hall enjoy each other's society
for ever and ever.

"And now we are prevented from coming to you, and you know we are not
void of all desire to see you, but the hindrances to which we have
alluded, are, we think, a sufficient apology. We beg you to accept our
excuse, and to apologize for us to our mother, and we pray God to pour
out his grace richly on you all, and lengthen your days.

"Your brother, ASAAD.

"P. S. Tell our mother not to think so much of these earthly things but
rather of God our Saviour."

_Is visited by his Mother._

This letter had been gone scarcely time sufficient to reach Hadet, when
the mother herself was announced at the door. We welcomed her with all
cordiality, and treated her with all the respect and attention we could.
But all we could do or say did not alter her resolution to get her son
away, if in her power. She besought him by the honour he owed her, by
the love he professed for her, by his regard for the reputation of her
family, for religion itself, and for his own personal safety, that he
would immediately accompany her home; and when she found him inflexible,
she declared she would never stir out of the house unless he went with
her.

To all this Asaad replied, "To what purpose would it be, that I should
go home? You wish me to go, you say, that people may be convinced that I
am not mad. But you, who come hither, and see, and converse with me,
say, after all, that I _am_ mad. How can it be expected that I should
convince others that I am _not_ mad, when my own mother will not believe
it. Or do you think that if I once get out among you, the air of Hadet
will change my opinions, or induce me to be silent? All these are vain
expectations. I see no object to be gained. If I should go to Hadet, and
be constantly disputing with the people, and telling them, that you are
all going astray; that you are worshipping idols instead of the living
God; that I could wish to tear down every picture in your churches; that
the bread and wine of the Lord's Supper are not Jesus Christ; that I
believe the pope to be the beast in the revelation,[I] whose business is
to deceive the people and ruin their souls;--by all this, I should
injure your feelings, enrage the people, excite the opposition of the
emirs, and bishops, and patriarchs, and then return here just in the
state I am in now."

The youngest brother, Phares, who accompanied his mother,