ly caused suffering to the
souls undergoing the operation.

Mrs. Stillman's sensitive organization was completely crushed; her
eldest daughter's nearly so. Martha, the second daughter, had escaped
by marrying a clever young man, who first pitied, then loved the
daughter of his employer, and persuaded her to elope with him,
assuring her of a happier home than she had with her father.

The marriage angered Mr. Stillman greatly, and all intercourse with
the disobedient daughter was forbidden.

Margaret, the third daughter, also rebelled at the fitting process;
and having a goodly portion of her father's determination, many were
the sharp words that passed between them.

So far Rachel and Susan had given no trouble. He ordered them about
as he did his dumb animals, and with no more regard to their feelings.
With his sons it was different. They would be men some day. They must
be treated with some consideration. At an early age, John, two years
older than Elizabeth, was given a share in the stock and land to
cultivate; so that when, at the age of twenty-four, he married, he had
a "right good start in the world."

But his sister toiled early and late, washing, ironing, milking,
churning, baking, nursing the younger children, sharing her mother's
labors, and paid as her mother was--with her board and a scanty,
grudgingly given wardrobe. She was now twenty-four, and had never
had a five-dollar bill to spend as she pleased in her life--for that
matter, neither had the mother. There are many Mr. Stillmans, "Are
they honest men?" If father and son have the right to be paid for
their labor, have not the mother and daughter? I leave the question
with you.

Rachel carried a heavy heart to school next morning. The tinker's
wonderful allegory to her was very real, and to leave her hero in that
awful dungeon was almost more than she could bear. When at recess the
teacher offered her the book, she did not take it.

"Father said," she began--then sobs choked her utterance. He
understood, and after a moment's silence said: "I am interested in
Christian as well as you, Rachel, and if you will sit here I will read
to you." In all her after life Rachel never forgot these readings at
intermission, which were continued not only until Christian reached
the Celestial city, but until Christiana and the children completed
their wonderful journey to the same place. Her gratitude to her young
teacher would certainly have become love had she