indeed had not failed of
accustomed conduct so far as routine went--tell me what do you find in
those lovely eyes if not the heavenliest assurances? Let who will
call the scene of this life's operations a vale of tears, a world of
misery, a prison-house of the spirit, here is one who asks for herself
nothing of honors or riches or pleasures, and who can bless the
Lord God for the glory of the earth he has created, and for those
everlasting purposes of his which mortals can but trust in, and which
are past finding out. Children, let us do our best to-day, and wait
until to-morrow for to-morrow's gifts. This exhortation was in the
eyes, mien, conduct of the teacher, and so she led them on until, when
they came to practice their hymns for the festival, every little heart
and voice was in tune, and she praised them with voice so cheerful,
how should they guess that it had ever been choked by anguish or had
ever fainted in despair?

O young eyes saddening over what is to you a painful, insoluble
problem! yet a little while and you shall see the mists of morning
breaking everywhere, and the great conquering sun will enfold you too
in its warm embrace: the humble laurels of the mountain's side, even
as the great pines and cedars of the mountain's crest, have but to
receive and use what the sterile rock and the blinding cloud, the
wintry tempest and the rain and the summer's heat bestow, and lo! the
heights are alive with glory. But it is not in a day.

CHAPTER IX.

WILL THE ARCHITECT HAVE EMPLOYMENT?

On entering the factory, Leonhard met Loretz near the door talking
with Albert Spener. When he saw Leonhard, Loretz said, "I was just
saying to Mr. Spener that I expected you, sir, and how he might
recognize you; but you shall speak for yourself. If you will spend a
little time looking about, I shall be back soon: perhaps Mr. Spener--"

"Mr. Leonhard Marten, I believe," said Mr. Albert Spener with a little
exaggeration of his natural stiffness. Perhaps he did not suspect that
all the morning he had been manifesting considerable loftiness toward
Loretz, and that he spoke in a way that made Leonhard feel that his
departure from Spenersberg would probably take place within something
less than twenty-four hours.

Yet within half an hour the young men were walking up and down the
factory, examining machinery and work, and talking as freely as if
they had known each other six months. They were not in everything
as unli