Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed. [Illustration: The Persian listened with curiosity, and the Afghan with some attention; but it was on the old Sikh that the holy words fell like rain from Heaven.] PERCIVAL'S PICTURE GALLERY. BY A. L. O. E. Authoress of "Pearls of Wisdom from the Parables," "The Young Pilgrim," "The Shepherd of Bethlehem," &c., &c. [Illustration] LONDON: MORGAN AND SCOTT (OFFICE OF "The Christian") 12, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, E.C. And may be ordered of any Bookseller. PREFACE. THIS little volume may, I hope, awaken in some minds thoughts of a devotional character. Some of the ideas contained in it came to me in a chamber of sickness, which was at one time expected to be my chamber of death. The thoughts were pleasant and soothing to myself. May they, by God's blessing, be so also to some of my fellow-pilgrims. A. L. O. E. Contents. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY II. THE PASSAGE THROUGH THE RED SEA III. KING DAVID'S VISION IV. THE CARPENTER'S DEATH V. HOMELESS VI. LEGEND OF THE SELF-MADE GRAVE VII. THE THREE "BIHISTIS" VIII. LEGEND OF THE SHEKEL IX. THE NIGHT AFTER THE CRUCIFIXION X. THE LEGEND OF THE ROMAN SOLDIER XI. ASLEEP! PERCIVAL'S PICTURE GALLERY. [Illustration] CHAPTER I. Introductory. "NO, Sir, no; the doctor gives no hope that the poor young gentleman will ever walk again; and as for life, the doctor says that it may be a matter of months, or perhaps of years. But Mr. Percival is going down to the grave sure and certain; and he knows that himself." Such was the sad reply given by his landlady, to my enquiries regarding my old schoolfellow, when I called at his lodging in London. I had been absent on the Continent for six weeks in the long vacation. A painful malady in his knee had prevented Percival's being, as we had both hoped, my travelling companion; and it was no small disappointment to us both when he had to be left behind. How we had looked forward to a visit to Italy, to luxuriate amongst the treasures of art; which Percival's cultivated taste and knowledge of painting, would enable him so thoroughly to appreciate! I had however felt no serious anxiety regarding my friend; his letters had been cheerful, and contained little allusion to the state of his health. It was therefore with a shock of surprise that I heard that Percival was now a hopeless invalid, unable to rise from the couch on which he had suffered so long.