d after each of the children and Hannah
described all the families into which they had been received. The widow
did not look as if she spoke falsely, and the little ones, when they
came to see her, confirmed her report, and yet Selene could hardly
believe in the accuracy of the pictures drawn of their lives in the
houses of the Christians.

The mother of a Christian family--says a great Christian teacher--should
be the pride of her children, the wife the pride of her husband, husband
and children the pride of the wife, and God the pride and glory of every
member of the household. Love and faith in fact the bond, contentment
and virtuous living the law of the family; and it was in just such a
pure and beneficent atmosphere, as Selene herself and Helios felt the
blessing of in Hannah's house, that each and all of her brothers and
sisters were growing up. Her upright sense gave an honest answer when
she asked herself what would have become of them all if her father had
remained alive and had been dispossessed of his office? They must all
have perished in misery and degradation.

And now?--Perhaps in truth the Divine Being had dealt in kindness with
the children.

Love, love, and again love, was breathed from all she saw and heard, and
yet--was it not love that had caused her greatest sorrows. Wherefore
had it been her lot to endure so much through the same sentiment which
beautified life to others? Had any one ever had more to suffer than
she? Aye indeed! A vivacious, eager youth had duped her and had promised
happiness to her sister instead of to her; it had been hard to bear--and
yet, the Saviour of whom Hellos had told her, had been far more severely
tried. Mankind, for whom He--the Son of God--had come down upon earth,
to save from misery and guilt, had rewarded His loving kindness by
hanging Him on the cross. In Him she could see a companion in suffering
and she asked the widow to tell her all about Him. Selene had made
many sacrifices to her family--she could never forget her walk to the
papyrus-factory--but He had let them mock Him and had shed His blood
for His own. And who was she?--and who was He? The Son of God. His image
became dear to her; she was never weary of hearing about His life and
fate, His words and deeds; and without her observing it the day came
when her soul was free to receive the teaching of Christ with fervent
longing. With faith she acquired that consciousness of guilt which had
previously b