Year: 1866

/ "Your heart is right, I know.
| wouldn't wonder if, by and by, yor
will be able to live as the gods do
You know Thoreau says that nectar
and ambrosia are only the fine flavor
of every earthly fruit which our coarse
palates fail to perceive, just as we
dwell in the heaven of the gods with
out knowing it, / can half imagine
that the heaven has become visible tc
you"


"No, l should be goddess then,
she said, playfully, "and great must be
the victories of him who would under.
go apotheosis."


I" If you have not overcome, who
has | wish you would teach me the
way, and help me up to you !"


Nay" she said, earnestly ; "you
have overcome men who can be great
er among the gods |"


He looked at her eagerly, while the
hot blood welled into her face as she
thought.how she had spoken. He re-
peated softly, "Who shall ascend in
to the hill of the Lord? He that hath
clean hands and pure heart ?"-then
said, gravely and earnestly, "You can
help me as no one else can. l
need you :"


Did she not know it2 Did she not
need him? And is it a small thing
when two souls meeting the conflict
of life can look out at each other and
say, al need your"


God only knows how her heart
echoed the words as she sat there, all
color stricken from her face, while she
looked into the future and saw the
path she must tread without him
stretching away like desert-whle
green pastures and still waters lay
where he would lead.


He held ont his hand and said,
"Come !" and involuntarily she placed
her hand in his. 1t was but mo-
ment, and she hastily withdrew it. al
cannot" she cried, while look, almost
of despair, settled upon her face. He
saw the struggle, and his great heart
bled for her, while an iron hand SEEM
ed grasping it as he thought of him
self They sat still and powerless
for time then he said,


81 know you think you are doing
right, and God forbid that l should
ask you to do otherwise-but think
once more. Think how we can help
each other in the work given us to do"


40, no your work should be mine.
I, with my cares, would be but bur-
den and hindrance to you. My work
is here yours out in the world. God
has given them to us we must not
falter. But the time is short /; and,
thank God, love is eternal land the
tears streamed from her eyes as she
looked up at him.


amen !" came from his rigid lips.


They sat silent, each trying to gain
self-control. He saw she was right
saw that her work was there, and he
had no right to give up his of preach
ing Christ. God accepted and remem-
bered the sacrifice.


He finally arose, while she stood be-
side him, pale and trembling. "God
bless you." he said the memory of
this hour will help and strengthen me.
Work must not be carelessly done, for
which so much has been sacrificed.
You will write to me, you will let me
come to you, and you will come to me
whenever can help or comfort you 2"
He held out his hand. She gave hers,
and they met in warm, firm clasp.


That night Alice knelt alone, weak
and hopeless, while the waves and
the pillows went over her but, even
then, for her was the promise aud full.
fillment, "When thou passest through
the waters, will be with thee and
through the rivers, they shall not
overflow thee"