were good for the healing of the nations;" then there was the sweet Lilly of the Valley, in its humble innocence sending up its rich perfume; then the "Rose of Sharon" was there, whose odor filled the air with sweetness, and the Birds of Paradise were there,--those sweet little songsters that the Father had brought from the cold, sterile regions beyond Jordan, and placed in His beautiful garden. They were busily flitting from branch to branch, warbling forth their sweetest notes, and making the air resound with their music. Some of them I thought I almost knew, by the mark of their feathers. As I sat gazing, the river that before had been so swollen, seemed to subside and become very narrow, and seemed as if I had nothing to do, but get up and walk across; but my guide detained me, saying: "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall in due time eat the good of the land, but if disobedient, the sword of the enemy shall devour you." * * * * * Being still detained and feeling somewhat weary, "I laid me down and slept, and awoke again, for the Lord sustained me." On awaking, I took up my telescope to take another look across, but I only had it adjusted to my eye, when I again discovered the ferryboat in the distance. This time I thought surely it was coming for me, and began to look around and make all things ready for departure; but again I was doomed to disappointment. The boat came, but not for me this time either; another friend must go before me, one whom the Father thought more weak and needy than I. And as He saw me begin to grieve and fret, He sent me another comforting message, saying: "I will not leave the comfortless, in the sixth trial; and in the seventh, I will not leave thee nor forsake thee." Then again my soul replied, I will fear no evil; in God alone will I put my trust. When I found I had to wait awhile longer, I thought I would look around on this side of Jordan, for I had been so anxious to get home to my Father's House, and so busy looking beyond, that I had not noticed anything on this side so much; and in the glory of light that beamed across the river, I had not noticed the poisonous flowers that spread their baneful influence over all the land, or the muddy, filthy pools, sending up their miasmatic odors, poisoning the air; and while I was looking, with shame let me say it, poisonous as were those flowers, noxious as was the vapor from the pools, I began to be interested in them, and to seek after them; so much so, that my guide said softly in my ear: "Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." (Matt. xxvi., 41.) But I was so engrossed with the flowers, and the whisper came so softly, that I did not heed it, but kept on going farther away from the river, losing sight more and more of my Father's House. Again my guide called after me, but this time in louder tones: "Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh." (Matt.