"So she told him all that had befallen her sweet baby: And now, my little fair one,' said she, 'being removed from me, I cannot but go on my pilgrimage mourning.'

"With that the shepherd rebuked her, yet with kindness; for the water stood in his eyes while he spake My daughter,' said he, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? (Heb. xii. 5-7.) Doest thou well, my daughter,' he added, to grieve, because thy little son is gone to him who loved him so well as to die for him upon the cross?' Then drawing from his pocket a perspective glass, and bidding her put it to her eye, he bade her look upwards. So she did as he required.

"Then said the shepherd, What seest thou?' "She answered, 'I see nothing, Sir, by reason of the tears which dim my sight.'

"I feared as much,' he replied: cast away, therefore, this sorrow of the world which worketh death. (2 Cor. vii. 10.) Wipe away thy tears, and pray to God for help.' So she wiped away her tears; and kneeling down with the shepherd, he prayed that the God of all consolation would comfort her.

"After rising from their knees, the shepherd bade her put the glass again to her eyes, and look towards the heavens. So after looking awhile, she put on a smile of satisfaction.

"Wherefore smilest thou, my daughter? said the shepherd.

"She answered,' For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' (Luke xv. 24.) "Then said the shepherd, What sayest thou, my daughter?-explain thy words.'

"She replied, "The glass which you gave me, Sir, has brought my baby again to my sight. I have seen my little fair one! He is without spot or blemish! He is clothed with beauty and glory such as no tongue can describe! He is with his Redeemer. The Lord is his Shepherd; he will never want. He maketh him to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth him beside still waters. (Psalm xxiii. 1, 2.) O my baby! my sweet baby! thou art happy, my child! As one whom his mother comforteth, so doth the Lord comfort thee, and thou art comforted in Zion. (Isaiah lxvi. 13.) I will no longer sorrow as one without hope, but will go on my pilgrimage rejoicing. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.' (Psalm xxxiv. 3, 4.)

"At this the shepherd was greatly pleased; and he said, 'God be with thee, my daughter!' But before she went forward, he gave her the glass, and bade her keep it for her comfort by the way, and rather lose her life than part with it. Now this glass was called Faith; and she received it thankfully.

"She then said to us, 'My dear children, fare ye well! God in his mercy grant that we may meet in that happy country whither my baby is gone before, and where he dwells with the children of the King. Then again bidding us farewell, with many tears, she took the road to the Celestial City; and by this time she has doubtless proceeded very far on her way. Thus she departed, and left us in this pleasant place, where we have ever since been very happy, though often wishing for you, my dear brother; but now you are with us, our joy is complete." So they kissed each other again, and seemed to be filled anew with joy.

About this time, putting his pipe to his mouth, the shepherd Sincerity played a sweet air; which

sounding over the green pastures and rising grounds, his little ones soon knew the call, and came running together at the signal. I saw then that, having first given thanks, he distributed to each child a portion of such sweet and nourishing food as was most suitable to their tender ages. After which,

having joined in blessing God for this seasonable repast, he made them sit down round about him upon the grass, while he thus held discourse with them. They were seated on a hill side which faced the west, lovely and airy, and sweetly overlooking the flowery vale below. The shepherd bade his children look at the sun, which having run his daily course, was going to set; while many golden and purple clouds rested on the hills. "Look, my little ones," said he, "look at that glorious sun-it is a mighty world of light and heat. It is fixed in the heavens by the same great God who formed you all. Many worlds, like this which we inhabit, take their yearly courses round that sun, receiving from it light and warmth. These worlds are the work of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, by whom God made them all. The sun will soon disappear behind yonder hills: when we shall see in the heavens millions of stars. Those stars are themselves supposed to be suns, which shine on other worlds, which the same God created, and over which the same God is the universal Ruler. In those worlds, no doubt, there are creatures more numerous than the sands of the sea. God is the Father of them all; and such of them as submit to his will are happy every where; while they who rebel against him, are every where miserable. By God the Son were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Col. i. 16, 17.)

"In the Book of Psalms these words are addressed to the Son of God: Of old hast thou laid the foundations of the earth; and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure; yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. (Psalm cii. 25-27.) "But although the mighty God who made these myriads of worlds hath the constant rule and charge of them all, yet his fatherly care extends to the minutest of his creatures. He numbers every hair of your heads, and clothes the lilies of the field with all their beauty. There is not a little flower, nor a tender herb, nor leaf of the forest, but it is the workmanship of his hand. At his command each little blossom unfolds its enamelled leaves, and sheds sweet odours through the air. Where

fore if God so clothe the grass of the field, how much more shall he take care of you, my little children? (Matt. vi. 30.) Love him therefore with all your heart, and serve him in the way that he has commanded in his Holy Book; so shall you be safe from evil of every kind. For the Lord is your compassionate Father, and he loves you even more than your mothers ever did; as it is written-Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." (Isaiah xlix. 15.)

Now the good shepherd took his harp in his hand, while his children accompanied him in a song of praise. They then knelt down upon the grass, and joined him in an evening prayer; which being finished, they all betook themselves to rest in their several bowers: and I saw that an aged woman, whose name was Careful, watched over the little

ones.

CHAPTER VII.

Now, perhaps some curiosity may be excited to know how Inbred-Sin was employed all this time; since he seems to have allowed the young ones to enjoy a little quiet. But the truth is, that finding himself in a place where he had so many enemies, and seeing that the shepherd was always ready to put the children on their guard against him, he judged it best to keep back and be quiet for a season, that the children, being freed from his importunities, might be thrown off their guard; that so, ceasing to watch, they might the more easily be surprised, and led astray. Accordingly, I saw that although he had followed the children all the afternoon close upon their steps, he had refrained from meddling with them, even so much as by a whisper. At night also he came with them to their bower, where stretching himself upon the grass, he pretended to fall fast asleep; though he was, in reality, as wide awake, and as full of mischief, as it was possible for him to be. So Humble Mind and his sisters seeing Inbred-Sin asleep, as they thought, they rejoiced, sitting down and chatting together by the light of the moon, till they felt the need of repose: when being tired with the duties and amusements of the day, they laid themselves down and slept soundly.

Now, hard by the shepherd Sincerity's pleasant fields, the enemy of pilgrims, to wit, that old ser