“Help has come heretofore in extremity, father, and I am sure it will come now.” “But where is it to come from, child? Heaven knows; I do not. I have struggled up to this point, and overcome many difficulties, but this seems likely to overwhelm me. I sometimes think, Eunice, that I am mocked of Providence.” “Dear father! do not permit such a thought to find place in your mind for an instant. It is not so; it cannot be so. These trials are for your good. We all suffer with you, and we shall all be better in the end, for our suffering. I feel that I am better, and that my after life will be a happier and more useful life in consequence. Our real good, you know, father, does not lie in our worldly possessions or prosperity; and the failure of our worldly expectations is often but a salutary reaction upon our natural affections, when too intently fixed upon mere natural things. Still have confidence, father; still believe that all will come out right in the end. Even the failure to meet this payment may not prove so great an evil as you now fear it will be.” Thus Eunice sought to inspire her father with confidence, and succeeded in doing so for the moment, but he soon sunk back again into despondency. His mind had not sufficient power to rise above the pressure of present circumstances. On the next day, Eunice, while alone with her sister, said to her, “I mentioned to you last night, the cause of father’s looking so troubled.” “Yes; and I have been thinking about it ever since.” “Has any thing suggested itself?” “Yes. There is my diamond breast-pin. It might be sold. It’s poor brother John’s present, and I shall grieve to part with it. But, if he could know the reason of its being sold, I am sure he would approve the act.” “How closely, side by side, run our thoughts,” said Eunice, smiling. “I have determined to sell my beautiful rosewood piano, also brother John’s present. It cost a thousand dollars; and I think I ought to get at least five or six hundred for it. It is quite as good as new.” “For the breast-pin and piano, we ought to receive a thousand dollars,” replied Eveline, with a brightening face. “Father only wants twelve hundred. If he have a thousand, the additional two hundred will not be hard to obtain.” “I don’t know that we shall get so much as a thousand dollars for the piano and breast-pin, although they are worth more. I think we had better add our watches, and some other articles of jewelry, to make sure of the sum we desire to obtain.” “I am ready to throw in every thing that I have in the way of jewelry,” said Eveline. “But how are these things to be sold?” “That’s the most difficult part of the business. The piano, I suppose, had better go to the auction store where our surplus furniture was sold. How the jewelry is to be disposed of, I do not know, unless it is offered at some of the stores where they deal in such articles.” “Whether they will buy or not is the question. All are ready enough to sell.”