THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES IWDBBODe GRACE TRUMAN LOVE AND PRINCIPLE Bt MRS, SALLIE ROCHESTER FORD. WITH APPENDIX : "How I Same to Write grace Trumaij." ST. LOUIS, MO., FORD'S CHRISTIAN REPOSITORY. PHILADELPHIA : LONDON : BAPTIST PUBLISHING SOCIETY. PASSMORE & ALABASTER, 1886. COPYRIGHT RENEWED use. ELIZABETH T. PITTS, WflU, 3ENEATH THE WEIGHT OF BIOHTT TBABB, TILL CHERISHES, WITH CLEAR CONCEPTION AND UNABATED ZEAI* WHICH IN ORPHAN CHILDHOOD I LEABNED FllOii HB LIPS, THIB TRIBtJTB TO THEIR ADTOOAOT l AVFIOTIOH ATELY INSCRIBED. jfoii. 869598 CONTENTS. CHAPTER L MM -* WODCJG 11 CHAPTER II. THK JOURNKT M CHAPTER HL GRACE Of HEB NEW HOMI. M CHAPTER IV. THB SABBATH 61 CHAPTER V. THB MINI SIZE'S VISIT THE STBUOQLB..., . 61 CHAPTER VI. COMMUNION SEASON rii CONTENTS. CHAPTER VH. PA0I GOWYERSATION ON BAPTISM BETWEEN GRACE AXD THE M.O.TSTKR. . 126 CHAPTER VHL A PKKP OTTO THE FAMILY CIRCLE AFTER GRACE'S CONVERJATIOH W TH THE MINISTER. . . . . 158 CHAPTER IX. THB VUHT TO FOREST GLSN CHAPTER X. THB VISIT TO MBS. TBUMAN THE WALK... CHAPTER XI TM CHURCH MEETING THB SABBATH. ....................... Ml CHAPTER Xn. a lHB RETBEAT" ................... ... m CHAPTER LHJHTS AXD SHADOWS JOTS AND SORROWS CHAPTER XT7. THE MnnsTBR's VISIT. . . CONTENTS. IX CHAPTER XV. PAOB rra DISCUSSION ....................................... 290 CHAPTER XVL Fmi CONTBOTBBST .......................................... M CHAPTER XVH. PBBSEOUTED, BUT NOT FORSAKEN CAST DOWN, BUT NOT Da- 8TBOYED" .............................................. 361 CHAPTER rna QUABTEBLT MBBTINO--THB TRIAL ....................... 388 CHAPTER XIX. A GHAPTBB or EVENTS. ........................... 408 CHAPTER XX. THB BAPTISTS' MEBTINQ 459 CHAPTER XXI. FHB SABBATH-MORNING BAPTISM 461 CHAPTER XXTT. THB DEATH-BED 46f 1* CONTENTS. CHAPTER OOB Yoraa MINISTEB MAHKTKS. CHAPTER XX! *. rn LAST LOOK AT WBBTOV ____ GRACE TRUMAN. CHAPTER I. THE WEDDING. BRIGHTLY smiled the morn on "Cottage Home." From her dream- visited slumbers Grace Truman awoke to hail with subdued joy her bridal day. That day completed her seventeenth year I That d THE WEDDING. 17 a kind protector, a sympathizing friend, jver loving and comforting her, till death shall hid you part ?" He paused, and the " I do piomise," was given. The old man turned to the trembling girl. "Grace, do you take this man to be your husband "he could say uo more ; his voice grew tremulous with emotion, while tears stole down his time-worn cheek ; and smothered gobs of sympathy were heard throughout the room. She nodded assent. " Let us pray," said the minister in a subdued tone. "0 thou, the All-wise God, our Father who didst thyself institute this sacred relation, so full of happiness and benefit to man thou who didst smile on our first parents, in their Eden home, command thy favor to rest on this pair, who have taken upon them the solemn vow of mariage. May they ever be a blessing to each other ; and all along life's changing way be guided and pro- tected by thine omnipotent hand. May they be kept by thy power from all sin and danger, and when they shall pass from earth receive them into the bliss of heaven we ask it all for the Redeemer's sake. Amen." "God bless you, my dear children," said the father, as he took the hand of each, " may you ever be happy.'' The mother's silent kiss, so full of meaning, was im- pressed on the brow of the trembling bride, and a cordial greeting was given to the happy bridegroom which madi him feel that he was indeed welcomed as a son. " My dear cousins, let me congratulate you," said An- nie, as she kissed them both in her joyous manner. " May sunshine ever he yours." Warm wishes followed from all the company. " I though 1 1 would wait till all j rior claims were met 18 THE WEDDING. before I asserted mine, Cousin Grace," said a young handsome man, as he took the extended hand of the new- made cousin, " and may I not have the privilege of a re- lation," he asked, as he stooped to kiss her burning cheek " Flowers for your pathway and peace for your bosom, Cousin John. Of all men, you should be the happiest, now that you have obtained your long-sought treasure," archly casting a sly glance at Grace, whose deepened color told she had felt the compliment which only served to embarrass her. " Ain't you going to kiss us, Sister Gracey," said the half-crying, half-laughing Willie, as he presented him- self before her with his little bordered handkerchief in one hand, and holding Ella with the other. " Why, yes, you dear little creatures ; and this is your brother John, won't you kiss him too ?" The children yielded rather reluctantly to the caresses of the brother, who they thought had come, as Jane had said that morning, for the sole purpose of taking their sister from them. Refreshments were partaken of, and the bridal party made preparation to leave. With beating heart and trembling lips Grace bade adieu to the company, and to the aged minister, who in faltering tones commended her to God. " Be steadfast in the faith, my daughter, and be not overcome by temptation." Aunt Dolly, with all the young ones of her charge, placed themselves at the gate that they might see the carriage as it wound its way up the road. As Grace grasped the friendly hand of the old servant and saw the big tears rolling down her cheek, she felt that in parting from her she was leaving a true friend. The dirty hand THE17EDDING. 19 of each little urchin was taken, and a kind word given to all. Annie laughed and chatted gayly, that she might keep back the tears of sympathy which were ready to betray her feelings. " God bless you, my child," was all the father could say, as he folded her in his arms. The weeping mother pressed her to her bosom, and silently committed her to God. The door of the carriage was closed, and Grace turned from that home where she had so long been securely sheltered from all life's ills. Heaven protect thee, thou innocent one ! The way of life is rough and thorny, and often may its flinty rocks wound thy onward-treading feet, and its sharp thorns pierce thy hand so eagerly extended to pluck its tempt- ing fruits. Truth must struggle against love, principle wrestle with fear, and faith, weakened by the contest, be ready to leave unpierced the dark shadows gathering over the future. And shall the foe triumph over thee, thou child of many prayers, and thy banner of truth and right be left to trail in the dust ? Gather up thy strength for the battle, for it shall prove to thee a severe conflict. Be bold ; be steadfast ; be patient ; be trustful ; and Sod shall bear thee nobly through the straggle. CHAPTER II. THE JOURNEY. GRACE cast a long, lingering look on that home "a? whose bosom she had so securely nestled, enfolded in the arms of love and watchfulness. The doting affec- tion of her father, and her mother's feeble health had allowed her but little time to spend away from " Cottage Home." Nor had she wished it. Her trusting heart had met the height and depth of its desires in the wealth of tenderness and sympathy lavished upon her by parents who could fully understand and appreciate the wants of her noble nature. She had passed a year and a half in Mr. Hall's school, in the village of Georgetown, and it was here that Mr. Holmes had first met her, while on a visit to his sister, who, although two years younger, was a great favorite with Grace. He had been attracted by the unassuming manner of the young girl, and he soon discovered that she united, with the most winning simplicity, a degree of self-reliance and determination, which, while it did not lead her to obtrude herself on the consideration of others, gave her confidence to assert her convictions of right, and nobly to defend them when attacked. He had also discovered that she was traly, consistently nious ; and this had increased his admiration and deep- THE JOURNEY. 21 ened his interest, for he had always regarded piety at the true setting for the gems of moral excellence. Of what worth are pearls beneath the ocean's brine or diamonds hid in Borneo's rapid river? And how val- ueless do the most precious gems appear before the lap- idary has imparted a polish, and given them an appro priate setting. For a few moments they rode on ;n silence. 'Even the joyousness of the volatile Annie vas subdued as she saw the shadings of sorrow And regret dimming the sun- light of Grace's usually mdiant jountenance : they were misty clouds enveloping the sun, through which his struggling beams must ere long shine forth gloriously. Mr. Holmes regarded her with an expression of deep affection. He wonld h&7e spoken words of comfort, but he knew not how. Hr put his arm tenderly around her, and bent on her a ]^x)k, so full of love and sympathy, that her swelling heart took courage. Mr. Lewis fully appreciated the foelings of his new-made cousin, but he knew the afjitated waters must subside of themselves no human effort could calm their troubled bosom. " How oeautiful the morning is," said Annie, as she saw Gr.ce turn her head toward the carriage window, and her eye rest with interest on the landscape without. " One could almost fancy we were in enchanted land, and you an inhabitant thereof, so charming is the effect of that little green traveling bonnet on your flushing jheek. But fairies and angels don't weep, do they ? and I see the tiniest tear-drop lingering on your lid, as if undecided whether to fallow its predecessors, or return to its crystal depths, and there reserve itself for a future occasion." 22 THE JOUBNET. "I hope the occasion maybe far distant that will recall the little fugitive from its hiding-place," said Mr Holmes. " 0, it is a womanly weakness to weep, and a luxurj too 1 one you gentlemen rarely indulge, I believe. But you will not find Cousin Grace a Niobe, I assure you. She is not an April day, first sunshine and then shower. her tears are all meaning." u Have you read the ' Culprit Fay,' Miss Annie? You remember that although he had no tears to shed, his was a harsh punishment. A mortal would have de- spaired of success under half the opposition." " Yes, I read it during the intense heat of last sum- mer, and I thought the punishment was not so severe, after all. as it gave him the opportunity of enjoying a cooling bath." " What a beautiful production that is," said Grace, and her eye kindled with pleasure at the recollection of the elegantly-bound volume of American poets Mr. Holmes had given her on his first visit ; " the author cer- tainly was a man of genius to produce such an exquisite poem in so short a time, and from such sparse materials." "It is purely imaginative, and shows what beauty and power characterize a chaste and highly-cultivated intellect." " I used to delight very much in fairy stories when I was a child. The Arabian Nights were my constant companions. I read them until I grew so sleepy I could no longer see, and then placed them under my pillow that I might begin again with the morning light. I then thought they were all true, and my heart would ache at the sufferings of the Black Prince and the sad THE JOURNEY. 25 mishaps of Sinbad ; and I used to wonder if some kind geni would not come while I was aslop and put a Won derful Lamp on my little table. It really gave me pain when I found it was all fiction ; the illusion was so beau tiful. It is very sad to have our childish dreams thut dissipated, to awake from our blissful fancies to the re- alities of this matter-of-fact world." " Why, Cousin Annie !" said Mr. Holmes, " you talk like one who had trod the journey of a long life, thick- set with misfortunes. We would not expect gravei words from one who had drained the chalice of disap- pointment, and yet, if I mistake not, its bitter contents have scarcely touched those pouting lips. You are too young to have felt all your words imply." " Well, I don't know how much of sorrow my words ex- press to a man just come into the possession of all his heart desires. I suppose they do sound rather grating to the sensitive ear of happiness ; but although I can not boast of having quite escaped from my teens, I know very well that the dreamy enchantment of youth can never return." " What a venerable-looking old man that was who married you," said Mr. Lewis to Grace (for Grace we must still call her, although she is now entitled to a more dignified appellative) ; " he is called Parson Miller, I believe. I had not the pleasure of an introduction, but I was quite attracted by his manner ; he seemed among the guests as one in the midst of his own fam- ily." " He is a most excellent man," replied Grace, " and my much beloved, as well as highly respected, by his congregation ; indeed, his influence extends to the whole 24 THE JOURNE*. neighborhood. Most of the company present this morn- ing, were members of his church, and the greater num- ber regard him as their spiritual father. He has been for nearly thirty years the pastor of our little church, and there is no one in the whole country who does not know ' Father Miller,' as he is familiarly called." " lie is of the Baptist persuasion, I believe ?" " Yes," answered Grace, slightly reddening, and cast- ing a furtive glance at Mr. Holmes ; " he sometimes tells us he has been a Baptist more than forty years, and he has never yet seen the moment when he could have been any thing else. He is very firm in his principles." " What do you think, Cousin John," said Annie, un- heeding the deepening color of Grace's cheek, " I do believe she is afraid you will make a Presbyterian of her ; look, how she is blushing." " No, no, Annie ;" and the blushes deepened as Grace answered, " I am not apprehensive of any such thing." " You do not believe me gifted with such power ?" he laughingly remarked to Grace. " Nothing is furthei from my intentions, Cousin Annie ; I shall leave her tc enjoy her own opinions. I do not wish to proselyte." And why did the fair cheek of Grace crimson at any allusion to her religious principles ? Was her pride wounded by the thought that she was a member of that " sect everywhere spoken against ?" No. Eaised in the bosom of a Baptist family, and surrounded by a community, the greater portion of which belonged to hei own little church, she knew not that this was the case. Was she undecided in her belief, and had she misgivings that she might be wrong that after all, she had re- garded her peculiar tenets as possessing more weight and THE JOURNE1. 26 aoiidity than they were entitled to ? None of these things troubled her. She was a Baptist, and with Father Miller, she had not known the time that she could have been any thing else. But the words of her husband, " My father is a Presbyterian, and very unyielding in his fctlief," kept ringing in her ears, and already she could descry the cloud, no bigger than a man's hand, rising on her future horizon. The road they traveled lay through a country but sparsely settled. Grace admired the beauties of the forests, which for miles lined either side of the way. She pitied the neglected children, who came in bevies fiom every road-side cabin to stare at the carriage as it passed by. It was the first time any of them had seen a vehicle of more pretensions than the peddler's wagon with its saffron-colored advertisement resting on the ver- icilion background, and as the carriage passed some of them would throw up the remains of their worthy sire's old hat, and halloo as only children can ; while others, struck dumb with amazement, stood motionless. " Poor little creatures," said Grace ; " what a pitj they can not be educated." The attentive manner and kindling eye of her hus- band, as he hung on her words, spoke more plainly thaD language could have done, the deep love and admiration he felt for her. Annie enjoyed every thing exceedingly ; and her laugh rung out merrily as the sudden jerks of the carriage, passing over the ledges of rocks which marked pdits of the way, would cause her to play " Butt best, who can" with Cousin John on the opposite seat. Mr. Lewis joined Grace in her admiration of the grand old forests, the brilliant sky, and laughing breeze. 26 THEJOUENKT. There was no inn by the way, so they had to dine be- neath the smiling heavens on a table of nature's own BD^eading. They passed what claimed to be a " house oi accommodation," but Annie declared " it was re- ceiving patronage under false pretenses," and she "would not eat there for all the world." It certainly gave no outward evidences of its right to such consideration, except the quaint old sign, which rested between the forks of a veteran apple-tree, standing near the rickety front gate. Mr. Lewis thought the old sign might have been borrowed from a neighboring town, " judging from the two old bachelor-looking poplars which shaded the loophole windows, and which seemed to be growing from the flag-stone pavement. Not true to nature." Mrs. Truman had abundantly filled a traveling basket with nice luncheon ; and the party halted by the way- side to refresh themselves and rest the already tired horses. Ben took from the box some ears of corn to give to " his boys," as he proudly called the noble look- ing bays which, loosed from the carriage, were soon enjoy- ing his providence. " Uncle Ben," who had long been a family servant, and entitled, as he thought, to the most unreserved familiarity, whispered in his master John's ear, " that he had got a mighty pretty wife, shoore !" Annie brought some water from a spring, whioh gushvu from the foot of a large oak-tree, and Mr. Lewis declared she looked like a Naiad bending over the purl ing stream, with her silver goblet sparkling with drip- ping diamonds. The goblet was a present to Grace from tier parents ; and in the front, encircled by shining .caves of myrtle, was exquisitely engraved her name, ' Grace Truman." i THKJOURNET. 27 " That tree," said Mr. Lewis, pointing to the :>ne from which the little spring burst in gurgling music, '' re- minds me of my early childhood. My mother used to take me, at the twilight hour, and howing beneath the shade of a venerable oak, whose long branches swept her window, would teach me to repeat my evening prayer ; and never since, 'mid the thoughtlessness of childhood, or the temptations of youth, have I forgotten that mother's voice, that holy twilight calm ; theii memory lingers with me yet." Annie looked up, surprised. She had not supposed the pleasant, cheerful Mr. Lewis, capable of such dee? feeling, and her merry laugh sobered into silence. A tear glistened in Grace's eye. She was not an orphan, but she had stepped forth from her father's threshold to try the realities of a new life. Mr. Holmes, perceiving her feelings, changed the conversation. " Grace, you remember Fannie ?" " yes, well ! I see her now, as she came the first evening she entered school, and laying her hand tenderly on mine, asked me if I would not be her friend. ] promised her I would ; and ever after when thoughts o home would sadden her spirit, or annoyance ruffle her usually placid temper, she would come and tell me al. her grief." " I feel half indebted to her for my newly-acquired treasure. It was she who told me of her 'friend Grace ;' and such glowing descriptions did she give of her kind ness and love, that I became intensely desirous to see this paragon of excellence." 44 You have no reason to regret the gratification of that ' intense desire,' Cousin John, have you ?" 28 THE JO (JEN BY. "None. It led to the event of my life whicn shall ever crown it with happiness." " How confidently he speaks," said Annie, laughingly, addressing herself to Mr. Lewis. " I suppose some good geni has spread out before him the page of his future destiny, unmarred by spot or blemish. Let me repeat my morning congratulation : ' May sunshine ever be yours.' " Our travelers, having partaken of dinner, made prep- arations to resume their journey. "The bays" were watered, and Uncle Ben remarking that "he thought it was high time they were off," put them to the carriage with noticeable alacrity. When all were seated, and the door fastened, he declared he " would have to drive mighty fast to get there in time for the ladies to rest ;" and suiting the action to the word, he mounted the box vith all haste, and giving his accustomed whistle, ac- companied by a few warning flourishes of his whip, turned into the main way ; and they were soon pursu- ing their journey at a gait almost alarming, considering the rough state of the road. Annie laughed heartily as the scenes of the morning tfere re-enacted. Mr. Lewis endeavored to remonstrate with "Uncle Ben," but all to no purpose. He no doubt felt the responsibility and dignity of his office, and each new mention of the matter only served to renew his resolution. Mr. Holmes's silence seemed to favor him, and on he went, regardless of the many rocks which, under other circumstances, would not have opposed themselves in vain. " Well, Mr. Lewi*-, you must admit there is one ad- ran tage gained from our rapid speed, that of increased TriKJOiJBNEY 2S> color ; look at Cousin Grace 1 the bloom cf the morning is reappearing on her cheek." " Yes, Miss Annie, it certainly increases a lady's beauty to add the rose to her bouquet of charms ; indi- cating, as it does, physical health and vigor, it also tella us of the happiness which must flow from this source." Grace had grown less and less talkative as they ap- proached their destination, and Mr. Lewis very well un- derstood why it was the rose-hue was deepening on her cheek ; it denoted vigor not of body, but of mind. Thoughts she wished not to betray, were busy in her mind, and their tell-tale fingers traced in characters too glowing not to be observed, their results on her snowy cheek. She looked back to the home she had left, and a feeling of regret stole through her throbbing heart ; she looked forward to the home she was nearing, and visions of fear and uncertainty shadowed the coming fu- ture. She doubted herself. Would she be able to dis- charge all her duties as wife, daughter, sister ? Could she, as old Father Miller had enjoined, " be bold and no< yield to temptation ?" She knew that she was young, very young, and it would be expected of her, in matters that involved disputation, to acquiesce with child-like simplicity, and not by argument to give a reason for her belief. She thought, too, of the trials of the evening ; tne meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Holmes ; of being intro- duced to a company of strangers ; for she felt that, as the bride of Mr. Holmes, she would be the cynosure of all eyes ; and she was apprehensive lest she should not favorably impress those who were hereafter to be either her friends, giving her sympathy and counsel, or with unfeeling heart deny her her just meed of love. The desire to appear well to others is natural to tho human breast. Who can look into his own bosom and deny its presence ? Various motives prompt the desire, and it is right or wrong as these motives are virtuous or unholy. The ambitious man strives for it that he may wrm tame ; the sycophant, that he may be benefited ; the miser, that he may reap golden gain ; the Christian, that he may do his Master's will in winning, by his in- fluence, souls to Christ ; the young and blushing girl, that she may meet with appreciation and sympathy. " See," said Mr. Ho.mes, " yonder is the spire of our village church ; a few minutes more and we shall be at home." Grace bent her eyes in the direction he pointed out, and her heart beat more violently as she saw the outline of the church resting against the clear blue sky. Mr. Holmes observed her increased agitation, and putting his arm gently around her, laughingly remarked, " that she must not be alarmed at the idea of affording matter for village gossip for the next nine days to come." " Why, Cousin John, you speak as if gossiping was a profession in your town. I had formed a better opinion of your ' church-going community,' as I have heard you call it." " I assure you, Miss Annie, that our village, pleasant as it is in many respects, is not free from this character- istic curse. We have in our midst these harpies of other men's good names, and they seem to have adopted for their motto that old but expressive phrase, ' Ne sutor ultra crepidam,' so unremitting are they in their malevo- 'ent vocation." As Mr Lewis finished speaking, they entered the vil- THE JOURNEY 31 la^e, arid as th-\v passed along, faces of anxious curiosity were thrust from doors and windows. Little childreD bounded into the houses exclaiming, " they have come, they have come !" Maidens peeped from behind window curtains ; and old men, with eyesight dimmed by time, and curiosity quickened by increasing age, stood still on the pavements and peered as best they could into the carriage. As they had to go the whole length of the principal street, most of its occupants were favored with a glimpse of the vailed forms of the ladies. Grace glanced from the carriage window as they drove into the yard, and saw Mr. and Mrs. Holmes standing in the porch, with Fannie in the foreground. While the carriage door was being opened, Grace cast a hasty glance at her parents. Their pleasant, beaming faces, reassured her, and she stepped from the carriage with a look of confidence and love. " This is our daughter," said old Mr. Holmes, as his son handed Grace to the porch. " Let me welcome you home 1" and he gave her a warm kiss and a hearty shake of the hand. Mrs. Holmes smiled sweetly as she greeted Her blushing daughter, and Grace felt the influence of that benevolent expression sink deep into her heart. It was but a smile, yet it spoke volumes of tenderness, and inspired her with a trust and hope that words would have failed to create. Fannie loaded her with kisses, and the little brothers and sisters put up their pouting lips and called her " Sister Grace." Annie was ntro- duced by Mr. Lewis, and received from each a p 1 -asant welcome. Being fatigued from their ride, the ladies wen hown tc their rooms that they might ^ofresh themselv a with 32 THEJOUHNEY. rest and sleep, preparatory to the evening. Grace wai struck with the perfect taste and neatness that charac- terized the room which was henceforth to be hers the Biiowy bed, with its airy muslin hangings, the highlj polished bureau, free from any trace of finger-prints, and ornamented with a handsome pin-cushion, on which was delicately painted a wreath of flowers, inclosing in letters of shining gold, " To Sister Grace, from Fannie." A vase of violets and spring roses, on either side of the cushion, attested her remembrance of Grace's love foi these beautiful flowers ; and over the mantel there, hung two landscape drawings, one, of the old Academy, with its grounds and walks ; the other, a sketch of Widow Harris's quiet cottage that stood just without the vil- lage, and which the two girls used very much to admire in their evening walks. Grace was carried back to the pleasant days she had spent in Mr. H.'s school, and as she passed over scene after scene, the glad remembrances made her eye sparkle with increased brilliancy, and she could scarcely realiz' that she was not a school-girl, but a bride, away from her father's house, in the home of strangers " Come, Cousin Grace," said Annie, " you had better be preparing for the future than indulging in memories of the past. You seem to forget that there is any thing to do but stand and gaze at those pictures. They are very beautiful, I admit, but you should remember your business is now to rest and not to wander 'mid scenes of oy-gone days. Miss Holmes, I think you will have to remove these pictures till the evening has passed, or Cousin Grace will not be able to seek the rest she 00 much needs." THEJOUBSEY. 33 Mis Holmes and Fannie assisted the Jadl 8 to remove bonnets and mantles, and seeing that they had every thing necessary, and to shut out the evening sun, Fannie let fall the fleecy curtain, and the travelers were left to recruit their exhausted energies by sleep. Annie soon sunk into a profound slumber ; but Grace, although BO weary, could not rest. She remained with her eyes closed, but her excitement was such that it entirely ex- pelled the influence of the drowsy god ; and when in an hour after Fannie entered the room to tell them it was time to begin their evening toilette, she found hei flushed and nervous. Annie faithfully performed the part of bride's-maid, and to every entreaty of Grace to attend to her own toilette, she would answer, " 0, never mind me, I shall look well enough. " Here, let me put this pure white rose beneath this shining braid, it is sufficient ornament for a child-bride like you ; really, I never saw you look so like a youthful sylph as you do now, enveloped in the folds of that snow-white muslin, with that emblem of purity sleep- ing on its ebony bed. I'll wager you never looked so beautiful in all your life before ; I scarcely believe Cousin John will know you." Fannie felt that Annie's words were true, she had never seen Grace look half so lovely. Mrs. Holmes came with her sweet smile, so character- istic of her loving heart, to see if the ladies were ready for the parlor ; and as she moved about so gently, and yet so determinedly, with that pleasant face so full of heaii language, Grace felt she must love and respect her. Her soul went out in affection toward he* who 34 THE JOURNEY. henceforth would have a claim upon her second only t that of her husband. She would willingly have trusted to her keeping the dearest secrets of her bosom, feeling that in her confidence she was safe. When Grace entered the parlor, leaning on the arm rf her husband, all eyes were directed toward her, and whatever different shades of opinion might have beer entertained respecting her, all had to concede that she was very pretty. Her youthful appearance, as she ad- vanced into the room, gentle, yet unreserved manner, her fine fonn draped in simple white muslin, becomingly k vorn, aside from her sweet face, would have made hei attractive to all who could appreciate the " poetry of form and motion." The brilliancy of expression which sometimes marked her countenance when excited, now lit up her well-formed features, but was kept in control by her habitual self-respect, so that it served only to lend beauty to a face ever beautiful. It was the effulgence of the sun robbed by the fleecy cloud of all its garish brightness. Mr. Holmes introduced her to many of his friends, not hurriedly, as is frequently done, passing from party to party in such a manner as to confuse all, but allowing time for interchange of thought and feeling as well as words. Annie looked neither like a queen nor a fairy, but like a good, kind-hearted girl as she was. Her dress, similar to that of Grace, became well her noble figure, and the white rose-buds rested beautifully among the braids of her rich brown hair. Her face wore its usual expressioL of mirth and gladness, and her merry laugh as it sounded from the opposite side of the room, told Grace that she THEJOUBNBY. 33 had found vent for the joyousness of her heart. Mr. Lewis appeared unwilling to resign her to the care of another, though it must have been evident to him from the dissatisfied glances many of the young gentlemen gave him, that they, at least, thought he was indulging too far in monopoly. Mrs. Holmes moved among her guests, shedding pleasure and enjoyment wherever she went. She was known and beloved by all the villagers. A dispenser of kind smiles and of that charity which does not expend itself in words, but deeds, which brings in its train food and raiment, she was regarded by old and young as a friend and benefactor. Old Mr. Holmes in passing from the parlor to the din- ing-room, observed Grace, on the porch with her hus- band, in conversation with Mr. Gordon, the village pas- tor. " Do you know my daughter is a Baptist, and believes in close communion, Mr. Gordon ? I can't tell how she and John will settle it but the fact of the busi- ness is, we must make her a Presbyterian, and that will set matters straight." Grace smiled as he finished, but her husband read the effect of the words in the increased color of her cheek. Mr. Gordon observed it, and made no reply except a smile accompanied by a slight inclination of the head. They had just been speaking of the religious interest in their respective localities, but as the remarks were of a genera! nature the conversation passed pleasantly. Unwilling to pursue the turn the conversation had taken, Mr. Gordon embraced the opportunity, while old Mr Holmes was making some remarks to his son, to 36 THE JOURNEY. retreat to the parlor. The old gentleman having a demand in the dining-room, passed on, saying, '' Well, well, we will settle the mattei some other time !" Refreshments such as characterize the liberality and ood common sense of an independent man of wealth, were served with simple elegance and care, and tht company partook of their host's kind cheer, free from the many restraints imposed by an occasion of this kind in the city The evening passed agreeably to all, and Grace forgot, while engaged in conversation with her pleasant new- made friends, that she was not at home, surrounded by those she had so long known and loved. The only thing to mar her happiness was the remark of her father, which to her sounded ominous of future trouble, and in the pauses of conversation she found herself wondering what the end would be "Be firm, and do not yield to temptation, my daughter," echoed through her heart, and she girded herself with the resolution to do her duty and leave consequences with Him who seeth the end from the beginning who guideth aright all who trust in his strength. Annie declared to Fannie, as they conducted Grace to her chamber, that she had a delightful time, and spoke in the most complimentary manner of the many charm- ing acquaintances she had formed during the evening " You are weary, sister," said Fannie, " we will retire. * They kissed her a good night and left the room. Grace sat gazing on the painting of the old Acadeni) for some minutes ; then taking her Bible, which it had been her wont to read nightly, since her father bad given it to her on the dny of her baptism, she turned to th THE JOURNEY. 37 sixty-second Psalm, " Yes, God is my rock and iny sal- vation, he is my defense, I shall not be moved," she said, as she closed the book and laid it aside. Then kneel- ing, she in prayer committed her ways to Him who has promised to guide with unfailing love all who seei th shelter of his CHAPTEE III. GRACE IK HER NEW H O M 1. As wa the wont in Mrs. Holmes's household, the beU was rung at six o'clock for morning prayers. Believing that method is indispensable for the proper training of a family, and that much of the happiness and prosper- ity of her husband and children, as well as of her do mestics, depended upon the regular observance of th( rules she had adopted in the outset of her married life she had felt it her duty to teach, by example, as wel ' as precept, the importance of punctuality in all things. Hers was not that firm, strait-laced management which invests every thing with that touch-me-not aii which makes you afraid, when you are seated, to rise, and when you are up, to sit down, lest, perchance, yoi might move a hair's breadth beyond its proper limit the antiquated Windsor, standing in statu quo dignity against the wall but that firm, convincing regime which carries with it its own arguments, and whic makes you feel, without theorizing on the subject, tha it is the most agreeable, most rational, and most profit able of all systems. In the observance of this duty, Mr. Holmes had al ways been very strict. The family altar was set up iu the -Og cabin, and through all changes, morning and GRACE IN HER NEW HOME. 89 night, the household had gathered round it to roturt thanks to God for his protection, and beseech his con- tinued guidance. Every member was expected to be present, from the oldest down to "little Neddie/' who, though not able yet to read, could hold his hymn-bool in his hand and look on while the others sung. Mr. Holmes read a Psalm and gave out the first lines of that comforting hymn, beginning " The pity of thf Lord." It had always been a great favorite with Grace ; she had selected it the last time she and her fathei had sung together. Singular coincidences, thought she, that this should be the last song sung in my own old home, and the first in my new one. It awakened a train of touching remembrances, and she went quite through with the dear old familiar words, almost unconscious of what she was doing. She remembered that quiet Sab- bath evening the presence of that wasted hand, and the beaming joy of that pallid face, as the low, sweet voice of her dying sister repeated, " And children's children ever find Thy words of promise- sure." With what suddenness and power do little things bring back to us memories that long have slepf. The spring is touched, and the whole panorama of our past years is spread out before us in life-like colors. We see it, we read it, we fed it. A sound, a flower, a word, a face ; and in a moment we escape from the realities of the living present, and wander amid the by-gones of the resurrected past. Our mother, our childhood'* home, all of joy, all of sorrow that our heart has known, is before us with the vividness of actual existence Ah 40 G^ACE IN HER NEW HOME. Memory, thy power is great ! who can understand it* exercise ? Mr. Gordon, as an intimate friend of the family, called at an early hour. He had been pleased with the conversation of Grace the previous evening, and wished to extend his acquaintance. Moreover, the next Sab- bath week was communion season at his church, and as a pastor of the congregation of which her husband was a member, he deemed it his duty to ascertain her feel- ings with regard to this ordinance in order that he might know how to act in the future. He remembered a conversation that had taken place between old Mr. Holmes and his son a few weeks previous to the mar- riage, and which had given him some insight into the character of her whom be hoped, before long, to con- vince of her " blind sectarianism." " Well, well, John," said the old gentleman, " I have no earthly objection to your girl, except that she is a Baptist, and I suppose, of course, a close communionist. But I reckon we needn't mind that much ; she is young and will not be hard to convince of her error, and as there is no Baptist church here she will soon be willing to come to the Lord's table, even if it is set by Presbyterians. Besides, Brother Gordon, if she needs any arguments, you are well posted up and can give them. I know you can soon bring her over. The fact of the business is, 1 was always so strong in my faith that I never went searching after reasons. People only want to be well informed to give up that old bigoted notion of close communion. Strange philosophy, thought Mr. Gordon, but he made QO reply : Mr. Holmes was an elder in the church. GRACE IN HER NEW HOME 4) " But, father, Grace is not only a strong believer in the doctrines of her church, but she can also give very good reasons for her belief." "Tut, tut, John, what do you know about good rea- sons ? you never studied theology." " Neither has old Parson Miller, I suppose, and yet he has convinced me that the Baptists are not so far wrong, after all, as we Presbyterians suppose them. I was astonished to find, in a conversation I had with him a few weeks ago, how much proof they can produce in support of 'their peculiar tenets, and that, too, from the Bible. I had always thought that, as a denomination, they were ignorant and bigoted ; but he proved to me that I had been laboring under a mistake. He used neither Hebrew, nor Greek, nor Latin ; he did not give me long quotations from the " Fathers," nor point to the great men who had been Baptists, but took the Bible, and argued from that. Mr. Truman says he preaches the best doctrinal sermons he ever heard, and that his members are well informed with regard to the distin- guishing features of their sect ; so you need not hope to find Grace such a ready convert as you expect. I really do believe I should have been shaken in my belief if I had listened much longer." " Tut, tut, John, we can very well understand why the matter was so clear to you a man in love can be convinced of any thing his sweet-heart thinks is right/' " Perhaps, as Mr. Holmes says, you found more argu- ment in Miss Truman's eyes than in Parson Miller's words," pleasantly remarked Mr. Gordon. The young gentleman smiled, but made no reply. So the call of Mr. Gordon had a twofold object to 42 i R A <: t IN HER NEW H U M K inquire, as a friend, after the health of the family, and if possible, to ascertain the state of Grace's religious feel- ings and tho extent of her views. He was convinced from her remarks of the previous evening that she wag pious was a Christian as well as a professed folio wei of the meek and lowly Jesus ; but he judged her verj jdelding in her opinions, and thought that the influence of hei husband's family and of the society into which she would be thrown, together with his conclusive argu- ments, would soon be sufficient, if not to change hei views entirely, at least so to modify them as to make her willing to unite with his church. This being ac- complished, the matter was ended. And aside from other considerations, he deemed it a very serious, as well as an unpleasant state of things, for the heads of a family to differ in religious belief. And he felt for this reason, if for no other, that it was his duty to use his influence in effecting a change in her opinions. Annie and Fannie were seated at the piano when he entered. Bidding them good-morning, he passed to the further side of the room, where Grace was sitting with her husband and father. "Good-morning, Brother Gordon," said old Mr Holmes, " we were just talking about you." "And what were you saying, Brother Holmes ? do- ing me justice, I hope," he mildly observed, taking the chair politely handed him by Grace. " I was just telling my daughter that our quarter!) meeting is near at hand, and she must lay aside all prejudice and come and commune with her husband." " And what does she say ?" he pleasantly asked. As he spoke he bent a searching glance on Grace, as GRACE i ii HEB fl E W HOilis.. 4w if to read the inmost thoughts of her soul, but she be- trayed no emotion, save a slight flushing of the cheek She endeavored to suppress this, but it would come. She wished now, as she had often done before, that she ?ould stay the crimson current in its course, but it would burst the bounds of her will, and rush headlong until arrested by the texture of her cheek, where, mingling with its snowy whiteness, it diffused a glorious tint over its delicate canvas, never rivaled by pencil of master- painter. Her husband noticed her agitation with feel- ings of deep sympathy, and a shadow of dark foreboding ; but he said nothing. " She says she must be convinced that she has a right there, before she can come. Did you ever hear of any thing like that? Convinced that she has a right ! Just as if every Christian hasn't a right to come to the Lord's table ! I have told her it is not our table, and if it was, that we would not be guilty of such a want of liberality ; and that we have no right to keep any body away from the Master's table, when he has commanded all his followers to come." " I think," said Grace, strong in her consciousness of right, " that only those should come who have been in- vited by the Kuler of the feast, and that in the way of his own appointment." " And what way is that, do you think ?" " Through the door baptism." " Well, we all believe that ; and you certainly don't mean to say that we haven't been baptized ?" She hesitated a moment, as if uncertain what to re- ply ; then looking up at the old gentleman, her face beaming with cando and earnestness, she said, "] 14 GRACE IN HER NEW HOME believe there is but one baptism, and that is irnmer sion." " Tut, tut, tut 1 you don't think water washes away our sins, do you ? that going down into a dirty pond, or a muddy creek is any better than to have some clean water sprinkled on your forehead ? Don't you know bap- tism is only a sign, child ? and I am sure the more gen- teelly it's done, the better. I wonder you Baptists can't see this. The fact of the business is, the thing is so plain to me, I can't tell why other people don't see it." " I suppose you think that in this every body should act for themselves. I regard it as a matter of conscience, and not of choice." " Certainly, certainly ; I want every body to act for themselves, if they will act according to common sense, but I never could see any reason in people's going down into the water to be dipped under, head and ears. It looks worse to me than any thing in the world." Grace was about to reply, but the entrance of Mrs Holmes and Mr. Lewis prevented her. Mr. Gordon per- ceiving that Mr. Holmes was becoming somewhat ex- cited, was glad of the interruption. He did not consider the occasion a fit one for the introduction of his logic, so he wisely forbore any further remark, determining within himself, to resume the discussion at the earliest convenience, for he knew when the citadel was once attacked, it was best, if possible, to take it by storm. and thereby prevent any time for preparation or reinforce- ment. Should this fail, he would place himself with all his artillery of reason before the gate, and there remain until the enemy, worn out by the long siege, would be compelled to surrender. GfcACE IN HER NEW HJ)ME. 45 Annie had been turning over the leaves of the largt music-book, and, with Fannie, admiring the sentiment of the songs, but the heightened tone of Mr. Holmes had attracted her attention, and she turned to see what was the matter. Grace's expression, together with the last words of the old gentleman's remark, told her all. ' Why can't she be left to her own opinions, at least until she shall be initiated in her new home ? must the persecution begin so soon ?" she mentally exclaimed, while she bent upon her agitated cousin a look of sym- pathizing tenderness. " They have no right to torment her in this way ; I will tell her not to give up but then perhaps this would not be right ; they are all of one faith, and why should she resist, when it will only bring trouble to her sensitive heart ?" Ah, Annie ! you have forgotten your advice ; did you not counsel, " be unyielding, too ?" The presence of Mr. Lewis imparted a feeling of cheerfulness to the company, because of his pleas** countenance, as well as the agreeable turn he gave \ f the conversation. " Really, Cousin Grace, I do not believe you have re- covered from the effects of yesterday's journey ; Miss A.nnie, too, is looking slightly pale ; John appears nei- ther improved nor damaged, he is not one to be influ- enced by trifles. For my own part, I feel like a new man. I have been so long pent up in my bachelor study, with stacks of grim-looking books around mo, that a taste of fresh air, and a little jolting over country roads nas given elasticity to my spirits, and vigor to my mind. " You certainly have scope for the full exercise of rus- tic tastes and habits here, Cousin Ed The glimpse of 46 GRACE IN HER NEW HOME. the surrounding country that I caught from my win dow this morning, bade me pronounce it beautiful, ven beautiful. That meadow beyond the church, with its silvery brooklet, and the dark background of woodland beyond ; and the church, with its hand-tipped spire evei pointing heavenward, seeming from its elevation to keep guard over the village, form a picture to my mind very attractive." " Yes, our country is lovely ; and an admirer of na- ture will find its charms inexhaustible. But old Borean has kept in such strict attendance at my door-latch, and not being willing to cultivate our already too ex- tended acquaintance, I confined myself as far as practi cable, through the past winter, to my arm-chair and mute instructors ; and you know the gyves of habit oncf thrown round us, it takes a strength like that of Sainsor to break them." " How guarded then should we be in forging for our- selves new bonds, Edwin, lest at any time we find their too strong to be broken." "Very true, aunt, but the work goes on so imper- ceptibly, that before we are aware of it, we find our- selves bound hand and foot." A rap was heard at the door, and two young ladies were announced. The day was spent in entertaining visitors. Some called out of respect to the family, some because of the friendship they felt, and many from curi- osity. Various were the rumor? 1 with regard to the chosen of him who had been the admired of all the marriageable ladies of the village. His position as the eldest son of the wealthiest citizen in the whole com- munity, and his fine appearance, together with tKa^ WBAOEINHEBNEWHOMB. 47 jleanant, unassuming manner, which at all times char- icterized him, caused him to be denominated by all "a irst-rate chance." Many a village maiden had cast a onglng eye to the handsome brick mansion, resting so proudly in the midst of its surrounding evergreens, and wondered if she should ever be so fortunate as to become an occupant. Mr. Lewis and the minister remained to dinner. The subject of the morning was not again alluded to. In the evening, after the ceremony of receiving visitors had ended, Annie and Fannie, with Mr. Lewis for an escort, sallied forth to reconnoiter the village. " This is a charming prospect," said Annie, as they rested in the meadow on their return from their walk. " I think I have seen but few more beautiful views than the one before us." And it was very lovely in its qui- etness, while the declining sun threw over its calm fea tures a soft and glorious brilliancy. Below stood the village, with its clean streets and white-washed houses. It was comparatively old, yet there were manifest but few signs of decay. The hand of neatness had touched up every tenement until the whole appeared to be oi recent date. To the right was the mansion of Mr. Holmes, with its nice out-buildings and gently-sloping t'urd, well filled with evergreens, above which the old oaks reared aloft their leafy fronts. To their left, and forming a semicircle in the rear, was the woodland which had for years been the park of the village. Thi- ther at evening would the young and old resort, to while away a pleasant hour after the labors of the day. Fannie, stooping, plucked a meadow violet, and gave it to Annie. 48 GRACE IN HER NEW HOME. "'They bloom in beauty everywhere/ Miss Annie One would think the old poet had looked on our quiet retired world when he wrote that line ; look around you, and see, the whole earth is radiant with their happy faces ; for it is literally true with regard to it, Wouldn't you judge so, Miss Annie ?" " I have met them wherever I have gone. I observed them as we came along yesterday, lifting up their ten- der eyes from every fence corner, and meadow-flat ; and in your uncle's yard they grow in lavish profusion, bestudding the emerald carpet with gems of purest amethyst ; and P.JW around me, whichever way I turn, I meet their sweet faces smiling me a welcome." The day had been one of excitement and fatigue to all, and an early hour was proposed for rest. The family assembled in the parlor for evening thanksgiving. Mr. Gordon led in prayer. " He can not mean me," said Grace to herself, as fer- vently he prayed, that all who were in error might soon be led to renounce it and turn to the paths of truth. " I can not be in error ; surely what I believe is taught in God's holy word. If my feet have strayed, Father, lead me by the influence of thy Holy Spirit into that perfect way whose end is eternal life. Keep me from temptation ;" and the words of Father Miller flashed through her mind, and most earnestly she besought God to grant her his guidance, that she might be kept from sin in whatever form it might present itself. " What is the matter, cousin," said Annie, as she thre^i her arms around the neck of the weeping girl. Graca had retired to her room, and there the emotion whici he had repressed by violent effort, found relief in tear? OBACE IN HER NEW HOME. 49 " You know it all, Annie ; you heard my father's re- marks this morning, and Mr. Gordon's prayer to-night Do you think he could have meant me when he sought forgiveness for those who were misled ? I can not be wiong," sol bed the agitated girl. "Do you think he could have alluded to me ? 0, Annie, are my troubles to begin so soon ?" " No, no, my dear, you are too apprehensive." Annie knew and felt it all, yet what could she ad vise ? To her the thought of Grace being made miser able, simply because she was a Baptist, was a dreadfu; one ; and yet she could not shut her eyes to the truth of the fact, that this was the only alternative, if she did not acquiesce in their views. She had better yield at once, and thus spare herself suffering. But what would Father Miller say ? what would her parents think ? These thoughts passed in rapid succession through her mind. She knew not of the high emotion which actu- ated her cousin's heart a sincere desire to do the will of Him who had bought her with his own precious blood. Annie was not a Christian ! " I can not advise you how to act," she said, as she kissed the burning cheek, and smoothed back the hair from the forehead of the sobbing girl ; " you know far better than I can tell you. I had thought it would have been an easy matter to repel any attack, but it has been so sudden, so serious. But never mind," said she, resuming an air of playfulness, " I will come to your assistance the next time, and if nothing else will do, we'll send for Father Miller to come down and turn them from the 3rroi of their way. But you must not 3 60 GRACE IN HER NEW HOME. distress yourself so about it ; dismiss it from ycui mind and get to sleep as fast as you can, dear Grace !" She kissed her a second time, and bidding her forget her troubles, left the room. Grace sat for a few moments absorbed in thought ; then kneeling, she offered up a silent prayer from her stricken heart that "he who guideth the meek in judg- ment" would choose her paths and direct her steps that all she did and all she said might show her to be the child of God, walking humbly before him. And he wbo heareth the feeblest cry of the least of his little ones, and " pitieth them, even as a father pitieth his children," lent a listening ear to her unbreathed petition, and th angel of the everlasting covenant came and ratified unto her " that peace which passeth all understanding.' Rising from her knees she sung in a low, plaintive voice, those beautiful words of Edmeston " Oh 1 thou, whose mercy guides my way. Though now it seem severe. Forbid my unbelief to say, " ' There is no mercy here.' " may I, Lord, desire the pain That comes in kindness down, Far more than sweetest earthly gain Succeeded by a frown . " Then, though they bend my spirit low, Love only shall I see ; The gracious hand that strikes the blow Was wounded once for me." Her soul was refreshed by communing with God ; th eyo of faith could see, beyond the heaving billows of e'.rth's tumultuous ocean, " Sweet fields arrayed m living green. aa f vers of deligrht " CHAPTER IV. THE SABBATH. THE Sabbath dawned soft, and bright, and beautiful Ct was one of those days when Nature seems to wear a holier, more heavenly look, as if to win, with her silent wooings, the heart of man away from the pursuit of earth's fleeting riches to a contemplation of those more enduring treasures above, which " eye hath never seen," but which if a man lay up, " neither moth nor rust can corrupt nor thieves break through nor steal." As Grace threw open her shutters to admit the cool fresh air of the morning, a little bird, scared from its leafy hiding in the oak near by, flew in through the win- dow, and in attempting to light on a vase of flowers, which stood on her work-table, upset it and dashed it to pieces. Despite her better judgment, which condemned the foolish superstition, her heart beat more rapidly, and she found herself asking the question " Of what coming evil can this be ominous ?" She caught the frightened intruder and pressed it to her bosom, " Poor little bird, aow scared you are ; your heart beats as violently as my awn," and she gently smoothed its glossy feathers from which the morning light glanced most brilliantly ; and having reassured it to some extent, she placed it on her hand and npproacl ed the open window For a moment 52 THE SABBATH. the little captive hesitated to go ; but the song of its mate reached its ear, and spreading its beautiful wings it flew to join her in her heaven-built home. She watched it as it darted to the oak from whence it came, and after its tiny form was hid among its rich foliage, she stood wondering if this could be the harbinger of ful ure trouble. She had been told in her childhood that an occurrence of this kind portended death in the family, and though she had never known it to be verified, and regarded it as a saying of old women, she could not re- lieve herself of the feeling of mysterious dread that had seized her bosom. We all have our superstitions and vague fears connected with old omens ; and can we won- der that Grace, nervous as she was from the past week's excitement, and filled with well-grounded apprehensions for the future, should yield to a weakness which finds a home in every breast, which, if not an element of our nature, is at least a part of our education. The call to breakfast roused her from her reverie. Passing into the hall she found the young ladies, as fresh and buoyant as a night of sweet sleep, and happy hearts could make them, waiting to accompany her to the breakfast-room. " (rood-morning," said they both, kissing her. " Why, cousin, you look pale and agitated. What is the matter with you ; I hope you haven't one of your old nervous headaches ? See, Fannie, doesn't she look sick ?" " My head aches slightly, but I think it will soon pass ff, I will take a turn in the yard after breakfast, and ee if the out-door influences of this lovely Sabbath morning will not drive it away." At the foot >f the stairway, jusi ready to ascend tc THE SABBATH. 63 accompany her down, Grace met her husband, who, sur- prised, instantly observed her agitated appearance, and asked, " Are you not well this morning, Grace ?" She replied as she had done to Annie, " that she had a slight headache." His anxious look, as it rested on her pale face, told that he was not satisfied with the cause as- signed, but he forbore any further questioning. Prayers immediately followed breakfast, after which, as Grace had proposed, they all took a walk in the yard. She found her headache gradually giving way under the genial influences of the balmy air and cheerful sunshine, and when Diamond, the little house-girl, came to tell them " that Missis said it was time to get ready for meetin'," the lily on her cheek had been supplanted by the rose, and the agitation had been succeeded by liei usual gentle, yet happy composure. She had forgotten her fears ; the burden was gone from her heart, and why should she not be well again? How great is the power of our spiritual over our cor- poreal nature ! Who can understand the subtle, myste- rious influence ? who can 'comprehend its workings ? We see its effects in others ; we feel them in our own being ; yet the whole subject is to us a " hidden thing," whose depths we shall never pierce until this. "mortal shall have put on immortality." The bell tolling forth its summons from the hand- tipped spire of the'neat brick church, called the people of God to come up from their homes to worship him in his earthly courts. -The church was crowded. Those acquainted with vil lage life can readily conceive what induced many t come out on the present occasion. 54 THE SABBATH. The church stood on an eminence just without th village, and as Grace sat by the open window and looked on the landscape beyond, stretching away in varied beauty as far as eye could reach, her mind reverted to her dear old country church where, through all the Sab- baths of her past life, she had sat to listen to the word! of heavenly wisdom, as they fell from the lips of the aged man of God. It was the Sabbath of their monthly meeting, and she longed to steal into her old familiar seat beside the pul- pit, to hear again the voice of her beloved pastor as in tones, tremulous with feeling, he spoke to dying men of the goodness and love of God in the gift of his only- begotten Son, that through his death and sufferings, they who were "dead in trespasses and sins" might be "quick- ened and made alive" by grace through faith in his blood. She recalled his earnest look, his beseeching accents, as he pointed out the way of salvation through a crucified Redeemer, and sought to " win souls to Christ," as well as to " warn them to flee from the wrath to come." The text and words of his last sermon came vividly up to her mind : " God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotton Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." How he dwelt on the love of God, its freeness, its fullness, its height, its depth that love which passeth knowledge and endeavored by all the promises based on that im- mutable love to woo and win some straying one to the bosom of the great Shepherd. " Poor dying man," said he, while tears started from his eyes, and rolled down his furrowed cheeks, " won't you come to him whc i* able and willing to save you ? Why do you rtsn THE SAB BATH. 56 onger away ? You miiijt cc me if you would escape ttf horrors of the second death ; there is no other way than this, and 1 entreat you in the name and by the authority of my Redeemer to come. Hear what he says : ' Who- soevei cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.' Bn! you must come. ' And the Spirit and the Bride sa> Uome ; and let him that heareth say Come ; and let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the waters of life freely.' " The picture was so life-like, so real, as it presented itself before her, that for the time she felt to be living over those hallowed scenes of the by-gone. The minister rose to read the morning hymn. As his voice reached her ear she started from her reverie. She turned, and there met her eyes not the old familiar faces that had smiled upon her through so many years but those of strangers, whose look was one of cold in- difference or prying curiosity. She caught a glimpse of her husband's countenance bent inquiringly upon her. Her heart quickened its beatings, and the rose-hue overspread her cheek instantly. " Has he read my thoughts ?" she asked herself ; " surely he has, or why that anxious gaze ?" She drove the sad, yet pleasing reflections from her mind, and made an effort to look cheerful. Gradually light chased away the darkness, and her face wore its usual calm, sweet expression. " A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another," read the minister, in a clear, full voice, from the open Bible lying before him. " Most beautiful theme," said G-race to herself, " 1 wonder how he will treat it ?" She dismissed all othei thought* and direcled hei attention to the discourse. 56 THESABBATH. The preacher spoke first of the nature of love, ita power, its depth, its duration, animating the heart through life, and ending only when^that heart ceased its boatings ; then of the boundless, unchangeable love of God, as exhibited in our creation, preservation, redemp- tion, and final justification. Secondly, of our duty tc love God because of his exceeding love to us, manifested in all of his dealings with man from the time he breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and he became a living soul, through all succeeding ages down to the present time, and above all most clearly demonstrated in the gift of him who was made a propitiation for our sins, that we who had forfeited all claims to the divine favor through willful transgression, might be reconciled unto God through his blood, poured out freely for the cleansing of the nations ; of our obligation to love each other, since he who has wrought out for us a complete salvation has commanded us so to do. Toward the close of his discourse he dwelt on the necessity of cherishing liberal views toward those who differ from us in religious sentiment, and the great blessings and comforts result- ing from the exercise of " that charity which thinketh no evil." Grace was charmed with the sermon ; she felt her BOU! go out in Christian love toward him who had so clearly and so beautifully portrayed the teachings ot divine truth. And her heart repeated the minister's closing words, " Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity : it is as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion ; for there the Lord com. manded the blessing, even life for evermore," THE SABBATH. 51 " Very much pleased indeed ; delighted," was ner repl) to old Mr. Holmes's question relative to her opinion of the sermon ; "he spoke like one whose heart was filled with the influence of the truths he taught." " Happy hit" thought the old man to himself ; * J knew Brother Gordon would manage the matter well." But let us hear Grace's opinion of the same discourse a few days later, as gathered from a letter written to hei mother during the following week. Mr. Gordon, en- couraged by old Mr. Holmes's report of his success, called to see Grace in a day or two. From his conversation on this occasion, which was very free, she learned fully what he thought was liberality toward others who differ from us in religious views. We give the letter entire, as it speaks unreseverdly in her own words her feelings in her new home. MOUNT AIBY, May 9th, 185, MY DEAR MOTHER It is but a week to-day since I bade adieu to my loved home, with all its tender associations, and yet, I can not tell why perhaps from the variety of incidents crowded into this short time, or it may be because I am so little accustomed to be away from you it seems so long, that in thinking of it, I can scarcely realize that but seven suns have risen and set on its quiet shade? since I last looked upon them. Time with me flies not on rapid wing, and yet mj heart has all it can ask save the presence of the fa away loved ones. My new home is a beautiful one with its handset j,* front and colonnade, its wide lawn ornamer .ed 58 THE SABBATH. shrub and bush and noble forest-trees, and peasant too, with its airy rooms and cool walks and blooming flowers, while the society of my husband and of his kind friends, whose attentions are unremitting, would make me for* get, if any thing could, my dear old home with its loving hearts. I have seen but little of the surrounding coun- try yet, but Annie, who has taken several excursions on horseback, pronounces it " unsurpassed in beauty ;" she describes the scenery as " varied and picturesque, the woods fit haunts for Driads, the streams for Naiads." She is full of life and happiness ; you know with what ease she could always adapt herself to circumstances, and in these few days she has learned to feel perfectly at home here, and I believe she has won the hearts of all she has met. Ever light-hearted and buoyant, she speeds along her way unmindful of care or sorrow. I often wish F possessed this happy faculty of hers : it is the source of so much gladness to all. The tender affection and gentle manner of Mrs. Holmes have completely won my heart, while Fannie, the oldest daughter, who is to spend the summer at home, lavishes upon me all the love of a sister. Mr. Holmes's father, of whom you have often heard him speak, is very kind ; but, as Mr. Holmes told us, very firm in his opinions, particularly his religious views, and eeems almost distressed that I should be of a different persuasion from him. He frequently laughingly tells Me that "he is going to make a Presbyterian of me," but I am not at all apprehensive that he will succeed. Cousin Edwin, the young gentleman who accompa- nied Mr. Holmes when we were married, is the life and light of our coterie He is a young man of great proin- THE SABBATH. 59 ise, * lawyer in Weston, respected and beloved by ah who know him. So you see if pleasant society anil kind attentions would make me forget those I have left behind me, you would all be in danger of having tc apply to yoarselves the old saying, " out of sight out ol mind. ' I heard Mr. Gordon, the village pastor, preach last Sabbath. Hib theme was one borrowed from those heavenly word^ of our blessed Saviour, " See that ye love one anothrM " He portrayed the love of God, free, pure, without Inarming and without end. Showed the obligations wo are under to love him and one an- other, and the great need of the exercise of kind feel- ing and brotherly We toward those who regard the holy Scriptures as reaching a doctrine different from that we profess. I aras delighted with the discourse, and felt that one wL:. could speak thus of the privileges and blessings of chanty, must possess what he so beau- tifully described. But in a subsequent conversation, I learned that he preaches to others what he does not practice himself. His remarks were particularly in- tended for those who do not think as he does. He be- lieves himself right, and all other denominations more or less wrong ; and that he expected the charity he so fully described, to be exercised by others towards him. How deplorable it is that any, and more par- ticularly ministers of the gospel, should ever forget to " do unto others as they would have others do unto them." I wish Father Miller \\as here to answer some of his objections to Baptist peculiarities. I feel unable to defend our denomination against some of hie accusations, especially when he dives into the 60 THE SABBATH. history of the church, and quotes from the "learnei Fathers." We had quite an animated discussion yesterday on close communion and immersion, in which he endeavored to show me that the first is essentially wrong, and the second entirely non-essential. I acted my part, as de- fender of our peculiar tenets, as well as I could, bringing for<\ ard the Scriptures to prove my assertions. He did not attempt to answer my reasons thus produced, but wan- dered off into such a maze of ecclesiastical proof, that my poor feeble efforts could not begin to keep pace with him. He did not answer me, I could not answer him, and so I yet remain unconvinced of my error, as he denominates strict communion. I think his endeavor is to prevail upon me to take the sacrament with my hus- band. To-morrow their quarterly meeting begins, and next Sabbath is their communion season. He is to call this evening to resume the discussion of yesterday. Father has requested him to have another conversation with me on the subject, as he is exceedingly anxious that " I shall lay aside my prejudice and come to the Lord's table with my husband." My warmest love to Pa and the dear children, and to Father Miller when you see him again, and tell him he must make it convenient to come and preach in Weston during the summer ; I am the only Baptist in the place and in the whole county I believe, except Mr. Clarke's family, who have recently moved into the neighborhood. I must close, as I wish to think over the subject of this evening's discussion, in order to be prepared for Mi Gordon's attack. Fray for me, dear mother, that I may be led in the way THE SABBATH 61 of truth and righteousness And now farewell. Maj God our Father keep you and all of the dear ones al home from all harm, is the earnest prayer of your de- moted daughter GBACE TBUMAN HCLMJES CHAPTER V HK MINISTER'S VISIT. THB STRU&GI.S. QEACE had passed most of the day alone in her room Her husband had been called away in the morning to attend to some business for his father, which would re- quire his absence till evening. Mrs. Holmes had been engaged in preparation for the meeting, for her house was always the home of the visiting ministers, and of those members of the church who lived too far in the country to return after dinner to afternoon services. The young ladies had gone to spend the day with Mr. Clarke's family, who, a few months before, had moved from the neighborhood of Annie's father to a farm about four miles from Western. Mr. Lewis had accompanied them. To the astonishment of all, and perhaps to the wonder of himself (if he had not looked into his own heart for the reason), he had become, in the last week, the accomplished and untiring gallant of the young ladies. He, perhaps, deemed it his duty to attend to Miss Annie, as she was a visitor in his uncle's house ; but there had been other young ladies visiting there, to whom he had given scarcely the coldest civilities of eti- quette. Perhaps he thought his health demanded recreation from study ; but how could he, when neither ache nor pain visited his manly form, nor the slightest THE MINISTERS VISIT. 63 shade of languid ness ever threw itself across his path to bid him seek the sunshine ? Perhaps but we will not surmise. What reason have we to suppose that OUT student had thrown aside the dusty leather tomes of the law school for the vellum and gilt of Cupid's softei teachings ? But certain it is that no knight of the olden time, impelled by love and honor, and lured on by the promise of ultimate success, ever acquitted himself more nobly than did our hero, just released from the bondage of codes and canons. For evening walk or ^morning ride, he was ever ready ; and Fannie often laughingly told him, " she scarcely knew her cousin Ed., now that he had so completely stepped out of his former quiet self, into the dashing young gentleman." About three o'clock in the evening, Grace, as she sat at her open window, looking out upon the village below, saw Mr. G-ordon approaching the house with slow step, as if his mind was busy with thoughts which must not be disturbed by the too active motion of the body. She had been watching for him with a feverish anxiety for the last hour. She had read, she had thought ; but all lier endeavors to collect and arrange her ideas proved fulile. The more she essayed to be calm, and set in order those arguments she had so often heard fall from the lips of Father Miller with such convincing earnest- ness and power, the more discomposed she became, the less tangible every thing appeared. They were, to hei mind, like the mirage of the desert to the eye of tb weary traveler, fair and enticing, full of beauty and pro- portion, yet ever eluding the grasp ; sought, and ever sought, yet never possessed. She wondered why this was o. She had often felt, that to establish her position 64 THE MINISTER'S VISIT. from the holy Scriptures, would be to her an sasy task but now she found that those passages which were most familiar to her, and which she had always regarded as containing incontrovertible proof of the point in debate, were with difficulty recalled, and, when read, seemed tc lose half their former power. She saw the minister turn aside from the path, and seat himself beneath a large oak, which screened him from the observation of those who might be in the front of the house. Opening the book he carried under his arm, he rested it upon his knee, and carefully turning over the leaves, noted a few places. He then read two or three pages, and remained some minutes absorbed in thought. She knew the subject which was occupying his mind so intensely, and the object of all this care ; and as the victim before the unsheathed blade, she felt that a moment more, and the cold steel must enter her bosom. She leaned her head upon her hand, and endeav- ored to suppress her rising emotion. She called to mind the promises of him who has said, " I will be with you always." She thought of her parents of their unflinch- ing confidence and unwavering faith of old Father Miller his holy teachings and parting injunctions and she wondered if this could be the temptation of which he spoke. Then her present situation came up be- fore her in colors of such glowing intensity, that reason turned aside, while feeling asserted with redoubled power her right to reign. She was the inmate of a father's house, who difiered from her entirely in religious views, and not being able to see as she did, must, of course, regard her firmness as obstinacy. And her husband, i THE STRUGGLE. 65 whose heart she knew she was the idol, regarded the method of taking the solemn vow of baptism as alto- gether irrelevant to the nature of the vow itself. And must this ever separate them ? Ever rear itself, an in- superable barrier, between their Christian communion ? Then she called to mind that pleading, earnest look of her mother, which always rested upon her, when the subject was mentioned in her presence, with an elo- quence in its meaning far more potent than words could have made it. All this caused her to feel that perhaps she was doing wrong in attempting to fortify herself in a position which she must ever be defending, because she would ever be attacked. " I may be mistaken after all," she said to herself, as she closed the Bible lying on the window. " I will, at least, listen calmly to his arguments, and not suffer my views and old attachments so to blind my judgment, as to prevent me from seeing the force of his reasoning." " Mr. Gordon wishes to see you, Miss Grace," said the servant, gently opening the door. " I will be down in a few minutes," she answered, as tremblingly she laid aside the work, which had fallen from her hand, and going to the bureau, took up the brush to smooth her hair. She caught a glimpse of her face in the mirror, and started as its expression of rest- less care met her eye. " I must not enter Mr. Gordon's presence wearing this anxious look," she whispered to herself. " He will read in it the conflict of thought that has swept through my bosom. He will feel that I am ready to yield without argument, and will give himself no trouble to convince me of my error. I would not have him thii k that I have been guided by mere prejudice; 66 THE MINISTER'S VISIT. and not by reason. I believe I am right, yes, T know that I am, but I must hear his arguments. It will be hard for him to prove to me that his position is correct, and I will never be willing to set aside the rules of my church until it is made clear to my mind that my mound is untenable. But I must overcome my agita- tion, that I may listen to him with composure. I shall never be able to understand what he says, if I do not quiet this heaving breast. I will hear him through, and then decide upon my future course/' She went to the window and looked carelessly forth, She did not think, she felt felt that her swelling heart must be tranquillized. She said to the surging sea, " be still," but the billowy waves went leaping on, unheed- ing her human voice, and gathering renewed energy from the very attempt to subdue them. Thus it is with creafcire effort ! Thus it is when we look not to the hill whence our help cometh. We put forth our strength in our own name, but to defeat the end of our earnest desires. Let us, then, ever be mindful of him to whom all power is given, and in whom dwells the fullness of all excellency. " I must be calm ! Assist me, 0, my God, thou m whom I trust. Let that voice that awed to rest the angry Gennesaret, now speak peace to my troubled bosom. Thy aid I implore ! on thee I rely ; 0, let not my strength and stay fail me in this my hour of need : 44 ' Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of thy wing.' " She paused a moment, and assuring herself by a glance at the mirror that all traces of her deep emotion had vanished, she descended to the parlor, and uaet the THE STRUGGLE. 67 minister with an air of calm dignity, wh ch made him feel that she was well fortified in her tower of strength. He did not read the doubt and fear which were even then struggling in her bosom for the mastery over faith and hope. She took a seat on the sofa by Mrs. Holmes, and looked imploringly into her face, to see if she could find therein any evidences of the conversation between her *nd Mr. Gordon. But it wore that same full look of silent love which had won the heart of Grace when first they had met. Gathering courage from its beautiful composure, she breathed more freely. " Will Brother Holmes return to tea ?" asked the minister, resuming the conversation interrupted by the entrance of Grace. " I am expecting Brother Robin- son this evening to assist me in our meeting, and I have taken the liberty to invite him to meet me here." " You did right. Brother Gordon ; my house is ever a home for the servants of my Master, whatever may be their station in life. Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and administer to the wants of the suffering, is his command, and I desire that it may be my meat and drink to do his will." How like her own dear mother sounded these words to Grace ; and as the sweet voice of the speaker fell upon her ear, the words sank deep into her heart and left an impression there in favor of Christian commu- nion, which all the arguments she had heard from the minister had failed to produce. How often is it that kindness subdues where reason dare not tread. Mr. Gordon was puzzled to know how to broach the lubject of his visit. Th3 very fact of his having made 68 THE MINISTER'S VISIT. an appointment served to embarass him, for he was well aware that Grace and Mrs. Holmes were every moment expecting him to introduce it. Grace was anxious that he should begin. Reality, however distressing, is pre- ferable to torturing suspense. And she wished to heai all that could be said in favor of a step, which she fell would remove from her pathway obstacles, which, unless that step should be taken, must ever exist to mar hei happiness, and which might finally end in the estrange- ment of her husband's feelings. The minister made some passing remarks ; asked for the health of the young ladies, and, with evident un- easiness in his manner and countenance, walked toward the window. He cast a searching glance down the avenue, but it met not the object of his inquiry. Fold- ing his hands behind him, he paced the floor with nerv- ous tread. " Annie charged father, before she left this morning, to bring her a letter from the office, and I suppose he is waiting for the mail," remarked Grace to Mrs. Holmes, as Mr. Gordon, for the third or fourth time, paused be- fore the window and looked earnestly out. "Yes, I judge so. I have been expecting him back for the last half hour. The mail has been detained, I suppose. Do you know, Brother Gordon, if it had reached the village before you left ?" " The mail-boy was just coming in as I passed up the street, and the mail has had full time to be opened. Ana here/' said he, as he turned toward the door at the Bound of a footstep in the hall, " is Brother Holmes with some of its contents." "Glad to see you," said Mr. Holmes, walking up to THE STRUGGLE. 69 Mr. Gordon, and cordially grasping his hand. " Have you been here long ? I expected to get back sooner, but was kept waiting for the mail. Here is a letter foi Annie, Grace, ' said he, approaching her and throwing a nicely enveloped missive into her lap. " Well, have you converted Grace from the error of her way, or, any- how, made her willing to commune with us next Sun- day. I have told her, to the best of my ability, why she ought to join us at least that far, but I have not been able to make her believe what I have said. It does seem to me that these Baptists are the hardest people to make believe they are wrong I ever saw. What is that old song about people's thinking they art 3 right in spite of you ? Did you ever hear it, Grace ? " Do you mean, " ' Convince a man against his will, He's of the same opinion still ?' " " Yes, yes, that's it ; and I do think it must have been written about some Baptist, it suits them so well. You may talk to most of them until you are gray, and you can't make any thing out of them but dippers and close communionists. I do hope Grace will not prove so hard-headed. I should hate to see her refuse the communion just after her husband has taken it. It wouldn't do. And the fact of the business is, I don't believe she will when she has heard all of your strong arguments." At the conclusion of this animated speech, which old Mr. Holmes had made standing, with his hat on, Grace sought the eye of her mother. It was bent upon hei with that same pleading look, and she felt, while be- holding that face &; full of earnest affection and sympa- 70 THE MINISTERS VISIT. thy, that if there were aught of prejudice, aught of error in her mind, she would tear it out and cast it from her, cost what it might of pain and suffering. Foi her sake she would hear, with earnest desire for right, what could be said in favor of the course the) wert urging her to adopt. " I have brought with me," said the minister, seat- ing himself by Grace, " the works of one of the first men your denomination has ever had, Kobert Hall of England ; perhaps you know something of him, Mrs. Holmes." " I have heard Father Miller say he was truly a great and good man, but that he thought he had fallen into a gross mistake when he permitted his churches to commune with other denominations. I have not read any of his writings." "Is he that good Baptist brother who says all Chris tians that are church members ought to commune to- gether ?" " Yes, he has said, ' that all Christians are entitled to the eucharist, and that sincere and conscientious Pedo-baptists have a right to all church privileges, and as communion is one of these privileges, every member has a right to partake of the Lord's Sup- per.' " " What do you say to that, Grace ? ain't that clear ?" She hesitated a moment as if to assure herself thai she was right, and then answered, " That certainly seems to be good reasoning but father, you do not permit your infant mc.n'i*?!* k com- mune." " Tut, tut, child they ain't member* THESTRTGGLE. 71 " But they are baptized , and do you not consider all japtized persons members of the church ?" " Pshaw ! you are wandering from the subject : we are talking about communion now." " But I have always believed no one ought to com- mune that has not first been baptized, and that all who have complied with this command not only have a right to follow the other but that it becomes their im- perative duty to do it." " Let me read to you, Mrs. Holmes, what Mr. Hall says on that subject. It is just in point, and so convincing that I think no one can controvert it. ' It is not suffi- cient to allege the prescribed order of the institutions ; it is necessary also to evince such a dependence of one upon the other, that a neglect of the first, from involun- tary mistake, annuls the obligation of the second. Let this dependence be once clearly pointed out, and we give up the cause. It has been asserted, indeed, with much confidence, that we have the same authority for confining our communion to baptized persons, as the ancient Jews for admitting none but such as had been circumcised to the passover. But it will at once be seen that the two cases are not similar, for in the former there is an express prohibition : no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof But it is nowhere asserted in the New Testament that no unbaptized person shall partake of the eucharist." Grace felt that this argument was unanswerable. '' Surely," she said to herself, " Father Miller never read that. How clear it is." " And furthermore, Mr. Hall says, ' that the natural order of the Christian sacraments, which we all admit, may be set aside under certain circumstances.' You see. 72 THE MINISTER'S VISIT. Brother Holmes, that as they are both positive ordi nances, there is not a necessary connection between the two. They were instituted at different times, undei different circumstances and for different purposes. Bap- tism is the act of the individual whereby he shows his faith in the blessed Trinity ; communion the act of a society to commemorate the dying love of the Redeemer." " Yes, yes, I see it all ; great pity that more of the Baptists don't feel like Mr. Hall. Somehow or another they have got blinded and you can't remove the scales from their eyes. You may talk to them about their bigotry and selfishness in not letting us take the com- munion with them, and they'll tell you about baptism being a pre-requisite, and that we do not invite those we consider unbaptized to our table, as if we ever thought it belonged to us. They know very well we call it the Lord's table, and all are asked to come who love him. But Mr. Hall understands what we mean ; he knows all about it, and I wish every Baptist would read that, Brother G-ordon, then we wouldn't hear so much about pre-requisites. The fact of the business is, I believe all are invited to come who love Christ. But read on." "Again, Mr. Hall in still stronger terms says, that ' strict communion sets the conduct and feelings at vari- ance, and erects into a duty the mortification of our best and holiest propensities.' And here, on page 107, he re- marks, ' that can not be scriptural which is totally op- posed to the genius of the gospel. The genius of the gospel, let it be remembered, is not ceremonial but spiritual ; consisting not in meats, or drink, or outward observances, but in the cultivation of such interioi THESTRUGQLB. 71 graces as compose the essence of virtue, peifect the character and purify the heart. These form the soul of religion. When, therefore, the obligation of humility and love come into competition with a punctual obser- vn nee of external rites, the genius of religion will easily li.-termine to which we should incline.' "* " That, I think, expresses the sentiment of om Saviour when he said to his disciples. ' These things 1 command you. that ye love one another/ " remarked Mrs. Holmes, interrupting Mr. Gordon. " What do you say to that, my daughter ? I don't think your Father Miller could get over that.. I do wish he was here to hear Brother Gordon read from one af his own men, and that, too, the smartest one they ever had that I know any thing about. The feet of the business is, the more people know the more liberal they get to be in their notions." Grace thought her father's reasoning altogether irrel- evant to the subject, and the imputation of ignorance fell as heavily upon her as upon any other member of the " selfish sect," but these thoughts did not frame themselves into words. She twirled Annie's letter with an agitation of manner that betrayed the disquietude of her mind, and which, the minister observing, asked her what she thought of Mr. Hall's arguments. " They are very weighty, Mr. Gordon ; and I do not see how they can be answered. The subject never be- fore presented itself to my mind as it does now ; but is there nothing in the Bible which throws light on this momentous matter ? nothing upon which we can rest and feel ourselves secure ? In all you have read, Mr. * Robert Hall's complete works, AinericaD edition, o. 107. 74 THE MINISTER'S risir. Hall has given no authority from that book, which in alj things should be our guide and instructor." "Hear him speaking in the language of the great apostle to the Romans. After remarking upon the dif- ferences of opinion existing among Christians, he says. ' We are expressly commanded in the Scriptures fc tolerate in the church those diversities of opinion whicl are not inconsistent with salvation. We learn from the New Testament that a diversity of views subsisted ir the times of the apostles betwixt the Jewish and Gentile converts. Some declined the use of certain kinds of meat, forbidden by Moses, which others partook of with- out scruple ; one man esteemed one day above another, conscientiously observing the principal polemnities ; another, esteemed every day alike. Instead of en- deavoring to silence these differences by interposing his authority, St. Paul enjoins mutual toleration. Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful dispu- tations. For one believeth he may e?t all things ; an- other, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not ; and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth ; for God hath re- ceived him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant ? unto his own master he standeth or falleth. ^ ea, he shall be holden up ; for God is able to make aim stand. One man esteemeth one day above another ; another man esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully pe:suaded in his own mind. (Rom., xiv. 1-5.) To the same purpose are the following injunctions in the next chapter : We, then, that are strong, ought to beai the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Now the God of peace and -onsclation grant you to be THE STRUGGLE. T5 like -minded, one toward another, according to Jesus Christ, that ye may, with one mind, and with one mouth, glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore, receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. (Rom., xv. 1-7.) In order to determine how far these apostolic injunctions oblige us to tolerate the supposed error of our Pedo- baptist brethren, we have merely to consider whether it necessarily excludes them from being of the number of those whom Christ has received to the glory of the Father ; whether it be possible to hold it with Christian sincerity, and finally, whether its abettors will stand or fall in the final judgment. If these questions are an- swered in the way which Christian candor irresistibly suggests, and which judgment approves, they conclude in favor of the admission of Pedo-baptists to commu- nion, not less forcibly than if they had been mentioned by name ; and all attempts to evade them must prove futile and abortive '* "And further on, we find the following emphatic language : * It were well if the evil/ mark, he calls the effects of this practice an evil, ' resulting from the prac- tice of strict communion, were confined to its effocts on other denominations. But, generally speaking, the adoption of a narrow and contracted theory ' " 11 It is that very thing, Brother Gordon, that very thing, that I object to. It is a narrow, contracted busi- ness to think nobody can understand the Bible but you I am certain of one thing : the Baptists, with all their reading and knowledge, know very little about the golden rule. They wouldn't let us baptize our OWB * Robert Hall's complete works. American edition, page 6ft. 76 THE MINISTER'S vi SIT. children if they could help it ; but I've interrupted you, read on." " ' Generally speaking, the adoption of a narrow and contracted theory will issue in a narrow and contracted mind. Conceiving themselves to be a highly privileged class, they are almost inevitably exposed to think more highly of themselves than they ought to.' " ''Just so ; they think nobody is right but them ; all of their actions say, ' Stand aside, for I am holier than thou.' Grace, my daughter, you will no longer defend a people who are called narrow-minded and narrow- hearted by their own leaders, will you ? Come out from among them and stand on the side of truth and charity. The fact of the business is, I could not bear for my daughter to belong to such a church, so ignorant and so bigoted ; but, wife, what is your opinion about this matter ? You haven't said a single word on the subject." " I have always been persuaded in my own mind, that our Baptist friends lay too much stress on non-essen- tials, and I cordially endorse Mr. Hall's liberal views respecting this institution, so well calculated to unite by one common tie all the children of our common Father. * Love one another, as I have also 1( ved you.' " Grace felt the force of this generous sentiment thrill her very soul. How beautiful, how divine that love, which can embrace in its wide-spread arms, all the fol- lowers of the Kedeemer. " One faith, one Lord." " So I feel," said Mr. Gordon, closing the book which he had held open during the conversation. There was one more argument he had intended to present foi THE STRUGGLE. 77 Grace's consideration ; but, feeling that her judgment was sufficiently undecided, he knew that an appeal to her heart would accomplish more now, than all the rea- soning he could offer. Turning to her, he said in a tone of deep earnestness, which reached her heart, and made her for the time forget the want of liberality he had ex- pressed in the conversation the previous evening, " Why should there be a separation between the children of the same heavenly Father ? We are taught by our blessed Saviour, who instituted this ordinance for his people that they might show forth their love to him and each other, ' to love one another, even as he has loved us ;' and we should not suffer matters of but little moment mere differences of opinion to interpose between the heirs of salvation, and cause them to wrangle and dispute among themselves, when they should be united, as one man, to fight against the common enemy, the hosts of Satan, which at every point attack the encampment of the saints. We should strive for union here below, as we hope to enjoy it above. The saints will all commune together in heaven, and ought to do so on earth. How glorious would it be if we could all see, eye to eye ; could think, and feel, and act together as brethren ; and how guarded should we be against all such teachings as are calculated to sow dissensions among the membera of the household of faith, and bring discord into the bosom of families whose hearts are knit in the strongest bands of hope and love. Why should we debar from the sacramental feast those whom we so dearly love, and who we believe are journeying with us towards that blissful state of existence, where robbed of all prejudice and error, all earthly stain washed out by the blood of 78 THK MINISTER 8 VISIT, the atonement we shall know even as we are known, and shall together partake of the glory and happiness purchased for us hy the sufferings of our ascended Lord. The wife, then, shall commune with her husband, the child with its paren 4 ; all shall drink of the new wine of the kingdom, and together sing the new song, even piaise to him who hath redeemed us, and made us sons of God, and joint heirs with our Lord Jesus Christ. I hope, Mrs. Holmes, that you will consider these things well, and that, in deciding on your future course, you may be guided by the influences of the Holy Spirit. He, alone, can lead you in the paths of truth and righteousness/' A. tear trembled in the eye of Grace as the minister closed. An appeal had been made to her heart, and her tender, affectionate nature, responded to that appeal from its depths. She could not controvert the argu- ments to which she had listened ; she could not say " nay" to her husband, whom she loved with all the strength and constancy of her yearning, trusting soul, and in whose piety she had unshaken confidence. Could she ever be separated from him in this, one of the highest and holiest enjoyments vouchsafed to us by him who spilt his blood freely that we might be purified from all uncleanness. How could she stand aside as having no part nor lot in the matter, when he had said, " Come eat ye, all, of it !" The contest was fierce ; the struggle against old associ- ations and deep founded feelings intense ; and fervently she sent up a silent prayer that he, " whose word giveth light," would shine upon her darkness, and impart to her grace to follow whithersoever he directed. " Not my Till, God, but thine be done." THE STRUGGLE. 79 The minister and her father saw the effect cf the last rords, and were satisfied. The woman's heart had been touched, and feeling triumphed. The point had been gained the desired impression made ; and, as if by mu- tual consent, the conversation turned upon other topics In a short time the young ladies returned, full of ani- mation, from their exhilarating ride. Mr. Lewis, or " 3ousin Edwin," as he was called by all the younger members of the family, walked slowly to the house as if pondering in his mind some weighty subject. " Why, cousin, what is the matter with you ?" said Annie, as she tossed her bonnet on the sofa, and took the seat by Grace, which the minister had just vacated. " Look, Fannie, how agitated Grace is ; and see, there is one of those meaning tears. The little fugitive has early been called from its hiding-place, despite the heart- felt wish of Cousin John. I am glad he is not here to see it. But, come, shake hands with grief, and call up your sweetest smile, for he will soon be here ! We passed him in the village, and he said he would follow us in a few minutes. But, do tell me, what has saddened you ? What have you done to my cousin, Mr. Holmes, to cause her to feel so badly ?" " Oh, nothing, nothing," answered old Mr. Holmes ; " she is just crying a little for joy to think she can now come to the communion-table with John. I told her Brother Gordon could set matters straight. I knew his arguments would convince her. I am glad, my daugh- ter, that you did not hold out against the truth. It's no use fighting with old rusty swords.' Grace made no reply, but, handing the letter to Annie ose to leave the room. SO THE MINISTERS VISIT. " Stop, cousin, and hear the news from home," said Annie to her, as she was approaching the door. " Just listen, will you ? Mother writes that Tom will be here to-raorrow, and that I must come home on Monday. Just think of it, so soon ! Well, I will be very sorry to leave your pleasant society, but I must obey mj mother, and tear myself away." Any one who had closely observed Mr. Lewis's counte- nance, might have seen a shade of regret pass over his handsome face. Mrs. Holmes noticed it, and in it read a prophecy of the future. In a few minutes Mr. Kobinson and young Mr. Holme. 1 arrived. He was greeted with kindly warmth by each member of the household. " We are glad, indeed, to see you once more in our vil- lage," said Mr. Lewis, shaking him cordially by the hand "It has been a long while since you were to see us." Mr. Robinson was generally known and much beloved in Weston. He had once had charge of the church foi two years, and since that time he had regularly paid them a yearly visit. His exemplary walk had won the respect of the whole community ; and his gentle, affec- tionate manner, had gained the hearts of all his people. No one could look upon that calm brow, and watch the heavenly expression of that beaming eye, without a feel- ing of admiration and regard. Grace found herself hanging on his words, as he told of a joyous meeting he had just closed with his own church. Even Annie's gaiety subsided to a gentle quietness, as she heard him speak, in language of deep thankfulness, of the goodness of God to rebellious man. The evening passed in religious conversation, in which THE STRUGGLE 81 the aged minister led. He always n^ade it a rule, wherever he went, to speak of holy tilings, and to as- certain the spiritual condition of each one of the house- hold ; and he had always found this one of the most successful means of extending his Master's kingdom. The husband was aware of the object of Mr. Gordon's risit, and regretted that he was, necessarily, prevented from hearing the arguments in favor of mixed commu- nion. Arguments he knew there were, but as he had been thrown but little with the " tight-laced sect," he had never had much need to inform himself with regard to them. He marked the look of deep thoughtfulness on the face of his young wife, but could not read its meaning. He knew not whether it expressed indecision or regret. " And what did Mr. Gordon say ?" he asked of her, in a half playful manner, after they had reached their room at night. For a moment she hesitated to reply. She scarcely knew how to clothe her thoughts in words. " I can not tell you all he said, nor give you the sum of his argu ments ; but he has made me feel that I have been too strongly attached to my old opinions, and that Christian fellowship demands that I should set aside every hinder- ance that in any way interposes itself, and unite with God's people in showing forth his love and sufferings. It is a hard thing to yield an opinion when it has beea so long and so strongly cherished ; but I would not, must not, sacrifice the right to any sentiment, however dear Pray for me, my husband, that I may have strength to perform my duty in this matter, and that we, together, may be useful in the cause of our Lord 82 THE MINISTER'S VISIT. and Master. I feel that I need his direction to enable me to choose the path of duty, and his guidance to give me strength to walk therein. Will you not ask that hey may be given me ?" " Let us pray," said Grace, seeing that her husband lesitated ; and, kneeling beside him, she offered up, n a voice broken with emotion, an earnest, pleading prayer to God, for grace and strength to do his will. 'Leave me not, nor forsake me, thou who art the help of thy people in all generations. Cleanse me from sin, search my heart, and purify it from every stain, that I may walk in the way of thine own appointments, and be ever ready to follow whithersoever thou goest. And grant, my Father, that we may be thy children, through faith, walking in thy commands and ordinances blame- less. May we, together, pass through life supported by thine almighty arm. Be thou our "shield and hiding- place, and let us be thy faithful children. Guide us through life, and receive us in death ; we ask, for the dear Redeemer's sake. Amen." Her husband imprinted a kiss upon her lips as they rose. Her words had sunk deep into his soul, and he determined to live nearer to God than he had done, and with his blessing to be to her faithful and affectionate, ever seeking her happiness before his own. Grace retired to rest with less anxiety upon her mind than she had felt since Mr. Holmes had first spoken of hf.r sectarian views to Mr. Gordon, on the porch, the .'trening of her arrival. Her opinions were changed, hei mind fixed ; and she looked forward to the coming Sab bath with a degree of composure she had never before 3xperieaced in the contemplation of this subject. CHAPTER VI. THE COMMUNION SEASON. ANNIE busied herself throughout the morning df Bat rrday with preparations for her return home. Grace accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Holmes to church Her views of the previous evening had become more and more decided by a conversation with her mother, during the walk to church, and by some remarks of Mr. Gordon, made at the close of the sermon. She not only felt submissive to the act she was about to per- form, but a degree of pleasure in the reflection, that now there remained no point of difference between her and her husband. Mrs. Holmes had dwelt with par- ticular earnestness upon this subject ; and the great gratification manifested by her every tone and look, had imparted a joy to the heart of Grace which she had not deemed it possible for her to experience in the performance of a deed which she had hitherto re- garded essentially wrong. Mr. Lewis called in the evening to see Annie. She, in her own frank way, expressed her regret at having so soon to leave Weston. " I shall not be here to see Lydia Clarke, when she calls next week, Mr. Lewis. I hope you will explain to her why I left so suddenly, and enjoin the fulfilment of 84 THE COMMUNION SEASON. the promise she has made, to visit me, with Fa mie, during the early fall. She was an old schoolmate of mine; indeed, I have known her from her childhood, and I do not believe there is a nobler creature living ; sc warm-hearted, so generous, so free." " You speak in terms of high praise of your friend, Miss Gray." "Yes, and 1 regard her as highly as I speak. You promised to accompany the girls you know ; and let me have no reason to suspect that you lightly set aside your engagements," said she, laughingly, at the same time tossing him a rich Luxemburg, which she had been twirling on her fingers during the conversation. " Most assuredly I will give you no cause of com- plaint on that score, Miss Annie. I shall regard my word inviolable, and will be ready to do the young ladies' bidding at any time. I will take great pleasure in acting as their protector to " " Forest Glen, Mr. Lewis ; have you so soon forgot- ten the name of our rural home ?" Annie did not observe that, while Mr. Lewis wa? making this gallant reply, he was also carefully deposit- ing the Luxemburg in his hat, which, through mistake or indifference, he had introduced into the parlor and deposited on the sofa, instead of leaving it on the rack in the hall. " You must certainly be a man of short memory, Mr Lewis, whatever other virtues you may possess." " That, of course, you will deem my misfortune, and not my fault, Miss Annie ; but why your remark ?" " Why, 'twas but last evening, as we rode by t/u.t beautiful cottage-house on the way, protected by it? THE COMMUNION SEASON. 8 bastion of old a.iks, and resting so peacefully in its quiet loveliness that I pointed out its resemblance to my own home, and asked you if you did no j think ' Forest Glen' a very apropos name for such a place ?" " You will pardon my seeming indifference (his voice assumed a slightly graver tone), when I tell you my mind, just then, was busy with other thoughts. I was looking far into the coming years, and wondering what should be my reading of the preat book of life ; whether its pages shall be fair and its words hopeful, or whether the rude hand of disappointment will blot and blur its characters, and its lessons be lessons of sorrow and de- spair." Annie turned upon him a mingled look of surprise and admiration. She essayed to read in the expres sion of his face the solution of these strange words. His eye was bent upon her with deep earnestness. She blushed as its intense gaze met hers, but assuming an air of badinage, she said : " Why, Mr. Lewis, if looking into my future cast such a gloom over my present, I would always blindfold my- self whenever I had to turn that way. I would rathei incur the risk of the dread omen of looking over the left shoulder than to be ever facing seeming evil." " You would but use a subterfuge, Miss Annie, and one that must utterly fail you in the end. Sorrow and disappointment are in the way of us all. We may leap jver them in the outset of life, but by so doing we jierely exhaust our strength, and when the battle is to be fought, which must sooner or later occur, we find our- elves unequal tc the contest without valor and with- uo t armor." 86 THE COMMUNION SEASON. " Won't argue the question with you, Mr. Lewis ; 1 remember some of my past defeats. Before I again come in contact with such a mental Ney, I will en- deavor to wake up my valor and rub up my armor. You are always so unexpected in your metaphysical at- .acks , showing fight when one is least looking for it. My philosophy is set forth in those lines of Barry Corn- wall, " ' Life let us cherish while yet the taper glows.' " " You surely do not mean to say that you are always glad and gay. This would argue a want of feeling and reflection, which I am convinced does not characterize you. You certainly have your seasons of sorrow ; you are something more or less than woman, else." She turned upon him a look of anxious inquiry. What could he mean by those grave questions and that graver tone ? " Well ! yes, I am sometimes sad ; I sometimes feel that the best, most earnest desires of my soul, are not to be met here that there must be something in the far-off future which will answer all hope, all expectation. But I will not give myself unhappiness because I do not possess it now, but will patiently await its coming." " And what do you call this out-looking, out-reaching of the soul after future good ? and what do you think can satisfy it ? and when will the time coine when e can say to the present, 'it is sufficien* ; I ask nothing more ?' " She hesitated a moment, and then, with her ey<* bent full upon him, sne, with hei wonted frankness. replied: THE COMMUNION SEASON. 87 *' 1 do not know, Mr. Lewis, that I can clearly an- swer all your questions. I believe God has implanted those desires in our bosom, and for a wise purpose. He does not intend that we shall be fully happy here, lest we forget, while in the midst of enjoyment, to lay up for ourselves treasures above ; and it is not until we shall enter upon the possession of those treasures, that we will feel to have nothing more to desire nothing more to hope for. This is my philosophy on that subject ; and I think disappointments are given us that we may the more readily and the more earnestly perform this work." Mr. Lewis regarded her with blended interest and surprise. He had not expected an answer so replete with Christian philosophy, from the gay and apparently thoughtless girl. That she felt, that she sometimes reflected, he did not doubt ; but he had not supposed that feeling and thought could be embodied by her into language expressive of the only true solution of these weighty problems. He found that she had not only paused in her merry trippings along her way of bloom- ing flowers to notice that here and there one had drooped and perished from its stem, but that she had also gathered up these frail mementoes, whose fragrance, while it spoke jf the past, shed also a holy perfume over the future. "And so you are going to leave us, Annie," said old Mr. Holmes, as he unceremoniously entered the parlor and approached the sofa where she and Mr. Lewis were sitting. " Fannie has just told me you are all ready to go, and that your brother will be here this evening for you. It is too bad, ain't it, Edwin, for her to be hur- ried away from us, after this fashion ? She ought to 88 THE COMMUNION *EAS. - N. stay several weeks longer and get acquainted with OUT people, especially our village beaus ; we have some mighty fine young men in Weston, real clever fellows, good chances for any body ; and may be, if you'd stay a little longer, you might catch one of them ; and we'd be very glad for you to come down and settle with us, Annie." " 0, I am delighted with Weston, Mr. Holmes, and have no doubt that your young men are all you have described them to be. I am acquainted with some of them, you know ; and judging from these illustrations of your subject," said she, at the same time looking archly at Mr. Lewis, who was standing in an attitude of gentlemanly nonchalance before her, "I would have no hesitancy in pronouncing you a man of exceeding fine judgment on such points ; but you would not have me act the disobedient girl, would you ? You would not advise me to remain, when duty calls me home ?" "No, no ; as your mother has sent for you, you had better go ; daughters must always mind their mothers. The fact of the business is, girls that don't make good daughters, don't make good wives ; they are always so self-willed, and determined to go their own way Edwin, my advice to you is, never to marry a woman that don't mind what her mother tells her ; they won't do at all." " I'll regard your counsel, uncle, for your example in this matter is quite as convincing as your precepts." " Yes, my boy, if you ever get such a woman as yow aunt Jane, you may consider yourself a lucky fellow ; don't you say so, Annie ?" " I most assuredly agree with you, Mr. Holmes ; M THE COMMUNION SEASON. 31* Holmes is * confirmation strong' of your good judgment and most excellent fortune." " Fortune, child ! it was no fortune ; just good com- mon sense. A man ought never to marry until he gets suited." " I don't be.ieve a man ever does until he believes, 01 fancies himself suited." " Well, I reckon not ; but some of them get mosi mightily mistaken, sometimes. Annie, you'll come to see us again, soon ? I am going to send Edwin and Fannie up to bring you down, before long." " I shall be most happy to avail myself of an early opportunity to come and see you. My stay has been so pleasant that, notwithstanding duty demands it, I must say I leave Weston with regret. I shall miss Cousin Grace so much when I get home ; and Lydia Clarke, too, is gone ; 0, my, how lonely I will be ! but I will not think of it now. I will not let the trouble of the future cast its gloom over the pathway of the present. You may think what you please of my reasoning, Mr. Lewis, but I assure you I am too much of a philosopher for that." " Tut, tut ; put down your hat and stay to supper. Edwin ; you must not think of leaving before bed- time. This is Annie's last evening with us, and Johij will soon be back ; take a seat and stay till he comes. I do wish he could get that business settled, it's so troublesome!" he added, in an undertone, as if speak- ing to himself. " No, I thank you, uncle ; you and Miss Annie must excuse me. I have some matters at the office that re- quire my attention, and I must 'make amends for mt 90 THE COMMUNION SEASON. negligence through the past week, by increased diligence this evening." He bowed politely, and left. A very different conversation was going on in another room. " All that's very true, Miss Gracey ; but don't /ou think the blessed Saviour knowed what was righl for us poor creeturs to do ? We ought to be mighty keerful to do jis what he tells us in sich things, an' no more. When we do what he says, we are sure we do right, an' when we do more we may do wrong. We ought to be mighty perticklar." "Are you giving Cousin Grace good advice, Aunt Peggy ?" asked Annie, as she entered the room. " Grace, is Aunt Peggy adding her might of argument to Mr. Gordon's irresistible appeal ? Well, certainly you will have to yield, beset as you are, on every side." " Aunt Peggy is warning me to act cautiously, and to feel fully assured that I am doing for the best." "No, Miss Annie, I aint able to advise Miss Gracey; I was jes tellin' her my notions about baptism an' com- munion. You must know, Miss Annie, I b'leeves in 'mersion an' close communion ; so I does, bless de Lord." " You a Baptist, Aunt Peggy ? it can't be ! One of Mr. Holmes's servants a Baptist !" " Yes, Miss Annie, I'se bin a Baptist nigh on forty years, an' I'se Baptist still, bless de Lord." " How do you hold out so faithful, Aunt Peggy, here in this Presbyterian family, and no church to go to?" " The grace of God keeps me, Miss Annie, bless de Lord. It's bin a long time since I was at one of my own meetins ; never sence the last time I went with Miss Jane, back to 3ld Massa Staunton's. I goos to THE COMMUNION SEASON. 9) hear Massa Gordon sometimes, an' likes him ver) well, too ; but I can't be nothing but Baptist, Miss Annie, bless de Lord." " Do you never commune with the Presbyterians, Mint Peggy ?" " No, no, Miss Annie ; I can't do it. I sometimes feels mighty bad when I see Miss Jane, that I nursed when she was a baby, and who was brought up Baptist, take the bread and wine, and thinks I can't do so, too, with her ; but when it comes to me I shakes my head an' lets it pass on. If any thing could make me take it, it's seeing Miss Jane do so, for I b'leeves she's a Chris- tian woman, an' a good one, too, bless de Lord." " Was Mrs. Holmes raised a Baptist, Aunt Peggy ?" "Yes, indeed, Miss Annie ; old Massa Staunton was the strictest kind of Baptist ; almost what's called ' old iron-siders ;' never took sacrament with any but his own people in all his life ; and mity seldom went to hear any body but his own preachers." " You are not as particular as that, Aunt Peggy ?" " No, Miss Annie, I goes to hear the gospel preached wherever I can. I likes our I^resbyterian brethren very well : an' thinks they are a mighty good people, but. does wrong in sprinkling babies, an' grown up folks when they, wants to jine the church." " Did you ever see any babies sprinkled, Aunt Peggy ?" "Me, child! why, bless your soul, didn't I holrt young Massa John in my arms, an' that dear little creetur yonder, too," pointing to Fannie who sat a silent listener to the conversation, " when old Mr. Rob- ertson dropped a little water on their faces. I did n'i 92 THE COMMUNION EASON. b'leeve it was right, but Miss Jane asked me to do it, as I nursed the dear little things an' they war so fond of me, an' I couldn't refuse. I got to thinking 'bout it one day, after Miss Fannie was sprinkled, an' I thought 'twas wrong in me to do it ; so when it come IM/le Freddy's turn, I asked Miss Jane please to excuse me, for I b'leeved I was out of my duty ; and so sence then Maria has held the children." " Aunt Peggy, you do not think it is wrong to com- mune with Christians, do you ? Christ has not com- manded us not to do so, and should not we do whatever we can to promote peace and unity among his follow- ers ? You know he has expressly told us ' to love one another/ " " Yes, Miss Gracey, I know he has ; and all this talk 'bout Christian fellowship, an' loving one 'nother, seems mighty purty, an' is mighty well in its place ; but he has told us to love him, too ; an' didn't he say, 'ye are my disciples if ye keep my commandments ?' an' has n'l he told us to be baptized, an' then to do this in ' mem- brance of him ?' We ought to love our brethren ber^ much, Miss Gracey, but our Saviour more, bless de Lord." " That is very true, Aunt Peggy ; but when our Saviour does not expressly forbid our communing with those who entertain a different belief on some subjects from ourselves, and in emphatic terms has enjoined upon us to love one another, and not to fall out by the way, I think it is our duty to do all we can to preserve harmony among his children, even though it should re- quire a sacrifice of opinion on our part." " I can not feel, Miss Gracey, that we poor mortal* THE COMMUNICN SEASON. 93 has any right to set aside the commands of the Saviour, who died for us. We ought to do jes as he tells us, even if it is hard ; we should not go by our feelings when it is opposed to his blessed word." But, Aunt Peggy, think of the evils resulting from .lose communion ; it separates husband from wife, parent from child, and master from servant ; and yet ill profess to be traveling toward the heavenly city, where we shall all commune together throughout end- less ages ; and if we can live there and commune to- gether forever, ought we not to do it for a few years here on earth ? Would you not be a great deal hap- pier if you could come with your mistress around the table, and with her partake of the emblems of his body broken, and his blood, shed as much for you as for her ? It now appears to me this is the most objectionable feature of our Baptist communion ; it separates mem- bers of the same household, and debars them from par- taking together of the blessed privileges secured to Christians by the death of Christ. As Mr. Hall has so truly said, ' it is opposed to the genius of the gospel.' " The old negro's lace was lit up with a triumphant smile. With unwonted energy of voice she replied ' " 1 knows nothin' 'bout the genus of the gospel ; I never heerd tell of it, Miss Gracey or any of Mr. Hall's lurned words ; but dis I know, Miss Gracey, dat what cle Master has told his servants to do, dey ought to do : and he makes it all so plain in his book dat every body maj understand it, whether dey got genus or not Look aere, Miss Gracey, let me explain it to you ; if the Master sets a table in his own house, and says, every body dat wants to eat of dat table must come through 94 THE COMMUNION SEASON. de door, could you think any body ought to come to de table who has got through de winder, or come down de chimbly ? Do you think he could set at dat thai table to eat of the master's provisions, Miss Gracey ?" " Certainly not, Aunt Peggy ; if the Master says yon must come through the door, it would look like con- tempt of him if, when the door is left open, a man should creep in at the window." " It is jes so, Miss Gracey ; de Master tells us we mm come in at de door ; and dem who haint bin baptized, dey come in at de winder or down de chimbly ; dey aint come in at de door, where dey was told, bless de Lord/' " But they don't think so, Aunt Peggy ; they think they have been baptized just as much as you believe that you have. It is only a difference of opinion, and they are as much entitled to their opinion as we are to ours." " Do you consider that they has bin baptized, Miss Gracey ?" No, Aunt Peggy, I do not ; but I leave that mattei with them." " Well, well. Miss Gracey, you must do jes as you please ; but I ruther think if Massa John was not Presbyterian you would not be open communionist. I must leave you now and go and tend to my chickens ; it's time dey was put in their coops. We will talk about dis matter some other time." " Aunt Peggy argues well, Grace ; I do believe she could refute Mr. Gordon himself if he would candidly answer her plain questions." " So she does. Annie ; but she can not see the subject THE COMMUNIOK SEASON. 9* in all its latitude ; her reasoning is such as is in com- mon use with those Baptists who have not studied the matter thoroughly. I did not know until yesterday thai o much could he said on the opposite side. I think Mr. Hall is very conclusive in his reasoning." " Sister Grace, you do not believe in infant baptism, io you ?" said Fannie, emerging from her seat near the window. " It always seemed to me to be entirely useless, And I have felt that the Bible does not authorize the practice. I was sprinkled when I was a baby, as Aurt Peggy told you, but I do not think it was right." " No, I do not believe in sprinkling of any kind ; nothing but immersion is baptism to me." " I am very glad, cousin, that you are entirely con- vinced of the justness and propriety of the step you are about to enter upon. But what will your mother and father think of your change ? It will be a great trial to them to know that you have overstepped the teachings of that church which they think was founded by Christ and his apostles ? And what will dear old Father Miller say to it ? Poor old man, he will be so grieved to know you have separated from the faith. You remem- ber his last injunction ; he seemed to fear it then ; really it is too bad, Grace ! I know you are doing what you suppose best ; but let me ask you, is not your heart more convinced than your head ? Would Mr. Gordon's arguments and Mr. Holmes's persuasions have had such power to change your views if you had not been married ?" " I am convinced that I am acting for the best, Annie, and I think so will my father and mother be when ] have told them all. My objections are removed ; mj 96 THE COMMUNION SEASON. dutr appears clear to me, and why should I hesitate to perform it ? I love my husband, have every confidence in his piety, and nothing but an imperative sense of right could keep me from participating in all of his church ordinances. When I married him, I felt I could not do this. I knew we differed in our religious senti- ments, and I feared the results of this difference. Now that the obstacle is done away with, I shall be more than happy to partake with him of the privileges of a child of God. He has never urged a consideration of this matter upon me, but has left me to rny own convic- tions ; but I am assured that he is deeply gratified that ray views are not as rigid as they were, and that now we ^an together come to the communion of the Lord." " Well, cousin, I am glad your mind is entirely con- vinced, and that you are confident your course is the correct one," answered Annie, in a tone of earnest cairn- ness, only used by her when speaking of the most serious matters. " It will be of no use for Father Miller to come to preach for you ; Mr. Gordon will answer. I shall leave you on Monday to bear back to your friends intelligence they will least expect to hear that you have become a Presbyterian." " 0, no, Annie, I have not become a Presbyterian ; I shall only commune with them ; I am not going to joir their church ; do you suppose I will ever change mjr views respecting baptism ?" " Can't tell, cousin, what this step may iead to ; you emcmbor that quotation from Pope, ' Vice is a mon- ster, etc.'" " Fie, fie, Annie, you do not call my contemplated act a vice, do you ?" THE 3OMMUNION SEASON. 97 " By no means, cousin, though I can not endorse it, 1 merely quoted the line to show you the progressive nature of wrong." " There's a young gentleman in the parlor wishes to gee Miss Annie," said a little servant girl, appearing at ihe door of Grace's room, quite excited with her haste fco communicate the intelligence of the stranger's ar- rival. " Did he come in a huggy, Diamond ?" " Yes, marm, and his hoss is purty tired, I tell you Miss Annie." " Tom, I'll wager," said Annie, and without stopping to cast a look in the mirror, she bounded down stairs and into the parlor ; in a moment more her arms were round Tom's neck in a very sisterly manner, and she had given him a half dozen hearty kisses. She asked him questions about home and home affairs in such rapid succession, that she scarcely gave him time to answer intelligibly. Having assured herself of the con- tinued prosperity of all she had loved and known in the vicinity of " Forest Glen/' she hastened to bring down Grace and Fannie. The evening passed happily by. Old Mr. Holmes manifested his delight in every word and look. John had returned with the pleasing intelligence that the business which had seriously threatened to involve him in continual litigation, was at last fully settled. And that which had been the very pith and marrow of his hopes was at last accomplished : Grace was turned from the error of her way ; she had consented to come out from the midst of that " ignorant, bigoted sect," and commune with her husband. What could he ask more 5 98 THE COMMUNION SEASON. to complete his joy? "The feet of the business is," said he, at the tea-table, laying down his knife and fork, and looking round on the company with a pleased ex- presion, " this is one of the happiest evenings of my life ; I feel almost young again, .ind would look so too, if it was not for my gray hairs. We have a heap to b# thankful for in this world, Brother Kobinson," he added addressing the minister, who sat on his right. Young Mr. Holmes, or " John," as Grace affectioi - ately called him, and as he was generally known throughout the village, partly to distinguish him frorp his father, and partly because every body liked the kind- hearted, agreeable son of the Elder, testified his deep gratification at the present aspect of family affairs bj his pleasant smiles and kind words. His was a qrnet joy, the more fully felt and appreciated by the observer, because of its very unobtrusiveness. His mother, who read every emotion of his heart, saw, with inexpressible satisfaction, the wellings of the deep fountain of peace within his bosom. No one had felt more sorely than sh( had done the progress of the struggle in Grace's mind, and no one enjoyed more fully its triumphant termina- tion ; but her life was one of calm uniformity ; she suf fered with Christian fortitude, she rejoiced with Chris tian gratitude. The young people were not at all restrained by the presence of Mr. Kobinson. The children of the family, from John down to little Neddy, had been dandled on his knee, and had listened to his words of heavenly wisdom, ; and Annie, who saw, or fancied she saw, a resemblance in him to Father Miller, cast aside thai diffidence which characterized her when in the presence THE rOMMTTNlOS SEASON. 99 of strangers greatly superior to her in age, and conversed as freely with him as she would have done with her deal old, pastor ; and he was attracted by the candor of her words, and the geniality of her disposition. Her joyous laugh made rich music to his ear, and went away down into his heart, touching chords which vibrated thrillingly with loved memories. And though his eye had grown dim with looking at the scenes of time, and his ear deaf listening to its sounds, yet he loved to watch the bound- ings of youth, the ebbs and flows of the warm current of life as it gave vigor to the manly form, or imparted grace and beauty to the lovely maiden ; he loved, too, to catch the notes of glad joy as they escaped from the heart of sportive innocence in merry laugh or airy song. This evening he was particularly cheerful. No one lis- tened with more enjoyment to the songs of Grace and the girls, assisted in the bass by Torn, than did he, as he reposed in the old arm-chair. The evening passed most pleasantly to all, and each regretted the termination of their enjoyment by the an- nouncement of nine o'clock, the hour for retiring, with Mr. Holmes in the summer season. As was his custom, ever since he had dedicated Fannie to God, the Min- ister, laid his hand on her head, as she bade him good night, and blessed her. The morning dawned : as sweet a Sabbath day as ever cast a smile of glorious loveliness over the awaken- ing earth ; and the children of God made ready to go up to his house to worship him in his sanctuary. But little had been said to Grace about communion since the evening of the pastor's visit. The conversa- tion of old Aunt Peggy and the few warning words of 100 THE COMMUNION SEASON. Annie were all she had heard on the -.abject. It was understood by all the household that her objections were entirely removed, and that she, with the other members of the family, would gather round the table, and together celebrate the sufferings of a crucified Saviour. Nothing had been said to Mr. Kobinson of the change in her views, as it had taken place before he arrived. And Mrs. Holmes deemed it best, now that Grace had decided to lay aside every hindrance, and commune with her husband, to let the subject remain at rest, believing that nothing would be gained by further agitating it. Mr. Lewis called to accompany Annie to church. Mr. Gray escorted Fannie. Mrs. Holmes, Mr. Kobinson, and the children walked together, sometimes joined by John, who felt altogether superseded by his father, who would walk with Grace. This he did as a testimonial of his approbation of her determination, and of the deep grati- fication he enjoyed. If he felt and looked gay the even- ing before, he appeared much younger this morning, as dressed in his very best suit of cloth, with neck-tie of clerical whiteness, and Beau Brummel adjustment, he stepped with alacrity to the side of Grace and offered his escort. His countenance wore a perpetual smile, and his manner toward every one was the very perfec- tion of suavity. The servants noticed it, the passers-by on the street observed it, and the young gentlemen at the church door, remarked, as he handed Grace up the steps" Well, old Mr. Holmes must be delighted with his new daughter ; see how well pleased he looks." As Grace entered the church, she saw the table with it* covering of virgin whiteness, and her heart beat mori THE COMMUNION SEASON. 101 rapidly, and the tell-tale flush on her cheiek ievealed to ner husband, who seated himself by her, her intense emotion. Why was she affected thus ? She wondered at her own discomposure. She had always before re- garded the spread table with feelings of tranquil grati- tude and love. The minister read a hymn and all the congregation joined in singing. There was no organ, no choir ; all sung with the spirit, making melody with their hearts, and with their voices praising God. The song ended, and the minister rose and an- nounced his text : " And they continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in break- ing of bread, and in prayer." (Acts, ii. 42.) The attention of Grace was arrested by the text. She anxiously hoped the minister would say some- thing about communion which would strengthen hei in her purpose, and throw light upon a subject which notwithstanding Mr. Hall's opinions and her own deter- mination, did not yet stand forth to her mind in noon' day clearness. He announced his theme, " Christian communion." In plain, forcible language, he proceeded to give an ex- position of the apostle's doctrine of redemption through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ ; justification by faith ; sanctification through the influences of the Holy Spirit ; and finally, blessedness at God's right hand. He then spoke of the practices of the first disciples, and contrasted their teachings and customs with the usages of the Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches of the present day, showing that these churches have wideh departed fnm the design of the ordinance of commu- 102 THE COMMUNION SEASON. nion as instituted by Christ, by administering it in one element, and giving it to the sick and dying. ** It was the breaking of bread, not the reception of the conse- crated wafer from the hands of priest or bishop. It was established by our Saviour in the midst of his dif ciples, and not alone with Peter, or Thomas, or John. 'And as they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, Take, eat ; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, -and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it ; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.' (Matt., xxvi. 26, 28). It is a church ordi- nance ; no mention is made of its being observed ex- cept when the disciples were gathered together, and no man has a right to send it out of the church ; to ad- minister it to any other than a church member. There is no warrant in the gospel, either by example or inti- mation, for such a practice, and he who engages in it transcends the plain rules laid down in the holy Scrip- tures for our guidance. There is no instance on record within the lids of God's word where it was given to the sick or dying ; and attaching to it undue importance, as some have done, making the recipient of it also to receive a gift, denominated sacramental grace, has ex- alted it in the stead of that regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, without the influence of which, on his own heart, no man can enter the spiritual kingdom of God, though he should be baptized an hundred times, and though he should gather round the table through a long life-time. This perversion of this holy ordinance by sinful man, has led to untold evil, and no doubt hai r H B o . a. M u NION SEASON. 103 proved the savor of death unto death to many, who have been induced by false teachers to trust to it to cleanse them from in, and gain them admittance to the joy whieh Christ has in reserve for his people. It is ob- vious from every mention made of it in the Bible, that it was partaken of by those who believed in Christ had renounced the world to follow him ; and that, when assembled together not individually alone, but when met together ; not on a dying bed or in a sick chamber, but when able to come around the table of the Lord. ' And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat ; this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.' (Mark, xiv. 22, 23.) So also in Luke, xxii. 19, it is said < And he took bread and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you ; this do in remembrance of me,' etc., etc. The words of my text," said the preacher, " teach the same thing. ' Then they i.e. those who had been baptized continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread/ In the forty-sixth verse of this same chapter, we read, ' And they continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.' In the seventh verse of the twentieth chapter of the Acts, it is said, ' Upon the first iay of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread,' etc. From these, and other portions of Scripture equally explicit, we learn that whenever the disciples communed they met together, ' continued in fellowship and breaking of bread.' A man 104 fHB COMMUNION SEASON may pervert the meaning of God's word to answer selfish ends, or may overreach its positive injunctions to accom- modate his doctrines to the views of carnal men ; but we should ever go to the law and the testimony, and if it condemn us and our practice, let them fall. The Scrip, tures are our only infallible guide ; where they lead let us follow with zeal and confidence, but let us not, my brethren, ever dare to add to, or take from God's holy word, lest, like Nadab and Abihu, we, by our disobe- dience, call down the wrath of an avenging God, and, like them, perish by fire from heaven. " Having established," continued Mr. Robinson, "that communion is an ordinance belonging to the church, to be partaken of only by members of the church, let us ask what this communion is. and what is necessary foi us to do to entitle us to a participation of it ?" Here Grace bent forward to catch every word as it fell from the lips of the speaker. Would he overthrow all of Mr. Hall's reasoning, by making baptism necessarily precede communion ? Would he take from her this main stay of her present belief? Surely not. With Mr. Hall he would argue, " that although there is a natural order in which these ordinances are observed, yet, as there is no natural connection between them, they may, under certain circumstances, be inverted."* Her face grew flushed, and her pulse leaped violently as she felt that the only hope on which she rested might b& re- moved. She looked at her husband, but it was evident he did not feel as she did, for his face wore an exprer siou of undisturbed serenity. Either he had not heard Ur * Robert Hail's complete works, page 292. THE COMMUNION SEASON, 1015 Robinson's second proposition, or he rested secure in tin belief that whatever he might say, he would certain!} prove that all who are Christians have a right to Chris- tian communion. In turning to look again at the preacher, she caught I lie eye of old Mr. Holmes. A smile played across hia features as his eye met hers : he was congratulating him- self on the lucidness with which Mr. Robinson had shown up the fallacy of the Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches, in giving the elements to those who were not members of Christ's visible church. He observed the flushed cheek of Grace, but attributed it to pleasurable excitement, arising from being strengthened in her good opinions of Presbyterian practice. If Mr. Robinson had but stopped there, the vail of doubt would have remained. Her own hand was toe feeble to remove it ; others, if competent to the task would have suffered the darkness to rest upon her mind The true point of difference was not essential, then why again open the breach ? But Mr. Robinson did not stop here. He thought not of Baptists or disaffected Presbyterians. His desire was to declare the whole oracle of God. Mr. Gordon, who was watching the effect of the sermon upon Grace, moved uneasily in bis seat as he heard the second division of the discourse, and saw the changed expression of her countenance. He ^feared that all was lost, for he knew the light in which Gra^e he .d immersion, the only mode of baptism: but it was too late, and he composed himself, hoping that Mr. Robinson would touch lightly on baptism, and dwell more at large on the temper of the mind neces- ary for communion and which, in accordance with the 5* 106 THE COMMUNION SEASON. genius of the gospel, requires that "we shall be all things to all men, that thereby we may save some." "It was the Master's table, set in his own house." Of this, Grace was fully satisfied. "It belonged to none but those whom he invited to partake, and who had complied with the terms of admission." And now what were these terms? The timely illustration of Aunt Peggy came up to her mind. And what, thought she, if there is but one door, and these have come in at the windows. She was almost bewildered as the light came breaking in upon her mind; and she almost started from her seat as the rush of contending emo- tions swept through her bosom. She made an effort to calm herself. "Let me hear him to the end," said she, "and then if I can not commune, I can not and mnst bear the consequences." " Communion/' the minister proceeded to remark, " in modern phraseology, is employed by common con- sent to express that fellowship which experimental Christians have with the Saviour of sinners, and with one another in the ordinance of the Lord's supper ; and we seem to he justified in this use of the phrase by the language of the apostle in 1 Cor., x. 16, 17 : ' The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ ? For we being many, are one bread and one body ; for we are all partakers of that one bread.' And how should OUT hearts ascend in thankfulness to God as we contem- plate the great love he bore toward us in giving hie own Son to die, that we, through his blood, might be reconciled to him ; and how should our stubborn willi THE COMMUNION SEASON. 107 be subdued as we gaze on these emblems of the broken body and shed blood of him who left heaven and conde- scended to become of mean estate, that we, through his poverty, might become rich. How blessed the privilege to be permitted to show forth his death till he come All are asked to come who love the Lord, who are will- ing to take up their cross and follow him. Hear the words of heavenly love, uttered by the Lord himself, ' Come, eat ye all of it.' What condescending love, what expansive benevolence, high as the heavens, deep as the deepest depths, embracing all who will comply with his requisitions. And here I would ask what are these requisitions ? " Let me answer in the words of the apostle, 'Believe and be baptized.' These are the terms, and the only terms. Without baptism there is no admission to the communion ; he who would partake of the one ordinance must have submitted to the other. This alone can in- troduce us within the pale of Christ's visible kingdom ; without it, we must ever remain debarred from the ' breaking of bread/ A man, however true his piety, however exemplary his walk, however bright his hopes of eternal life, can never, according to the terms of the gospel, break bread in remembrance of Christ's death, until he has submitted to the ordinance from which he arises to walk with him in a newness of life. ' We can neve^ commune with those who are not baptized, and who, of course, are not church members, even if we regard them as Christians. For baptism is the initiating ordinance which introduces us into the vi. 'ble church ; and where there is no baptism, there, of course, is no visible church. Should a pious Quaker so far depart 108 THE COMMUNION SEASON. from his principles as to wish to commune with me at the Lord's table, while yet he should refuse to be bap- tized, I could not receive him ; because there is such a relationship established between the two ordinances that I have no right to separate them ; in other words, I have no right to send the sacred elements out of the church.'* This is the teaching of the holy Scriptures, and of all the wise and good men of all sects, from the time of the apostles down to the present day. Christ commanded his disciples to ' Go teach all nations, baptizing them/ etc. After they were baptized they were then to teach them all things which he had commanded. One of the commands to be taught the baptized disciples was, ' Do this in remembrance of me.' In accordance with this, when Ananias became satisfied of Saul's conversion, he said to him, ' Arise and be baptized.' And in the verse that precedes my text it reads, ' Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.' When those of Samaria, to whom Philip preached, believed, ' they were baptized, both men and women.' (Acts, viii. 12.) Philip said to the eunuch, ' If thou be- lievest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he an- swered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of Grod. And he commanded the chariot to stand still ; and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.' (Acts, viii. 37, 38.) Here we see that the first thing that followed a profes- sion of belief in the Lord Jesus Christ was baptism. * Letter on Communion, by Rev. E. D. Griffin, D. D., President of Wllliams's College. If any one doubts that this is the doctrine of th Presbyterian church, let him read that letter. THE COMMUNION SEASON. 109 " But hear further : in Acts, xvi. 31-33, we have an account of the conversion of the jailor and his household. Paul and Silas preached unto them faith in the Lord Jesus, and they helieved, ' and he was haptized, he and all his, straightway/ ' Can any man forhid water/ said Peter, ' that these should not be haptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we ? And he com- manded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.' (Acts, x. 47, 48.) Submission to baptism was the 7ery first act to which both Jews and Gentiles were called after they believed. In accordance with this, our church teaches, ' Baptism is the act whereby the parties bap- tized are solemnly admitted unto the visible church.'* 'For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, wiiether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free.' (1 Cor., xii. 13.) 'Baptism, is a sign of profes- sion and mark of difference, whereby Christians are dis- tinguished from others that are not baptized.'f " And here is the authority of Dr. Wall, that great and good man, whose piety and talents entitle him to be heard with deep consideration ; who, acquainted as he was with the manners and customs of the churches of his time, and of all preceding ages, was altogether qualified to speak upon this subject with certainty and authority. These are his words : ' No church ever gave the communion to any person before they were baptized. Among all the absurdities that ever were held, none evei maintained that any person should partake of the com- oranibn before he was baptized.'^ The law of Chriat * Confession of Faith, pages 144, 336. f Methodist Discipline, page 15. t History of Infant Baptism, Part II., Chap. . 110 THE COMMUNION SEASON. requires that all who believe the gospel should be bap- tized. For any to abstain from baptism when he knows it is an institution of Christ, and that it is the will of Christ that he should subject himself to it, is such an act of disobedience to his authority as is inconsistent with true faith. How excellent soever any man's char- acter may be, he must be baptized before he can be looked upon as completely a member of the church of Christ.'* The order in which these two positive institutions of our Saviour should be administered ia clearly set forth in the New Testament, and is sup- ported by the practice of all churches in all ages. Even those who pervert the plain rules of Scripture by arro- gating to themselves the authority to send the elements out of the church, have never dared to administer them before the subject had been baptized. Would it not, my brethren, think you, have been highly offensive to God, if the priests or the people of old, had arrogated to themselves the right to invert the order established by him for the administration of his own appointments ? For instance, admitting first to the passover, and after- ward performing the rite of circumcision ; burning in- cense in the holy place ; then offering the propitiatory sacrifice. Would they not have called down condign punishment upon themselves, and, like Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, been driven from the earth ? And is God less jealous of his honor to-day than he was then ? Does not the Most High regard with equal care the purity ol his worship in all generations ? He is a jealous God ; let us not provoke him to wrath by doing despite to hi* * Dr. Doddrige's Lectures, pages 508, 612. Discourses on Regener* tion, postscript to profane, pages 12, 13. THE COMMUNION SEASON. Ill solemn ordinances, lest he prove to us a consuming fire Let us be very careful to walk in his footsteps, doing whatsoever he has commanded us, and we have this for our consolation : ' He will be with us always, even unto the end.' And now, in conclusion, I would exhort all who feel that they have passed from death unto life, and have followed Christ in baptism, to examine them- selves and so to eat of that bread and drink of that cup, thereby showing forth his death, till he come. Let each man be fully persuaded in his own mind." The preacher came down from the pulpit, followed by Mr. Gordon. The pastor had kept his eye steadily fixed on Grace throughout the latter division of the ser- mon. She had several times noticed his scrutiny, and endeavored to hide her emotion, but the effort was & fruitless one. It seemed to her that he was reading the inmost thoughts of her soul the fearful struggle that was going on in her bosom between love and prin- ciple. The morning dawn had reached the noontide bright- ness. How could she resist conviction under language so clear, so pointed, supported as it was by the word of God, the practice of all churches and in all ages, the opinions of the wise and good in every generation, and the usage of that very church with which she had con- sented to commune ? She had believed that the es- tablished order of the ordinances was not " absolutely essential ;" that " in some cases, under some circum- ttances," in obedience to the " genius of the gospel," and to promote peace and fellowship among brethren, thai Christians should commune together whether baptized or not, this being left entirely to their own conscience ; 112 1HE COMMUNION BE A SOW but now she saw ^hat in thus deciding she had fallen into a gross error , that there was not only no warrani in the Bible for such a conclusion, but that all its ex- amples and precepts were in direct contradiction to sucb principles. But how could she refuse when she had given her promise to commune ; when all were expect- ing it, her husband, her mother, her father ? " Could it be wrong, under such circumstance ?" she asked her- self, " for her to commune this one time, and then set her face as a flint against all innovations of the customs of that church which she believed was built after the pattern given by Christ to his apostles. " How can I decide this momentous question ?" She leaned her head on her hand and offered up a silent prayer for the guidance of her Father's hand, the sup- port of his mighty arm. Her whole body was convulsed with emotion. " The waters have come unto my soul, God ; I am come into deep waters where the floods overwhelm me ; deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink ; let me be delivered out of the deep waters ; make haste, God, to help me, for in thee do I trust." And in answer there stole in upon her soul the words of the blessed Saviour, " Ye are my friends if ye do_ whatsoever I command you." The struggle was past ; love had yielded to principle. She decided to act out her convictions, trusting to God to enable her to bear the reproach and scorn which she knew she must meet. The storm was over ; and she found relief in silent tears. The minister read a hymn, and, as is usual, requested all the communicants to take the center seats. Mra Holmes leaned forward and whispered to Grace to come; THE COMMUNION SEASON. 118 Bhe made no reply, but shook her head/ Her mothei saw her tears and divined their cause, but she could not now demand an explanation ; and casting a look of re- gret upon her, she moved to a middle seat just opposite where Grace sat. Mr. Holmes, in his great desiro to open a way for his wife and Grace to pass out, had left the pew without observing that Grace made no move- ment toward rising. When he stepped out into tht aisle, he turned round and saw her still seated. He beckoned to his son to come and bring her with him. But the husband had seen the conflict his wife had undergone, and her determined refusal of his mother's solicitation ; so he motioned to his father and remained still. The old gentleman could not comprehend the meaning of such conduct ; he thought that timidity in Grace had prevented her coming out decidedly, so he determined to have the elements handed her where she sat. He cast anxious looks at her as the service pro- ceeded, but her head still rested on her hand. " What is the matter with Grace ?" he asked of his wife. She nodded her head and remained silent. Annie, who was sitting behind Grace, bent over and softly whispered in her ear, " Do what you think is right, cousin." The deacon passed up the aisle to the communicants in the last pew. As he was returning, Mr. Holmes touched him and whispered in his ear^ He stopped and nanded the bread to John, who, taking a piece, passed it tc Grace ; but she again shook her head, and mur- mured " I can not," while the tears started afresh. Mr. Holmes had watched with deep intensity the result of this last effort. When he saw the decided manner of Grace's last refusal, he bit his lip and moved 114 THE COMMUNION SEASON. uneasily in Ms seat. He could not tell what had madw her do so ; and his impatience became so great he could scarcely wait until church was dismissed to ask the cause. As soon as Mr. Gordon had pronounced the amen, he found his way to her side, and taking her by the arm in no very gentle manner, asked her half aloud, *hy she had acted so ? " I will tell you all when I get home," she said, in a firm tone, choking down her emotion. And taking her husband's arm, they left the church. As Mr. Holmes passed out, he stopped for a moment to have a word with Mr. Gordon. " You must come up and see her forthwith. If she is not brought in to measures now, we had just as well give her up. The fact of the business is, I don't know what made her do so. But bigotry is bigotry always." The minister could have answered him readily, but Mr. Kobinson was near and he forbore. " I will come up to-morrow," said he. " She will then be more com- posed and better calculated to listen to reason. Do not let Brother Kobinson leave before I get there. It will require all his logic in addition to mine to remove her present objections." " Be sure to come," said the old gentlemen, as he turned to seek his wife and Mr. Robinson. He found that they had just gone out, and bidding a hasty " good evening" to the pastor, he left to follow them. The parties walked home in silence. Each mind was busy with its own thoughts. It was a subject which no one wished to mention to the other. Mrs. Holmes felt that it was not a suitable time to enter into a full ex- planation to Mr. Robinson, and that, too, when sh THE COMMUNION SEASON. 11$ knew that his remarks had changed the whole tide oi her daughter's thoughts and feelings. She intended, after dinner, to speak to him, and request him to con- verse with her, and, if possible, so to explain the sub- ject of free communion, as to win her back to theii opinions. Annie alone ventured tc remark to Mr. Lewis " that she was glad to see Grace had courage enough to do what she believed right." " And did she really intend to commune to day ?" " She did. Mr. Gordon's conversation with her a few evenings ago, caused her to feel that she could do so without violating her own conscience. She knew it would be a deep gratification to Cousin John, and at the earnest persuasions of her father, and the eloquent, though silent appeals of Mrs. Holmes, she had made up her mind to do so. But Mr. Robinson proved so clearly that no one has a right to the communion who has not been baptized, and she is so strong an immersionist ; I know that she saw fully she would be doing wrong to keep her word to them. It was a dreadful conflict to her. Did you not observe how very agitated she was ?" "I. remarked her restlessness during services, and saw traces of tears upon her cheeks as she arose to leave the church, but I supposed the occasion and sermon had caused them. Mr. Robinson's remarks were very clear to-day." " Perfectly convincing. How any one who believes alone in immersion could commune with another who ia sprinkled, after such reasoning and proof as he gave us, I can not tell." 116 THE COMMUNION SEASON. "I agree with him that baptism must always go before communion, but you do not pretend to argue, Miss Annie, that immersion is the only mode ?" " I do not profess to be able to argue the point . Mi Lewis ; but I certainly believe in one baptism, and only one mode. I think the Bible is as clear as noon-day on that point, and all the sprinklers in the world could not convince me to the contrary." " You certainly do not imply that you would not lis- ten to reason, Miss Gray ?" " No, no ; but they have not reason enough to prove it to my mind. I once heard a Presbyterian argue with Father Miller, and although he was a much more learned man, and made quotations from Greek and Latin, yet he could not refute him ; for Father Miller brought up the evidence of some of the strongest and wisest Pedo-baptists in support of his position. I know Mr. Gordon will have a conversation with cousin on baptism, for that now is the point of difference between them ; but I'll wager he will not make her a sprinkler as readily as he did an open communionist. She is pretty sound on that point. As Annie finished the last words they reached the hall door ; and as she heard the footsteps of her Cousin John descending the stairway to meet Mr. Lewis, the conversation was discontinued. Grace, after reaching home, explained to her husband why she had refused the bread. She told him, after Mr. Robinson's convincing proof, that communion be- longed to the church, was a church ordinance, and that no one had a right to partake of it who was not a church member, and that baptism was the only door into the THE COMMUNION SEASON 117 church, she felt that she would be sinning against God to violate her conscience in participating with those whom she never could regard as baptized believers. " Did I not do right, my husband, in thus dealing faith- fully with myself ? As much happiness as it would have given mo to have communed with you, I dared not lo what I knew, felt, would be wrong." He clasped her in his arms as he gazed on her face, radiant with an expression of heroic faith and trust in principles of eternal truth, and kissing her fondly, re- plied, " Yes, you did right, my dear Grace, you acted nobly ; and you have not only my approbation of your conduct, but my earnest admiration of your true he- roism. It gives me far more happiness to see you adhere to and practice what you believe, than it would were you to commune with me a hundred times in violation of your firm convictions. ' Be firm/ as Father Miller said, ' and do not yield to temptation.' My father and Mr. Gordon must leave you in quiet posses- sion of your own views, and not endeavor to force you to act upon their faith." " But I must explain to father why I did so ; he will believe me guilty of falsehood if I do not." " I am willing you should do this, but I can not con- sent that they should annoy you with arguments to prove the validity of sprinkling." " Oh, that they could never do ; my views are so firm with regard to that, they can never be changed. But I will listen to any proof they may adduce. This, I think, IB my duty." Grace had become sufficiently composed during this conversation to make her appearance at the dinnei 118 THE COMMUNION SEASON table ; and as she took her seat on the left of MT Holmes, by her husband, all evidences of excitement had passed away. Her manner was subdued. Her feelings had been deeply wounded by Mr. Holmes's conduct to- ward her at the church, but she remembered it was hov husband's father, and she determined to drive all thoughts of injury far from her mind. Mr. Holmes carved the ham, and helped the guests in a very hurried manner. It was plain to all that some- thing of importance was working in his thoughts. Mrs. Holmes preserved her usual equanimity, and endeavored, by introducing ordinary topics of conversation, to divert her husband's mind from his unhappy reflections. Annie and Mr. Lewis joined in conversation with Fannie and Mr. Gray, who sat opposite to them. Mr. Kobinson attended to and answered Mr. Holmes's observations. Every thing was passing agreeably when old Mr. Holmes, no longer able to control himself, laid down his knife and fork, and looking hard at Grace, said, " I do not know what can make people act so ; Grace, why didn't you commune to-day ? You promised to do it, and I expected you would." Her husband's face flushed instantly but it was his father, and he stifled his indignation. Grace, meeting his gaze with a calm, confident look, replied, " I could not, without violating what I regard the teachings of God's holy word." The color came and went as she pronounced the words, but her voice was firm, and her manner com- posed. Annie gave her a smile of encouragement, but she needed it not. She had acted conscientiously in the fear of God, and with hex feet resting on the stronghold THE COMMUNION SEASON 119 of honest conviction and holy determination, she felt to defy all reproach and contumely. Mr. Robinson looked at Mr. Holmes with an air of surprise and inquiry He was astonished at the tone of his voice in addressing his daughter, and also at the nature of the question. Mr, Holmes, observing it, answered, "My daughter, Brother Eobinson, is a Baptist ; but Brother Gordon so far convinced her of the error of close communion, as to make her willing to unite with us to-day, and this, she promised to do, but when the invitation was given for us to take the middle seats, she sat still by the window ; and when the bread was handed to her, though it was done by her husband, she refused to take it. The fact of the business is, such conduct is so strange to me, that I can't account for it, and I want Grace to tell me why she acted so." " I refused, because I can not commune with persons whom I regard unbaptized." A tear rolled down her cheek as she answered his stern inquiry. " Not baptized, child ! not baptized ! and what busi- ness is that of yours ? Well, it is a pretty business if you have got to tell us what baptism is ! Was theie ever such boldness known, that a member of the most ignorant, bigoted sect the world has ever seen, should set up to tell Presbyterians what is baptism. The fact of the business " Here a fit of coughing, psoduced by a too rapid articu- lation, interrupted him in his tirade against the Bap- tists ; and Grace, no longer able to restrain her tears, rose and left the room. Fannie followed her ; but upon reaching the chamber, she could do nothing more than 120 THE COMMUNION SEASON. throw her arms round her neck and mingle her tears with hers. The dinner, on the part of the young peo- ple, was finished in silence. Old Mr. Holmes told hie wife and Mr. Kobinson that Mr. Gordon would call early the next morning to have a talk with Grace about bap- tism. "It seems, Brother Robinson, that something you said to-day put this contrary fit into her head, and now you must help Brother Gordon to set her straight again." " I understand it all, Brother Holmes ; she believes in immersion as the only baptism ; and as I proved to- day that no one should ci/rumune who is not baptized, she felt that she had no right to commune with us whom she considers only sprinkled. Her conduct is per- fectly consistent with her views. It will have to be made clear to her that the mode of baptism is not es- sential to the ordinance, and then, and not till then, will she, or could she, favor mixed communion." " Well, you and Brother Gordon will have to convince her of that. I can not see why Baptists lay such a great stress on the mode ; they are the most narrow-hearted, narrow-minded denomination in the world ; Mr. Hall, their great man, says so." " I suppose not, Brotker Holmes." " Yes he does ; those are his very words ; Brother Goidon read them to Grace the other day from his own works." "Why does not Brother Gordon come this even- ng ?" inquired Mrs. Holmes, desirous to prevent hei husband from further quoting, or rather misquoting Mr. Hall. " He has to go to see Mrs. Daniels, who is sick, and THECOMMUNI N SEASON. 121 sent for him ; and he said Grace would be more com- posed by morning, and better disposed to listen to him." Diamond had, in the interim between the fiist and second courses, laid aside her fly-brush on the pretense of a call to the kitchen, and hastened to tell Aunt Peggy that " Miss G-racey had bust out cryiu' at sum- thin old Massa had said to her 'bout co'munion, and had gone up stars." Aunt Peggy, knowing that dinner was not yet over, and supposing that there was no one with Grace, found her way to her room by the back stairway, with the de- sire to console her, if possible. She knew from what Diamond had told her, that the topic of yesterday's conversation had been introduced at the dinner table ; and she, fully acquainted with her master's excita- bility upon this subject, judged that he had said some- thing about the Baptists, which had wounded her feelings. " What is the matter,. Miss Gracey ?" said she, steal- ing quietly up to the bed-side, and laying her hand kindly on Grace's arm ; " Di'mond jes told me you left de table in tears, an' I thought while dey war all eating dinner below I'd cum up an' see what ailed you ; is you sick, child ?" " No, Aunt Peggy, I am not sick ;" answered Grace, as she raised herself from the bed and wiped away her fast-falling tears. " Well, what is you cryin' 'bout, child ? You can tell Aunt Peggy, an maybe she can console you a little. Little Fannie here," she said, familiarly patting her oheek, " us'd to tell me all her trubbles, an' I b'leeve she 6 122 THE COMMUNION SEASON. would yit if she had any ; but now dat nice young man comes to see her so often she don't 'pear to have no more grief." " Father spoke to Sister Grace about not communing with us, to-day, Aunt Peggy." " An' didn't you co'mune to-daj-, Miss Gracey ? I set in de gallery, whar I couldn't see you. I seed de deacon pass to old Massa's seat, an' I tried to see if you an' Massa John took sakerment, but I couldn't. I heard what Mr. Robinson said 'bout baptism, an' I thought of what I told you yisterday, an' says to meself, if Miss Gracey kin co'mune to-day, it's more'n I kin." " No, Aunt Peggy, I did not commune ; I could not ; and I never can partake of the Lord's supper with any who are not baptized believers. They must not only bo baptized, but they must be believers when they are bap- tized. I find that no others have a right to commemo- rate the death of our Saviour but those who have willingly followed him in baptism." " Dat's de door, Miss Gracey I speaks of 'mersion an' all other ways are winders an' chimblys. What does you think 'bout it, Fannie dear ? Don't you think our Saviour went down into de Jordan an' cum up agin ; an' don't you think he done dis to give us an exampler to follow, an' do you think dat ne or his disciples knowed any other baptism ; an' if they didn't, has any man a right to interduce any other ?" " I believe the Saviour went down into Jordan and came up again, Aunt Peggy ; for the Bible tells us plainly that he did ; but there are some places where it speaks of baptism, which do not mention water, and we have no f 3ason to suppose there was enough to immense THE COMMUNION SEASON 123 a man in ; and if there was not, and persons were bap- tized, as the Scripture tells us, then there must have been some other way." " Them places says nothin' 'bout there bein' much or little water, an' you can't prove thar was any water thar at all ; you jes have to suppose so, an' you had jes as well suppose thar was a big pool as dat thar was a little one. In all sich cases, whar no water is talked about, we has to go to the exampler of our Saviour. When it says baptized, we must find out what dat means, an' de only way to do dis is to go back whar it was first done, an' thar we see John the Baptis' leadin' our blessed Lord down into the water an' bringin' him up agin." " True, Aunt Peggy ; that all seems very plain. I have always found more going down into the water and coming up again, in the New Testament, than I have ever found sprinkling ; but the latter must be right, or so many wise and good men would not believe in it." " Ah, Fannie, dear, we musn't trust too much in what de great men says, but find out fer ourselves what de word of God says ; lamed men sometimes goes mity fai out of de way, an' it won't do fer us to follow arter dem. We mus' sarch de Scriptures, fer dey can make wise de simple, an' dey is clar enuf on dis pint fer us all to understand what de Saviour has told us to do/' " What good advice is that you are giving my wife, Aunt Peggy ?" said Mr. Holmes, as he entered the half- open door. " I has jes been tellin' Miss Gracey dat she did 'xactly right dis mornin' not to take co'munion. Don't you say so, Massa John ?" " Why, yes, Aunt Peggy I believe every body should 124 THE COMMUNION SEASON. act as they believe to be right on this subject as well as in all others ; you know this has always been my doc- trine." "Yes, Massa John, I know you has always hie lib'ral in your views, and I'se glad to see it ; for I feels iat you will not want to persuade Miss Gracey to join four church." " Most assuredly not, Aunt Peggy. She shall do just AS she pleases about that." " Dat's right, sir. Come, Miss Fannie, let us go down itairs ; I 'spect Massa John can console Miss Gracey better dan we can." The remainder of the evening was spent by Grace and her husband in the study of the subject of baptism. fhe result future chapters will show. CHAPTER VII. 4 CONVERSATION ON BAPTISM BETW3EN G B V AND THE MINISTERS. u GOOD morning, cousin," exclaimed Annie, as she entered the room before Grace had time to answer her rap at the door. " What ! reading so early ? You should be out taking the fresh air, and letting the kiss of the glorious sun drive away that ugly shade of anxi- ety which has been dimming your cheerful brow, and robbing your peachy cheek of its bloom ;" and she bent down and kissed that now pale cheek, over which the rose-tint was fast laying itself with its own exquisite pencil. Grace raised her eyes from the book in her hand, and looked up into Annie's face with an expression of be- seeching earnestness. Did Annie understand the real cause of that pallor, and that shade ? Did she know that fearful apprehen- sion and dark forebodings were in the heart of that uncomplaining sufferer to rob the life-current of its vital- izing energy as it sped on its way to " the peachy cheek and pearly brow ?" She knew to some extent the un- pleasant nature of the present circumstances. She read the outer life, and her generous heart answered to her cousin's sorrow in thrills of quick, deep sympathy. But there is an inner life known only to ourselves and to 126 A CONVERSATION ON BAPTISM. God, and this she had not, and could not penetrate. Nc human hand can rend the vail which shuts it in from mortal vision. " I have been in the greatest haste to get all things ready for my departure, that we might have a littlo conversation, sub rosd, before I leave. I knew that unless I snatched this early hour to have a word or two with you about home, I should have no other opportu- nity ; so I was up at early dawn, to fold, and place, and pack. What a world of trouble it is to go through a regular trunk-packing ; how I detest it !" " Why did you not call on me for assistance, Annie ? you know, at school, this was always my part of the preparation for home, and it is one of my few accom- plishments that I have not forgotten." " 0, it is time I was accomplishing myself m tnis very accessary branch of a young lady's education ; I can now no longer have you to do it for me. I do wish that, in this age of useful inventions, they would hit upon some contrivance to make carpet-bags and trunks, band-boxes and cabas, gather up and deposit their own stores. But tell me what is this you are reading, so early ?" The rose-tint deepened on the young wife's cheek. Despite her efforts, her nervous excitability would trace itself on the fair canvas in the most beauiful of all colors. " It is Booth's ' Pedo-baptism Examined,' " she an- swered, as the drooping eye met the page she had just been reading, "a book which Father Miller gave me, very soon after that little discussion he had with Mr. Boss, the Presbyterian minister." "So you are burnishing up your arms, c?z, for the A CONVERSATION ON BAPTISM. 127 impending conflict/' said Annie, in a tone of assumed gayety. " Well, put on your whole armor, and draw your sword from its scabbard, for you have to encounter veteran soldiers." This last sentence was pronounced in a voice half playful, half earnest ; but its cheerfulness did not bring confidence to the throbbing heart of Grace ; its pulses leaped wildly on, burying them beneath the small de- gree of self-reliance she had felt, and which had been greatly strengthened by the clear, convincing arguments of the great " Vindicator of the Baptists." She struggled to suppress her emotion, but the stirred fountain would well up. A tear gathered in her eye, and fell upon Annie's hand, as it rested on the open book in her lap. Annie started. Looking up from the para- graph, over which she had been glancing, she perceived her cousin's deep agitation, and feeling that she had spoken too lightly of a subject which now involved her happiness, she threw her arms around Grace's neck, and bending a look of imploring love upon her, said : " Forgive me, dearest Grace ; I did not think this was so great a trial to you. I saw your struggle yesterday, and the glorious triumph of your principles over love, and I supposed that the fury of the storm was past ; that, convinced, as you are, of your duty, you would be able to persevere in the right, defiant of all opposition." "You do not know, Annie, how hard it is to do right, when we feel that, in so doing, we incur the displeasure of those we love, and whom, aside from all minor con- siderations, we are called upon, by the teachings of God's holy word, to respect and reverence. Only the full, conscientious conviction that I am acting in view 128 A CONVERSATION ON BAPItSM. of the precepts and example of my blessed Redeemei could enable me to take the stand I have, and to form the determination to persevere in my cause, despite the obstacles that may interfere between me and my pur- pose. I rely for assistance on his almighty arm, for whose sake I have thus decided to act." " And I am glad, cousin, that you have decided thus ; and as long as you rest in this support, you have nothing to feai. You need not feel apprehensive with regard to the conversation of to-day, for did not Mr. Robinson state, and emphatically prove, on yesterday, that no in- dividual has a right to take the step they are urging upon you, who has not been baptized ; and how dare they demand of you a thing which they themselves condemn ?" "They believe themselves baptized, and it is upon this ground they base their plea." "And you do not believe them baptized, and it is upon this ground you base your opposition to their de- sires. Now, which has the better claim to their position ? Shall they be permitted to enjoy their opinions, and you left in the quiet possession of your rights ? or shall you, merely because of their notions, be forced to yield your rights, and thus violate your conscience ? They can not now ask you to commune with them, unless they can prove to you that sprinkling, or pouring, or dipping your fingers in water, is baptism ; and this, I feel as- sured, they will never accomplish. All of their pouring on altars, and Abrahamic covenants, and notions of con- venience and gentility, added to all the wisdom of aL their synods and councils, and Dr. Lightfoots, could never make Grace Truman believe that any thing if baptism but immersion of the whole body in water." A OONVEBSATIftN ON BAPTISM. 129 Annie spoke warmly. As she concluded, she looked into her cousin's face with an expression of the fullest confidence in her orthodoxy, and determination never to swerve from the path she had chosen. "Yes, Annie, you are right on this point. I am, ever have been, and ever hope to be, a believer in the baptism I have received ; but it is hard, hard to live ever combating opposers, who, believing their practice, if not the only true one, at least answerable to the re- quirements of God's word, must necessarily ascribe my course, in a great measure, to obstinacy, and suppose J might be convinced if I would. I look down my future life, and through its long years I see myself debarred from the privilege of communing with my husband, and ever stemming a current of opposition from his friends, which, if it does not overcome my strength, will at least be sure to make shipwreck of much of my happiness. This, this, Annie, is the strongest argument they can use ; this, with more power than any other, rears itself against my firm persuasions, and could I feel that I might yield without a sacrifice of my principles, it would remove from my way the greatest bar to my enjoyment that could be imagined." She paused a moment, and then resumed : " But I can not, dare not thus to act ; my obligation to God is paramount to all other considera- tions. Should I leave the plain way, which he has marked out for me to tread, and wander into paths of man's invention, would he not say to me, ' Unfaithful servant, who has required this at your hands ?' I must forsake father and mother, ay, and husband, too, to follow in hfe footsteps, who has said, ' unless you do this, you are unworthy to be called my disciple.' It ia 6* 130 A CONVERSATION ON BAPTISM. hard, it is hard," Annie, said she, casting upon th weeping girl a look of mingled pain and earnestness, "but my Saviour demands it, and I must obey." " Do not despair, Grace," and Annie pressed her to her bosom. " He, who has promised, will be faithful. Do you not remember those consoling words of Father Miller, uttered by the bedside of our dear, dying Ly- dia ? With what faith and child-like reliance he spoke of God's mercy and love to all who confide in him ; how beautifully he dwelt upon the certainty of his promises, the magnitude of his mercies. I can never forget the more than earthly trust and resigna- tion with which he pronounced the last words of that divine exhortation, ' Even so, Father, for thus it seem- eth good in thy sight.' That look is with me yet ; those words are still ringing in my ears. 0, how I wish I could be a Christian ; could feel, in its fullest sense, as he did, the meaning of those holy words !" and her tears flowed afresh. " And will you not," replied Grace, forgetting, for the moment, her own sorrow, " will you not, dear Annie, ask him, who alone can give you the submission which these heavenly words embody ? And now," said she, laying her hand upon the one resting on her lap, and looking at her with an expression of deep anxiety, " let me urge upon you, in this, our last interview, the neces- sity of seeking aid of him who is mighty to save ; and who, in accents of beseeching love, says to each sinner, 1 Come unto me, I will in no wise cast you out.' Could I, Annie, but see your kind heart and generous nature truly submissive to his guidance, whose right it is to reign, I could forget my own deep trials in the great joy.* A CONVERSATION ON BAPTISM. 131 Annie remained silent ; her long lashes drooped upon her cheek, in which the color came and went, speaking in its many lights of the husy thoughts within ; then raising her tearful eyes, full of intense meaning to those of her cousin, and regarding her with a look of the deep- est solicitude, she said : " And what, cousin, must I do to become a Chris- tian ?" "Ask of hifii, who giveth liberally, and upbraidethnot." Foi a few moments both were silent. Each one seemed busy with her own thoughts. The words of Grace had fallen, with irresistible power, on Annie's heart ; and the resolve was taken, which, in after days, brought peace and joy to the wounded spirit, and lit up, with heaven's cwn light, the darkened depths of the sin-bowed soul. After a pause of some minutes, Annie said, " And what shall I tell your friends at home ? what shall I say to your father and mother, and Father Miller, about your becoming a Presbyterian ? Shall I tell them that you are, and ever will be, firm in the faith, steadfast in the apostle's doctrine, about which Mr. Robinson spoke so convincingly, yesterday ? or shall I say you are somewhat wavering with regard to what you should do ?" " Tell them, Annie," and the gentle look of that soft, dark eye, faded out before the stronger light of holy, firm resolve, " tell them I am a Baptist still, and with the help of my God, will ever remain one." Then the gentle, pleading, patient look stole back again, and mingled with that of resolve ; and in a voice of entreaty, she besought Annie not to mention to hei parents the trials of the past week. 182 A CONVERSATION ON BAP1ISM. " Do not tell them, Annie, what I have undergone, J entreat you. I would not have their hearts pained with the thought of my sufferings ; severe and length- ened as they have been, I would rather endure them in silence. The consciousness that they do not know of them is a great consolation to me amid my gloom. I do hope and yet why should I ? that the conversation of to-day will end this painful contest, by convincing them that I am not to be driven from my stronghold by force or won by flattery." " Then I may tell your friends at home that you are steadfast in the faith ?" " Yes, that I am a Baptist, firm and immovable." " Well, I will now leave you to fortify yourself as much as possible with the arguments, of Mr. Booth, while I go td have a farewell word with Famrie. She is a noble, sweet girl, cousin, and you will find in her a true, sympathizing heart. The teachings of old Aunt Peggy have influenced her greatly ; and although she is a member of her father's church, I do not think she is altogether a believer in her father's doctrine. But whether this be so or not, I charge you not to be over- come by a show of reason, to-day, but stand unmoved, and battle the enemy with true courage. If you can not pierce and demolish his fortifications, at least prove yourself invulnerable in your own. But hush 1 there is the bell for prayers ; I shall not have time to go to Fannie' s room. Let us go down." She took Grace's hand, and they descended to the parlor. The family were all seated when they entered, Her husband entering at the same time, led her to a chair near his father. As she approached she bade him A CONVERSATION ON BAI2I8M. 183 good-morning ; his salutation in return was cold and forbidding ; a cloud rested on his brow, and an unusual sternness characterized his manner. You would scarcely have recognized in the grand, gloomy man, seated in the most retired corner of the room, the polite, affable, yei, gay escort of Grace on the previous day. The thoughts that were thronging his mind, were stamping themselves in plain, legible characters on his contracted brow. A sedate pensiveness marked the look of Mrs. Holmes, which gave evidence of past disappointment and future apprehension. Indeed, the whole family appeared to be laboring under the weight of some hidden grief, which they could not banish. Each seemed to strive, but with futile effort, to bury his thoughts in the depths of his own bosom. Only the aged minister was free from restraint. Taking from the stand the old family Bible, he read that chapter of John containing the words of that divine prayer, which Christ offered up for his disciples before he passed over the brook Cedron, into the garden where the betrayer found him. There are times in the life of every one when the glancing eye and changed brow tell tales of joy or woe we would fain hide from the world's gaze ; but the very effort mars our aim, and the mantling blush, and start- ing tear, and quivering lip, speak in language far more eloquent than that of sound, the soul's deep thoughts, the heart's dark sorrowings. And thus it was with Grace. She knew, she felt, that her husband's eye rested on her with an ea-rnest inquiry in its gaze she dared not meet, for fear that if she should, her self-control, which she found it BO diffi- cult to maintain, would forsak her in this her hour of 134 A CONVERSATION ON BAPTISM. need. So, during the reading of the chapter, and th singing of the hymn, she kept her eyes fixed on the floor. When the exercises concluded, she stepped with him into the front yard, and there heneath the shade of the dear old trees, with the morning hreeze kissing, with its cooling lip, her heated cheek, she told him all her fears, her hopes, her resolutions. " You are right, my dear Grace, and have my entire approbation of your course. I would not ask you to sacrifice your sincere convictions because of your affec- tion for me. As deeply as I love you, and as happy as I would be, could we together walk in all the ordi- nances of the holy Scriptures, I would greatly prefer, under present circumstances, indeed under all circum- stances, that you would act out your sentiments, with- out regard to the differences of opinion which exist between us. Best assured I shall never attempt to effect a change in your views nor shall I, after to-day, suffer the opinions of others to be forced upon your con- sideration. I would not be hasty in this matter, would hot act rashly, but unless you can be left quietly to en- joy your own opinions, it will be my duty to place you where you will be free from such annoyance." " Do not, my husband, do not, I entreat you, leave your father's house for my sake ; I can bear it all ; I Am sure it will soon end ; if not, I must exercise ' patient continuance in well-doing.' Promise me you will not do this. Your father is old now, and loans on you for support. Do not leave him out of regard to my temporal peace." She spoke with earnestness and energy, as one plead- ing for an inestimable boon. Her husband met her A CONVERSATION ON BAPTISM. 136 beseeching look, and the sternness of his countenance fled before if-, like the evil spirit from the presence of divin- ity. But his words were calm and firm, as he answered, " As I have said, Grace, I should be very sorry to leave iny father's house, but my determination is fixed : unless you can remain here undisturbed in your relig- ious views, we go out to find a home elsewhere ; these are the only terms on which I stay. Do not the same Scriptures, which teach obedience and love to parents, also command ' that a man shall leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife ?' " His words of confidence and love reassured her ; and the passing breeze wooed the tear-drop from her heated cheek, while the morning sun came down in its beauty, and smiled away the cloud of sorrow from her vein- marked brow ; and when the summons was given for breakfast, but few traces of her recent feeling could be observed. Yet one regret lingered in her heart : it was the thought of Annie's leaving her so soon. As they passed up the avenue, she saw the buggy, with the trunk strapped on, standing in front of the door, and turning to her husband, she said : " I am very, very sorry Annie is going to leave us to- day." " And so am I. But there is yet another who feels it far more than you or I, Grace." " And who is this ? Has she led captive the heart of any of our village beaux ?" " Why, is it possible, Grace, that you have not ob- lerved the deep interest Ed. feels in her ? What have you been dcing with your eyes through the past week, that you have not seen it ?" 136 A CONVERSAIION ON BAPTISM. " My inind has been busy with other thoughts." He caught the expression of the upturned eye, and read its meaning. "And is he really interested in her ?" she asked, as they paused at the foot of the steps. " Most certainly he is ; and, as one proof of it, take the early call of this morning. Ordinarily he sleeps till a much later hour than this ; it is now just six, look !" said he, taking out his watch and handing it to her, " and he has been here ten minutes at least, for I saw him at the front gate as we left the avenue for our seat under the old oak." " Cousin, you will see, won't you, that Mr. Lewis does not disappoint me," said Annie, in an animated voice, as they entered the breakfast room. " He has pledged to bring Fannie and Lydia Clarke to see me during the early fall, and I wish you to stand surety that this prom- ise shall be met ; you know students and literary men are very absent-minded, forgetful creatures, so I will enjoin it upon you to keep him in remembrance of his word." "He will need no reminder in this matter, Cousin Annie," said John, who cast at her a significant look. She blushed slightly under this very plain innuendo, but persisted, in her own laughing way, to insist that she could not rely on Mr. Lewis, even with Cousin John for security. " I must have Grace's guaranty that she will attend to the fulfillment of this gentleman's promise, and have him meet his vow to the very day." " Did I engage for a certain day, Miss Annie ? if so, give me the date, and I will enter it on my tablet ; and if I fail to make my appearance, then dub me e an ab- A CONVERSATION ON BAITISM. 137 Bent-minded literary man ;' but until I shall thus have won it, I beg you to spare me this most undesirable of all epithets." Annie stood on the porch ready for her ride. Each member of the family had followed her out to take leave ff her. She had exchanged parting words and bidden farewell to all but Grace, to whom she hesitated to say the last good-by. The merry laugh was gone, and the tears rushed to her eyes as she saw the weeping girl lean- ing for support upon her husband. Throwing her arms about her neck and pressing her to her bosom, in a voice almost inarticulate with emotion, she whispered in her ear words of cheer and comfort. But the voice of sympathy touching the heart of grief but causes the fountain to send forth fresh floods of sorrow ; and Grace wept aloud as Annie turned from her to descend the steps. Mr. Lewis stood ready to assist her into the buggy, looking scarcely less sad than Grace. Fannie reiterated her promise to visit " Forest Glen." " Come back, Annie," said old Mr. Holmes, whose brow had somewhat relaxed its sternness under the ex- pansive influence of Annie's cheerful geniality ; " come back to Weston very soon ; we'll all want to see you. Tom, you take care that she minds me, will you ?" " I will, sir." " Thank you, Mr. Holmes, I will be most happy te do so." Then, extending her plump, ungloved hand to Mr. Lewis, she lowered her vail, and the buggy pass 4 from the door. As it moved into the circle, disclosing the avenue, Grace saw Mr. Gordon nearing the house with a speed altogether unusual to him. Perhaps Mr. Robiiwon'i 188 A CONVERSATION ON IAPTISM appearance on the porch, for he, too, had come forth to say good-by to Annie, had inspired him with fresh cotur age. Grace pressed her husband's arm, and turned to go in. " Let us go to our room, I wish to become more composed before I meet Mr. Gordon." " You will, perhaps, succeed better alone, Grace ; I mil remain here and be ready to accompany you into ihe parlor." Old Mr. Holmes welcomed the pastor with marked pleasure. "Walk into the parlor, Brother Gordon, walk in, you and Brother Kobinson." And as he led the young minister to the door, he said, in a low tone, " Be sure you get her straight to-day, for if you don't, all is lost ; the fact of the business is, I'm afraid it's too late now." The words reached the ear, and arrested the atten- tion of Mr. Lewis, who stood in the hall ready to leave. The remarks of Annie as they returned from the church, and the scene at the dinner table on the yesterday, both of which had been forgotten in other, to him, far more important thoughts, now flashed across his mind, and he determined to remain and hear the argument. He walked into the room and taking a seat near the piano, commenced carelessly turning the music. Old Mr. Holmes, with the ministers, passed into the parlor, and seating themselves at the further end of the room, engaged in a low, earnest conversation. These words, alone, reached Mr. Lewis : " I'll tell you what, Brother Gordon, you and Brother Kobinson must do your best ; she is mighty strong on that point, and you wrill have hard work of it ; but I want you to convince A CONVERSATION ON BAPTISM. 139 her it must be done. The fact of the business is, I haven't any use for Baptists in my family." The husband paced the hall in great agitation. At intervals, as his father's excitement grew stronger and stronger, he heard the words " baptism, change Grace." Observing a pause in the conversation, he stepped into the room and confronted the trio. " Gentlemen, I have one thing to demand of you before this controversy begins, and it is, that my wife be allowed the free expression of her opinions, and where you can not answer her questions in plain En- glish, you will not seek to confuse her by taking shelter under Greek lexicons and Latin fathers." Mr. Lewis was astonished at his excited tone and manner ; the gentlemen looked up surprised, but he continued : "Father, I have a request to make of you, and one that I insist upon ; if Grace shall fail to be convinced this morning, she must not again be subjected to such an ordeal. Worse than the fierce hate of the inquisi- tion is this repeated effort to make her give up what she believes is right and duty. And, after this, she must be left to the quiet enjoyment of her own senti- ments, or she no longer remains under your roof." Mrs. Holmes entered as he finished these last words. Her astonishment was beyond bound, as she heard the threat of her son. " You will not take Grace from us, my son," she said, gently laying her hand on his arm ; " you are excited now, and do not know what you are saying." He turned upon her a look of determination softened in its expression by the gentleness of her manner and and that love and reverence which he felt for 4 140 A CONVERSATION ON BAPTISM. mother whom he regarded as the most excellent of women. " I say, mother, and I mean just what I say, that, unless Grace can stay here in peace, she shall leave. She shall not be subjected to this tormenting persecu- tion, for nothing else can this dogged attempt to make her give up her present views, be called." Releasing himself from his mother's hold he left the room. Mr. Lewis rose to follow him, but thinking any attempt to calm his excited feelings would now be use- less, resumed his seat. " Bring Grace down, John," said his father to him as he went out ; " tell her Brother. Gordon wants to see her this morning." " And for what ?" muttered he between his teeth, as with quick step he found his way up stairs. He entered his wife's presence trembling with excitement. She cast upon him a look of unfeigned surprise. Seating him- self by her side, he took up the book which she had laid down on his entrance, and turned the leaves with start- ling rapidity ; then closing it and dashing it down on the window sill, he exclaimed in a voice hoarse with passion, " It shall not be so ; you shall not stay here another day to be insulted and persecuted. They have no right to torture you in this way, Grace. I won't submit to it." " Be calm, my husband, be calm. I am not insulted, I am not persecuted." " But I say you are, Grace, and if it doea not stop to- day, you must leave this house." " It will all be over to-day. Do calm yourself ; yo? are too much excited now to speak on the subject A CONVBB8ATIG N ON BAPTISM. 141 And she smoothed back the hair from Ms throbbing fore! ead, and pressed his nervous hand in hers. " Yes, I know what I have said, and I will not retract You must be left unmolested for the future." " Do not give yourself so much uneasiness about me ; if I am in error, let me be convinced ; if they can not do this they will be driven to leave me to my own views. There is but one point of difference between us now Mr. Robinson himself said so yesterday at the dinner table, Annie told me and this is baptism ; and upon this subject my mind is fully made up. I can not be changed here." Her gentle manner and kind words lulled the angry flood of passion ; the " peace be still" was spoken, and immediately the swelling billows were hushed to rest. " Did your father say any thing about my coming down ?" she asked, after a few minutes' pause, in which he had almost regained his usual composure. " Yes, he told me, just as I was leaving the room, that Mr. Gordon wished to see you ; and if you choose, we will now go down and have the matter done with. To-day shall end it." " I am perfectly calm," she answered, taking up from the window the book he had dashed down so violently. " I may not be able to answer all of their arguments, and I do not believe they can answer all of mine. I wish to ask them a few plain questions, which, if they will treat candidly, I think will prove to your father that they, and not the Baptists, are ' the sectarian and oigoted sect.' " She took his arm and descended to the parlor, where she found the company in anxious waiting for her 142 A CONVEBSATION ON BAITISM. Fannie was seated by her mother on the sofa ; Neddie bowed on her knee, admiring the bright colors of the worsted, with which she was embroidering him a cover for his little green stool. Mr. Holmes sat to the right of his wife, and rather apart from the ministers, who, side by side, confronted a great rocking-chair, intended for Grace. And in the corner near the door sat old Aunt Peggy, who, with permission from her mis- tress, had come in " to hear what Massa Robinson had to say 'g'inst Miss Gracey's baptism." Every thing was ready for the trial. There sat the judge, Mr. Gordon, with his hand resting on the open leaves of the family Bible, which he had been turning with a rapid indiffer- ence, that led some of the beholders to suspect that his mind was ill at ease. Mr. Robinson was calm and col- lected ; his hands folded on his breast, and his eyes bent as if in thought. There was old Mr. Holmes, witness against her, evidencing, by the cloudiness of his brow and the restlessness of his manner, that although his feelings and testimony were opposed to her, yet hia apprehensions as to the result of the case were entirely in her favor. Mrs. Holmes and Fannie, silent spectators, betrayed their deep interest in the approaching trial ; the one regarding the issue, and hoping it might be against her, yet deeply sympathizing with the culprit ; the other thinking only of the gentle, suffering girL Grace entered, and, approaching Mr. Gordon, spoke with a collectedness which astonished the young pastor. and which, for a moment, threw him quite off his balance. In turning to take her seat, she met the eye of her father, but her smile only served to darken the een en- tertaining Lydia and Fannie with tales of her girlhood, in which they were deeply interested. "And Maria tella me that father and Mr. Lewis are at the stile, so I 208 THE VISIT TO MBS. TRUMAN. shall have dinner as soon as possible, I suppose, for am sure you must all feel by this time, inclined to par take of ' creature comforts.' " Mrs. Gray, as we have before said, was a model woman and housekeeper ; and one of her chief excel- lences was, the very sensible manner in which she brought up her children, teaching them from theii earliest years a degree of dependence upon themselves, which developed and matured their judgment, and which not only suppressed selfishness, but called into active exercise the best and noblest feelings of their nature. Annie was initiated into the mysteries of housekeeping and culinary matters at quite an early age, and for some years had been competent to share these responsibilities with her mother. " And how were you pleased with Father Miller, Mr. Lewis ?" asked Mrs. Gray as they assembled at the dinner-table. " Delighted with him, Mrs. Gr&y, I assure you ; I found him a man of most excellent sense, with a heart overflowing with kindness, and a mind well filled with useful knowledge. His plain, unostentatious manner and venerable appearance brought to mind the patriarchs of old. We spent the hour most agreeably with him and his wife, who seems to be indeed a help-meet to him." " Yes, she is such truly, and he has always relied upon her judgment and disci etion in the management of his little farm. He has always said ' Betsy was supe- rior to him here.' When he has been absent from home attending district associations or holding a protracted meeting with some neighboring church, she has re- mained at home, seeing that the corn wdt planted, 01 THE WALK. 20fi the harvest gathered, or that the hogs in the pen had plenty of corn and water. And when he has been at home she has, in a great degree, relieved him of the supervision of tis farming arrangements, therehy giving him a great deal of time for study. She often says that 'in business she has been both the man and woman, and that there is but one class of people living that has a harder time than Baptist preachers, and that is their wives.' And then she would add, for fear I should think she was complaining of her lot, c but you know, Sister Gray, it is all for the Master's cause, and if we women can't preach, we can stay at home and take care of things while our husbands go forth to sow the seed of truth and righteousness.' She is indeed a most excellent woman, Mr. Lewis, loved and respected by all that know her ; and old and young always speak of the venerable pair as ' Father and Mother Miller.' " " How beautiful it is to see those who go in and out before the people giving the example of a meek and lowly spirit. It does more to recommend the religion of the Cross than volumes of written sermons." " Yery true, Mr. Lewis, for ' by their fruits ye shall know them/ and when we see the followers of him ' who had not where to lay his head' bearing all the trials and afflictions of life patiently and cheerfully, that they may ' occupy until he come,' men are forced to acknowledge the truth of religion, and to respect those who embody its glorious teachings in their daily walk and conversation. It is not those, Mr. Lewis, who make the loudest pretensions to religion who are most governed by its precepts, or feel most deeply its power in their own souls. The?e are Pharisees now, as in the 210 THE VISIT TO MRS, TRUMAN. days of our Saviour, who ' thank God they are not a* the poor publicans ; who make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the chief seats in the synagogues ;' and such persons do more to bring disgrace upon the cause they profess than all things else beside. They are the ones who, by continuance in well-doing, ' run with patience the race set before them/ that recommend religion with power and success." " So I have always felt, Mr. Gray ; and I have had many a lesson of practical piety taught me by an old servant man my mother owned when I was a boy ; who, under all circumstances, even the most trying, always thanked God, and that in sincerity, ' that it was as well with him as it was.' " ' They also serve who stand and wait. ' " After dinner, the young ladies and gentlemen, with Mr. Gray, who was always delighted with the society of sensible young people, rode over to see Mr. Truman's family. Mr. Lewis escorted Annie ; Tom, who was most wonderfully pleased with " Miss Fannie," rode with her ; and Mr. Bay, mounted on Mr. Gray's fine sorrel, gallanted Lydia, who was carried along most charmingly on little Maria's pony. The evening was beautiful and pleasant, and as our party were in good epirits, they enjoyed their ride exceedingly. " How vividly this visit brings back to mind the bridal morning," said Mr. Lewis to Annie, as they reached an elevation in the road which commanded the view of Mr. Truman's residence. " 'Twas just here Cousin Grace turned back to look, for the last tiroe, OB the home she was leaving forever." THE WALK. 211 " That was a trying moment to her, Mr. Lewis," re- plied Annie, in a soft, low voice. She had heen very gay during the ride, and Mr. Lewis felt his emotions deepen as her subdued tones met his ear. " Grace waa such a favorite with her family, that it was almost like oreaking their hearts to give her up ; and as her attach- ment to them was equally strong, it was like severing the cords of her being to turn away from their loving hearts and seek a home among strangers." " She has won many a stranger heart to her in hei new home hearts whose strongest love and tenderest sympathies she will ever have. She is a woman who calls forth the purest and noblest feelings of the soul ; and one who will always find friends wherever her lot may be cast." " Yes, she is a true woman, full of love and trust ; and I have often thought had she married a missionary, she would have been an Ann Hasseltine Judson, she has so much fortitude and such faith." As the last sentence was concluded, the party reached the front-stile. The girls observing the soberness of Annie's usually radiant face, gave her most significant smiles. She shook her head in refutation of their well- understood implication, but they were not to be con- vinced, and as they passed up the pavement Lydia whispered in her ear, " Did Mr. Lewis divulge the great secret, Annie ? You look very sober.'' " No, indeed ; he has kept all of his mysterious knowledge to himself." " Come, come, Annie, speak honestly ; has he aot told you some unexpected news ?" " No, Lydia ; I assure you he has not ; we wert 212 THE VISIT TO MBS. TRUMAN. talking about Grace, her marrying, and leaving home." " Take care, Annie, that you do not do the same thing before the fall is past : ( coming events cast their shadows before/ " " Avaunt, you shall not be the wizard, Lydia, to sound in my ears ' beware of the day.' " They reached the door as Annie pronounced the last words, and the conversation was discontinued ; but Lydia's words, light though they were, had called up in Annie's mind a train of thought which gave to her a sadder expression than usually characterized her face ; and which, in spite of her efforts, was observed by Mrs. Truman, who asked her " if she did not feel well this evening ?" The more she endeavored to rally, the more signally she failed, until at last, wearied and confused by her vain attempts, she stole quietly from the parlor, while the others of the company were engaged in an animated conversation, and walked into the yard. Lydia, who sat near the front window, observed her as she passed from one clump of shrubbery to another ; and her manner, so abstracted, joined to her appearance, aa Mr. Lewis handed her from her saddle, was " confirma- tion strong as words of Holy Writ" to the fugitive sus- picions that had been flitting through her mind. Fannie found Mrs. Truman a very pleasant woman, and she loved her because she Was so like her daughter in features and manner. She felt somewhat at a loss to answer some of her questions for fear she should be- tray what Grace had so strictly enjoined should not be mentioned, and unless Mrs. Truman addressed herself particularly to her, she left Lydia to reply. M- Tru- THE WALK. 213 man was not at home, which Mr. Lewis very much regretted. " I fear he will not be back in time for you to see him, Mr. Lewis," Mrs. Truman replied to his remark, " un- less we