told her she was able to go, and ought to go; and remembering her
motto and her prayer, she cheerfully prepared to accompany her father
and brothers to church, and she had reason to be grateful for her
choice. The words of the sermon deepened and expanded the impressions
of the afternoon, and left an abiding influence on the current of her
life.

When Mrs. Ford had got through her evening duties, and the little ones
were hushed in sound slumber, she sat down near the open window to
rest, her eye falling, as she did so, on Bessie's card. The motto upon
it carried her thoughts away to the time when, as a newly-married
wife, she had listened to a sermon on that very text,--a time when,
rejoicing in the happiness of her new life, she had felt her heart
beat with gratitude to Him who had so freely given her all things, and
with a sincere desire to live to His glory. How had the desire been
carried out? A very busy life hers had been, and still was. The
innumerable cares and duties of her family and farm and dairy had
filled it with never-ceasing active occupations, as was natural and
right; but was it right that these occupations should have so crowded
out the very principle that would have given a holy harmony to her
life, and been a fountain of strength to meet the cares and worries
that will fret the stream of the most prosperous course? Sacred words,
learned in her childhood, recurred to her mind: "And the cares of this
world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things,
entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful." Had not that
been her own experience? Where were the fruits that might have been
expected from "the word" in her?--the Christian influence and training
which might have made her household what a Christian household ought
to be?