“I have sold it,” replied his daughter, no longer able to control her feelings; “and here is the money for you--seven hundred dollars. I told you there would be a way opened!” Tears gushed from the eyes of the lovely girl. “And here are eight hundred dollars more,” said Eveline, coming forward, and showing equal emotion with her sister. “It is for my diamond pin, watch, and bracelets, and Eunice’s watch and bracelets.” Mr. Townsend had risen, by this time, to his feet. Throwing an arm around each dear child, he drew her tightly to his bosom, and looking up, said, with deep fervor, while his eyes were overflowing, “For love like this, my God, I thank thee! And even for the misfortunes I have suffered, I thank thee! They have given me to know, what I never would have known otherwise, the priceless value of these dear children’s hearts. I feel now that my last days are to be my best days. I acknowledge that there is a Providence, whose goodness and wisdom go hand in hand.” CHAPTER XXI. THANKFUL FOR EVERY THING. The note had been lifted, and all things looked cheering for the future. It was the last payment Mr. Townsend had to make. He held in his hand the only piece of paper, promising to pay, upon which his name was inscribed, and the approaching due day of which had caused him such needless alarm. Notwithstanding his loss of ten thousand dollars, and inability to make advances on consignments, the falling off in his business had not been very considerable, and had more than been made up by the great reduction in his family expenses. Mr. Townsend was sitting in his store, musing on these things; and, in connection with them, balancing in his thoughts the account of loss and gain that had been running on for the space of two or three years. He felt calm, and a subdued and thankful spirit pervaded his mind. Doubt, and utter despondency, had given place to confidence and hope. The spontaneous acknowledgement of a Divine Providence, ruling in all the events of life by love and wisdom, which had fallen from his lips on the previous evening, in the passionate enthusiasm of the moment, did not pass away. He felt, deeply and thankfully felt, that there was an invisible Hand, leading men into better, and truer, and happier states of mind, by ways which they knew not; and that, in spite of all resistance, impatience, and even impious rebellion against the All-Wise guidance, love unchanged was ever, through seeming evil, leading on to good. The self-sacrificing love of his children touched him deeply whenever he thought of it. The fire had tried and proved them, and the gold was purer than even a father’s partial affection had believed it to be.