has no taste for mercantile life, nor for the law,' said
Mr. Meeker.

'Taste--fiddlesticks,' responded his wife, 'as if a boy has a right to
have any taste contrary to his parents' wish.'.

'But, Jane, it is not contrary to _my_ wish.'

Mrs. Meeker looked her husband steadily in the face. She saw there an
unusual expression of firmness; something which she knew it to be idle
to contend with, and with her usual good sense, she withdrew from the
contest.

'Have it your own way, Mr. Meeker. You know my opinion. It was my duty
to express it. Make of Frank what you like. I pray that he may be
prospered in whatever he undertakes.'

So Frank was sent to college, with the understanding that, after
graduating, he was to pursue his favorite study of medicine.

A few months after he entered, Mrs. Meeker gave birth to her seventh
child--the subject of the present narrative. Her disappointment at
Frank's destination was severe. Besides, she met with daily evidences
that pained her. None of her children were, to use her expression,
'after her own heart.' There were two other boys, George and William,
who she was accustomed to say, almost bitterly, were 'clear father.' The
three girls, Jane, Laura, and Mary, one would suppose might represent
the mother's side; but alas! they were 'clear father' too.

In her great distress, as Mrs. Meeker often afterward declared, she
resolved to 'call upon the Lord.' She prayed that the child she was
soon to give birth to might be a boy, and become a joy and consolation
to his mother. She read over solicitously all the passages, of Scripture
she could find, which she thought might be applicable to her case. As
the event approached, she exhibited still greater faith and enthusiasm.
She declared she had consecrated her child to God, and felt a holy
confidence that the offering was accepted. Do not suppose from this, she
intended to devote him to the ministry. _That_ required a special call,
and it did not appear such a call had been revealed to her. But she
prayed earnestly that he might be chosen and favored of the Most High;
that he might stand before kings; that he might not be slothful in
business; but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. The happy frame of
mind Mrs. Meeker had attained, at length became the subject of
conversation in the neighborhood. The clergyman was greatly interested.
He even made allusion to it in the weekly prayer-meeting, which, by the
by, rather scandalized some of