With full hearts, the brothers bowed before the Lord and rolled their
burdens upon the Almighty. The entire consecration was now made, and they
were ready for the trial. The struggle was over and their minds became as
calm and tranquil as a summer evening.



CHAPTER XVIII.

IN AN extravagantly furnished apartment of a fine-looking mansion in the
heart of the city, sits a family group, consisting of a father, mother,
two sons, and one daughter. They are far from exhibiting in their
countenances that contentment of mind which is a "continual feast," and
yet something has transpired that gives them, for the time being, an
unusual degree of pleasurable emotion.

The father leaves his seat, and with folded arms he begins to pace slowly
backward and forward the length of the apartment with an air of pompous
dignity, while ever and anon a smile of extreme selfishness plays on his
lips. He has received intelligence which he considers by no means
displeasing.

The mother, to whom nature has been rather niggardly in the endowment of
outward charms, is loaded with a superabundance of golden ornaments, in
the vain attempt to supply the lack of the natural with the artificial.
In her eye you look in vain for intelligence, or in her countenance for
benevolence; but she smiles! yea, indeed, with something the mother is
evidently pleased.