"Father," said Mary, "how grand it is to be able to do something great and noble in the cause! Were I a man, I would go with Manasseh to fight for the Cross." Nathan stroked her hair softly. "The life of everyone who is consecrated to God is directed by him," he said. "To Manasseh is given the privilege of defending the faith and helping the weak by his strong, young arm; to Mary is given the humble, loving life in which she may serve God just as truly and do just as great a work in faithfully performing her own little part. Think you not so, mother?" "Ah, yes," returned the mother, with her gentle smile. "Life is like the cloth woven little by little, until the whole pattern shows in the finished work; and it matters not whether the pattern be large or small. So the little things of life, done well for Christ's sake, will at last make a noble whole of which none need be ashamed." "But mother, watching the sheep, grinding the meal, washing the garments, seem such very little things." "Yet all these are very necessary things," returned the mother quietly, "and if done cheerfully and willingly, call for an unselfish heart. A gentle, loving life lived amid little cares and trials is no small thing, my child." Mary kissed her mother. "Mother, you always say what comforts one; you always make me wish to live more patiently and lovingly." "And yet, Mary," said her father, "mother's life has been one round of small duties." Mary sat thinking for a moment. "Yes, father," she answered slowly, "I see now that mother's life has been the very best sermon on duty. I shall try to be patient and happy in simply doing well whatever my hands find to do. But I wish Manasseh were home;" and she looked wistfully to the west, where bands of color were spreading up the sky, saffron at the horizon, blending into gold and tender green above, while all melted into a sapphire dome streaked and flecked with rosy pink rays and bars. "How he would enjoy this glorious sunset! Oh, father, how dreadful if he were to be killed!--if he were nevermore to sit with us looking at the sunsets!" Her voice trembled a little as she spoke. "We are committing him to the care of Almighty God," returned Nathan, solemnly. "God is love, and whatever he does will be best." "You find great comfort, father, in believing that 'all things work together for good to them that love God,'" said Mary. "For the children of God, everything that happens must be best." "Even persecution and death?" "Even persecution and death, if God so will." Mary looked at his placid face for a long time, then she said: "How very peaceful you and mother are!"