childhood. But, at length, the Bible began to be neglected, and the altar
of mammon was substituted for the altar of God. In his business
transactions, the laws of integrity were never disregarded, nor was his
respect and reverence for religion laid aside, but he had no time to be
religious. When he became the head of a family, the Word of God lay
unopened on his parlor table, and family worship was a thing unknown.
Though God had guarded him at home and abroad, on the sea and on the land,
and had made him rich even to the extent of his most sanguine expectations,
yet he had forgotten the source of his prosperity, and had never bowed his
knee in thanksgiving. The education of his wife, a daughter of one of the
"merchant princes," had been such that she found nothing to surprise or
shock her in the practical atheism of her husband's course.

On the morning after the occurrence of the events recorded in the chapter
above, as Susan returned from the village post-office, she handed her uncle
a letter. Having perused it, he remarked--

"I must return to the city tomorrow. Will you go with me, Susan?"

"I should be delighted to do so, if father and mother could go with me."

"I should be happy to have them go. But suppose they do not? You cannot
expect to have them always with you."

"Must you go so soon?" said Henry. "You make a very short visit after so
long a separation."

"I must return to the city to-morrow; but my presence will be needed there
only for a day or two. If Susan will go with me, I will return here next
week and spend a few days more with you."