were soon scattered over the green hills and pastures, all hastening to fulfil their various duties of love and kindness; while the good shepherd sat upon the hill, under the shade of the cedar grove, conversing with his God in holy meditation, and still watching his scattered charge as they wandered about the flowery pastures, lest some enemy should break in, and by any means hurt one of those unsuspecting little ones

CHAPTER VI.

THEN I looked again after Humble Mind: and behold, his sisters were leading him towards the bower which the shepherd had given them. And as they walked along, they sometimes kissed each other, and sometimes questioned each other concerning the things which had happened since the day of their parting.

Now I saw, in my dream, that this bower was exceedingly lovely and fresh, shaded from the noonday sun by the tufted branches of the trees; and there was a soft bed of spring herbs, on which the little ones were accustomed to sleep. So the children broke off their conversation relating to past circumstances, in order to show their brother such things as they loved in and near their bower. Peace showed him a little valley adorned with lilies; and told him that, early in the morning, while the dew was upon the grass, the young fawns would come and feed among the lilies.

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Here," said Playful, "you may sit in the heat of the day, and hear the voice of the turtle-dove (Sol. Song ii. 12); here too are 'brooks of water, and fountains, and depths that spring out of valleys and hills' (Deut. viii. 7); and here are 'beds of spices and sweet flowers.' Sol. Song v. 13.

Then spake Peace: "Our good shepherd tells us, that all these things were made by God for the use and entertainment of those who love him. But there are more beautiful things than these in heaven; for he showed me where it is written in my book-' Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the VOL. V.-C

heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."" 1 Cor. ii. 9.

To this Humble Mind made answer, "O my beloved sister! 'let us bless the Lord at all times, and let his praise be continually in our mouths' (Psalm xxxiv. 1.): for as a father pitieth his own children, so hath the Lord pitied us. "Psalm ciii. 13.

I beheld then, that the children sat down in their bower, and related to each other every thing that had happened to them during their separation. First, Humble Mind gave an account of himself; after which Playful related to her brother the history of her and her sister's pilgrimage. And thus she spake :

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"When Mr. Worldly Prudence had taken you away from us, sweet brother," said she, Evangelist came again to us while we were crying at the door of our house, bidding us to take our books in our hands, and, leaving all, to follow him. Now our hearts clung not to our home, as in days past; for our father was gone, and our mother was gone, and you, our dear brother, had also left us: so we followed Evangelist, who brought us from our own dwelling-place, and set us in the way where the shining light and the gate of salvation were directly before us; then bidding us hasten towards that gate, he departed.

"Now we had not gone far, before we were overtaken by a young woman carrying a very little baby in her arms, and her steps were turned, like our own, towards the shining light so she looked affectionately at us, and said, ' My little ones, whither are you going?' And when we had answered her, she kindly said, 'Come with me, my children, and what little assistance I can afford you shall be freely given.'

66 So, as she hastened on, with her little one in her arms, certain idle persons passing that way, said to her, 'Woman, wherefore are you in such haste?'

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"I am going,' she answered, 'to yonder shining light, to seek admittance there of the Lord of the gate for this my little boy for whereas, through the disobedience of his first father Adam, this my baby is counted worthy of death, I, his mother, anxiously seek for him the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, whereby he may be rendered meet for eternal life.'

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Whereupon these strangers, being enemies of the

Lord, and wishing to trouble the pilgrim, thus answered: "That outward sign of the Lord's acceptance which was formerly appointed by him and administered by his servants, to wit, Baptism, hath for some time past been denied to such little ones as thine in that place, through failure of the ministers of the Lord's ordinances.'

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"With that the young woman began to weep, crying out, O my Father! grant to this child admittance at thy gate whether living or dying, make him thy own child, O my Father! my Father! I ask this inestimable favour at thy hand in my Saviour's adorable name.'

"So we hastened towards the gate," continued Playful, "where we met with no hinderance: for we were there most kindly received; after which we were washed with pure water, and clothed with white garments, and had the seal of our Lord set in our foreheads. Then did the mother of this little baby give thanks, and weep for joy.

"After leaving the gate, we came on our way, Peace and I, with the young woman and her little baby: and she talked sweetly to us as we passed along, and was unto us like our own mother. And in this manner we went on a day and a half: she from time to time kissing the little fair one who lay in her arms, and making the way pleasant with cradle-hymns and songs of praise, which she sang almost continually as we journeyed along.

"But behold, as we went on, there came after us a winged messenger, on whose brow the word Death was written. At sight of him we began exceedingly to tremble, while the poor woman pressed her baby closer to her bosom. But the messenger showed her a token, which was a silver cord broken. And more than this,

he told her that he came from God, and that these were the words which he had orders to speak in her ears: If you love this child you will rejoice, because he is going to his Father.' John xiv. 28.

"On hearing this she wept bitterly, and delivered her baby into the messenger's hand, saying, ' O God, take my child, and make him thine own for ever!'

"The little baby smiled, and looked upon his mother, as she delivered him to the messenger; and O! how sweet was his smile! O! how lovely was his pale face!

So the messenger of God took away t and we saw him no more."

I perceived then in my dream that I was for a time interrupted by her s while, however, she thus continued her

"So we walked on weeping and m came to this place. Here we found th and to him our loving companion ver mended us, saying, 'Kind sir, I beseec of these lambs, and feed them with mi gained strength to continue their jour that, kissing us and blessing us, she was when the shepherd asked her, wheref nance was sad, and her eyes red with w "So she told him all that had befallen 'And now, my little fair one,' said she, from me, I cannot but go on my pil ing.'

"With that the shepherd rebuked her ness; for the water stood in his eyes w 'My daughter,' said he, 'despise not th ing of the Lord, nor faint when thou art for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth every son whom he receiveth. If ye ing, God dealeth with you as with sons ; he whom the Father chasteneth not? Dost thou well, my daughter,' he added cause thy little son is gone to Him who well as to die for him upon the cross?' from his pocket a perspective glass, and it to her eye, he bade her look upwards. he required.

"Then said the shepherd, 'What see "She answered, 'I see nothing, sir, b tears which dim my sight.'

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"I feared as much,' he replied: cas fore, this sorrow of the world which 2 Cor. vii. 10. Wipe away thy tears, a for help.' So she wiped away her tears down with the shepherd, he prayed that consolation would comfort her.

"After rising from their knees, the her put the glass again to her eyes, and the heavens. So after looking awhile, 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, the little ones soon knew the call, and came running together at the signal. I saw then that, having first given thanks,