vine union. Many years passed by. The hair of the
father grew whiter, and his ears longed to hear the voices of his sons,
yet he would not call, in word or feeling, so long as the busy throng was
receiving or giving them life.

One evening, when his thoughts were taking a somewhat pensive turn,
a messenger came to his door with a letter from the long-absent and
eldest, who had not returned to his home since the day of his departure.
Its words were these:--

"Dear Father,--I cannot come to the home I love so well, nor to
your side, while this land is so full of need of human words and deeds.
With your blessing I shall remain here my lifetime; and when age comes
on, and I can no longer serve the people, may I return?"

The tears fell over the good man's face. God had blessed him greatly
in bestowing on him so worthy a son; and he penned warm and glowing
words of encouragement to his child, and sent by the messenger, with
gold to alleviate the wants of the needy.

"Tell him a thousand blessings await him when his work is done," said
he to the messenger as the latter mounted his horse to ride away.

Long after, when the father grew old and helpless, the sons returned
laden with rich experiences and abundantly able to care for him.

They had learned the great and valuable lesson that all must learn ere
they truly live,--that we must give to receive, sow if we would reap,
and lose our life to find it.

XVIII.

THE FEAST.

There was once a husbandman who had laborers in a valley, clearing it of
stones and brush, that it might become fit for culture. He resided near,
on a fine hill, where he raised rare fruits and flowers of every variety.
The view from the hill-top was extensive and grand beyond description,
and it was the kind owner's desire that each day the laborers should
ascend and be refreshed by whatever he had to offer them, beside catching
the inspiration of the lovely and extensive landscape. Some days he had
not much to offer them; at other times, the repast would be sumptuous and
most tempting: so those who went each day were sure of receiving in their
season the delicious fruits which ripened at different periods.

There had been a succession of days in which there was nothing but
dry food on the hill, with none of the luscious fruits which invigorate
and refresh; for they had been slow in ripening, and the kind husbandman
would not gather them before they were mellow and fit to spread before
h