Does the faithful shepherd forsake the lambs,--retaining his salary for
tending the home flock while he is serving another fold? There is no
evidence to show that Jesus ever entered the towns whither he sent his
disciples; no evidence that he there taught a few hungry ones, and then
left them to starve or to stray. To these selected ones (like "the elect
lady" to whom St. John addressed one of his epistles) he gave personal
instruction, and gave in plain words, until they were able to fulfil his
behest and depart on their united pilgrimages. This he did, even though one
of the twelve whom he kept near himself betrayed him, and others forsook
him.

The true mother never willingly neglects her children in their early and
sacred hours, consigning them to the care of nurse or stranger. Who can
feel and comprehend the needs of her babe like the ardent mother? What
other heart yearns with her solicitude, endures with her patience, waits
with her hope, and labors with her love, to promote the welfare and
happiness of her children? Thus must the Mother in Israel give all her
hours to those first sacred tasks, till her children can walk steadfastly
in wisdom's ways.

One of my students wrote to me: "I believe the proper thing for us to do is
to follow, as nearly as we can, in the path you have pursued!" It is
gladdening to find, in such a student, one of the children of light. It is
safe to leave with God the government of man. He appoints and He anoints
His Truth-bearers, and God is their sure defense and refuge.

The parable of "the prodigal son" is rightly called "the pearl of
parables," and our Master's greatest utterance may well be called "the
diamond sermon." No purer and more exalted teachings ever fell upon human
ears than those contained in what is commonly known as the Sermon on the