 ,on his shoulder he carried 

the axe1 whose polished edge glittered  
strangely in the rays of the setting    
sun4 ,the laborers wondered why he was  
not torn and weary like the other4      
,thee must have had a better path than  
the one who came before thee1 said one  
of the group to the stranger4  ,i made a
 path1 was his only answer2 and then he 
glanced around the room1 as though he   
would find him with whom he started3 for
 the interest felt for any              
companionship1 however brief1 is not    
easily laid aside4  ,the laborers told  
him of his companion's inability to     
work1 and of his days of pain4  ,let me 
see him1 he said2 and they went with    
him4  ,the next day the traveler who had
 slowly journeyed1 and made a path for  
those who would come after1 was able to 
go to his labors2 while his companion   
was disabled for many days longer4      
,soon after1 many others came through   
the forest to the valley1 and their     
first remark was1 ,show us the traveler 
who made for us such a comfortable path2

 and1 seeing him1 they all blessed him  
in word and deed for his nobleness in   
making their way so easy for them4  ,but
 for that path1 said many to him1 ,i    
should never have come to this lovely   
valley4  ,there are two ways of         
journeying through life3 one1 like the  
first pilgrim1 who thought only of self 
and of speedily reaching the vale and   
the journey's end2 the other better and 
wiser one1 productive of greater good to
 all1 of making a path1 that all who    
come after us may be blessed by our     
labors4     ,,xii4  ,,the ,,urns4   ,in 
a peaceful valley there lived a number  
of people whose leader dwelt on the hill
 and guided the tillers of the soil1    
weaving into their lives many lessons of
 truth4 ,they were supplied with water  
from the mountain1 which was sent them  
every morning by a carrier4 ,it was the 
master's rule that each should have his 
urn clean1 that the fresh supply might  
not be mingled with the old4 ,for a time
 all were faithful3 as each day's supply

 was used the urn was made clean for the
 new4 ,but1 alas for human weakness6 so 
prone to fall from the line of          
duty--soon a murmur was heard among the 
people4  ,i have had no fresh water for 
days1 said one of the group standing    
idly by the roadside4  ,neither have ,i1
 said another4  ,it's no use for the    
master to expect us to labor1 remarked a
 third1 if we are not supplied with     
fresh water4 ,life is hard enough to    
bear with all we can have to help us1 he
 continued4 ,now there's our neighbor1  
,cheerful1 over the way--his urn is full
 of pure1 sparkling water each morning4 
,and why8 broke in a voice in tones of  
remonstrance4 ,the idlers looked at each
 other1 and then at the face of old     
,faithful1 who was just returning from  
his evening walk and had heard their    
words of complaint4  ,let me assure you1
 my neighbors1 he said mildly1 yet with 
force1 it's all your own fault that your
 urns are not filled4 ,you each know the
 master's command1 that they should be  

kept clean and ready for the fresh      
supply4 ,have you all been faithful to  
the command8  ,they thought among       
themselves1 and answered with but       
partial truth1 saying1 ,we may not      
always have had our urns clean1 but why 
should they be unfilled for that8       
,because the new water would be made    
unclean and useless by being mixed with 
the old1 as you each can see for        
yourselves4 ,our master loves all alike2
 but he cannot supply us with fresh     
waters and new life if we have not used 
the old and prepared for the new4  ,i   
suppose1 if we had them ever so clean   
now1 that the carrier would pass us by1 
remarked one of the group4  ,try1 and   
see1 said ,faithful4 ,we may always rest
 assured that if our part is done the   
master will do his2 for no one1 however 
kind and merciful1 can benefit us if we 
do not put ourselves in a state to be   
blessed4 ,if the master sends us fresh  
water each day1 and our urns are impure1
 is it the fault of the benefactor that 

they are so8 ,we must prepare to        
receive4  ,faithful went on his way4    
,the sun sank in its bed of fleecy      
clouds1 the evening dew fell on the     
earth1 and all was still4 ,the lesson   
must have penetrated the hearts of the  
listeners2 for on the morrow their urns1
 white and clean1 were full of sparkling
 water4  ,do we look into our hearts    
each day and see that the life from     
thence has gone forth for good and made 
ready for new1 or are we idly murmuring 
that we have no life-waters8 ,can the   
,father's life inflow if we do not give8
 ,our souls are sacred urns1 which ,he  
longs to fill to overflowing with pure  
and heavenly truths if we are willing to
 receive1 and faithful to extend1 his   
mercies4     ,,xiii4  ,,self-,,exertion4
   ,an aged man who had built for       
himself a house upon a high elevation of
 land1 and had labored many years1 yea1 
the most of his lifetime1 in conveying  
trees1 plants1 and flowers with which to
 decorate his grounds1 came one day in  

his descent upon a youth who sat by the 
roadside looking greatly dispirited4    
,hast thou no parents nor home8 inquired
 the kind man4  ,the youth shook his    
head1 and looked so lonely and sad that 
the heart of the questioner was touched1
 and he said1 ,come with me4  ,the boy  
looked pleased at the invitation1 and1  
springing to his feet1 stood by the     
stranger4  ,together they commenced the 
long and toilsome ascent2 but the feet  
of the youth were tender1 and ere long  
the aged man was obliged to carry him on
 his back to the very summit4  ,he set  
his burden down at the door of his      
pleasant home1 expecting to see an      
expression of wonder or pleasure on the 
boy's face2 but only a sensuous look of 
satisfaction at the comforts which the  
laborer had gathered about him was      
visible on his dull features4  ,i'll let
 him rest to-night1 said the kind man4  
,to-morrow he shall have his first      
lesson in weeding the beds and watering 
the flowers4  ,at dawn the old man      

arose1 dressed himself1 and went forth  
to view the sun as it rose over the     
hills2 while the youth slumbered on till
 nearly noon1 and when he arose         
manifested no life nor interest till the
 evening meal was over4 ,he partook     
largely of the bounties1 and seemed so  
full of animation that the old man took 
courage1 and smiles of satisfaction     
settled on his features2 for he thought 
he had found a helper for himself and   
wife4  ,the next day they called him at 
sunrise1 and after many efforts         
succeeded in arousing him from his      
sleep4 ,the aged couple went to their   
garden after the morning meal1 and      
awaited the appearance of the youth4  ,i
 sent him to gather ferns to plant      
beside these rocks3 he surely cannot be 
all this time gathering them1 remarked  
the woman4  ,the husband went to the    
edge of the wood whither she had sent   
him1 and found him lying upon the       
ground1 looking dreamingly at the skies4
  ,the good couple did not succeed in   

arousing him to a sense of any duty4 ,he
 was dead to labor1 and had no life to  
contribute to the scene around him4  ,i 
fear you have made a mistake1 said the  
wife of the good man when the shadows of
 evening came and they were alone4 ,i   
see the boy can never appreciate the    
toil of our years4 ,he must return and  
climb the mount for himself4 ,he has no 
appreciation of all this accumulation   
which we have been years in gaining1 nor
 can he have4 ,it is not in the order of
 life3 each must climb the summit       
himself4 ,a mistake lies in our taking  
any one in our arms and raising him to  
the mount4  ,i see it now1 said her     
husband1 who had1 like many people1 been
 more kind than wise1 and like many     
foolish parents who injure their        
offspring by giving them the result of  
their years of toil4  ,on the morrow1   
the youth was sent back4 ,a few years   
after1 the aged man saw him toiling up a
 steep hill1 seeking to make a home of  
his own4 ,it was a beautiful eminence1  

and overlooked the fields and woods for 
miles around4  ,he will know the worth  
and comfort of it1 said the old man to  
his companion4  ,toil and sacrifice will
 make it a sweet spot1 she answered2 and
 after the morning of labor will come   
the evening of rest4     ,,xiv4  ,,the  
,,vines4   ,they grew side by side4 ,the
 most casual observer would have said   
that one was far more beautiful than the
 other4 ,its height was not only        
greater1 but its foliage was brighter4  
,i should think1 remarked the vine of   
superior external appearance to the     
other1 that1 for the gardener's sake1   
you would try and make a better         
appearance4 ,i heard him remark this    
morning that he almost despaired of your
 ever bearing fruit1 or looking even    
presentable4 ,i am sure we each have the
 same soil to draw our nourishment from1
 and one hand to prune away our         
deformities4  ,i think ,i can defend    
myself to the satisfaction of both      
yourself and the gardener2 and if you   

will listen to me this evening1 as ,i   
cannot spare any of the moments of the  
day1 ,i will tell you what labor        
occupies so much of my time4  ,both     
myself and the gardener would be        
delighted to have an explanation2 for it
 has been a wonder to us both what you  
can be doing4 ,you certainly have not   
attained any height1 nor put forth      
foliage of any account for the past     
year4  ,the full-leaved vine spent the  
day fluttering her leaves in the wind   
and listening to the praise of          
passers-by4  ,what a difference in these
 vines6 exclaimed two gentlemen as they 
walked past the garden4  ,just what     
every one remarks1 said the good-looking
 vine to herself2 and1 raising her head 
very high in the air1 she put forth     
another shoot4 ,yet1 with all her       
fullness of conceit and vainglory1 she  
grew very impatient for the hour to     
arrive when her sister would be at      
leisure to talk with her4  ,at sunset1  
after the gardener had laid his tools   

away and closed the garden gates for the
 evening1 her sister announced to her   
that she was ready to explain her       
strange life for the past year4  ,if you
 can call anything 'life' which has no  
visible sign of growth or motion1 pertly
 remarked the gay vine4  ,her sister    
took no notice of the remark1 though it 
wounded her1 and some of her leaves     
fluttered and fell to the ground4 ,had  
her sister been more sensitive1 she     
could have seen her tremble in every    
limb1 though her voice was sweet and    
clear as she commenced1 saying1 ,i have 
been very busy the past year1 but in a  
direction which no one but myself could 
perceive4 ,knowing that we are subject  
to periods of drought1 ,i have been1 and
 ,i think wisely too1 occupying all my  
time in sending fibres into the earth in
 every direction4 ,i have already got   
one as far as the brook1 the other side 
of the wall4 ,i heard the gardener say  
it was never dry1 so ,i struck out in   
that direction1 and expect to bring     

forth fruit next year for all4  ,but    
could you not have put forth some       
leaves1 at least1 and made a more       
pleasing appearance8 inquired her       
sister4  ,no3 it took all my strength to
 strike into the earth4 ,i hope to see  
the time when no one will be ashamed of 
my appearance4  ,the vain vine grew     
quite thoughtful4 ,was she1 after all1  
ahead of her sister8 ,was a good        
external appearance the sure sign of    
merit8  ,these questions kept her busy  
for many days4 ,she reasoned them in her
 mind1 but did not act on the lesson    
they taught4 ,she1 too1 would like to   
have made preparation for seasons of    
drought1 but her pride stood in the way4
 ,she feared to lose her lovely foliage2
 and the month sped on4  ,another year  
came4 ,the earth was parched3 no rain   
fell on the dry plants and leaves4 ,the 
once lovely vine lost all her foliage1  
while her sister was full of leaves and 
promise of fruit4  ,i declare1 said the 
gardener1 it does seem strange4 ,i      

expected this vine had lost all its     
life2 yet it is now bright and vigorous1
 while the one ,i looked to for much    
fruit is fast fading4 ,what can be the  
reason8  ,later in the season1 the vine 
which had worked so long out of sight   
had the pleasure of seeing not only the 
table of its owner supplied with        
delicious fruits from its branches1 but 
also of hearing the gardener remark to  
visitors that the sick and feeble of the
 neighborhood were strengthened and     
refreshed by the cooling grapes which   
she had1 through so much exertion       
brought forth4  ,the other vine bore no 
fruit1 and had to be pruned severely2   
but pride stood no longer in the way of 
her progress4 ,she began to send forth  
her fibres into the earth1 as her sister
 had done4 ,it was hard at first for her
 to be obliged to listen to the praises 
of one whom she considered her inferior2
 but she at length attained that        
glorious height which enables us to     
rejoice when the earth has been made    

richer1 no matter by whom or by what    
means4     ,,xv4  ,,in ,,the ,,world4   
,a parent who loved his son more wisely 
than most earthly parents1 and who      
longed to see him crowned with the light
 of wisdom1 felt that he must send him  
afar from himself to gather immortal    
truth3 and his heart was moved with a   
deeper grief at the thought that he must
 send him forth alone1 and unprovided   
with means to procure his daily         
sustenance2 for only thus could he learn
 the lessons which were necessary for   
his soul's development4  ,the boy lay   
sleeping upon a soft white bed3 his     
hands were folded peacefully upon his   
breast4 ,hard was the task the father   
knew was his1--to break that sleep1 that
 slumber so profound1 and send his boy  
out into a cold and selfish world4 ,but1
 shaking off the tremor and the weakness
 of his soul1 he said1 ,arise1 my son3  
,i must send you forth upon a long and  
dangerous journey to gather truths to   
light your soul2 and you must go without

 the means to procure your bread and    
shelter4 ,it grieves my heart1 my son1  
that all this must be so2 but yet ,i    
know the journey must be taken1 and all 
its dangers and privations met4 ,my     
prayers and blessings will go with you1 
child1 through all your scenes4  ,the   
astonished son gazed on his father's    
face4 ,the parent turned and wept2 then1
 wiping away the fast-falling tears1 he 
said1 ,i do not wonder at your earnest1 
curious gaze1 you who have so long lived
 in the bosom of my love2 but there are 
lessons that must be learned by every   
human soul4 ,i cannot tell you what     
these lessons are3 they must be         
experienced1 else gladly would ,i spare 
you the toil1 and myself the pain of    
parting4  ,the boy looked sad as he     
thought of the perils and exposures to  
which he should be subjected1 without   
means to procure the least comfort4     
,the night shades fell on the earth4    
,only a glimmer of daylight tinged the  
sky when father and son parted1 the one 

for action1 the other to endure and wait
 his return4  ,the journey for many days
 lay over cheerless hills and barren    
plains2 and many a tear was brushed from
 that young cheek by the hand which his 
father had so warmly pressed at parting4
  ,at the close of a dark1 stormy day1  
weary and faint for food1 he was about  
to lie down on the damp grass1 overcome 
with weariness1 when he espied an       
elegant edifice a little way beyond4  ,i
 will travel on1 he said hopefully2 for 
surely1 in such a mansion1 ,i shall find
 protection and food for my famished    
body4  ,it took much longer to reach it 
than he expected2 but at last1 with torn
 and bleeding feet1 he came to the broad
 avenue which led to the dwelling4      
,what magnificence6 he exclaimed4 ,how  
glad ,i am that my father sent me hither
 to see such wondrous things6 ,with hope
 beaming in every feature1 he approached
 the door and knocked4  ,it was opened  
by one whose voice and face exhibited no
 sign of welcome4 ,he cast an impatient 

glance upon the traveler1 who shrank    
abashed and trembling from so rude a    
gaze4  ,can ,i find food and shelter    
here8 he asked1 his voice tremulous with
 emotion4  ,the door was shut upon him4 
,it was not the cold of the piercing    
storm which he felt then1 but the chill 
of an inhospitable soul4 ,it froze the  
warm current of hope that1 a few moments
 before1 had leaped so wildly in his    
veins2 and he went forth from the       
elegant mansion1 and sat upon the ground
 and wept4  ,o father6 why did you send 
your child so far away to meet the harsh
 and cruel treatment of the world when  
your home abounds with plenty8 said the 
weary child4  ,the shades of night were 
gathering fast4 ,the cold1 damp ground1 
which had been his only bed so many     
nights1 offered a poor protection now   
for his weary form4  ,i was contented   
there4 ,why did he send me hither8 was  
the questioning of his mind as he sat   
alone and sad4  ,as he was about to lay 
himself upon the ground1 he saw light   

glimmering through the trees1 just as   
the light of hope breaks on us at the   
moment of despair4  ,i would journey    
thither1 he said1 despondingly2 but rest
 and shelter were denied me here4 ,how  
can ,i hope to find it elsewhere8  ,but 
hope whispered to his weary heart2 and  
he arose1 and passed on4  ,it was a     
small1 humble dwelling1 but one in which
 dwelt loving hearts4  ,he turned       
involuntarily into the little path that 
wound by fragrant shrubs and flowers to 
its door1 and then checked himself1 as  
though he could not bear again a cold   
denial4 ,it were far easier to feel the 
blast and storm than again to hear      
unwelcome tones fall on his ears4       
,despite his feeble faith1 he walked to 
the door and gave a timid rap4  ,the    
door flew open wide1 as though the      
hinges were oiled with love2 and there  
stood before him a form all radiant with
 smiles of welcome4 ,she bade him enter2
 and the traveler1 already warm with her
 bright smiles and words of welcome1    

felt a glow pervade his whole being1--a 
feeling new and unfelt before2 for he   
had never1 before this absence from his 
father's house1 known a want or woe4    
,both food and shelter did the woman    
give unto him2 and1 when the morning sun
 came over the eastern hills1 another   
sun of joy and gratitude was shining    
over his hills of doubt4 ,and when the  
woman turned from his warm1 full thanks1
 and went about her daily tasks1 these  
words came with a new life and meaning  
to her mind3 ,as ye have done it to the 
least of these my brethren1 ye have done
 it unto me4  ,years rolled away4 ,the  
murmur of their deeds was like the      
distant rumbling of retreating clouds   
after a great storm4  ,the youth visited
 strange cities1 saw nations at war with
 each other1 and learned the conflict of
 the human soul1 and how it battles in  
the great life which threatens to bear  
it down each hour4 ,amid all this strife
 and selfishness of heart1 he found many
 that were loyal to ,god and ,truth4 ,he

 daily learned rich lessons which he    
would not have effaced for all the gold 
and pomp of earth4  ,the light of wisdom
 began to dawn4 ,this is the experience 
which my father saw ,i needed4 ,had he  
provided me with means with which to    
journey through the world1 how different
 would have been my life6 ,i then should
 have known no value of human love and  
kindness4 ,o my father6 ,i long to      
return to thee1 and love thee as ,i     
never could have loved thee before6  ,he
 sat weary1 but not sad1 by the roadside
 one day1 thinking of his father's love1
 when the sound of a traveler's approach
 was heard on the road4 ,he turned his  
eyes in its direction1 and saw one of   
his father's servants on a beautiful    
white horse4  ,your father bids you     
come1 were the welcome words that fell  
upon his ears4  ,take thy steed1 he     
said1 and journey quickly home3 he waits
 impatiently for your return4  ,fast    
over hill and dale he rode2 and when day
 passed from sight1 leaving a jeweled   

sky to mark its absence1 the long-absent
 son rode to his father's door1 and wept
 tears of joy upon his breast4          
,together they stood1 father and son1   
upon the ,mount of ,experience1         
overlooking all the scenes of life4     
,our heavenly ,father wakes us all from 
the slumber of infancy and helplessness1
 and sends us forth alone into the world
 to learn life's great lessons4 ,when we
 have learned them well1 he sends the   
pale messenger1 ,death1 to take us home4
 ,how blessed will be that reunion6     
,with the crown of wisdom on our heads1 
how sweet it will be to go no more out1 
but dwell with him forever6     ,,xvi4  
,,faith1 ,,hope1 ,,and ,,charity4   ,in 
one of the dark periods1 when shadows   
lay upon the earth1 a beautiful angel   
was sent to abide there and teach the   
doubting and weary of a ,father's love  
and care4  ,she found it a tedious task1
 and1 after many years of toil1 felt    
that she needed a helper4  ,if my sister
 were here1 she often said to the       

people1 she could aid you to greater    
efforts2 for1 while ,i seem to supply a 
needed element to your souls1 ,i only   
half succeed in meeting your wants4  ,if
 she is but half as good as yourself we 
will welcome her1 answered those to whom
 she spoke4  ,i will go for her1 said   
,faith1 one dark night1 after she had   
been trying to rouse the people to      
higher states1 with what seemed to her  
but little success4 ,faith was weary1   
and wept2 and1 when her tears flowed1   
her sister1 yet in the realms of peace1 
by a strange law of sympathy1 knew it1  
and ran to her father1 saying1 ,i1 too1 
must go to the earth2 for ,faith needs  
me4  ,her parent sat awhile in deep     
thought1 and ,hope waited impatiently   
for his answer1 which came spoken in a  
firm1 clear voice3 ,we have done ,faith 
a great wrong1 ,i fear1 in sending her  
alone where so much light and comfort is
 needed4 ,it was too much for her4 ,go1 
,hope1 and my blessing attend you4  ,she
 was overjoyed at receiving her father's

 permission to join her sister2 for1    
since ,faith had gone1 her beautiful    
home had seemed lonely4  ,faith sat all 
night with her eyes uplifted to heaven1 
and1 when the morning sun lit the       
hill-tops1 behold6 on its beams ,hope   
was descending to earth4  ,faith was not
 long in ascending the hill to meet her 
sister4 ,their meeting was full of joy4 
,if my eyes had not been lifted         
heavenward1 ,i should have missed you1  
,hope3 and you must have searched a long
 time for me2 for my journeys are far   
each day1 said ,faith to her sister4    
,keep your eyes ever uplifted1 answered 
,hope1 and you will see not only the    
brightness of the heavens1 but also the 
father's angels whom he chooses to send 
to your aid4  ,i will1 answered ,faith2 
and ever after her eyes were raised     
heavenward4  ,they descended to the     
valley1 hand in hand1 and reached it as 
the people were passing to their daily  
toils4  ,how light now seemed the labors
 of ,faith6 ,what a comfort it was to   

have ,hope by her when she walked along 
the dreary wayside2 and ,hope's bright  
words1 how they cheered the downhearted6
  ,i wonder your parents ever permitted 
you to come to the earth alone1 remarked
 an old and venerable woman to ,faith1  
as the latter was imparting to her some 
truths which lay almost beyond the grasp
 of mortals4  ,my father1 as well as    
myself1 had to learn that ,i needed     
,hope with me to make my work more      
perfect4 ,we must first feel our own    
inadequacy before our helpers can be    
fully appreciated4 ,i think she came in 
the right time1 said ,faith reverently4 
,no doubt1 replied the woman2 ,i have   
often heard you say that all our        
blessings come at the needful moment2   
but surely ,hope looks as though she    
could endure the rough clime1 and still 
rougher ways of our people1 better than 
yourself1 although ,i do not know what  
my life would have been without you4    
,that was why ,i was sent here4 ,i came 
to prepare the way for ,hope4 ,i was    

needed first2 and now1 with my sister's 
brighter element1 ,i expect to do a good
 work on the earth4  ,a blessed pair6   
exclaimed the woman1 as they left her   
home to go to others more dark and      
drear4  ,faith was summoned that night  
to the home of a widow whose only child 
was passing away2 for the clear1        
far-seeing eyes of ,faith could see the 
soul depart and take on its heavenly    
form4 ,it was a great comfort to the    
bereaved in hours like those to have her
 near4  ,i wonder how we lived without  
her1 were household words1 and words    
which she could hear without any        
semblance of vainglory2 for her soul was
 too deeply impressed with the magnitude
 of her mission to allow her to be      
elated or depressed by any remark that  
might be made4  ,faith's eyes followed  
the dying boy far into the realms of    
light4 ,she wiped the mother's tears    
away1 and disclosed to her sight the way
 the soul had fled1 while ,hope stood by
 to assure her that the parting was not 

forever4 ,the two tarried through the   
night with the mother1 and when friends 
came to bury the dead form she had      
learned that the grave is not the goal4 
,the sisters toiled together many years4
 ,they wove beautiful truths into the   
minds of the people1 till the once dark 
condition of earth seemed passing       
rapidly away4 ,people grew trustful1 and
 less gloomy3 yet1 with all the         
teachings of ,faith1 and the cheering   
words of ,hope1 they failed to exercise 
the right feelings at all times towards 
each other4  ,the sisters sat by the    
wayside one evening1 after a hard day's 
toil1 their eyes lifted to the stars1   
which seemed to look lovingly on them4  
,they sat without words1 while each     
possessed the same unspoken wish4 ,they 
both longed for their sister1 who at    
that moment was thinking earnestly of   
them4  ,faith glanced from the stars to 
the scarcely less brilliant eyes of     
,hope1 and a few tears fell over her    
face4 ,even ,hope sighed1 and almost    

wished herself back to her starry home  
with her father4  ,are you sorry1 ,hope1
 that you came to earth8 asked ,faith1  
tenderly4  ,no3 but ,i was thinking--   
,i know your thought3 it must be the    
same as my own1 said ,faith4  ,yes1 our 
sister-- ,hope ventured thus far4       
,charity come too4 ,faith finished the  
sentence4  ,just my wish1 said ,hope1   
rejoiced to find they had the same      
desire4  ,i see1 said ,faith1 that we   
are all needed here to make our work    
complete1 while the brilliant eyes of   
,hope spoke more than words4  ,i have   
felt for a long time1 answered ,hope1   
that another element1 softer1 sweeter1  
and finer than ours1 was needful for the
 people4  ,do you suppose that father   
would spare ,charity1 too8 asked ,hope  
of her sister4  ,i know he would1 if    
convinced that earth's people would     
receive her4  ,why1 ,faith1 you speak   
with such confidence6  ,because ,i know 
how good our father is1 as you do       
yourself1 ,hope4 ,if needed1 she will   

come1 said ,faith1 trustingly1 thinking 
of her own experience that lonely night4
  ,charity is so delicate1 said ,hope1 a
 little doubtfully1 ,i do not quite see 
how she could endure this cold clime4   
,she could not without our presence to  
sustain her1 answered ,faith4  ,but1    
with us to help her1 she could2 for we  
can all live wherever we are called to  
do the work of our father4  ,let us lift
 the voices of our souls1 said ,hope2   
and they offered a silent prayer for    
their sister4         99       99       
99       99       99  ,that night1 in   
his abode of peace and comfort1 the     
father walked to and fro2 for the voices
 of his children on the earth1 pleading 
for their sister1 had reached him4  ,it 
was not without a struggle that he      
called the only remaining child to his  
side to look upon her for the last time 
for many years4  ,it must be1 he said1  
and then will my sacrifice be perfect2  
and from perfect sacrifice must fullness
 of good come forth4 ,faith alone could 

not perfect the work2 ,hope's added     
brightness was not all that was needed4 
,charity must be added4 ,and he drew the
 fair1 frail form to his side1 and told 
her to go for her mantle4  ,he enveloped
 her slight figure in the spotless      
garment1 and1 placing her in the care of
 ,zephyr1 the gentle west wind1 who was 
always faithful to her charges1 bade her
 depart1 with his prayers and blessings4
  ,zephyr was very tender of her charge1
 and1 after what seemed a long journey  
to ,charity1 she laid her on a soft bed 
of moss in a pleasant woodland1 where   
her sisters were gathering flowers4     
,she might have lain there some time had
 not ,faith's eyes discovered her coming
 through the clouds4  ,full and joyous  
was the meeting of the three2 and when  
the sun went to rest they sought shelter
 among the people4  ,with the uplifted  
eyes of ,faith1 the clear1 soul-speaking
 face of ,hope1 and the tender1         
forgiving words of ,charity1 their      
united force was great4  ,some of the   

people at first refused to admit the    
last comer into their dwellings4        
,faith1 with her lovely eyes1 and ,hope1
 with her bright ways1 are good enough1 
they said2 and why need they bring this 
pale1 fragile one to earth8  ,but when  
once she had spoken1 either in council  
or rebuke1 to her listeners1 there was  
melody and richness in her tones3 such  
an awakening of their souls' finer      
powers that they ever after bade her    
welcome4  ,her strength lay in her      
gentleness4 ,she always went when called
 for1 but never obtruded herself on     
others4 ,very often her sisters were    
invited to the feast of the people      
without her4 ,it took time for her      
quality to be known3 she was so still   
and silent4 ,her step1 too1 was         
noiseless1 and her delicate feet left no
 prints where she trod4  ,before she    
grew into favor with the people they    
used to watch for her footprints to see 
whose guest she had been2 but they found
 no traces1 and learned to entertain her

 after a long time for the lovely       
qualities which she possessed4  ,they   
walk the earth now1 each loved and      
entertained by many1 while some sit in  
the shadows1 and know not that earth has
 the angels of ,faith1 ,hope1 and       
,charity to bless them4     ,,xvii4     
,,going ,,forth4   ,a wise parent sent  
his children to a distant country to    
learn the lessons of life which         
experience alone can teach4 ,before     
their departure he called them to him1  
and1 after providing them liberally with
 means1 told them that at their return  
he would listen to their several        
experiences2 at the same time telling   
them to use the means which he had given
 them well--neither to hoard1 nor spend 
them unwisely2 above all1 not to bring  
them back in their original form1 but a 
full equivalent therefore1 either in    
spiritual or material things4  ,a year  
had scarcely passed1 when1 as the father
 sat looking at the western sky1 the    
youngest son came running breathlessly  

up the path4  ,so soon returned8 asked  
his father--which caused a look of      
disappointment to pass over the face of 
the youth2 and his words were shaded    
with regret as he replied1 ,i thought   
you would be glad to see me1 and would  
rejoice that ,i got through so quickly4 
,not so1 my son1 replied the father4    
,you cannot1 in the brief time you have 
been absent1 have performed many1 if    
any1 deeds of goodness compared with    
what you might have done by tarrying    
longer2 and your gold--you surely cannot
 have used it all in so brief a period4 
,why1 ,i've brought all the money back  
you gave me1 father4 ,you see1 ,i got   
through without its costing me a penny4 
,it grieves me more than all1 my son1   
that you should go through any country  
and return no equivalent for deeds and  
kindness given4 ,rest awhile1 and in a  
few days return to the land and the     
people ,i sent you among1 and come not  
back again to me till every farthing is 
wisely spent4  ,the youth murmured      

within himself1 but dared not reply4 ,a 
few days later he departed1 to go over  
the same ground and do the work he had  
neglected for the sake of a speedy      
return4  ,at the end of the second year 
another returned1 looking sad and       
dispirited4  ,thou hast soon returned1  
my son1 said the father4 ,is thy work   
done in so brief a period8  ,the youth  
hung his head1 and answered slowly1 ,i  
was so weary1 father4 ,i saw so much    
sorrow among those people1 ,i longed to 
come home where all is rest and peace4  
,surely1 ,i was right in that1 was ,i   
not8  ,far from it1 my child4 ,if there 
was much sorrow there1 that was the very
 reason why you should have remained4   
,dost thou not remember those lines ,i  
have so often quoted1--  ',rest is not  
quitting the busy career3 ,rest is the  
fitting of self to one's sphere'8  ,i   
remember them well1 father1 the youth   
replied2 but ,i never felt their meaning
 until now4  ,and if you sense it now1  
my son1 what is your duty8  ,to return1 

,i suppose4  ,but how--cheerfully or    
otherwise8  ,gladly and willingly1 said 
the son1 born from the old to the higher
 self4  ,i will provide you with more   
means1 remarked his father1 while a     
feeling of joy thrilled his being at the
 thought that his son was going to give 
his life to human needs4  ,they parted  
on the morrow1 though that separation   
was the nearest approach of their lives2
 for they were united by a truth which  
is ever the essence of a divine union4  
,many years passed by4 ,the hair of the 
father grew whiter1 and his ears longed 
to hear the voices of his sons1 yet he  
would not call1 in word or feeling1 so  
long as the busy throng was receiving or
 giving them life4  ,one evening1 when  
his thoughts were taking a somewhat     
pensive turn1 a messenger came to his   
door with a letter from the long-absent 
and eldest1 who had not returned to his 
home since the day of his departure4    
,its words were these3--  ,dear         
,father1--,i cannot come to the home ,i 

love so well1 nor to your side1 while   
this land is so full of need of human   
words and deeds4 ,with your blessing ,i 
shall remain here my lifetime2 and when 
age comes on1 and ,i can no longer serve
 the people1 may ,i return8  ,the tears 
fell over the good man's face4 ,god had 
blessed him greatly in bestowing on him 
so worthy a son2 and he penned warm and 
glowing words of encouragement to his   
child1 and sent by the messenger1 with  
gold to alleviate the wants of the      
needy4  ,tell him a thousand blessings  
await him when his work is done1 said he
 to the messenger as the latter mounted 
his horse to ride away4  ,long after1   
when the father grew old and helpless1  
the sons returned laden with rich       
experiences and abundantly able to care 
for him4  ,they had learned the great   
and valuable lesson that all must learn 
ere they truly live1--that we must give 
to receive1 sow if we would reap1 and   
lose our life to find it4     ,,xviii4  
,,the ,,feast4   ,there was once a      

husbandman who had laborers in a valley1
 clearing it of stones and brush1 that  
it might become fit for culture4 ,he    
resided near1 on a fine hill1 where he  
raised rare fruits and flowers of every 
variety4 ,the view from the hill-top was
 extensive and grand beyond description1
 and it was the kind owner's desire that
 each day the laborers should ascend and
 be refreshed by whatever he had to     
offer them1 beside catching the         
inspiration of the lovely and extensive 
landscape4 ,some days he had not much to
 offer them2 at other times1 the repast 
would be sumptuous and most tempting3 so
 those who went each day were sure of   
receiving in their season the delicious 
fruits which ripened at different       
periods4  ,there had been a succession  
of days in which there was nothing but  
dry food on the hill1 with none of the  
luscious fruits which invigorate and    
refresh2 for they had been slow in      
ripening1 and the kind husbandman would 
not gather them before they were mellow 

and fit to spread before his laborers4  
,i am not going to climb the hill to-day
 for a few crumbs1 said one dissatisfied
 toiler1 as he sat by the roadside at   
noon-day1 looking very unhappy4  ,nor   
,i6 ,nor ,i6 added a second and a third1
 until there was quite a chorus of the  
dissatisfied4  ,the remainder went up as
 usual4 ,a most tempting repast was     
before them1 of fruits and cake and     
refreshing wines1 while the table was   
decked with rare and fragrant flowers4  
,how glad was the good man to spread the
 bounties before them6 for well he knew 
of the murmurs which had gone out of    
their hearts for a few days past4 ,are  
they not all here8 he asked of those who
 had ascended the hill1 while a look of 
disappointment came over his face4  ,oh6
 let us go down and tell them what a    
nice feast is waiting1 said one of the  
group1 as he gazed on the well-filled   
table4  ,nay1 not so1 answered the      
husbandman1 in a gentle but commanding  
tone4 ,my people should have faith in   

me1 and know that ,i spread for them all
 ,i can each day4 ,my power1 even like  
that of the ,infinite1 is limited by    
conditions4 ,it is not my pleasure ever 
to have them go unrefreshed2 but how    
much better for them1 could they be     
content with whatever comes each day1   
though sometimes meager4 ,how it cheers 
me to see those who have come in good   
courage and faith1 not knowing that the 
feast was here4 ,eat and give thanks1 he
 said2 while a band played some lively  
airs4         99       99       99      
99       99  ,shall we refuse to ascend 
each day the mount whereon dwells our   
,father8 ,shall we1 because some days no
 feast awaits us1 linger in the valley  
of doubt1 and lose the bounties which   
his hand at other times has ready for   
us8 ,no3 the faithful and believing will
 go up to the mount each day1 and take  
without murmur the morsel1 or the fruits
 with thanksgiving4     ,,xix4  ,,the   
,,lesson ,,of ,,the ,,stone4   ,it was  
with feelings of satisfaction and pride 

that a builder looked upon a large and  
costly edifice which1 after much        
exertion1 was just completed4 ,long had 
the workmen toiled to place one stone   
upon another4 ,many hours of thought had
 the designer spent in perfecting its   
proportions1 and a deep sense of relief 
came over him as he saw the last stone  
deposited on the summit of the          
structure4 ,yet it was only to be       
followed by one of pain2 for1 as he     
walked one evening to enjoy the         
beautiful symmetry of his building1 he  
heard words of contention and strife    
among the various stones of which it was
 composed4  ,just look at my superior   
finish1 said one of the top pieces to   
those beneath it4 ,you are only plain   
pieces of granite1 while ,i am polished1
 elegantly carved1 and the admiration of
 all eyes4 ,do ,i not see all the       
people1 as they pass by1 look up at me8 
,not so fast1 replied one of the        
foundation stones4 ,a little less pride 
would become you2 for do you not see    

that1 but for us below1 you could not be
 so high8 ,and it matters very little1  
it strikes me1 what part of the building
 we are placed in1 if we but remain firm
 and peaceful4  ,the words of the wise  
stone pleased the owner so much that he 
resolved to remove a little of the      
vanity of the top one1 and lay awake a  
long time that night1 thinking of some  
plan by which to effect his purpose4    
,the elements1 however1 spared him any  
effort on his part1 for the next day a  
terrible hail-storm swept over the land1
 and its hard stones defaced all the    
ornaments which had led the lofty one to
 boast so loudly of its superiority4    
,oh1 dear6 oh1 dear6 moaned the vain    
piece of granite4 ,how ,i wish ,i had   
been taken for a foundation stone1      
instead of being here to have all my    
beauty destroyed by this awful storm6   
,i'd much rather have been in the middle
 of the building than up here1 where all
 the force of the storm is spent on my  
head4  ,the stone at the foundation     

could not help smiling1 though he really
 pitied the vain thing above him4 ,it   
will teach her wisdom1 he said to       
himself2 and she may learn that none in 
life are lowly if they bear their part1 
and that a lofty position is far more   
dangerous than a humble one4  ,there was
 a fearful crash in the air at that     
instant4 ,the foundation stone thought  
the building was coming down4 ,something
 struck him1 which he recognized as a   
part of the top stone2 for he had seen  
the workmen cutting and smoothing it day
 after day for many weeks prior to its  
elevation4 ,now she could boast no more 
of superior finish or position4  ,the   
following day1 the remaining shattered  
portion was removed and left by the     
roadside1 where it could see another    
prepared to take its place4  ,i thought 
that stone was a little weak when we    
raised it1 said one of the workmen as it
 was placed aside4  ,it lay by the      
roadside until it grew to be humble and 
glad to be of any use1--even delighted  

when one day the owner of the building  
took it to finish a wall which was being
 built around some pasture land4  ,here 
,i can be of use1 she said1 as the      
workmen deposited it on a sunny corner  
as the place it was to occupy4 ,it was  
glad to be there and find itself useful 
and at rest2 for it had been obliged to 
listen to the remarks of the passers-by 
each day1 and to endure their comments  
on its misfortune4  ,i suppose ,i shall 
never know any other life but this2 so  
now1 being firmly set1 ,i can sleep a   
little3 for the stone was sadly in need 
of rest4  ,after what seemed to be a    
long period of repose1 the stone awoke1 
with new pulsations and finer emotions  
thrilling within it4 ,the sound of      
children's voices were heard in the air4
 ,how sweet and life-giving they were6  
far more pleasant than the words of     
admiration which men uttered when she   
was on the building's top4 ,a new joy   
was hers also1 for soft hands were      
caressing her4 ,beautiful mosses had    

grown on her surface1 and delighted     
children were gathering them4  ,useful  
and beautiful too6 and the stone was    
silent with happiness4 ,she hoped the   
children would come again2 and they did1
 bringing others with them4  ,i wonder  
how this beautiful moss grew on me1 she 
said one day to herself--at least she   
thought no one heard her4 ,but an older 
stone beside her replied1 ,by being     
perfectly quiet we become covered with  
this lovely moss1 firmer than grasses of
 any lawn4  ,the once vain stone grew to
 be perfectly contented1 and never      
longed for her former position4 ,when   
the storms came1 it knew it was close to
 the earth4 ,it had no fearful height to
 be pulled from1 and the beautiful      
lichens which grew upon its surface were
 far more ornamental than its former    
carved and elegant adornings4     ,,xx4 
,,the ,,seeds4   ,they lay side by side 
one morning1 while the gardener was     
preparing the ground in which to plant  
them and many other varieties4  ,just   

think1 said the more talkative one of   
the two1 how sad it is that we are going
 to be put in that dismal ground6 ,i    
shall not allow myself to be buried out 
of sight this lovely morning4  ,but1    
answered the more quiet seed by her     
side1 it is only for a brief period that
 we shall lie there1 and then we shall  
be far more beautiful4  ,what care ,i   
for beauty for others to look at8 ,i    
want my freedom1 and intend to have it1 
too4 ,the wind is my friend1 and ,i     
shall ask her to waft me over to those  
lovely hills1 where ,i can see something
 of the world4  ,i think it would be    
wiser to remain where we are1 and let   
the gardener care for us3 he must know  
what is for our good1 remarked the      
gentle seed4  ,you are too prosy by far4
 ,i think our own feelings tell us what 
we need4 ,so good-by1 exclaimed the     
self-reliant seed1 as she motioned to   
the wind to bear her away4  ,she thought
 her breath was leaving her1 as she was 
borne through the air1 and wished she   

were back in the garden4 ,but when she  
found herself on the warm hill-side she 
felt reassured1 and nestled herself amid
 the soft grass1 whose waving motion    
soon lulled her to sleep4  ,now the two 
seeds which the gardener had laid on the
 ground were of a very choice and rare  
kind2 and he felt very sad that the wind
 should have blown one away4 ,he took   
the remaining one and laid it carefully 
in the ground1 with many hopes that it  
would spring up and bear rich blossoms1 
which would yield more seed4 ,that night
 a cold wind came on2 but the little    
seed in the warm bed did not feel it at 
all1 while her absent sister shook all  
night with the cold4  ,after what seemed
 a long time to the seed in the ground1 
something like a new life came over her4
 ,there was a deeper pulsation through  
her being1 and a strong desire to shoot 
upward to the light and air4 ,this      
feeling deepened every hour4  ,at this  
rate ,i shall soon be in the air1 where 
,i can see all that is going on about   

me1 she said joyfully4 ,then she felt   
very quiet1 and fell asleep4 ,when she  
awoke she saw the gardener bending over 
her with a joyful face4 ,when did this  
happen8 ,how came ,i up here in the warm
 sunlight8 the seed exclaimed to him4   
,because the wind did not bear you away1
 and ,i could put you in the ground1 is 
the reason why you are here4 ,first out 
of sight1 then to the light1 my little  
seed6 ,but1 he said sorrowfully1 ,i wish
 we had the other one1 for your kind is 
rare4  ,the plant then told the gardener
 that her sister purposely went away1 at
 which he wondered that she had power of
 motion until she became a plant4  ,oh1 
she asked the wind to carry her1        
answered the fresh-growing plant4  ,if  
,i knew where she had gone ,i'd search  
for her1 and bring her back4  ,she asked
 the wind to take her to yonder         
hill-side1 said the plant1 hoping1 oh1  
so much6 that he would go and find the  
seed1 and plant it beside her1 that she1
 too1 might have the pleasure of        

becoming a plant as beautiful as        
herself4  ,the gardener went towards the
 hills2 but the seed saw him1 and begged
 the south wind to bear her away4 ,and  
she took her on her wing and wafted her 
many miles from home4  ,the gardener    
searched a long time1 and was obliged to
 return without her4 ,so he took extra  
care of the plant1 and it grew to be the
 pride of the garden2 while the seed    
that had her own way was roaming over   
the world4 ,the truant one soon lost all
 her influence over the winds1 who      
finally refused to carry about a        
good-for-nothing seed while they had so 
much needful work to perform4 ,a cold   
northern blast was the last one she     
could persuade to bear her1 and he      
dropped her on a rock1 where she at last
 perished from exposure to the rain and 
cold4  ,the day before her death1 a     
company of people passed by her1 bearing
 in their hands some rare and fragrant  
blossoms1 to which she felt a strange   
attraction4 ,this gave place to a deep  

thrill of sorrow as she heard them      
describe the lovely plant which grew in 
a beautiful garden1 and which by their  
description she knew was her own home1  
which she in her folly had left4  ,had  
,i but accepted the conditions of       
growth1 ,i too might have been a lovely 
plant1 giving and receiving pleasure1   
she said1 after the people had passed   
on4 ,but now1 alas6 and her breath grew 
quick and short1 if ,i had only some one
 to profit by my last words1 telling of 
my life of folly1 ,i might not have     
lived wholly in vain4 ,but there was    
nothing about her which she could       
discern save a tuft of moss upon the    
cold1 hard rock which must now be her   
death-bed4  ,but behind the rock1 on the
 south side1 there was growing a family 
of wild daisies1 who were going to      
migrate to a warmer part of the country 
to plant their seeds before the winter  
came on4 ,this was one of the conditions
 which ,providence ever has around the  
most seemingly deserted and desolate1   

that her words might not only profit    
them1 but that they could convey the    
benefit of them to all wayward seeds who
 were unwilling to accept the natural   
conditions of growth4 ,and thus the     
seed1 though dying with its mission     
unfulfilled1 did not live wholly in     
vain2 for its wasted life saved others  
from a similar fate4     ,,xxi4  ,,only 
,,gold4   ,a parent sent his children   
forth one day into a fertile land to    
gather fruits1 flowers1 and whatever was
 beautiful to adorn their homes4 ,they  
wandered till nightfall1 gathering their
 treasures1 while their joyous laughter 
filled the air1 and made music to the   
listening laborers in the fields4  ,just
 as the shadows of evening came on they 
approached an open field3 it was barren 
of verdure1 but the ground was covered  
with golden stones1 which glittered     
strangely in the setting sun4 ,they     
gathered as many as they could with     
their other treasures1 and then all but 
one of the group began to prepare for   

home1 while he lingered1 eager to gather
 the shining pebbles4  ,we must return1 
they all said in chorus to him4 ,they   
disliked to leave without him2 but      
darkness was fast coming on1 and they   
must obey their parents' command and    
return before the shades of evening had 
covered the earth4 ,one voice after     
another died away on the air as they    
pleaded vainly for him to go with them1 
but he heeded them not3 the golden      
stones were far more precious in his    
eyes than kindred1 home1 or friends2 and
 they departed sorrowfully without him1 
while he remained and added stone to    
stone1 till he was obliged at last1 from
 exhaustion1 to lie down on the damp    
ground4  ,it was not like his warm bed  
in his pleasant home2 and he missed the 
cheerful voices of his brothers1 and    
more than all his parents' fond         
goodnight1 after the evening prayer4 ,he
 slept2 but his dreams were wild and    
feverish1 and there was no atmosphere of
 love about him to soothe the weary     

brain4  ,the next day at noon his       
parents sent a messenger to him1 bidding
 him return4 ,but the love of his golden
 stones was paramount to the wishes of  
kindred1 and the unnumbered comforts of 
a happy home2 and his reply to the      
messenger was1 ,i will return1 when ,i  
have enough of these1 pointing to a     
large collection which was already      
higher than his head4 ,at nightfall     
hunger seized him4 ,he felt too weary to
 go in search of food1 but the demand of
 nature asserted its claim1 and he      
dragged himself to a field near by1     
where grew berries and fruits in        
abundance4 ,his spirits rose after the  
cravings of hunger were satisfied1 and  
he lay down again by his precious pile  
of stones4  ,the days glided into weeks1
 and still he fed upon the berries and  
gathered the golden pebbles4 ,his father
 had ceased to send messengers to him1  
knowing that nothing but a long         
experience would teach his child the    
value of life's many blessings1 and that

 gold alone has no power to bless us4   
,the father suffered much in knowing and
 realizing that his son must learn the  
truths of life through such severe      
lessons2 but wisdom told him it could   
not be otherwise4  ,the chill air of    
autumn came1 and no longer could the    
fruits and berries ripen for him4 ,he   
saw some laborers one day in a field    
near by1 eating their meal which they   
had brought from their homes4 ,oh2 what 
would he not now give for some of their 
meat and bread6 ,i will go to them1 he  
said1 and offer some of my golden stores
 in exchange for just a few morsels4    
,he did so2 and they only smiled at his 
offer1 saying1 ,what would then refresh 
and fit us for the rest of our day's    
labor8 ,surely your gold would not4     
,but it would help you to buy more1 he  
replied4  ,yes1 to-morrow3 but we cannot
 spare a morsel to-day1 for we need all 
our supply to strengthen us for our     
work4  ,he turned away in deep thought4 
,was he not losing all of life's joys   

and comforts in living thus alone only  
to amass such quantities of gold8 ,but  
as he looked again on the shining       
treasures his ambition arose with       
increased power2 and he forgot1 for a   
time1 his hunger in his toil4 ,then a   
new thought came to him4 ,now that the  
fruits are gone ,i can go to the forest 
and gather nuts4 ,they will be better   
food1 too1 for these chilly autumn days4
 ,surely ,i am provided for1 at least   
till winter1 and he left his labor and  
repaired to the woods1 where he feasted 
and gathered enough for many days4  ,the
 household mourned much for their absent
 brother4 ,they missed him in their     
daily joys1 and every hour they watched1
 waited1 and hoped to see him return4   
,they almost rejoiced when the bleak    
winds of autumn swept the foliage from  
the trees1 because they could look      
farther down the road for their brother4
  ,i shall soon be able to travel and   
see the world1 said the youth to himself
 every day as the pile of gold grew     

higher2 but1 alas for human calculation6
 he awoke one morning to find his huge  
mountain of gold one solid mass4 ,the   
action of the light1 heat1 and          
atmosphere had fused them together1 and 
no exertion of his could break off even 
the smallest atom4  ,must he return with
 not even one golden pebble8 for he had 
gathered them all--not one was in sight1
 no more were to be found4  ,his golden 
dream of travel was over1 and1 worse1   
the freshness and buoyancy of youth had 
departed4 ,his limbs1 alas6 were stiff  
and sore4 ,he had a mountain of gold1   
not one atom of which he could use for  
himself or others4 ,and now he must     
return to his father's house            
empty-handed1 and void of truths or     
incidents to relate to his brothers4    
,but some kind angel led him home1 where
 his blessings were yet in store1       
awaiting his return4 ,one evening when  
the shadows crept over the earth1 he    
walked up the well-known path4 ,the     
brothers had long before ceased to watch

 for his coming2 and great was their    
surprise to see him again among them1   
although not the brother of that happy1 
sunny day of long ago4 ,he told them    
sadly of the result of his long toil1   
while they related to him the good      
results of their few golden pebbles1    
which they brought home1 and with which 
their father had purchased land1 which  
was now yielding them rich returns1     
aside from the health and pleasure which
 they derived from its culture1 the     
labor of which they performed with their
 own hands4 ,health1 wealth1 and        
happiness combined1 he murmured sadly1  
as he felt keenly that his youth and    
opportunities had departed4  ,are there 
not too many who seek for gold alone1   
forgetting the joys which it purchases1 
and forgetting that its possession alone
 has no value8 ,rightly acquired and    
used it alleviates and mediates1 but    
gathered and amassed for itself only it 
is but a mountain of shining ore1       
valueless and unsatisfying to its       

possessor4  ,fool that ,i have been thus
 to waste my time and strength6 said the
 long-absent son that night as his      
father bade him welcome4  ,if wisdom is 
purchased by the experience1 it matters 
not how great the price1 answered his   
parent4  ,but ,i have lost my youth and 
my strength1 responded the son4  ,which 
loss will be compensated by more thought
 and greater ability to labor mentally1 
said his parent consolingly4  ,in after 
years the youth who had wasted his      
bodily strength became a worker in words
 of cheer and hope to others1 and hence 
he had not wholly lived in vain4 ,he    
learned to love the angel ,truth so well
 that she came to his side each day1 and
 gave him sweet counsel and many lessons
 for mankind4  ,but he had purchased the
 light at a cost which few can afford to
 give4     ,,xxii4  ,,the ,,sacrifice4  
,a large party of travelers on their way
 to a distant country were obliged to   
pass through a dense forest to reach it4
 ,their leader went forward1 and1 seeing

 the darkness of the dense woods1 was   
convinced of the impossibility of his   
people going through it1 without the aid
 of a light to guide them4 ,he sat      
beside the mossy stones at the entrance1
 trying to devise some means by which to
 light up the darkness4 ,there seemed   
but one way1 and that almost hopeless1  
as it involved a sacrifice of life1 and 
he knew too well the nature of the trees
 to expect any of them to give          
themselves up for his travelers4 ,how   
could he ask it1 as he stepped into the 
deep wood1 and looked on their grand    
proportions and rich foliage8 ,his was  
no enviable position to entreat them to 
give up the existence which must be dear
 to themselves1--to pass from the known 
to the unknown life4  ,vainly he tried  
to think of another way to accomplish   
his purpose4 ,none presented itself2 so 
with glowing words he appealed to their 
nobler selves1 telling them all the     
great need of the travelers who were    
obliged to pass that way4 ,first he     

appealed to a fine birch which bordered 
the forest4  ,not ,i1 indeed6 answered  
the tree4 ,do you think ,i would give my
 life to light a few people through this
 woodland8 ,i prefer to live a few years
 longer4  ,he next addressed a walnut4  
,she shook a few leaves from her        
branches1 and made a similar reply1     
preferring to live in her own form1 and 
amid her sister trees1 to going she knew
 not whither4  ,are there none here1 he 
continued1 who are willing to sacrifice 
their lives for the needs of others8    
,he looked around the forest in vain3   
all were silent1 and he was about to    
return to the people1 when a large and  
stately oak spoke in clear and ringing  
tones1 saying1 ,i will give my body that
 the travelers may have light4  ,what6  
that grand old body of yours1 that has  
been so many years growing and maturing 
to its present stately and fair         
proportions6 exclaimed several of the   
trees4  ,you are not only rash1 but     
foolish1 remarked a small fir growing by

 its side4  ,beside taking away the     
pride of our grand old forest1 said a   
delicate birch1 that had always admired 
the oak4  ,just throwing your life away1
 broke in a tall and rather sickly pine4
  ,when will you be ready for me8 asked 
the oak of the leader1 who had stood    
admiring its beautiful proportions1 and 
sorrowing within himself that it must be
 so4  ,at the close of the next day the 
travelers came to the edge of the       
forest1 and tarried while their leader  
lit the fire at the roots of the oak4   
,now the flames went upward and flashed 
in the darkness2 for it was evening1 and
 not a star was visible4 ,the flames    
rose upward and touched not even the    
bark of another tree1 but wound closely 
around the oak1 as though it knew its   
work and that the light of that tree    
only was needed to pass the travelers   
through in safety4 ,it touched their    
hearts to thus witness that the life of 
the noble oak must be sacrificed1 and   
they offered1 with one accord1 a silent 

prayer that its life might be extended  
in a higher form4 ,having passed        
through1 they tarried at the end of the 
forest until the flames died away1 and  
then pursued their journey4         99  
99       99       99       99  ,years   
passed away4 ,from the pile of ashes    
left by the departed oak sprang lovely  
flowers1 which charmed the eyes of all  
the trees in the forest1 and atoned1 in 
a great measure1 for the loss of their  
noble companion4  ,after a brief period 
workmen were seen in the forest felling 
the trees4  ,ah6 exclaimed the old pine 
who had refused to give its life for the
 travelers1 ,i don't see as we have     
gained anything4 ,if our life is to go1 
it might as well have gone by the fire  
as by the axe4  ,just so1 answered the  
beach1 only if we had perished by the   
fire we might now be coming again into  
another form of life1 as our oak seems  
to be1 from that pile of dust and ashes2
 for see what lovely blossoms are coming
 forth from that unsightly heap of dust4

  ,i heard the workmen say that all     
these trees were to be cleared away1 and
 houses erected on the land1 remarked a 
trembling ash1 and her leaves quivered  
beyond their wont with the terror of    
this new thought4  ,and that will surely
 be the end of us1 moaned the pine4     
,our happy life is all over now1 said a 
small fir1 who would have continued     
bemoaning their destiny had not her     
attention at that instant been arrested 
by two forms entering the forest4 ,they 
went to the spot where once stood the   
brave oak1 and gazed admiringly on the  
lovely tinted blossoms4 ,they had heard 
of the sacrifice of the tree1 and had   
come to gaze upon its resurrection4  ,we
 will gather some for our festival      
to-night1 they said1 and stooped to     
pluck the fragrant blossoms4  ,the fire 
had not destroyed the consciousness of  
the oak3 its soul was still alive1      
enjoying its new form of existence1 and 
it sent forth thrills of gratitude1     
which took the form of sweetest odor1   

filling the air around with fragrance4  
,instead of losing my life it is being  
extended1 even as the good leader of the
 people said1 were its words as the two 
departed1 bearing the flowers1 instinct 
with its oak life1 away4  ,many went to 
the forest while the workmen were there1
 to gather the seeds of the rare        
blossoms to plant in their gardens4     
,how much of human life did the soul of 
the oak learn as it went forth thus amid
 the throngs of people2 and how it      
rejoiced that it had given its life for 
the good of others1 knowing not that    
greater bliss was in store for it6 ,it  
was held in the hands of the aged2 it   
crowned fair brows2 it was carried to   
the bedside of the suffering2 it was    
laid upon the caskets of the dead2 it   
was planted by the door of the cottage  
and reared in the conservatories of the 
rich1--everywhere admired and welcomed4 
,was not this life indeed worth all the 
pain and heat of the flames1 and the    
loss of its once statelier and loftier  

form8  ,it never sighed for its forest  
home1 but often longed to know of the   
fate of its brother trees4 ,one day a   
child1 bearing in her hand one of its   
blossoms1 wandered to the ground where  
once arose the tall trees4 ,the eyes of 
the oak1 through the flower1 looked in  
vain for its kindred4 ,none were        
standing4 ,they had all been felled and 
their wood converted into dwellings1--a 
useful but less beautiful form of       
existence than that which the oak       
possessed1--and they learned1 after a   
time1 that it is only by apparent       
destruction that life can be            
reconstructed4 ,but they could only have
 the experiences which came within the  
scope of their life2 and the oak was    
more than ever satisfied with its own1  
and rejoiced that it had passed through 
the refining element1 losing thereby    
only its grosser form4 ,it filled the   
air with the fragrance of its gratitude4
 ,whenever it wished to journey1 the    
winds1 who were its friends1 conveyed   

its seeds to any portion of the earth it
 designated4 ,its blossoms were not only
 bright to the eye1 and their odor sweet
 to the sense of smell1 but the leaves  
of the plant were healing4 ,three forces
 connected it with human life3 so that  
it was in constant action1 and its      
highest joy lay in the consciousness of 
its increased usefulness4     ,,xxiii4  
,,strangers4   ,in a large and elegant  
mansion dwelt a wealthy man who had     
three lovely daughters4 ,the house was  
built on an eminence upon the banks of a
 river which wound like a thread of     
silver through the valleys for many     
miles4 ,afar from the mansion were a    
large number of cottages1 in which dwelt
 carpenters1 shipbuilders1 gardeners1   
and some of every trade4 ,most of them  
were good and honest people1 though     
tinged with the love of earthly gains1  
and many of them1 too1 often crushed    
many of the soul's finer and better     
emotions in the greedy love of material 
things4 ,the owner of the mansion       

sorrowed over this failing of theirs1   
and1 to rid them of it1 devised a plan  
by which to give those who wished an    
opportunity to be led by their better   
nature1 and forget1 for the time1 self  
and gain4  ,accordingly1 he told his    
daughters to deck themselves in their   
richest apparel and ornaments1 which    
were rare and choice1 and then to throw 
over the whole large and unsightly      
cloaks1 so that the disguise might be   
perfect1 and conceal all the splendor   
beneath4 ,to each he gave a purse filled
 with gold to bestow upon the one who   
should welcome and give them shelter4   
,at evening he went forth with them to  
the narrow street1 and bade them knock  
at the doors of the cottages1 while he  
waited outside1 and see who would admit 
and give food and shelter to travelers  
in need4 ,they obeyed him1 and first    
approached a dimly-lighted cottage4     
,making known their presence by a gentle
 rap1 the door was opened by a woman of 
large and coarse features1 whose eyes   

had no welcome in their rude stare4 ,she
 scarcely waited for the words of the   
travelers to be spoken1 ere she gruffly 
answered1 ,no3 we have neither room nor 
food for beggars1 and closed the door   
abruptly4  ,they applied next upon the  
opposite side1 saying to the man who    
opened the door1 ,can you feed and give 
shelter to three weary travelers8  ,we  
have no food to waste1 and our home is  
scarcely large enough for ourselves1 he 
replied1 and quickly shut the door upon 
them4  ,the same answer came from all1  
and they turned to their parent1 saying1
 ,shall we try any more8  ,there are but
 two more3 try all2 see if one at least 
can be found not wholly selfish2 and1 as
 you are not truly in need of their     
bounties1 you can well afford to        
importune and be denied4 ,he then guided
 his children to the end of the street4 
,this one looks quite gay compared with 
the others1 said the eldest of the      
daughters1 as they all looked on the    
well-lit rooms1 and beheld forms        

flitting to and fro within4  ,we shall  
certainly be admitted here1 said the    
others4  ,but the parent kept his       
council1 and was invisible while they   
rapped at the door1 which was opened by 
a bright and rather stylish-looking     
girl1 who gazed wonderingly on the      
group4  ,can you give us shelter for a  
night1 and a little food8 asked the     
eldest4  ,not we1 indeed3 we have just  
spent all our money for a merry-making  
for our brother ,jack1 who has just come
 home from sea4 ,not we3 we have not one
 bit of room to spare2 for all our      
friends are here4  ,but we are weary1   
and ask rest and food1 pleaded one of   
the three2 and her eyes wandered to the 
well-filled tables4  ,yes3 but what we  
have is for our company and             
ourselves--not for beggars1 said the    
girl1 and she closed the door upon them4
  ,shall we try again1 father8 they said
 to their parent4  ,just this one1 which
 is the last1 he answered1 leading them 
to the door of a cot where dwelt a poor 

and lonely widow4  ,they paused at the  
threshold1 for a voice was heard within1
 low and sweet2 yet they heard the words
 of the kneeling form1 in deep petition1
 saying1 ,give me1 ,o ,father1 my daily 
bread2 forgive me my trespasses1 and    
lead me not into temptation4 ,for thine 
is the kingdom1 and the power1 and the  
glory1 forever and forever4 ,amen4  ,she
 arose at that instant4 ,a gentle knock 
was heard4 ,without delay she opened it1
 and smiled upon the strangers1 who     
asked for more than she could give4  ,i 
have shelter1 but no food2 yet enter and
 be welcome1 she said1 and opened wide  
the door4  ,they passed in1 and left    
their parent1 whom they knew would soon 
follow1 outside4  ,i grieve that ,i have
 no food to offer thee1 said the woman1 
but come to my fireside2 for the evening
 air is chilly1 and you must need rest4 
,she placed for them her only chairs    
beside the fire1 saying1 ,i am glad you 
come to-night2 for this is my last fuel1
 and to-morrow eve it will be all dark  

and chill within my dwelling4  ,the     
eldest bowed to the woman gracefully1   
and threw aside her cloak2 and at once  
the others followed her example4  ,great
 was the surprise of the widow4 ,she    
thought her senses had departed1 and1   
for an instant1 had no voice1 no words1 
naught but wonder beaming from her eyes1
 so sudden and great was the surprise4  
,another gentle rap at that instant     
seemed to help her to find herself1 and 
she was hastening to open it1 when the  
eldest one said1 ,it is our father1 come
 to thank you for admitting angels in   
disguise2 for1 though not angels in     
form1 we hope to prove such by our      
administration to your needs4 ,and they 
laid upon her only table the purses of  
gold4  ,he will ever give daily bread to
 those who forget not to entertain      
strangers1 said their father to the     
widow1 as they took their leave of one  
who had not refused to receive          
strangers4  ,the next morning there was 
great commotion in the neighborhood2 for

 the widow had been seen to exchange    
gold for bread at one of the shops2 but 
greater still was their surprise when   
she told them1 as they flocked around   
her dwelling1 that it was given by three
 strangers who had asked for bread and  
shelter the night before4  ,three       
strangers6 exclaimed they all4 ,they    
must be the same that called at our     
dwellings4 ,what fools we were that we  
did not let them in6  ,nay3 it but shows
 how dead you were in sympathy for human
 need1 spoke a voice among them1 which1 
as they turned1 they found to be that of
 the owner of the mansion4  ,shame and  
confusion came over their faces2 for he 
had long been their benefactor1 both in 
words of counsel and deeds of kindness4 
,their eyes fell to the ground1 as he in
 gentle tones chided them for their lack
 of kindness and want of faith in the   
,father's love4 ,he who giveth not in   
another's need shall receive none in his
 own1 he continued2 and let the lesson  
taught you by the experience you have   

just had1 and the example of the poor   
widow1 last you through all the years of
 your life2 for she refused not the     
strangers whom you turned from your     
doors the shelter which they apparently 
needed4  ,but they were not cold and    
hungry1 said one of the group4  ,the    
demand upon your sympathies was just the
 same2 for you knew not to the contrary1
 he answered1 and they could not but    
feel the truth of his words4  ,the      
lesson was not lost2 for in after years 
they grew less mercenary1 more kindly of
 heart1 and never again closed their    
doors to strangers asking aid4