is
clear, bright eye fell upon the miserable Hepsy,--"when you look back
and see the uses of affliction. It seems to me that the happiest souls
in heaven must be those who have suffered most here; patiently, I mean,
and not with continual murmurings, which harden and embitter the heart.
Even in this life, the poor and afflicted _exteriorly_ may always, and
do oftenest, I believe, enjoy _interior_ happiness and peace, with which
the superficial pleasures of life cannot be compared. The great secret
it, Love!--love to God,--love to man,--and a serene and thankful temper.

"But I find that my story has relapsed into a sermon," said Father
Brighthopes, smiling. "You were all so attentive, that I quite forgot
myself. I hope I have not been dull."

"Oh, no! No, indeed!" cried half a dozen voices.

All agreed that they could hear him talk all night. They had never been
so well instructed in the use to be made of afflictions. They had never
seen so clearly the beauty of a serene Christian life.

"It's all _excethively_ pretty!" said Miss Smith.

"Well, I am glad if you have been entertained," said the old man, with
moist but happy eyes. "Good-night! good-night! God bless you all!"

His fervent benediction was very touching. More than one eye was wet, as
it watched him going to his room. There was not much more wild gayety
among the little company that evening, but every heart seemed to have
been softened and made deeply happy by the old man's lesson.

Hepsy stole away to her room. His words still echoed in her soul. They
stirred its depths; they warmed her, they cheered her strangely. All
night long her tears rained upon her pillow,--when she slept, as when
she lay awake,--but she was no longer utterly wretched. A ray had stolen
in upon the darkness of her misery.

"Love!" she repeated to herself. "Love to God, and love to our neighbor.
But love must be unselfish. It must be self-sacrificing. Oh, Lord!" she
prayed, with anguish, "purify my bad heart! purify it! purify it! purify
it!"

She felt herself a broken-hearted child, humbled in the dust. But a
feeling of calmness came over her. Her hot and throbbing heart grew cool
and still. Angels had touched her with their golden wings; and her
spirit seemed to brighten and expand with newly-developed powers of
patience, endurance and love.

Meanwhile, Chester was penning a passionate letter to his affianced,
wholly absorbed, and forgetful even of the existence of poor Hep