the child up to her husband; and then, drawing around her her mantle, she departed, closing the door behind her.

Sad and disconsolate did my poor owner stand with the sleeping child in his arms, many minutes before he moved. "May be she'll come back," said he: and he listened for her returning footsteps; but he listened vainly. Many footsteps passed to and fro, but none halted at the threshold; and at length, heaving a heavy sigh, he laid the child gently on its little bed, and sat himself down, crossing his arms on the table before him and concealing his face therein, as though to hide even from the walls of his room the big and sorrowful tears which welled upwards from the fountain of his grief.

Much cause had my owner for anxious care, and much need for patience and fortitude. The wife of his affections had ere this become his persecutor for my sake. It needs not to reveal the daily irritation he experienced at her hands, nor repeat the taunting words with which she often greeted him, nor tell of the sneers with which she spoke of his “Bible madness," nor of the more angry passions which rose in her heart against me when my owner set himself to listen to my words. Often, indeed, since the day when the young wife had attempted to hide me from her husband's sight, had her hands been laid on me to do me harm; but either her heart had failed, or her rage had been restrained; and thus hitherto I had escaped her malice. But, verily, my

owner had to pass through deep waters of trial, and to know what it was to take up his cross daily, in following his Master and mine, and to know likewise what these words of mine mean-"A man's foes shall be they of his own household."*

There were times, truly, when the gentleness and meekness of the husband seemed for a little while to subdue the pride and anger of the wife; and seldom, surely, have the fruits of the Spirit, which are "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance," been more fully seen than in the workman Vickers, after he first knew the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. There were times when the obdurate feelings of the unbelieving and ungodly wife seemed melted by the forbearance of the husband, and smiles succeeded to reproaches. But ever did she shut her ears against the entreaties which would have brought her to my side, to listen to my words.

And then had she turned aside to the instruction from which her husband had turned away, and given a listening ear to those professed guides and teachers of the people whose efforts were first directed to the overthrow of faith in the word of the Most High, and next to the destruction of the happiness of families by the introduction of the delusive and vile ravings of such "filthy dreamers" as the lecturer of "the new moral world."

Matt. x. 36.

CHAPTER XVIII.

TEMPTATION AND ESCAPE.

MANY hours passed away, heavily to my troubled owner, and yet did not the young wife return to her home.

Meanwhile the darkness of evening had come on, and a faint cry from the still sleeping child roused the father from his disconsolate posture, and he rose to hush the infant, and to kindle a lamp at the smouldering hearth. Then his eyes fell upon me, and again seating himself, he drew me towards him, and these words of consolation and encouragement fell gently and soothingly on his weary soul:

Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God."*

And with many such words as these did I cheer the downcast and calm the perturbed spirit of my owner; and then did he bethink him of the command given to pray and not to faint, and of the loving invitation of his Lord and Master to boldly unto the throne of grace," to "obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." And thereupon did he pour out his soul before God, “with

* Isa. 1. 10.

66 come

strong crying and tears," that the heart of her who was to him "bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh” might be turned to true wisdom, and to that “godly sorrow which worketh repentance unto life, not to be repented of."

Then again did he seat himself and turn over my leaves; but weary with watching and much carefulness of soul, his bodily senses became gradually dull, his eyes closed, his hand lay heavily on me at an open page, and he sank into a placid sleep.

Near midnight the door was gently opened, and the young wife entered the room. Her countenance was flushed as with strong emotion, and looking wildly round, she saw her husband sleeping, the lamp still burning on the table, and the open book on which his hand still rested. In one moment she was by his side, and gently leaning over his arm, she cautiously, but curiously and keenly, looked down upon my open page.

As one bitten by a serpent did the young wife start with dread at the first sentence on which her eye was fixed; and then slowly withdrawing herself to a darkened corner of the apartment, she sank on the chair in great distress of mind, covering her face with her hands, and sobbing with strong con- | vulsive gaspings. Yet did not the husband wake, and yet the smile of peace and calm repose rested on his countenance.

Long did the wife continue in her posture of humiliation; at length, softly rising, she glided

again to her husband's side, and affectionately bent over him. Then, hasting away, she snatched the yet slumbering child to her bosom and retreated into her room. The faint cry of the slightly aroused child startled my owner from his sleep, and ere long he too had retired, yet not until he had again prostrated himself before the heavenly Majesty in prayer and supplication.

Through many succeeding days did a strange mystery overhang, as it were, and mark the conduct of the young wife. Unwonted tenderness, springing from some hidden source, was shown by her towards her wondering but gratified husband. With trembling earnestness she entreated him not to delay his return to his home when his daily work was ended; and while he was absent an unwonted dread of solitude weighed down her spirits, while yet she sought not intercourse with the neighbours, but drew bar and bolt as though to shut out from the habitation all besides its rightful lord.

Nay, more than this; daily, and when there was no eye to see her but the eye of Omniscience, did the young wife, retiring to her room, pass hour after hour in sobbing and sorrowful exclamations, which told of a soul ill at ease with itself. Verily "the spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?”*

Thus passed away many sorrowful weeks, and little did my owner think of the soul struggles

Prov. xviii. 14.