nd vainly dreamed that he should
appear in regal splendor, to gather his followers and form a temporal
kingdom. Far from this, the angel's song was breathed to simple
shepherds, and the star in the East pointed out a stable as the lowly
birth-place of the Son of God. He came, not to rule in splendor in the
palaces of kings, but to bring the gospel of peace to the lowliest
habitations, and fix his throne in the hearts of the meek and
humble-minded. He claimed no tribute of this world's wealth as an
offering, but the love and obedience of those whom he came to save.
Earnestly the speaker besought his hearers to yield to their Saviour
the adoration which was his due, and requite His all-excelling love
with the purest and deepest affections of their hearts. Every eye was
fixed upon the speaker, every ear intently listened to catch his
words, and tears suffused the eyes so lately beaming with gayety. At
the close of his eloquent appeal, there were few in that congregation
unmoved. The closing prayers were read, the benediction pronounced,
and the audience gradually left the house. Clara and I were the last
to leave our seats, and as we followed the crowd that had gathered in
the aisles before us she did not speak, but the hand that rested in
mine trembled like a frightened bird. Suddenly a voice behind us
whispered the name of Clara. She turned and met the gaze of Philip
Sidney. The trusting faith of years had its reward, and those so long
severed met again. Not wishing to intrude upon the joy of that moment,
I left them, and followed on with the old rector. We walked on in the
little foot-path that led to our homes; and while Clara's hand rested
upon his arm, the young clergyman told the tale of his life since
their parting.

"But how did it come," asked Clara, "that you chose the sacred
profession of the ministry?"

"I cannot fully trace the source of the emotions that led me to become
a worshiper at the throne of the Holiest, unless it is true that the
love of the pure and good of earth is the first pluming of the soul's
pinions for heaven. I went to church that Christmas eve, urged only by
the wish to look upon your face once more, yet, when there, the words
of the speaker won my attention. I had listened to others equally
eloquent many times before; but that night my heart seemed more
susceptible to religious impressions. I felt a deep sense of the folly
and ingratitude of my past life, and firmly resolved for the fut