to me."

Sarah began, and as she was reading, her mother, although apparently
absorbed in her letter and in listening, was watching her closely.

Madame Torvestad was in the habit of writing many letters, which were
held in much estimation by the Brethren around. They were read out at
the meetings, and afterwards carefully preserved, for lending to
those who required good counsel. Her letters were indeed kindly and
full of affection.

When Sarah read the twelfth verse, "This is my commandment, That ye
love one another, as I have loved you," her mother stopped her.

"Yes, that was the verse I was thinking of." She looked down on her
letter almost as if she was thinking over what she had written. Sarah
was conscious that what her mother said was also directed at her.

"Brotherly love is the first fruits of the true Vine, and that is the
love to which the apostle alludes. But, dear brethren, consider how
and why you love another, whether because he is a child of God, or
whether for earthly reasons, and, mark well, whether when you find
that he loves God, he becomes so dear to you that all his other
qualities are forgotten."

Sarah blushed a deep red, and bent over her Bible. She was about to
read the thirteenth verse, when her mother said: "Thanks, Sarah; you
need not read any more, it was only that these reflections on
brotherly love made me wish to refresh my memory from Holy Writ."

She proceeded in the same tone, half to Sarah and half to herself:
"See, the tempter has again prepared his snares; be watchful, and
pray for guidance, that you fall not into them. Sinful affection lies
in wait behind brotherly love, just as the serpent concealed itself
among the pleasant fruits of the tree of knowledge. See, then, that
you love in the spirit, and not in the flesh. If you love in the
spirit, and if you meet with one who seeks the same God, you should
love that seeker; and should he be only----" here her words became
very impressive--"should he be only a distant seeker, yes, even a
wanderer, who but dimly catches a glimpse of the light, and who
follows it but feebly, and be his appearance, conversation, and
natural mind ever so doubtful, you should love him for the sake of
Him who first loved you.

"Thanks, my child, for your assistance. Now go back to your work, and
pray that it may be given to you to know what brotherly love is, and
that you may not go astray."

When Sarah reached the door, her mother added: "It