wearied nature sank under the long and sleep drew around her the curtain of it was but for a few brief days and nights that could be permitted to sit and gaze upon her last earthly treasure and oh how solemn was the dawn of each succeeding morning ds it rose upon the living and the dead how silently the still evening closed around yet in that sweet hour when the returns from the field of labour when the cattle are driven down firom the hills and the sheep are gathered into the fold when the weary bird flies back to the woods and covers her with her brooding wings when the mother the pillow of her child and presses on its rosy cheek her farewell kiss when all the softening influences of domestic peace and home are drawn around the heart � even in that sweet hour uttered no and the tears that chased each other down her cheeks were not tears of for she had not been one of those who leave the commencement of the great and important work until the time when there is urgent need for its full and entire completion who enter the to feast upon the grapes having never the vines who go forth into the harvest field to reap having never sown the precious seed in the spring time of her life in the morning of her days she had diligently sought the true fountain and now when every other draught was turned to bitterness she foimd and felt the of the waters of everlasting life a second time bland too a deep the s widow and solitary by the side of the closing grave over her pale features was spread the calmness of resignation and none of the surrounding throng of on knew or cared to know with what feelings she turned away when the last solemn rites were over from that little churchyard � not the noisy space of ground allotted to the burial of the dead which her son had so spoken of with disgust and horror but a quiet resting place one they had fixed upon together during their last walk into the country here she had stood beside the grave not only the chief but the sole and here she left with her buried treasure all the hopes and the which bound her to this troubled life from this now sacred spot of earth returned to her � home what is home surely there must be something more than a hired to constitute a home but had in this wide world nothing more happy is it for those who feel that their home is an habitation not made with hands eternal in the heavens the christian character is almost universally described as one which is and be at with what is commonly the world the christian church is called the church and the christian himself is often spoken of as one who is compelled to fight the good fight all the good lessons which we learn from our infancy our observations upon the world in general the experience of every day and the of the holy combine to teach us that the utmost stretch of faith and perseverance and and zeal are necessary to protect us against the mastery of evil passions within and the temptations of the world without it is however graciously permitted to us in almost every situation in life to enjoy the consolation of human help to have some star or stars in our own low sphere to light us on our way some kind voice to cheer us on our pilgrimage some home of welcome in the hearts we love where the wounded may fly for healing and the weary for repose how thankful then ought we to be for this mingling of earthly affections with heavenly this of the task of duty this of the cup of self denial and how deep how sincere should be our pity for those unto whom this merciful is not extended unto whom it is by the wisdom that not that they shall journey through the wilderness alone unto whom the sentence h s gone forth behold i will take away the desire of thine eyes as with a stroke in this situation the christian is severely tried for here no earthly encouragement is held out and whatever is done must be done purely for the love of god for the pleasure of obeying his law and walking in his ways in order more fully to illustrate the nature of true resignation and more clearly to what ought to be the state of the human mind under this trial it will be necessary to trace the progress of the humble individual whose character has been here described one step farther on her path of patience and fortitude for this purpose let us look in upon the widow in her solitude let us imagine her on the day following that of the funeral solitary but not for busied herself with examining each article of the personal property which her son had left and though her eyes were sometimes so with tears that she could hardly read the different he had placed upon all his school and his of affection and early companionship she still went on leaving out whatever she thought might be more valuable to others than to herself though it was a hard thing to part even with his wardrobe now that she was so desolate and forlorn this duty moreover was gone through and sat down to spend the evening alone � alone and without employment for when she laid down her bible and would have taken up her work the thought that pictures op private life she had now no longer any one to work for seemed to her fingers and throw a chain of icy coldness upon every rouse herself for active exertion it was not long however that permitted her 