of the Worthington home. The mother knew all this, but
she knew too that God's Spirit does not always rule in wealthy homes.
Would she do right to let her child slip from under her parental care?
Many thoughts of this nature surged through her brain, and many
temptations to say no came to her; but instead of giving a decisive
answer she sought counsel from the all-wise Counselor. While in prayer
she thought of faithful Abraham's trial regarding Isaac, and she felt
that God was just as able to carry her through temptation or test, if
she submitted all to his will.

Mr. Worthington gave his consent for one of the children to go for a
visit. The aunt having chosen Bessie, hasty preparations were made for
their departure. As the mother kissed her curly-haired little girl
good-by, her heart seemed bursting with sorrow. She tried to control her
feelings, but only God knew the wound that her aunt's parting words
made. "Use your influence in my behalf, Niece, with your husband, in
case we want to keep Bessie," she had said, and then the great train
moved slowly from the station. Abraham was all the mother could think of
on her return home. Oh! would God give her back her child?

Letter after letter came, each telling how fond the aunt and her husband
were of Bessie and how happy she was in her new home, but not a word
about her return. Four, five, six weeks passed. Then one day a letter
came stating that they had decided not to adopt a child now and that, as
Bessie was getting homesick, the parents might expect her home the next
day. Then, it had been only a test! Oh, how glad Mrs. Worthington was
that she had been faithful. Yes, her God was the very same God that
Abraham had served centuries before. It was hard to wait until
train-time the next day. When once more the loving mother held her
darling child in her arms, the tears that could not flow for weeks
streamed freely.

Bessie was glad to be at home again. After the cold, formal, loveless
life at her aunt's, she appreciated her own humble home more than ever
before.

But a far greater test was waiting the dear mother--one that would call
for more than human strength to bear.

After Bessie's return Mrs. Worthington put forth every effort to teach
her children more about heavenly things. She bore in mind the
scripture, "Train up a child in the way it should go; and when it is
old, it will not depart from it." As she did not want to fail along this
line, she spent every