captive. So fair a vision never crossed his path before; whatever of
enchantment might have been wanting in golden curls and blue eyes was
completed by a voice such as few possess, rich, sweet, and fine
compass; had she been poor it might have brought her a fortune. When
he heard her sing in such angelic strains the sweet hymns he loved,
he took it for granted that the words of fervent devotion but gave
voice to the feelings of her own heart. So fair a bit of clay, he
reasoned, must contain a soul of corresponding beauty, and he
forthwith invested her with all the charms of an angel. A slight
misgiving, it is true, sometimes crossed his mind as to whether she
could adapt herself easily to the difficult position of a pastor's
wife. She had the air of an empress, and the hauteur of her manner
was often so great as to gain her positive enemies, and yet the
deluded man, with blind eyes, reasoned, "I can mould her to what I
will when she is mine; it is the fault of a false education, I am
quite sure her heart is all right."

And why did the spoiled beauty condescend to smile upon one, who by
his very profession, if closely following in the footsteps of the
lowly Master, must needs abjure the vanities and enticements of this
world, and live a life of self-denying toil. Not a thought of that
kind had ever entered her pretty head. A minister in her estimation
was an orator, the idol of a wealthy people, and a gentleman of
elegant ease. There was a fascination about this dark-eyed young
minister; his graceful dignity and impassioned eloquence pleased her
fancy, so the sudden attachment was mutual.

Early left a widow, with a large fortune, Mrs. Irving devoted herself
to her idol, her only child, with unremitting devotion; nothing that
would add to her happiness or her attractions was neglected, and now