ok his
staff in hand and wandered over the world in prosecution of his
search.

"And that will I do, Thomas," he said, as one day he returned from his
inquiry, "if naught else can be done. My trust is in the Lord, and He
doth not mock. He despiseth not the sighing of the heart, nor hath He
made the revelation and put this confidence into my mind in vain. I
know in whom I have trusted, and that He is faithful and true."

Whatever might have been the opinion of Pownal, he was incapable of
uttering a word to discourage Holden, or of inflicting unnecessary
pain. "Why should I," he said, "dampen his enthusiasm? Small, as seems
to me, the chance of ever discovering his son, it is, after all, mere
opinion. Things more wonderful than such a discovery have happened. By
me, at least, he shall be sustained and encouraged. Disappointment, if
it comes, will come soon enough. I will not be its ill-omened herald."
He, therefore, said, in reply--

"Esther's story is certainly true. Our researches corroborate its
truth. We have found the house, and a person of the name she gave, did
live in it at the time she mentioned."

"They satisfy thee, Thomas; but I have a more convincing proof--an
internal evidence--even as the sure word of prophecy. It speaks to me
like a sweet voice, at mine uprising and lying down, and bids me be
strong and of good cheer, for the day of deliverance draweth nigh.
Doubt not, but believe that, in His good time, the rough places shall
be made smooth, and the darkness light. And yet, shall I confess
it unto thee, that, sometimes, a sinful impatience mastereth me? I
forget, that the little seed must lie for a time in the earth, and
night succeed day and day night, and the dew descend and the rain
fall, and the bright sun shine, and his persuasive heat creep into the
bosom of the germ before its concealed beauty can disclose itself,
and the lovely plant--the delight of every eye--push up its coronal
of glory. But, it is a transitory cloud, and I cry, Away! and it
departeth, and I say unto my heart, Peace, be still, and know that I
am God!"

"It would seem," said Pownal, "that there is often a connection
between the presentiments of the mind and an approaching event. How
frequently does it happen, for instance, that one, without knowing
why, begins to think of a person, and that, almost immediately, the
person will present himself.

"It is the shadow of approaching destiny, and men have moulded the
fact into