,transcriber's note3 ,unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed4 ,illustration3 ,the ,persian listened with curiosity1 and the ,afghan with some attention2 but it was on the old ,sikh that the holy words fell like rain from ,heaven4 ,,percival',s ,,picture ,,gallery4 ,,by ,a4 ,l4 ,o4 ,e4 ,authoress of ,pearls of ,wisdom from the ,parables1 ,the ,young ,pilgrim1 ,the ,shepherd of ,bethlehem1 c41 c4 ,illustration ,,london3 ,,morgan ,,and ,,scott 7,,office ,,of ,the ,christian7 #ab1 ,,paternoster ,,buildings1 ,e4,c4 ,and may be ordered of any ,bookseller4 ,,preface4 ,,this little volume may1 ,i hope1 awaken in some minds thoughts of a devotional character4 ,some of the ideas contained in it came to me in a chamber of sickness1 which was at one time expected to be my chamber of death4 ,the thoughts were pleasant and soothing to myself4 ,may they1 by ,god's blessing1 be so also to some of my fellow-pilgrims4 ,a4 ,l4 ,o4 ,e4 ,contents4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,introductory ,,ii4 ,,the ,,passage ,,through ,,the ,,red ,,sea ,,iii4 ,,king ,,david',s ,,vision ,,iv4 ,,the ,,carpenter',s ,,death ,v4 ,,homeless ,,vi4 ,,legend ,,of ,,the ,,self-,,made ,,grave ,,vii4 ,,the ,,three ,,bihistis ,,viii4 ,,legend ,,of ,,the ,,shekel ,,ix4 ,,the ,,night ,,after ,,the ,,crucifixion ,x4 ,,the ,,legend ,,of ,,the ,,roman ,,soldier ,,xi4 ,,asleep6 ,,percival',s ,,picture ,,gallery4 ,illustration ,,chapter ,i4 ,introductory4 ,,no1 ,sir1 no2 the doctor gives no hope that the poor young gentleman will ever walk again2 and as for life1 the doctor says that it may be a matter of months1 or perhaps of years4 ,but ,mr4 ,percival is going down to the grave sure and certain2 and he knows that himself4 ,such was the sad reply given by his landlady1 to my enquiries regarding my old schoolfellow1 when ,i called at his lodging in ,london4 ,i had been absent on the ,continent for six weeks in the long vacation4 ,a painful malady in his knee had prevented ,percival's being1 as we had both hoped1 my travelling companion2 and it was no small disappointment to us both when he had to be left behind4 ,how we had looked forward to a visit to ,italy1 to luxuriate amongst the treasures of art2 which ,percival's cultivated taste and knowledge of painting1 would enable him so thoroughly to appreciate6 ,i had however felt no serious anxiety regarding my friend2 his letters had been cheerful1 and contained little allusion to the state of his health4 ,it was therefore with a shock of surprise that ,i heard that ,percival was now a hopeless invalid1 unable to rise from the couch on which he had suffered so long4 ,i held no long parley with the landlady1 but hurried up the long narrow staircase to the attic-room1 in which ,percival expected to pass the remainder of his days under constant medical care4 ,a lonely life his must be1 for he had lost every near relative in the world2 and1 at the season when ,london is comparatively empty1 few acquaintances were likely to find their way to a dull lodging in the neighbourhood of ,russell ,square4 ,slender means2 solitude and sickness2 confinement to one small room1 when others were enjoying fresh breezes on the ocean or the heathery moor--what a combination of trials for one still in the flower of his youth6 ,i had known ,percival as the cleverest1 handsomest boy in our school2 the hero of the cricket-ground2 the first in the race2 the winner of numerous prizes3 ,i could hardly realize the possibility of such a deep shadow falling on a life so bright4 ,from early childhood1 ,percival had had a remarkable talent for drawing1 which had occasionally led him into trouble4 ,before the boy's small fingers could write one word1 they had begun to use a pencil2 and quaint grotesque figures were scrawled on the nursery door4 ,at school ,percival fell into many a scrape from scribbling faces over the margins of books--not always his own2 and from making curious illustrations in dictionaries and grammars4 ,we saw our own likenesses1 unmistakable ones1 drawn in charcoal on the whitewashed walls4 ,every ,panel of the door served as a canvas3 and the young artist was sometimes rewarded for his skill by long impositions of ,latin verses1 which he learned with the book in one hand and the pencil in the other4 ,on reaching the landing-place1 ,i did not stop to knock at the door before me2 but at once entered the attic-room where ,percival lay on his couch1 an easel beside him1 and a palette bedaubed with many colours1 a box of oil-paints1 and brushes1 on a small table placed within easy reach of his arm4 ,unframed paintings hanging on the dingy wall somewhat relieved the dull effect of scanty third-rate furniture1 and of an old carpet with the pattern well-nigh worn-out of it1 which looked as if it had never been new4 ,percival's pale face flushed with sudden pleasure as he caught sight of mine4 ,he dropped the brush with which he had been painting1 and holding out his thin hand1 grasped mine with the joyous exclamation1 ,seyton1 old boy6 who thought of seeing you here6 ,then he added1 smiling1 ,take a chair--no1 not that with the broken back--sit down1 and tell me about your travels4 ,i want to see all that you have seen1 hear all that you have heard1 and enjoy a trip to ,italy by proxy4 ,i seated myself by my suffering friend1 and did what ,i could to divert his mind from his affliction1 by describing whatever ,i thought most likely to interest him4 ,percival showed keen pleasure in hearing about the works of art which ,i had seen in foreign galleries3 of the principal ones he had already gathered a fair knowledge from books4 ,when ,i paused at last1 ,percival remarked1 ,will you think me a ,goth or a ,vandal1 ,seyton1 if ,i own to you that there seems to me a good deal of sameness in these subjects chosen by ,italian artists3 so many ',madonnas' clad as ,mary of ,nazareth never was dressed2 so many ',saints' with haloes round their heads2 so many ',holy ,families' and pictures of the ',last ,supper1' where none of the accessories convey to the mind a true idea of the actual scene4 ,if ,i were an artist-- ,you are one1 ,i interrupted2 if artists1 like poets1 are born--not made4 ,with a little study of the ,old ,masters you would1 ,i am certain1 have made your mark amongst ,english painters4 ,i doubt whether ,i should ever have earned butter to my bread1 observed ,percival4 ,i am too fond of striking out a line of my own4 ,but ,i do intensely love the art2 and am heartily glad that ,i have lost the use of my knee instead of that of my hand4 ,i see that you paint still1 said ,i1 glancing at the palette4 ,have you no difficulty in procuring models8 ,you think that my good old landlady1 ,mrs4 ,bond1 in her black lace cap and false front1 would hardly serve as one1 laughed ,percival4 ,she is the only specimen of the fair sex that ,i ever see2 except1 indeed1 the red-haired maid of all work1 who is only remarkable for the number of cups and glasses which she breaks4 ,i have to do without models1 ,seyton2 or rather to content myself with the forms which ,i see in my dreams4 ,in your dreams8 ,i repeated enquiringly4 ,i mean waking dreams1 said my friend4 ,i often cannot get rest at night2 or at least1 till-- ',yon dull steeple's drowsy chime--' has struck one or more of the small hours4 ,so1 making a virtue of necessity1 ,i lie still1 and amuse myself with my thoughts4 ,i am so grieved-- ,i began2 but ,percival cut me short4 ,grieve not for me1 dear friend4 ,some of the happiest moments which ,i have ever spent1 have been in those still night hours4 ,i have sometimes felt as if admitted to a private interview with the ,king4 ,he giveth 'songs in the night4' ,i have thrown that idea into the form of rhyme4 ,would you care to hear the lines8 ,they are of no value but as the transcript of the experience of a sick man4 ,on my expressing a wish to hear the little poem1 ,percival repeated it with a good deal of feeling2 warming into joyousness as he recited the concluding verse4 ,song in the ,night4 ,o thou1 on thy sick-bed kept watchful and waking ,by pain1 all the weary night through6 ,it seems as if ,god were ,his servant forsaking1 ,his servant--so trustful and true4 ,oh no6 ,for ,he giveth me songs in the darkness ,that never were heard in the day3 ,thine eyes shall behold the ,king in ,his beauty1 ,the land that is far1 far away4 ,poor sufferer6 ,the noises of earth must oppress thee1 ,that rise through the sullen night air2 ,the sound of the world's mirth must surely distress thee1 ,that mirth which thou never may'st share4 ,oh no6 ,for an angel is sitting beside me1 ,and warbling so low--yet so clear1 ,thine eyes shall behold the ,king in ,his beauty3 ,and this is the song which ,i hear4 ,the ,angel's ,song4 ,i come down to cheer thee1 ,o happy immortal6 ,from sin's condemnation set free2 ,whilst yet thou art ling'ring beside the high portal1 ,whose door soon will open for thee4 ,i bring thee a promise1 the sweetest--the surest-- ',tis sent by the ,god who is ,love1 ',thine eyes shall behold the ,king in ,his beauty1' ,when thou art with angels above4 ,i saw ,him when in ,his own world1 as a stranger1 ,appeared the ,omnipotent ,lord2 ,i hovered in ecstasy over ,his manger ,with worshipping shepherds adored3 ,i the first faint infant cry from the ,monarch ,whose voice bade the universe be2 ,mine eyes then beheld the ,king in ,his weakness1 ,i saw ,him1 and marvelled to see4 ,i saw ,him in manhood1 despised and neglected1 ,a mourner1 'acquainted with grief1' ,i longed--how ,i longed6--that when mortals rejected ,the angels might bring ,him relief6 ,i heard the fierce blasphemies scornfully uttered ,by ,scribe and by proud ,pharisee2 ,mine eyes then beheld the ,king in ,his trials1 ,i saw--much perplexed to see4 ,i saw--but the tongue of a seraph must falter ,such myst'ry of love to declare6-- ,i saw upon ,calvary raised the high ,altar1 ,a ,cross--and the ,victim was there6 ,there was silence in ,heaven--strange wonder in ,heaven-- ,all gazing on that awful tree2 ,mine eyes then beheld the ,king in ,his anguish1 ,i saw ,him--and trembled to see6 ,and thou too shalt see ,him--such bliss is before thee-- ,but not in ,his weakness and pain2 ,when girded with power1 and mantled in glory ,the ,victim returneth--to reign3 ,shalt see ,him1 no stranger1 but ,one whom thou lovest1 ,thy ,saviour1 ,redeemer1 and ,friend2 ',thine eyes shall behold the ,king in ,his beauty1' ,through ages that never shall end6 ,illustration ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,the ,passage through the ,red ,sea4 ,a ,,pause followed the recital3 ,percival's deep blue eyes seemed to be full of the light of another world4 ,after awhile ,i observed1 ,poetry soothes your wakeful hours2 but you have not at night the resource of painting4 ,it is at night that ,i form my designs1 he replied1 and draw in imagination scenes that look meagre enough when transferred to canvas4 ,my execution falls sadly short of what ,i see in my waking dreams4 ,i suppose that you choose subjects from ,scripture1 said ,i4 ,not exactly1 answered my friend2 ,i take subjects rather from what ,scripture suggests1 than follow in the beaten track of innumerable artists by actually illustrating ,scripture4 ,i do not quite understand you1 said ,i4 ,well1 take for example the subject of the ,children of ,israel crossing the ,red ,sea4 ,you must have seen pictures of that4 ,what impression have they left on your mind8 ,that of a vast multitude of men1 women and children1 with large flocks and herds1 passing through something like a deep valley1 with a pillar of light above to guide them on their way4 ,amongst multitudes we are apt to forget the units1 ,percival observed4 ,have you never thought how many episodes of deep interest must have occurred during that hasty flight--incidents which would draw out the characters of individuals8 ,has your fancy never imagined some single family group separate from the mass of fugitives flying from their oppressors8 ,my fancy is not so lively as yours1 ,i replied4 ,you have never pictured to yourself what the ,israelites may have seen of the wonders of the deep1 hitherto as a locked casket1 in-- ',those profound abysses where ,was never voice from upper air'8 ,what could the people have seen but sand2 and perchance1 sea-weed8 said ,i4 ,would it trouble you1 ,seyton1 to lift yon picture from the nail1 and bring it here8 ,,my pictures are guiltless of frames1 so they are more easily moved4 ,you will see on the canvas my idea of an episode which may have occurred during the passage through the ,red ,sea4 ,i did as desired1 and brought the picture to the side of my friend4 ,poor ,percival6 ,his paintings are framed now2 and the one which ,i am about to describe hangs opposite to the table at which ,i am writing4 ,he bequeathed to me the sketches which were the children of his brain1 his hand1 his heart4 ,to avoid needless repetition of the objectionable ,i in my brief descriptions of ,percival's picture gallery1 ,i shall make my recollections take the form of dialogue3 except where what my friend called ,a ,legend comes in1 which ,i will copy from the ,,ms 99 left by the author4 99 ,manuscript ,it is impossible1 however1 to give on paper the charm of ,percival's voice2 the lighting up of his countenance2 his soul-absorption in his subjects4 ,my description looks to me like the colourless photograph of a window of fine stained glass2 the beauty lost2 the bare outline of the pattern depicted4 ,but it may be that friendship for the departed casts a halo over works on which he so lovingly wrought4 ,percival did not himself set a high value on his pictures2 though their subjects had a fascination for his mind4 ,he often lamented his want of finish1 and said that he could not delineate as an artist what he might dream as a poet4 ,the ,passage through the ,red ,sea4 ,seyton4 ,why1 ,percival1 this strange1 weird production of yours must have been the outcome of a nightmare6 ,percival4 ,the idea of it came to my mind during a night somewhat more painful and restless than usual4 ,seyton4 ,let me see what ,i can make out of it4 ,here1 in the centre1 the first object to catch the eye is the skeleton of some huge leviathan2 some monster unknown to modern science1 who might have taken his pastime in the deep waters1 or lashed the surface of the sea into foam in the days of ,noah4 ,half of the picture is in light1 and half in shadow1 for in upper air hangs the pillar of cloud and fire2 thus one half of the skeleton reflects the ruddy glare1 which gilds the bare ribs1 and partly reveals the vast proportions of the sea monster2 while darkness on the other hand conceals the length of the leviathan1 as he lies on his bed of sea-weed1 green and brown1 with the glimmering glassy wall of water as a background behind him4 ,percival4 ,is the skeleton the only object seen in the sketch8 ,seyton4 ,no1 no2 let me examine more closely4 ,here1 to the left1 ,i dimly trace the heads and fore-parts of two horses2 the animals1 with distended nostrils and ears turned back1 evidently starting in fear at suddenly coming on such an object of grisly horror lying right in their path4 ,the horses appear to belong to some ,egyptian of rank3 they wear the cumbrous trappings with which the antiquities at the ,museum make us familiar4 ,had there been space on your canvas1 we should doubtless have traced on it the outline of some gorgeous chariot1 perhaps that of ,pharaoh himself4 ,percival4 ,i have tried1 by the tightly-drawn reins1 to show that the driver of the chariot has suddenly perceived the ghastly obstacle in his path4 ,by that skeleton1 ,i intended to convey to the mind an image of death--that sudden death which was so close to ,pharaoh and his godless hosts1 even while they were pressing forward in eager pursuit of spoil and revenge4 ,seyton4 ,now let us turn to the right hand of the picture which your pencil has bathed in mysterious light4 ,i see an ,israelite mother4 ,her mantle1 falling back1 shows a face of ,oriental beauty1 full of anxiety and fear4 ,percival4 ,yes1 she has heard the tramp and the snorting of the war-horses of ,pharaoh2 and she knows that she is the last of all the fugitives1 the one nearest to the enemy4 ,she has been left behind the rest3 for in the confusion she had been separated from her child2 and she has wildly sought him1 and found him at last almost close to the fierce pursuers4 ,seyton4 ,and evidently utterly unconscious of danger4 ,that bare-footed1 beautiful little boy1 whose face beams with delight1 presents an expressive contrast to the anxious mother1 who1 grasping one of his small hands1 is trying to draw him hastily away4 ,percival4 ,the child is exulting2 for he has found a prize in the leviathan's fleshless jaws4 ,his hand holds a beautiful coral4 ,seyton4 ,percival6 is this a picture or a parable8 ,percival4 ,perhaps both4 ,do you grasp the meaning of the latter8 ,seyton4 ,you have given the clue by telling me that the huge skeleton represents death4 ,on the one side1 we see it an object of natural horror to those who1 unprepared and unforgiven1 find it suddenly close at hand1 dimly beheld in darkness3 while to the children of light1 it is no object of terror2 and even little ones can pluck the treasure of joy from that which the worldling dreads and shrinks from4 ,illustration ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,king ,david's ,vision4 ,illustration ,,seyton4 ,the subject of this picture of yours is simple enough4 ,the harp at his feet2 the crown by his side2 the scroll before him--mark ,david1 the poet-king4 ,he appears to be under the immediate influence of inspiration1 there is such intense earnestness in his upward gaze4 ,the reed-pen has dropped from his hand2 and one would think that ,heaven was opening before his eyes1 save for the pained--almost terrified--expression on his countenance1 an expression which could come from no vision of bliss4 ,why have you represented the prophet thus8 ,percival4 ,a legend of ,king ,david formed itself out of some thoughts which came into my mind1 while meditating over the ,twenty-second ,psalm4 ,to us1 with the scene on ,calvary as its key1 the meaning of the prophecy contained in that ,psalm is clear4 ,but what a mystery it must have been to him who wrote it under the inspiration of the ,spirit6 ,seyton4 ,had its meaning been clear to the prophet's understanding1 his faith could hardly have borne the strain4 ,to us--looking back upon the mystery of the ,cross--it appears marvellous indeed2 but to one looking forward to it as a future event1 such a sacrifice as that of ,christ would have appeared impossible4 ,percival4 ,you have struck on my vein of thought4 ,i considered what would be the natural emotions raised in the heart of one so impulsive and enthusiastic as ,david1 had the death of his ,lord been revealed to him clearly1 and not as through a glass1 very darkly4 ,my short piece1 ,king ,david's ,vision1 is beside me1 if you would care to hear it4 ,i copy the following from the paper which ,percival1 at my request1 drew from the drawer of his table4 ,king ,david's ,vision4 ,the prophet-king sat alone4 ,when the spirit of inspiration came upon him1 no human presence was suffered to disturb his solitude4 ,he was left in solemn communion with his ,god4 ,often had glowing words of thanksgiving and praise burst from his lips as he struck his harp of ten strings1 and then been noted down on a scroll to be handed down as a precious legacy to the people of ,israel1 or rather to the whole ,church of ,god4 ,on this day1 the harp had had a strange1 solemn1 and wailing sound2 and involuntary tears had started to the poet's eyes as he sang that mysterious ode which we call the ,twenty-second ,psalm4 ,the hand of ,king ,david trembled as he wrote down the words4 ,what hath the ,spirit dictated to ,god's slave8 cried the wondering monarch4 ,this is no transcript of mine own experience4 ,i have known what it is to pass through deep waters of trouble2 to struggle for life with the lion2 to grapple and wrestle with the foe4 ,i have known what it is to hide in the cave1 and to be hunted like the partridge on the mountains4 ,but my ,god never forsook me4 ,he was never far from me in the time of my trouble4 ,there is nothing in the past which answers to these mysterious words3 ',they pierced ,my hands and ,my feet1 ,they parted ,my garments amongst them2 ,and on ,my vesture they cast lots4' ,is this some awful trial looming before me8 ,or is it revealed regarding another8 ,oh that ,i could penetrate the depth of meaning conveyed in this ,psalm6 ,lord1 draw aside the thick curtain1 if but for a moment6 ,let me know who is to be tortured1 mocked at1 and pierced2 who is to be deserted by his friends1 and forsaken even by his ,god4 ,as the king prayed1 a thick mist seemed to fill the royal apartment2 and a horror of darkness fell on the prophet's soul4 ,then slowly before his straining gaze something took shape before him3 dimly at first1 as if seen through mist2 then gradually becoming distinct4 ,david beheld a ,cross1 and an agonized ,victim hanging upon it4 ,the prophet saw all the terrible accessories which his own inspired pen had described4 ,he was so horror-struck that he was scarcely at first aware of the presence of a white-winged angel beside him2 though a halo of light shining around the heavenly guest had been the means of revealing the ,cross and the sacred ,sufferer4 ,oh1 ,spirit of light1 exclaimed the king1 tell me the meaning of this terrible vision6 ,david1 son of ,jesse1 thou art a sinner1 was the angel's reply4 ,i know it1 ,i own it3 ,i acknowledge my transgressions2 and my sin is ever before me6 cried the penitent king4 ,and all men are sinners1 continued the angel4 ,the highest and holiest of human works are but as the shrivelling leaves worn by the father of mankind2 and they have the slime of the serpent upon them4 ,the sins of mortals are numerous as the hairs of their heads4 ,how then can man stand justified before a pure and holy ,god8 ,we offer sacrifices1 burnt offerings1 and oblations1 said ,david1 his eyes still fixed on the visionary form on the ,cross2 for even the angel's presence and words could not draw his rapt attention from the pale face1 crowned with thorns1 from which slowly trickled the blood-drops4 ,all your sacrifices are shadows--types--pictures1 said the white-winged messenger of ,god4 ,not the blood of thousands of bullocks1 nor that of all the lambs in ,judea1 could wash out the stain of a single sin4 ,it needs something infinitely more precious to redeem one guilty soul4 ,wouldst thou bid me despair8 cried the king2 cold drops of agony starting from his brow--whilst still1 he gazed on ,one on the ,cross4 ,there is but one means of salvation1 said the angel4 ,the price of a world's redemption must be the blood--the sacrifice of ,one body1 perfect1 divine4 ,he of whom thou hast wonderingly written1 ',the ,lord hath said unto ,me1 ,thou art ,my ,son6' ,he who sitteth at ,god's right hand--,he alone can offer that sacrifice2 be that ,sacrifice2 and become the ,saviour of the world4 ,down on thy knees1 ,o ,david2 lay thy brow in the dust3 implore the ,son of ,god to leave ,his throne in ,heaven2 to be born a feeble baby2 to consent to be scourged and crucified2 to become a ,victim for thy sake--even as the ,form before thee now4 ,weep and pray2 and if the ,lord grant thy prayer1 thou mayest be justified and accepted4 ,never could lip crave1 nor heart desire such a ,sacrifice6 exclaimed ,david with vehemence4 ,shall a worm ask thee1 ,o child of light1 to exchange thy radiant form for his1 and be trampled under foot for his sake8 ,thou biddest me offer a presumptuous prayer1 such as no mortal dare utter1 and to which no immortal would listen4 ,if the ,holy ,one die not1 thou diest--and for ever6 said the pitying angel4 ,oh1 is it so8 ,is there no redemption for me and my people1 save by this6 cried ,david1 raising his clasped hands towards the visionary ,cross4 ,are we then doomed to perdition8 ,is there no mercy in ,heaven8 ,have ,i then cried in blind ignorance8--',the ,lord is my ,shepherd3 ,i will fear no evil1 for ,thou art with me6' ,for an instant the eyes of ,him who was dying on the ,cross met those of ,david with a look of ineffable love2 and the lips of the divine ,victim in the vision uttered the words3 ,the ,good ,shepherd giveth ,his life for the sheep4 ,the prophet-king heard no more1 saw no more4 ,he lay prostrate and senseless on the marble floor of his palace4 ,there ,david remained till the shadows of night enwrapped him1 and the silvery moon arose4 ,startled at his absence at the hour when the board was spread for the evening repast2 and at the utter silence in the chamber from which the sound of the harp and the song of praise were wont to be heard--the king's attendants ventured at last to intrude on solitude so prolonged4 ,they were alarmed to find their lord in a swoon4 ,raising him gently1 the attendants placed ,david on the royal couch1 and applied such restoratives as1 in those times1 were most highly esteemed4 ,gradually the king's senses returned3 he sat up2 drained a silver goblet of water2 then rose and waved his attendants away4 ,and never1 even to his wife1 even to his most cherished friend1 did ,david speak of his vision3 he locked his secret in his heart4 ,no one dared to ask the king questions2 but it was noticed by those who watched him most closely1 that ,david could never command his voice to sing the ,twenty-second ,psalm1 nor could hear it recited by others1 without a burst of silent tears4 ,illustration ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,the ,carpenter's ,death4 ,illustration ,,scarcely had ,percival finished reading his legend1 when we were interrupted by the visit of the medical man4 ,having other calls to make1 ,i took my leave of ,percival1 promising to return on the following day1 to make myself better acquainted with his little picture gallery4 ,the next morning1 after some conversation on other subjects1 we examined together another oil-painting taken down from the wall4 ,seyton4 ,this is doubtless a representation of the interior of the humble abode in ,nazareth1 in which for many years ,christ found a home4 ,the youth whose back is turned towards us1 so that scarcely any of his face is seen1 is doubtless intended for the ,saviour ,himself4 ,but why should only the outline of the cheek be given2 and even that1 be half-hidden by the auburn locks that fall downwards as the ,lord stoops1 as if to catch the faint utterance of the dying man by whose couch ,he stands8 ,percival4 ,thrice did ,i begin that picture4 ,in my first attempt1 ,i sketched a full face as that of ,christ2 but so utterly did ,i fail in depicting on it ,divine power and dignity1 blended with human love1 that in despair1 ,i began another picture4 ,in that1 the position chosen for the chief figure showed the complete profile2 and as far as earthly beauty was concerned1 ,i may say that my sketch was not a failure4 ,every feature was as faultless as my poor skill could make it2 but still ,i was utterly dissatisfied with my work4 ,the beauty was classic and not celestial2 nor did the face show any sign of toil4 ,percival continued3 ,then ,i felt convinced that imagination could depict the ,divine ,youth far better than could my weak pencil3 so ,i concentrated my efforts on the face of the dying ,joseph1 making it reflect1 as it were1 the brightness of the countenance of ,him who bends over ,his foster-father4 ,seyton4 ,even as artists1 unable to give the blaze of the noonday sun1 just indicate its presence by lights and shadows thrown on terrestrial objects4 ,perhaps you did wisely1 ,percival4 ,one is often pained by the lifeless1 soulless countenances given as representations of ,christ6 ,who could depict the heaven of ,his eyes1 the unearthly sweetness of the lips that spake as never man spake8 ,percival4 ,you see the accessories by which ,i have endeavoured to make the picture tell its own story4 ,seyton4 ,there is ,mary1 dressed in simplest ,eastern garb2 she has sunk on the floor1 exhausted1 as it seems1 with night after night of watching4 ,sleep has stolen over her at last4 ,the thin pale countenance shows how much it was needed4 ,percival4 ,and her ,son will not awaken her4 ,seyton4 ,christ appears to have entered with noiseless step by that open door through which stream the rays of the setting sun on the bed of him whose life-sun is sinking fast4 ,but why should we suppose that ,christ had left ,his mother1 even for a little while1 to keep her sad watch alone8 ,percival4 ,will you think me too realistic if ,i point out the small heap of copper coins in that niche in the wall1 and the tools on the earthen floor8 ,christ may have had to take finished work to an employer1 and receive the price of ,his labour2 that to the miseries of sickness in that home might not be added that of want4 ,seyton4 ,this is being too realistic for me4 ,i can scarcely conceive that ,he who formed heaven and earth1 without whom nothing was made that was made1 actually did common carpenter's work4 ,i can hardly realize that ,christ measured1 sawed1 and planed2 that the sound of ,his hammer was heard2 that ,he actually laboured till ,he was weary1 and then received into a toil-hardened hand1 the paltry coins earned by ,his toil4 ,can one believe that perhaps ,he1 like poor workmen now1 had to call again and again to get even a trifling payment for ,his work from some purse-proud ,jew8 ,percival4 ,to gain bread by the sweat of the face was part of the primeval curse2 and ,he who came to bear the more terrible effects of that curse would not be likely to shrink from this4 ,whatever ,christ did1 ,he did as unto ,god4 ,in ,his workmanship no flaw could be found4 ,what ,christ made1 ,he made to last4 ,and ,he who was to purchase the redemption of a world1 would deem it no disgrace to earn food by ,his daily toil4 ,in all things1 but sin1 the ,saviour was made like unto us4 ,and this picture is designed to show the shadow of bereavement falling heavily on the ,man of ,sorrows2 probably in the earlier part of ,his life4 ,seyton4 ,we know that ,christ wept at the grave of ,his friend4 ,percival4 ,but here the ,lord's tears are sacred--those caused by the anguish of bereavement4 ,christ knew that ,he was about to raise ,lazarus from the sleep of death3 therefore the ,lord's grief must have had a deeper source than that of mere sympathy with mourners1 whose sorrow was in a few minutes to be changed into joy4 ,christ probably saw in the grave of the dead1 and the grief of the living1 an image of all earth's misery--all the ravages caused by sin4 ,seyton4 ,the ,lord may have thought of ,his own mother2 so soon to be a mourner for ,him4 ,christ ,himself spake comfort to the sisters of ,lazarus3 but who would speak comfort to ,mary in the hour of her great desolation8 ,percival4 ,the pang caused by bereavement must have come to the ,lord1 when ,he saw the death of ,joseph1 ,his foster-father2 the guardian of ,his infancy1 the friend of ,his boyhood4 ,if ,christ were at the time conscious of ,his own supernatural power 7held in abeyance only for a time1 until the hour appointed by the ,father should come71 it must have required a greater effort of submission not to have exercised it then1 than when the ,saviour1 faint with hunger1 refrained from turning stones into bread4 ,seyton4 ,yes4 ,if the ,son of ,mary knew that by a word ,he could still the rapid beating of the pulse2 turn pain into ease2 and make ,his mother's heart bound with delight--not to speak that word must have cost ,him an agonizing effort indeed4 ,what meaning do you intend to convey by writing at the bottom of your picture1 ,i have found a ransom8 ,percival4 ,i wished to represent the ,saviour as repeating1 by a death-bed1 those marvellous words from the ,book of ,job4 ,joseph1 like the patriarch1 had been a just man before his fellow-mortals3 but how could he be justified before ,god8 ,christ1 the ,lamb of ,god1 was in the world3 but ,he had not yet suffered for sin2 ,he had not yet borne the iniquity of all4 ,joseph1 on the brink of ,death's dark river1 may have felt some natural fear3 he may have reviewed his past life and seen how far his obedience had fallen short of that required by the ,law4 ,percival continued3 ,joseph may--it is not improbable--have felt himself bound by the chain of his iniquities4 ,but1 on such a man as ,joseph1 a hope inspired by the words of an angel would shine like ,bethlehem's star4 ,i fancy ,i hear the dying one exclaiming1 ',oh1 ,jesus1 ,i am a sinner6 ,but it was told me before ,thy birth that ,thou1 even ,thou1 wouldst save ,thy people from their sins4' ,i have sought to depict the holy joy awakened by the answer1 coming in the familiar words of ,scripture1 from the lips of the ,lamb of ,god--',i have found a ransom6' ,seyton4 ,the exclamation of ,job1 ,i know that my ,redeemer liveth2 and that ,he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth1 might be changed by ,joseph to ,he liveth--,he standeth beside me3 it is ,his hand that supports my head6 ,yea1 though my heart and flesh faileth1 ,his love shall be my portion for ever6 ,percival4 ,and so with the star-like hope above him1 and the peace of ,god filling his soul1 the poor carpenter is sinking to rest4 ,and ,christ will weep the natural tears of human love1 and will mingle ,his sorrow with that of the widowed ,mary2 and ,he will help her to lay out a cold form for burial1 comforting ,his own sad heart with the inspired ,word3 ,i ,,have ,,found ,a ,,ransom4 99 ,i will ransom thee from the power of the grave2 ,i will redeem thee from death4 ,o death1 where are thy plagues8 ,o grave1 where is thy destruction8 99 ,job xxxiii4 #bd ,hosea xiii4 #ad4 ,r4,v4 ,illustration ,,chapter ,v4 ,homeless4 ,illustration ,,shall ,i go to ,percival to-day or not8 was the question which ,i asked myself as ,i looked out--not for first or second time that morning--from the window1 dimmed by pattering rain4 ,the day was one of the worse to be seen1 even in ,london2 the sky blotted out by dense smoke2 the pavement brown and wet1 and the road all mud2 the rain pouring down incessantly2 and the wind howling dismally in the chimneys4 ,now and then a foot-passenger hurried past1 struggling to prevent his dripping umbrella from being turned inside out by the gale4 ,sometimes a cab was driven along the miry road1 appearing for a few moments1 then disappearing in the misty gloom4 ,i had attempted to hail one which was empty2 but the driver took no notice4 ,no cab-stand was near3 so if ,i should sally forth it must be on foot1 with a river of mud to ford4 ,i was1 however1 ashamed of my hesitation3 on so dreary a day1 my invalid friend would specially welcome a visit2 so ,i took my umbrella and sallied forth4 ,i knocked at the door of ,percival's lodging1 which was opened1 as usual1 by the landlady in her mob cap4 ,she cast uneasy glances at the mud-prints left by my boots on the old oil-cloth in her hall4 ,on the narrow staircase ,i met the maid of all work carrying down an untasted1 and by no means tempting-looking1 dinner4 ,dirty and slip-shod the girl always was2 but now she looked sulky also4 ,he won't eat nothin'1 she said1 almost angrily1 as she pushed past me4 ,and the odour of the meat which she was taking away1 quite accounted for the invalid's want of appetite for his meal4 ,of all dreary1 miserable places in the world1 a lodging in ,fog ,street must be the worst1 ,i muttered to myself1 as ,i reached the top of the long narrow staircase4 ,the sight of the room which ,i entered by no means altered my opinion4 ,a pane of glass had been smashed in the window2 and through the aperture swept the cold wind and the driven rain1 the latter making tiny rivulets on the damp carpetless floor4 ,how is this8 ,how comes that pane to be broken8 ,i exclaimed4 ,the window was all right yesterday4 ,it is only a bit of ,polly's handiwork2 or more correctly1 elbow-work1 answered ,percival with a smile4 ,the girl put her elbow through the glass yesterday evening1 when she brought in my supper4 ,you don't mean to say that the window has remained in that state all night2 with the rain drifting on to your bed1 and the wind making the room like an ice-house6 ,as ,i spoke1 ,i was vigorously stopping up the hole with a many-tinted towel1 which ,percival had been using for his painting4 ,i could not get at the window myself4 ,mrs4 ,bond was out taking tea with a neighbour2 and ,polly was in one of her little tempers3 so ,i had just to make the best of my position1 said my friend4 ,but have you not suffered from this inexcusable carelessness8 ,i asked1 seeing a look of suppressed pain on the pale countenance of the artist4 ,only a touch of neuralgia1 was ,percival's reply1 its cheerful tone contrasting with the appearance of suffering on his pallid features4 ,i made the invalid as comfortable1 or rather as little uncomfortable1 as circumstances permitted2 and then took a chair by his side4 ,percival1 ,i cannot bear to see you in this depth of discomfort6 ,i cried4 ,one could descend a good deal lower than this1 was the playful reply4 ,i have a roof over my head2 a good bed under me2 food1 when ,i can eat it2 my palette2 and my friend3 and more1 much more besides1 ,percival added more gravely1 as he glanced at the ,bible which lay by his side4 ,seyton4 ,you are the most long-suffering of men6 ,but is not even your patience strained to the snapping point in a wretched lodging like this8 ,percival4 ,very nearly1 sometimes1 ,i confess3 at least it was so a little time since4 ,not great trials1 but little ones1 made it almost give way4 ,it is not the heavy blow2 but constant friction1 that wears out the chain4 ,i bore with tolerable fortitude the doctor's verdict which condemned me to a life of helplessness and pain1 with no prospect of my sufferings ending on this side the grave2 ,i saw before me a cross1 and was given grace to take it up2 but--but-- ,seyton4 ,but the thousand and one worries of existence in ,fog ,street2 a servant's slatternly habits and sullen temper2 bad cooking2 loneliness2 the absence of anything to give a colour to existence--would make a saint's temper and patience give way4 ,percival4 ,i own that ,i was anything but philosophic in regard to some cornet practice in the room just below this4 ,every evening1 sometimes till late in the night1 the horrid discordant blare effectually chased sleep from my eye-lids4 ,difficult passages were practised over and over with a resolute patience which all but exhausted mine4 ,a hundred times ,i felt disposed to strike the floor violently with my stick1 in hopes of stopping my tormentor below4 ,in fact ,i did strike more than once3 but the trumpeting went on all the same2 its noise1 perhaps1 overpowering that which ,i made4 ,seyton4 ,why did you not speak to your landlady about the annoyance8 ,percival4 ,i did2 but was silenced by her reply1 ,oh dear1 yes3 the poor gentleman loves his horn as if it were his child4 ,i think it is the only pleasure he has2 for he is hard at work in his office all day1 and never goes out of an evening4 ,then ,i asked myself whether it would be reasonable or right to tax the kindness of a stranger by asking him to forego his one indulgence2 and that a harmless one too4 ,would it not be better1 thought ,i1 to train my own mind to bear the petty annoyance8 ,seyton4 ,not a petty one to an invalid1 with a refined taste for music4 ,did you succeed1 my dear fellow1 in training your mind8 ,percival4 ,fairly well--after a time4 ,i was most helped by trying to fix my thoughts on the daily trials which were1 no doubt1 the ,master's portion on earth4 ,we are apt to think of the great temptation in the wilderness1 and the sufferings in ,gethsemane and on ,calvary2 as though they included almost all that ,christ had to endure3 but there were doubtless a thousand minor links of pain and annoyance which made ,christ's earthly life a net-work of trial4 ,seyton4 ,yes1 even ,his brethren did not believe in ,him2 and his dull-minded disciples were always mistaking ,his meaning4 ,percival4 ,i was alluding to commoner trials than these4 ,hunger2 thirst2 the sense of privation2 the extreme weariness1 which caused the ,lord to sleep on in the midst of a tempest3 very often must such trials have oppressed ,him1 who was made like unto us in all things4 ,our ,saviour travelled on foot3 how often must ,he1 like ourselves1 have felt the languid pulse1 the aching limb2 have longed in the noonday for shade2 or1 dragging ,his weary steps along the dusty highway1 have wished for some stream in which to lave ,his burning feet6 ,percival proceeded3 ,i pondered on these things till thought took its usual form--on canvas4 ,i made this sketch2 and1 slight as it is1 it has had a wondrous effect in allaying my natural impatience of disposition1 and the irritability of nerves caused by my illness4 ,seyton4 ,i see that you have depicted the ,master walking alone on the side of a hill4 ,the landscape around is dreary and almost devoid of vegetation1 save that thorn-bushes overgrow the path3 some fluttering fragments of white clothing upon them denote that a way has had to be forced with difficulty through them4 ,the ,wanderer's feet look bruised2 and there are red traces on ,his hands4 ,percival4 ,yes1 many were earth's thorns which wounded ,christ's mortal frame1 before they--as a climax--crowned ,his sacred brow4 ,seyton4 ,you have written under your sketch1 ,the ,son of ,man hath not where to lay ,his head2 and the picture forms a comment on the words4 ,the sky above is dark and louring1 showing that a storm is about to burst3 we see lightning already flashing in the background4 ,the ,wanderer has no heavy mantle to wrap around ,his slightly clad form3 every heavy drop will penetrate and chill4 ,christ's eyes are raised towards the mass of threatening clouds above ,him4 ,we see that ,he would willingly seek shelter2 but none is near4 ,percival4 ,none for ,him1 the ,lord of ,creation4 ,but notice yon small hole in the side of the sandy bank4 ,the little fox of ,palestine finds its home there2 the fierce storm will not reach it4 ,the wild creature knows more of comfort than does the ,master6 ,seyton1 when ,i had drawn this feeble picture of ,one who was homeless on the earth which ,he had made1 ,i felt humbled and ashamed at ever having felt impatient under the slight annoyances which1 cheerfully borne1 will be found amongst the all things which work together for good to them that love ,god4 ,here the conversation closed2 but ,i may mention that by an arrangement with a kind relative of my own1 ,percival passed the short remainder of his life in comparative freedom from all trials from which woman's tenderness and considerate kindness could shield him4 ,illustration ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,legend of the ,self-made ,grave4 ,,the next day ,percival was moved to a house in ,portland ,place1 in which my aunt1 ,lady ,mar1 resided4 ,every comfort was provided to make the little journey as easy as possible to one who could not even be carried downstairs without enduring a good deal of pain4 ,i took upon myself the care of arrangements for the removal of the very little property which my poor friend possessed4 ,a few books1 and clothes2 a desk2 materials for painting2 a palette2 and some dozen unframed pictures--comprised almost all that ,percival owned in the world4 ,he lay on his couch1 watching my movements1 as ,i wrapped up his pictures one by one4 ,this one does not tell its own story1 ,i observed4 ,it illustrates the ,legend of a sketch1 which ,i made a short time ago2 but ,i did not think it worth writing down1 said my friend4 ,i hope that at some leisure time you will repeat it3 ,lady ,mar has a weakness for ,legends4 ,but here comes your landlady to bid you a tearful farewell3 and ,polly too2 belikes in hope of a present1 which she does not deserve4 ,whether merited or not1 the present was given2 and a kindly good-bye was said to each of the women4 ,mrs4 ,bond declared that she had never had such a nice-spoken gentleman for a lodger--never6 ,that she had done all for him that a mother could have done for a son2 and that it was hard to have him go away and leave her4 ,polly was not so eloquent2 but ,i forgave her the broken pane1 and her little tempers1 when ,i saw tears of genuine sorrow running down the poor girl's cheeks4 ,both mistress and servant felt that they would never look again on the pale1 patient face of the lodger4 ,percival was soon installed in his new1 and comparatively luxurious1 abode2 but its comforts could only alleviate1 not remove pain4 ,he sometimes enjoyed conversation with my aunt1 who is a very intelligent woman2 yet at other times relaxed into greater languor1 and did not care to touch his pencil4 ,both ,lady ,mar and ,i more than once asked ,percival to repeat to us his legend of the sketch1 but he always evaded doing so4 ,the story was too childish2 too slight a thing for repetition to any one but a child1 he said1 a faint colour tinging his cheek4 ,percival was evidently shy in the presence of a lady4 ,my aunt1 however1 is one possessing tact to draw out those under her influence1 and make them unconsciously follow her lead4 ,she saw that ,percival's spirits were drooping2 and that1 perhaps from fearing her critical eye1 even his inclination to paint was passing away4 ,lady ,mar noticed that her guest could hardly affect cheerfulness1 though he manfully struggled to do so4 ,my eyes are tired1 and the daylight is fading1 said my aunt one afternoon1 laying down a book with which she had been vainly trying to amuse my poor friend4 ,the piano cannot be touched till after the visit of the tuner4 ,we will not ring for candles yet2 it is so pleasant to chat by twilight4 ,suppose we tell each other stories or legends1 ,i suggested4 ,if you begin1 ,i'll try to follow suit1 said my aunt2 and ,i'm sure that ,percival-- 7for the first time she dropped the ,mr47 will not refuse his little contribution to the general amusement4 ,percival was silent1 but ,i saw that one point was gained3 the invalid would try to forget languor and suffering in the attempt to give a few minutes' passing amusement to his friends1 if others broke the ice4 ,i had a short ,legend ready1 and not being troubled with shyness1 began the story which follows4 ,i fear that it is not quite original3 certainly its lesson has been often taught2 but not perhaps in just the same form as in my little narration4 ,legend of a ,self-made ,grave4 ,it is said that in olden times1 a man very covetous of gain1 was tempted to make a compact with a spirit1 who was not a spirit of light4 ,in ,oriental language1 such a mythical being is called a jin4 ,some service secretly rendered by the miser to the jin was to be rewarded by the gift of untold wealth4 ,the jin carried the man to a lonely spot near a dark1 weed-overgrown morass1 a place seldom visited by men1 save some poor basket-makers1 who went to gather reeds and rushes4 ,the place was said to be haunted by snakes and other vermin4 ,the miser1 according to the jin's directions1 had brought with him a heavy spade for digging1 and a large sack to contain his gold4 ,in this spot1 quoth the jin1 striking the earth with his foot1 thou shall find inexhaustible treasure4 ,only one limit is affixed to thy gains4 ,when thou dost cease to dig1 thou shalt cease to find4 ,as he thus spake1 the jin vanished from sight4 ,the man took his spade1 plied it vigorously1 and with wondrous success4 ,first1 silver coins2 then1 heavy gold ones--plentifully rewarded his toil4 ,the miser never raised his eyes from the earth except ever and anon to glance timidly around1 while his hand still used the spade1 to see if any unwelcome intruder were watching him at his work4 ,but no one interrupted him4 ,the man's work was begun at dawn2 he continued to dig at noon when the sun's fiercest rays blazed over his head1 drawing up foul exhalations from the marsh4 ,the digger dared not seek for shelter1 lest his golden harvest should suddenly come to an end4 ,his muscles ached2 his mouth was parched with thirst3 but the gold-seeker1 though shining heaps lay around him1 would not pause even to go for a draught of water4 ,as the sun sloped towards the west1 strong fever came on the digger2 but though already possessed of prodigious wealth1 still he went on digging4 ,at last1 as night closed in1 shivering and trembling1 the miser felt that he must give over work3 deep and long was the hole he had made by his diligent toil2 large the golden harvest he had won4 ,yet was he loth to stay his hand1 for the man remembered the words of the jin3 ,when thou dost cease to dig thou shalt cease to find4 ,just one spadeful more6 cried the miser4 ,and stooping low1 with his tool in his hand1 over the hole made by his incessant labour1 the poor wretch's senses failed him2 he swooned1 and fell into a self-made grave6 ,the loose earth fell in from the sides and covered the wealthy fool6 ,the basket-makers who chanced to come in the morning gathered up the heaps of silver and gold which were found near the spot1 beneath which lay the corpse of him who had purchased them with his life4 ,illustration ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,the ,three ,bihistis4 ,i ,,am afraid that your miser has many prototypes in real life1 observed ,percival1 when ,i paused4 ,many a man has sold his life for gold4 ,and his soul also1 said ,lady ,mar4 ,how few realize the depth of truth contained in the lines3 ',the greatest evil we can fear ,is--to possess our portion here6' ,after a little more conversation on the subject1 ,lady ,mar was called upon for her story1 which she thus began3 ,i suppose that ,i need hardly preface my little tale by telling you what bihistis are--,oriental water-carriers1 bending beneath the weight of their mushaks 7skins filled with water73 these have been made so familiar by pictures1 even to those who have never been1 like myself1 in ,india4 ,i knew nothing about mushaks in my boyhood1 observed ,percival2 so our ,lord's words about old and new bottles were to me an insoluble puzzle2 until some one in a ,bible-class mentioned that ,eastern bottles were skins1 of which old1 worn ones would be liable to burst if filled with new1 fermenting wine4 ,what does the word bihisti mean8 ,i enquired4 ,probably it is some combination of 'carry' and 'water4' ,no1 the title is a curious one1 replied ,lady ,mar1 and conveys a poetical idea4 ,bihisti means 'one of ,paradise1' and is probably given to the humble supplier of one of our first blessings1 from water being regarded in the ,east as emphatically 'the gift of ,god4' ',bihisti' is a beautiful name bestowed on an honest1 hard-working class1 who bear a heavy burden1 in order to relieve the thirst of others in a dry and weary land4 ,these bihistis are often seen in ,india filling their mushaks at a well1 or pouring water from them at railway stations when the train stops for a few minutes4 ,bihistis enter even the guarded zenanas to perform their needful task of filling earthen jars2 though the appearance of the poor water-carrier sometimes causes a stampede amongst the ladies4 ,i was startled once1 when showing my album to several bibis199 by their suddenly springing to their feet and running away1 leaving me alone to encounter the danger1 whatever it might be4 ,was it a mad dog or a tiger that had entered the zenana8 ,no2 only a quiet1 sober-looking bihisti1 with his eyes on the ground1 and his burden on his back1 and his hand on the mouth of his mushak1 to guide its contents into the jars placed ready to receive them4 99 ,ladies4 ,and now for my story4 ,outside a serai 7native inn7 sat in the moonlight four men1 smoking their hookahs1 and having one of those long talks which natives of the ,east delight in1 and sometimes prolong far into the night4 ,one of the most striking figures in the group was that of a venerable ,sikh1 whose hair and beard1 never touched by razor1 were now of silvery whiteness4 ,the other men were of various nationalities1 but used ,urdu as a tongue common to all4 ,the first speaker1 a ,persian1 was giving a flowery account of his own country1 which none of the others had ever seen4 ,such horses1 such fruits1 such cities1 he described--that to hear him1 one might think that ,persia1 of all the lands of earth1 was the most beautiful and most blest4 ,and our men are unmatched for size and strength1 pursued the speaker1 using a good deal of gesticulation4 ,i am one of a family of ten sons2 and not one of my brothers but is taller and stronger than ,i am4 ,what would you say to our bihisti8 ,he is some eight feet in height1 and carries a mushak made of the hide of an ox1 which1 when full1 five of your ordinary men could not lift6 ,wah6 ,wah6 exclaimed the listeners4 ,the sage old ,sikh rather incredulously shook his head1 and muttered1 ,i should like to see such a bihisti4 ,then spake a fine tall ,afghan4 ,i could tell you of a bihisti1 he said1 compared to whom your bihisti is but an emmet4 ,i know one who can carry a mushak big as a mountain1 and white as the snows on the ,himalayas4 ,this water-carrier can travel thousands of miles without stopping or feeling weary1 sometimes whistling1 and sometimes howling as he goes4 ,wah6 ,wah6 cried those around him4 ,but the ,persian rather angrily said1 ,i will never believe such a pack of lies6 ,oh1 brother1 said the old ,sikh smiling1 there is more truth in the ,afghan's tale than in thine4 ,look yonder1 he continued1 as a white cloud passed over the face of the moon1 and listen to the rushing blast which is shaking the leaves of yon palms4 ,the wind is the mighty bihisti whom the great ,creator employs to bear swiftly the huge white mushaks which convey ,his gift of rain4 ,the words of the ,pathan are not the words of folly4 ,thou art wise1 ,o father6 said the youngest man in the group1 who had hitherto spoken but little4 ,now listen whilst ,i tell of a third bihisti2 not tall like the first1 nor strong like the second1 but bearing a more wonderful mushak than either4 ,this mushak is small1 not longer than my hand2 it is very old too1 and it is carried by a very feeble man4 ,useless6 ,good for nothing6 exclaimed the ,persian4 ,listen before you say so4 ,in this mushak is water of such wonderful virtue1 that if but a few drops fall on good soil1 a spring of surpassing sweetness bursts forth1 sometimes spreading and spreading3 till first a brook2 then a wide stream2 then a glorious river--appears4 ,the most learned cannot calculate1 nor ages on ages limit1 the effects of a few living drops from that blessed mushak6 ,the ,persian and ,afghan uttered exclamations of surprise2 but a thoughtful inquiring look was on the face of the aged ,sikh4 ,where can that mushak be seen8 he enquired4 ,here1 replied the ,bengali2 and he drew a ,bible from his vest4 ,this book contains the ,word of ,god2 and its contents1 when received with faith1 are spirit and life4 ,it is the ,christian's ,scriptures1 said the old ,sikh1 raising his hand to his brow in token of respect4 ,let me pour forth some drops of the living water1 said the native evangelist2 as the moonlight is so bright that ,i can1 by it1 read a little from the pages which ,i know and love so well4 ,no one made any objection3 the ,persian listened with curiosity1 and the ,afghan with some attention2 but it was on the old ,sikh that the holy words fell like the rain from ,heaven4 ,this was not the first time that he had drunk from the precious mushak of inspired ,truth1 and its water became to him as a stream of life which should never fail him till time should be lost in eternity4 ,illustration ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,the ,legend of the ,shekel4 ,illustration ,,it is your turn now1 ,percival1 said my aunt4 ,give us the ,legend of the ,shekel1 ,i rejoined4 ,it is getting too dark to examine your picture3 but ,i remember it well4 ,it represents a man1 apparently a poor one1 clad in a common ,jewish dress4 ,he is gazing1 with wonder and delight1 at some silver coin1 which he holds in his brown wrinkled palm4 ,i have been trying in vain to recall any incident in ,scripture which would correspond with the picture4 ,surely1 said my aunt1 ,percival must have represented ,st4 ,peter with the money found in the mouth of the fish4 ,i thought of that at first1 ,i observed4 ,but the man in the picture1 thin and weak in appearance1 does not at all suit our idea of a hardy fisherman3 he looks more like a worn-out mechanic4 ,percival1 you must tell us what meaning you intended to convey4 ,percival4 ,the shekel is meant for that brought by the fish2 but the man in the picture is certainly not the ,apostle4 ,lady ,mar4 ,for whom then is this figure intended8 ,percival as his reply repeated the following legend4 ,i wrote it down afterwards from memory1 as it was not to be found amongst the papers left by my friend4 ,the ,legend of the ,shekel4 ,when ,st4 ,peter1 in obedience to the ,master's command1 had cast a hook into the sea1 and drawn forth a fish in whose mouth he found a shekel1 with which to pay the ,temple tribute1 his soul was filled with wonder4 ,how had that piece of silver come into the mouth of the quivering1 struggling creature1 whose habitation had been the deep waters8 ,that silvery fish had1 in some most mysterious manner1 obeyed the behest of its ,creator2 and ,st4 ,peter resolved to restore the wounded creature to its native element4 ,i will not take the life of the dumb fish that has ministered to the ,master's need1 thought ,peter1 as he cast it back into the water4 ,for a moment1 the shining scales glittered in the sunlight1 then disappeared under the waves4 ,the shekel was duly paid into the ,temple treasury as the tribute-money contributed by the ,lord and ,his apostle4 ,in that treasury1 under the care of the avaricious and worldly priests1 the money remained for awhile4 ,they saw in it nothing remarkable2 it was merely1 to them1 a bright1 newly-coined piece of silver1 resembling1 in everything but its freshness1 the thousands of shekels that passed through their hands4 ,at last1 for some needful work done in the ,temple1 the shekel was paid out to a poor artisan1 who thought at first that it had been hardly earned by the labour of several days4 ,michael1 however1 took the shekel without a murmur from the hand of a pampered priest1 who seemed almost to grudge the workman his well-earned hire4 ,michael turned from the door of the ,temple1 which had become a den of thieves2 made his way amongst bleating flocks2 passed the gate of the money-changers2 and would have turned his shekel into smaller coin1 had not conscience hindered the pious ,jew from doing any worldly business in precincts so holy4 ,i will change my shekel elsewhere1 said ,michael to himself2 though ,i am a little loth to part with one which looks so unsullied by the touch of man4 ,looking down at the money in his hand1 ,michael was amazed to behold on it in letters distinct as if fresh from a dye1 but extremely minute1 the first verse of the book of ,psalms4 ,with wonder and delight ,michael gazed on the marvellous coin2 and as he gazed his wonder increased4 ,the words melted away before his eyes2 but no blank remained on the miraculous silver4 ,the second verse of the ,psalm had succeeded the first2 and this1 in a few seconds1 was followed by the third3 and so on to the end of the ,psalm4 ,the shining shekel1 won from the sea1 was like a roll of the ,holy ,scriptures--,psalm after ,psalm1 in regular progression1 appearing on the small bright disc4 ,oh1 marvellous6 ,most marvellous and blessed shekel6 exclaimed the enraptured ,michael4 ,possessed of thee1 ,i am the owner of inestimable wealth6 ,i would not part with thee for a thousand pieces of gold4 ,michael saw a learned ,scribe advancing towards him2 and1 eager to know more of the nature of a thing of such miraculous virtue1 the artisan ran towards the interpreter of the law1 and eagerly showed him the piece of silver4 ,what is this wonderful coin8 exclaimed ,michael4 ,the ,levite examined it1 and a look of contempt came on his face4 ,fool1 have you never seen a shekel before8 he enquired4 ,never such a one as this6 cried ,michael4 ,it is like any other shekel1 said the ,levite scornfully1 and he tossed it down in the dust4 ,it was only the eye of ,faith that saw any special value1 in that which a miracle had produced4 ,did my eyes deceive me when ,i read verse after verse of ,god's ,word from that coin8 said ,michael to himself1 as he raised from the earth his shekel1 quite undimmed by the dust4 ,no1 for another ,psalm is commenced4 ,blessed shekel6 ,i desire to keep thee to my dying day1 and then have thee buried with me in my grave4 ,michael kept to his resolution for some length of time4 ,each day1 when there came any pause in his work1 he drank in comfort and instruction from the words visible to him alone on his wonderful piece of silver4 ,they were the first thing which he studied when rising at dawn2 and when the sun set1 he read till the light faded away4 ,then1 kindling his small earthen lamp1 ,michael still pursued his blessed study3 never did the minute characters engraved on the silver shine more brightly than then4 ,and yet ,michael did break his resolution2 did part with his treasure6 ,and this was how it happened4 ,partly from prophetic verses seen on his coin1 but still more from hearing the ,divine ,preacher ,himself1 ,michael had become a devout believer in the holy ,jesus of ,nazareth4 ,one memorable day1 ,michael met two of the ,lord's followers1 and heard them conversing together in troubled tones4 ,the ,master commanded us to provide things needful for the feast1 said one2 and we have nothing wherewith to buy them4 ,judas hath the bag2 and we wot not whither he has gone4 ,the day is wearing on1 and there is nothing ready for the ,master4 ,surely ,god ,himself will provide1 said the other disciple4 ,michael was a poor man1 and knew not how to prepare the usual feast for himself2 for he had shrunk from spending his precious shekel4 ,but here the need was the ,lord's2 and should he not give to the ,master of the very best that he had8 ,how could his precious coin be better bestowed8 ,so in lowly faith and love1 the poor artisan gave his all to supply the table of the dear ,master4 ,michael little knew that he was paying for the bread and wine which1 at the ,last ,supper1 should be distributed as emblems of ,his own sacred body and blood by the ,lamb about to be slain4 ,michael was no loser by his free-will offering of love4 ,all the words which had before been engraven on the shekel were now clearly written in his own heart1 as if by the pen of an angel4 ,a thousandfold blessed was the man who had given what he most prized to the ,lord4 ,and even of the fish that had unwittingly helped the ,master1 the legend says that it had been reserved to be used again in ,his service4 ,when the disciples were gathered together after the ,resurrection of ,christ1 and their ,lord appeared amongst them1 the broiled fish which formed part of the repast was that which had borne in its mouth to ,peter the wonderful shekel4 ,i have been thinking1 said ,i1 as ,percival concluded1 what kind of moral one could draw from your legend1 which one could imagine some monk in the dark ages composing in his cell4 ,to me it seems to convey the lesson that a blessing may be gained1 even by a surrender of some spiritual privileges for the service of the ,lord1 said ,lady ,mar4 ,the quiet1 peaceful ,sabbath evening given up for the ,sabbath class in some heated1 crowded room2 the congenial society of ,god's people surrendered for that of rude1 ignorant unbelievers1 either at home or abroad--such sacrifices are well-pleasing in ,his sight4 ,few earnest followers of ,him who left ,heaven and its angels to toil amongst wicked men but know something of what it is to surrender the precious shekel1 and gain a thousandfold in exchange4 ,illustration ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,the ,night after the ,crucifixion4 ,illustration ,,there was no third person present when ,percival and ,i talked over the subject of the picture on which he had bestowed his most loving pains4 ,it was the only one1 as he told me1 in which he had ventured to introduce more than two figures4 ,his mind had so pondered over his subject that to him1 at least1 the scene appeared to be real4 ,percival had1 as it were1 sat on the ground with the mourners for a crucified ,master2 realized their sense of desolation2 with them1 bowed his head and wept4 ,what must have been the darkness when the ,sun of ,righteousness had set6 ,what the appalling stillness1 when the sacred body of the murdered ,hope of ,israel lay cold in the rock-hewn tomb6 ,the scene depicted was a room on the ground-floor of some ,jerusalem home4 ,scarcely any furniture is seen save a few mats on the earthen floor1 and clay lamps burning dimly in niches on the wall4 ,there is also a low bedstead1 on which1 in a half-reclining position1 appears the principal female figure1 with another woman crouching on the ground1 in silent unutterable woe1 at her feet4 ,a third1 standing with clasped hands and upturned gaze1 is seen near1 but her wan face bears an expression of trustful confidence which has in it something of the sublime4 ,she is not crushed1 but exalted by trial4 ,seyton4 ,here we doubtless see the three ,maries4 ,the central form is that of the ,lord's desolate mother2 but she seems rather to be absorbed in deep thought1 than overwhelmed by the bitter grief of bereavement4 ,percival4 ,i pictured in my mind the three ,maries1 as types of ,memory1 ,love1 and ,faith4 ,the mother1 in her silent sorrow1 is meditating over wondrous recollections of the past2 which1 like the wall-lamps1 cast some light on what would otherwise appear as one chaos of gloom4 ,is it possible that ,he whose coming was foretold to me by a glorious angel2 at whose birth seraphs sang and the shepherds were glad--is it possible that ,he has really passed from earth like a dream6 ,was it for nothing that holy ,elisabeth and ,anna prophesied1 and the aged ,simeon rejoiced8 ,the sword has indeed pierced my soul2 aye1 drank as it were my very life's blood3 but was not this also foretold6 ,doth ,god give the bitter1 and withhold the sweet8 ,must not prophecies be fulfilled8 ,seyton4 ,it has struck me that the circumstance of ,mary of ,nazareth's not being mentioned amongst the women who visited the sepulchre--may have arisen from her stronger faith4 ,she1 the ,lord's mother1 did not1 as far as we know1 seek the living amongst the dead3 at least1 her so doing is not recorded by any one of the four ,evangelists4 ,percival4 ,the things which ,mary so long pondered in her heart may1 like buried seeds1 have sprung to light in the hour of her bitterest anguish4 ,the ,lord's mother was a thoughtful woman2 and she knew that the ,babe whom she had folded in her arms and pressed to her bosom was indeed the ,son of ,god4 ,seyton4 ,but there is nothing of hope expressed in the attitude of ,mary ,magdalene in your picture4 ,percival4 ,no2 she has loved1 and she has lost1 her ,lord2 lost ,him1 as she thinks1 for ever1 as regards this mortal life4 ,mary has kissed the dead feet2 has pressed to her lips the wounded hand2 and her tears have dropped on the thorn-encircled brow4 ,even the sight of angels will convey to her no comfort2 her grief-dimmed eyes will not recognize the risen ,christ ,himself1 till she hears ,his own beloved voice pronounce her familiar name4 ,seyton4 ,the third ,mary presents a contrast to the ,magdalene3 the sister of ,lazarus1 with the tears streaming down her cheeks1 looks as if on her pale lips could almost dawn a triumphant smile4 ,percival4 ,have you never thought what was probably the subject of the ,lord's discourse to ,mary of ,bethany when1 absorbed in listening1 she sat at ,his feet8 ,is it not likely that ,christ was disclosing to her1 as ,he did to less believing disciples1 the approaching sacrifice on ,calvary1 and the glory which was to follow8 ,seyton4 ,if such were the subject of ,christ's discourse1 how ,martha's impetuous interruption must have jarred both on the ,divine ,teacher and the listener who was drinking in such soul-absorbing truths6 ,percival4 ,surely it was not in blind ignorance of the meaning of what she did1 that ,mary brought her precious ointment to pour on the feet of the ,master6 ,he who could read her inmost thoughts said1 ,she did it for ,my burial4 ,were not ,mary's thoughts1 then1 something like this-- ,he hath said it--alas6 alas6--and all that my ,lord says must be true4 ,the holy ,jesus will be delivered into the hands of the ,gentiles4 ,he will be mocked1 scourged1 and slain4 ,yes1 ,he who called my brother from the grave must ,himself die6 ,and they who murder ,him will not1 perhaps1 suffer due honour to be paid to the holy corpse2 ,i may not be able to approach the sacred form6 ,i will be beforehand with ,christ's cruel foes2 what ,i may not be allowed to do after ,his death1 ,i will do ere the awful moment come when the ,lamb of ,god must be sacrificed for our sins4 ,i will anoint ,him for ,his burial6 ,seyton4 ,and when the sacrifice had been offered1 you believe that ,mary of ,bethany1 unlike any of the apostles1 had faith to look beyond death to ,christ's ,resurrection8 ,percival4 ,there is nothing in ,scripture that ,i know of to lead us to doubt it4 ,the piety of ,mary of ,bethany seems to have been of a higher1 a more spiritual type1 than that of her sister4 ,it was not ,mary who exclaimed against the removal of the stone from the sepulchre's mouth4 ,mary perhaps saw in the resurrection of ,lazarus a type and pledge of that of her ,lord4 ,if so1 her joy must have been yet more intense than that of ,martha1 even as her gratitude took a more palpable form4 ,seyton4 ,it is interesting and refreshing to the spirit thus to meditate over ,scripture characters4 ,what to some are merely like ancient statues1 when we gaze on them thus1 become human beings instinct with life4 ,percival4 ,and such meditation makes us realize the tie which binds ,christians of to-day to saints of the olden time2 at least1 it has that effect with me4 ,i feel almost as if those whose forms ,i have attempted to depict on my canvas had become my familiar friends4 ,i look forward to meeting those three ,maries hereafter3 perhaps that time may not be far off4 ,seyton4 ,there are two male figures in the background of your picture1 represented as just about to enter the room4 ,one1 the elder1 appears to be struggling to retire3 he is unwilling to intrude on the sacredness of grief4 ,percival4 ,can you not read sorrow and shame on his half-averted face8 ,seyton4 ,his younger companion is using loving persuasion to draw him forward3 his arm is thrown around the elder1 and his face expresses compassion and love4 ,the two figures must represent ,john and ,peter4 ,percival4 ,such was the idea in my mind4 ,where would poor broken-hearted ,peter hide himself when1 pierced by that look of his ,lord1 he went forth and bitterly wept8 ,would he not seek the solemn shade of the olives in the ,garden of ,gethsemane1 and prostrate himself on the spot where the ,master had knelt in agonized prayer8 ,would not ,peter lay his throbbing brow on the sod where he could trace red signs of the bloody sweat1 and try to efface them with his hot tears8 ,percival went on3 ,how terrible to ,peter must have been the darkness which for three hours covered the earth1 a sign that the fearful deed was being done1 on which the sun could not look6 ,he who had thrice denied his ,lord dared not go near ,his cross2 but the disciple's anguished soul would vividly picture its horrors4 ,peter must have trembled at the shock of the earthquake which told that all was over4 ,how could he rise from the earth8 ,how endure ever to look again on the face of a fellow-apostle8 ,seyton4 ,and you have imagined ,john1 with tender sympathy1 seeking out his erring brother in the place where he would be most likely to find him4 ,percival4 ,and entreating ,peter not to remain apart from all his brethren2 not to give way to despair3 but to join those who1 like himself1 were mourning their crucified ,lord4 ,seyton4 ,no marvel that ,peter should shrink from entering the presence of the bereaved mother of ,christ6 ,percival4 ,mary would not turn from him2 she would utter no word of reproach3 she would raise her tearful eyes1 and give the penitent ,peter a look which would remind him of that which he had last seen on the sacred face of her ,son4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,the ,legend of the ,roman ,soldier4 ,illustration ,i ,,had fastened up several of ,percival's pictures on the wall of the room which he now occupied2 and in which he received frequent visits from my aunt4 ,on one occasion the following conversation was held between them4 ,lady ,mar4 ,percival1 ,i cannot take my eyes from that picture of yours hung in the corner3 it is so dramatic in composition1 so vigorous in execution4 ,yet ,i find it so difficult to trace any connexion between it and any narrative contained in the ,bible4 ,i understood from my nephew that you only illustrate passages from ,scripture4 ,percival4 ,not exactly so1 dear ,lady ,mar4 ,the connection of my poor fancies with the ,scriptures is like that of the mistletoe with the oak4 ,the mistletoe is a weak little plant2 of a nature different to1 and far less noble than1 the tree on which it rests3 yet from that tree1 it derives both nourishment and support4 ,lady ,mar4 ,and the mistletoe bears delicate white berries1 which serve to make winter brighter4 ,but this picture before me has red berries rather than white ones4 ,despondency and attempted suicide appear to form its subject4 ,a powerfully-made soldier1 evidently a ,roman1 is about to fall on his own sword1 his face expressing the despair which is driving him on to self-destruction4 ,another man1 a ,jew1 has caught hold of his arm1 evidently to prevent the warrior from accomplishing his desperate purpose4 ,lady ,mar continued3 ,please tell us on what branch of the oak your parasite grows4 ,you cannot refuse us anything this evening1 as my nephew leaves us for college to-morrow2 so to one of us1 as you see1 this will be the last night of meeting for some months to come4 ,i thought sadly1 ,possibly indeed the last meeting4 ,shall ,i find ,percival here on my return8 ,i happen to have written out my little ,legend1 was ,percival's reply4 ,if ,seyton cares to read it1 and you to listen1 it is quite at your service4 ,whilst my nephew reads1 ,i will keep my eye on the picture1 said ,lady ,mar4 ,i feel a sympathy with that stalwart ,roman1 who seems in such a desperate plight4 ,the ,legend of the ,roman ,soldier4 ,a soldier sought the silence and solitude of a forest2 for the presence of his fellow-creatures had become hateful to his soul4 ,the moonbeams1 piercing like silver lances between the branches1 glimmered on the steel breastplate and arms which had been borne in many a fight4 ,marcus was a tried warrior1 who had distinguished himself from his comrades by feats of strength and deeds of daring4 ,but now all his spirit was gone3 he would not have cared to raise his powerful arm to ward off a blow2 nay1 he would have welcomed the sharp steel which should cut him off from the earth1 which had become to him worse than a prison4 ,now let me end my misery6 exclaimed ,marcus4 ,i am a guilty wretch not fit to live6 ,there is only one good deed which ,i can perform--use this accursed hand to avenge the innocent blood which it shed4 ,clenching his teeth with fierce resolution1 ,marcus fixed the hilt of his sword firmly between the gnarled roots of a tree2 hastily unfastened his breastplate1 and flung it clanging on the earth2 then nerved himself for the desperate act of throwing himself on the point of his sharp weapon4 ,but at that moment1 the muscular arm of the strong soldier was seized by a ,jew1 who1 unseen in the shade1 had watched his movements4 ,madman6 ,in ,christ's name forbear6 exclaimed the ,jew4 ,marcus was startled at the word4 ,what6 ,are you one of the followers of ,him who died on ,calvary8 cried the soldier1 drawing back1 and surveying almost with fear one whom by a slight exertion of his giant strength1 he could have dashed to the ground4 ,if you be a disciple of ,christ1 far from staying the execution of justice1 you will slay me yourself1 and trample my blood under your feet6 ,take yon sword1 and strike home6 ,what hast thou done1 asked the ,christian1 that thou shouldst bid me slay thee8 ,hear1 if thou wilt2 for ,i can no longer endure to bear my burden in silence4 ,hear and then strike2 for ,i have well-merited death from the hand of a disciple4 ,so saying1 ,marcus flung himself down on the gnarled roots1 which afforded a rude kind of seat1 and signed to the ,jew to take his place on a large stone near4 ,asahel1 such was his name1 obeyed the sign1 and prepared himself to listen4 ,but for some minutes only deep groans were heard from the unhappy ,roman1 who seemed to shrink from beginning his terrible confession4 ,at last1 averting his eyes1 he thus began3 ,is it not enough to say that ,i was one of the ,prtorian band on that day--not many moons have waxed and waned since then--when there was darkness and an earthquake2 and the ,temple curtain was rent in twain4 ,what6 ,thou wast one of those ,roman soldiers6 ,thou didst mock the ,blessed ,one1 and crown ,him with thorns6 ,i did not6 cried ,marcus fiercely4 ,i was not base enough for that4 ,when ,i looked at that calm majestic ,sufferer1 ,i thought ,him more kingly in ,his robe of mockery1 than ,pontius ,pilate in all his state6 ,when ,i heard the yelling of the savage mob1 thirsty for blood1 ,i said to myself1 ',were ,i in the place of our ,governor1 those slaves might shout as they pleased1 ,i would never give ,him up1 innocent as ,he is1 to fanatic priest or frantic people6 ,i would not so play the coward6' ,asahel winced1 as if some acute pain had suddenly struck him4 ,but it was my duty1 my detestable office1 to execute the sentence which ,i thought unjust as well as cruel4 ,i was accustomed as a soldier to obey orders without question1 and without remorse4 ,hardened as ,i am by familiarity with executions1 without mercy or scruple ,i crucified one of the wretched thieves4 ,his yell of agony as ,i did my work did not even awake a feeling of pity in my heart4 ,but it was very different with me when ,i laid my hand--would that lightning had blasted it6--on the hammer1 and did what ,i would now give my life to undo6 ,he uttered no groan--no curse2 ,he submitted like a lamb in the slaughterer's grasp4 ,he but said--,i cannot repeat what ,he said4 ,the soldier's head sank on his broad breast1 and the strong man wept4 ,christ said1 ',father1 forgive them2 for they know not what they do6' said ,asahel1 softly4 ,i was present through all1 continued the soldier1 when he had recovered his self-command1 ,i saw the sudden darkness3 it fell over me like a shroud6 ,every hour of that fearful time convinced me the more that ,i was helping to torture--to murder--,one who was more than man4 ,at last1 when ,i heard the faint words1 ',i thirst6' ,i ran2 and putting a sponge filled with vinegar on a reed1 ,i moistened the white1 parched lips of the ,dying4 ,oh that ,i had done that6 cried the ,christian ,jew1 bursting into tears4 ,blessed man6 ,thou wert the only one1 then1 to relieve the ,saviour's dying anguish6 ,the ,roman gazed in astonishment at his companion4 ,i thought1 ,o follower of ,christ6 said he4 ,that thou wouldst abhor me1 even as ,i abhor mine own self4 ,i am a thousandfold more guilty than thou art6 cried ,asahel4 ,i was one of the savage mob4 ,it was as if under the direct influence of ,satan that ,i shouted even as they did4 ,i saw ,him suffer--and ,i did not pity6 ,thou didst act under compulsion4 ,i--,i struck ,him2 and yet ,i live6 ,marcus started to his feet with something like an imprecation4 ,wretch6 ,thou art beyond pardon6 he exclaimed4 ,i have found pardon6 cried the believer4 ,and where ,i found it1 so may'st thou4 ,then1 in a voice trembling with emotion1 ,asahel recounted the wonders of the ,day of ,pentecost2 and repeated1 almost word for word1 that address of ,peter1 on hearing which1 three thousand sinners were pricked to the heart and repented4 ,i was one of that three thousand1 said the converted ,jew4 ,i believed1 and ,i was forgiven4 ,the blood which flowed on the cross was a full1 sufficient1 atonement even for guilt such as mine4 ,and will it avail even for me8 exclaimed ,marcus1 the first ray of hope glimmering on the midnight of his despair4 ,did ,christ not pray for thee1 ,o brother8 ,and art thou not already forgiven8 ,illustration ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,asleep4 ,illustration ,i ,,shall ever remember that evening3 what followed impressed it so deeply on my mind4 ,percival seemed unconscious of any one's presence2 his lips softly repeated the last word forgiven1 and ,i thought that he smiled4 ,a brief prayer closed our meeting that night3 ,i now doubt whether ,percival heard it4 ,my aunt1 seeing that the invalid was unusually drowsy1 hastened the preparation for his nightly rest4 ,in the morning4 ,i went to ,percival's room early1 to bid him good-bye ere ,i started for college4 ,i knocked at his door3 there was no reply4 ,i knocked again3 still silence within4 ,i opened the door softly2 and entering1 approached his bed4 ,my first glance at the countenance1 so white--so still--so beautiful1 told me that the spirit had fled4 ,for death had come in the land of sleep2 ,and his lifeless body lay ,like a worn-out fetter1 which the soul ,had broken and cast away6 ,we had anticipated for ,percival a long1 slow1 painful descent to the river of death3 but some chord had given way within2 he was free1 and had cleared the river at a bound4 ,i could not have laid a detaining hand on the freed and rejoicing spirit6 ,nothing is now left1 in this world1 of ,henry ,percival--but a modest tomb1 a fragrant memory1 and his little gallery of pictures4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,london3 ,,morgan ,,scott1 #ab1 ,,paternoster ,,buildings4 ,illustration