an all-consuming
firebrand! Pray to one who stands before us as a Nemesis of wrath and
terror, hating and ready to crush us?--humph!"

And the lawyer wiped his brow.

"Can't we think of the Creator differently," said Redbud, earnestly.

"How?"

"As the Being who came down upon the earth, and suffered, and wept
tears of blood, was buffeted and crowned with thorns, and crucified
like a common, degraded slave--all because he loved us, and would not
see us perish? Oh! Mr. Rushton, if there are men who shrink from the
terrible God--who cannot love _that_ phase of the Almighty, why should
they not turn to the Saviour, who, God as he was, came down and
suffered an ignominious death, because he loved them--so dearly loved
them!"

Mr. Rushton was silent for a moment; then he said, coldly:

"I did not intend to talk upon these subjects--I only intended to say,
that trusting in Providence, as the phrase is, sounds very grand; and
has only the disadvantage of not being very easy. Come, Miss Redbud,
suppose we converse on the subject of flowers, or something that is
more light and cheerful."

"Yes, sir, I will; but I don't think anything is more cheerful than
Christianity, and I love to talk about it. I know what you say about
the difficulty of trusting wholly in God, is true; it is very hard.
But oh! Mr. Rushton, believe me, that such trust will not be in vain;
even in this world Our Father often shows us that he pities our
sufferings, and His hand heals the wound, or turns aside the blow. Oh,
yes, sir! even in this world the clouds are swept away, and the sun
shines again; and the heart which has trusted in God finds that its
trust was not in vain in the Lord. Oh! I'm sure of it, sir!--I feel
it--I know that it is _true_!"

And Redbud, buried in thought, looked through the window--silent,
after these words which we have recorded.

The lawyer only looked strangely at her--muttered his "humph," and
turned away. Verty alone saw the spasm which he had seen in the
morning pass across the rugged brow.

While this colloquy had been going on, the Squire had gone into his
apartment to wash his hands; and now issuing forth, requested an
explanation of the argument he had heard going on. This explanation
was refused with great bearishness by the lawyer, and Redbud said they
had only been talking about Providence.

The Squire said that was a good subject; and then going to his
escritoire took out some papers, placed them on th