xxvi., 24.) But still, strange as it may seem, and as ungrateful as it appears after the pleasant view I had had of my Father's House, and the soothing promises he had given me, such is perverse human nature, that I paid but little heed, but still wandered on, plucking flowers, now here, now there, 'till I had gone quite away; but still my loving Father would not leave me, "for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth," and on looking up I saw my guide approaching with a rod, which, when he came near enough, he laid heavily about me. Humbled, ashamed and bleeding, he brought me back and laid me exhausted on the bank, where I lay for many days without power to move or courage to look up. Although I had been so disobedient, yet was my guide most assiduous in his attentions and care of me, saying: "If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons, for what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not. (Heb. xii., 70.) And as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that love him, for he knows our frame that we are but dust." (Ps. clxxxiii, 13.) It sorely repented me, and with the Psalmist I exclaimed: "My feet were almost gone, my steps were well nigh slipped." (Ps. lviii, 2) Then I began to cry mightily unto the Lord for help, and from His temple He heard me, and from His Holy Hill He sent me succor. And I was comforted by this message: "Before thou callest I will hear thee, and while thou art yet speaking, I will answer thee." Being thus comforted and somewhat strengthened, my guide advised me to take up my telescope again and take another look across the river. It had been so long since I had looked across, he thought it would do me good, and so it did; for as I looked the green shores appeared so pleasant and inviting to me, it made me feel at once like passing over, and while I was gazing I saw the boat again leave the shore; this time I thought it would certainly come for me. Again I gathered up my things making ready to depart, and many friends gathered around me, mourning and weeping, begging me not to go, but stay with them; yet I was anxious to be gone. Many were the petitions that went over to my Father's House to spare me a little longer, that "they could not do without me;" in this I could not join them. I could only say: "Lord let thy will be done." Meanwhile the boat came nearer and nearer, and I lay looking, both hoping and fearing; hoping it was coming for me, and fearing it was coming for me; for like the apostle I was in a strait betwixt two: "for me to live is Christ, but to die is gain." (Phil. vii., 21-23.) And I suppose that the prayers of tender friends must have prevailed, for when the boat drew nearer, I found it was not coming for me yet, but I received this message: "Let Patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (James, i., 4.) From this I saw that Patience was to be my best friend and I tried to take her close to my bosom, and my