, as old Rebecca stands contemplating her, with
serious and sullen countenance. Having prilled and fussed over the
letter, she commences reading in a half whisper:

"NO. --,4TH AVENUE, NEW YORK,
May --, 1850.

"MUCH BELOVED SISTER:

"I am, as you know, always overwhelmed with business; and having hoped
the Lord in his goodness yet spares you to us, and gives you health and
bounty wherewith to do good, must be pardoned for my brevity. The Lord
prospers our missions among the heathen, and the Tract Society continues
to make its labors known throughout the country. It, as you will see by
the tracts I send herewith, still continues that scrupulous regard to
the character of your domestic institution which has hitherto
characterized it. Nothing is permitted to creep into them that in any
way relates to your domestics, or that can give pain to the delicate
sensibilities of your very excellent and generous people. We would do
good to all without giving pain to any one. Oh! Sister, you know what a
wicked world this is, and how it becomes us to labor for the good of
others. But what is this world compared with the darkness of the heathen
world, and those poor wretches ('Sure enough!' says Mrs. Swiggs) who eat
one another, never have heard of a God, and prefer rather to worship
idols of wood and stone. When I contemplate this dreadful darkness,
which I do night and day, day and night, I invoke the Spirit to give me
renewed strength to go forward in the good work of bringing from
darkness ('Just as I feel,' thinks Mrs. Swiggs) unto light those poor
benighted wretches of the heathen world. How often I have wished you
could be here with us, to add life and spirit to our cause--to aid us in
beating down Satan, and when we have got him down not to let him up. The
heathen world never will be what it should be until Satan is bankrupt,
deprived of his arts, and chained to the post of humiliation--never! ('I
wish I had him where my Tom is!' Mrs. Swiggs mutters to herself.) Do
come on here, Sister. We will give you an excellent reception, and make
you so happy while you sojourn among us. And now, Sister, having never
appealed to you in vain, we again extend our hand, hoping you will favor
the several very excellent projects we now have on hand. First, we have
a project--a very excellent one, on hand, for evangelizing the world;
second, in consideration of what has been done in the reign of the
Seven Churches--Pergamos Thyatira, Ma