were divine, and so the child's faith was succeeded by rational
sight. Afterwards, as I floated off into the world, and met with
storms that wrecked my fondest hopes; with baffling winds and
adverse currents; with perils and disappointments, faith wavered
sometimes; and sometimes, when the skies were dark and threatening,
my mind gave way to doubts. But, always after the storm passed, and
the sun came out again, have I found my vessel unharmed, with a
freight ready for shipment of value far beyond what I had lost. I
have thrown over, in stress of weather, to save myself from being
engulfed, things that I had held to be very precious--thrown them
over, weeping. But, after awhile, things more precious took their
place--goodly pearls, found in a farther voyage, which, but for my
loss, would not have been ventured.

"Always am I seeing the hand of Providence--always proving the
divine announcement, 'The very hairs of your head are numbered.' Is
there not ground for faith here? If the word of God stand in
agreement with reason and experience, shall I not have faith? If my
convictions are clear, to disbelieve is impossible."

"We started differently," replied Mr. Fanshaw, almost mournfully.
"That sweet faith of childhood, to which you have referred, was
never mine."

"The faith of manhood is stronger, because it rests on reason and
experience," said Mr. Wilkins.

"With me, reason and experience give no faith in God, and no hope in
the future. All before me is dark."