"Surely," she replied to Carry, "None of us liveth to himself, and none of us dieth to himself. My darling name-child, (may she be one of the Saviour's lambs!) has, in her unconscious infancy, led her mother to Him. My own Carry! this is what I have prayed for from the first hour in which I prayed at all. If the angels in heaven rejoice over repenting sinners, shall not we, who have sinned, suffered with them, rejoice the more at their emancipation from bondage? By what various avenues of approach do we arrive at the Cross! our Hope! Some fly, scourged by fears of the wrath to come; some are drawn by the gentle cords of love--attracted by the majestic sweetness of the Saviour's smile; others, like you, for comfort in sharp and sudden sorrow; and others yet, with myself, having quaffed in quick succession, the beaded nectar that knowledge, worldly applause, earthly loves gave to our parched lips, come weary, distraught--our blood drying with the fierce heat of the poison, to lie down beside the still waters. Oh! my beloved! the delights of sin may entice, and cavillers ridicule, as false professors cast reproach upon our holy religion; but let us make it the one object of life--all duties and pleasures subservient to it; let us love it--work for it; never raising our hands, to sink again idly, but striking blows which shall tell our zeal for Christ's kingdom! "I long to see you and your dear ones. If you cannot come before, you are pledged to me for a part--say the whole, of October. The entire family--my guardian and your sister, Charley and the 'wee ones' are to celebrate my majority then. My nominal majority--virtually, I am as free as I ever expect to be. Emma is a treasure to me, and she seems happy. Who could have presaged, in our school days, that we would live and labor together!" CHAPTER XXX. Laura Pinely was practising her music lesson in the parlor one day, when the entrance of a visitor transferred the motion from her fingers to her feet. "I only glanced at him as he bowed to me on my way out," she said to Ida. "He is tall and handsome." "Have you ever seen, Mr. Dana?" "Yes ma'am, and it is not he. This is a younger man, and much fairer." "Who can it be?" pondered Ida, crossing the hall. "I wish he had sent in his name; I do not like to be taken by surprise." But she was, as Richard Copeland rose to meet her. "I had no thought of seeing you!" she said, expressing her pleasure at his coming. "I did not know you were in this part of the country." "Nor was I, yesterday." "You have been riding all day; have you dined?" He arrested her movement towards the bell. "What are you about to do?" "Order refreshments for yourself, and have your horse put up." "'Entertainment for man and beast?'" he responded, with a sickly smile. "I dined on the road--my steed ditto; and he can stand where he is for a half-hour." "Half-an-hour, Mr. Copeland! You are not in the city!"