addressed to the suffering members of His church, and that he touched
upon all physical and mental pain. And what struck me most was that
he spoke of pain as a privilege, a high privilege and special
training; something that called us into a fuller and inner fellowship
with our suffering head.

"He told us the heathen might dread pain, but not the Christian;
that one really worthy of the name must be content to be the cross
bearer, to tread really and literally in the steps of the Master.

"What if He unfolded to us the mystery of pain? Would He not unfold
the mystery of love too? What generous souls need fear that dread
ordeal, that was to remove them from the outer to the inner court?
Ought they not to rejoice that they were found worthy to share His
reproach? He said much more than this, Esther, but memory is so weak
and betrays one. But he had flung a torch into the darkest recesses
of my soul, and the sudden light seemed to scorch and shrivel up all
the discontent and bitterness; and, oh, the peace that succeeded; it
was as though a drowning mariner left off struggling and buffeting
with the waves that were carrying him to the shore, but just lay
still and let himself be floated in."

"And you were happier," I faltered, as she suddenly broke off, as
though exhausted.

"Yes, indeed," she returned softly. "Pain was not any more my enemy,
but the stern life companion He had sent to accompany me--the cross
that I must carry out of love to Him; oh, how different, how far more
endurable! I took myself in hand by-and-by when I grew older and had
a better judgment of things. I knew mine was a life apart, a