THERE IS NO HURRY. 155

ask you, John Adams, how the husband of that
woman, the father of those children, can meet
his God, when it is required of him to give an
account of his stewardship?”

“ It is very true—very shocking indeed,” ob-
served Dr. Adams. I certainly will do some-
thing to secure my wife and children from the
possibility of any thing like that, although,
whatever were to happen to me, I am sure
Lucy’s family would prevent”

Charles broke in upon the sentence his bro-
ther found it difficult te complete—“ And can
you expect distant or even near relatives to per-
form what you, whose duty it is, neglect? Or
would you leave those dear ones to the bitterness
of dependence, when, by the sacrifice or curtail-
ment of those luxurious habits which, if not
closely watched, increase in number, and at
last become necessaries, you could leave them
in comfort and independence? We all hope
for the leisure of a death-bed—awful enough,
come as it may—awful, even when beyond its
gloom we see the risen Sun of Righteousness
in all his glory—awful, though our faith be
strong in Him who is our strength; but if the
consciousness of having neglected those duties
which we were sent on earth to perform be with
us then, dark, indeed, will be the Valley of the
Shadow of Death. I do not want, however, to
read a homily, my dear brother, but to impress
a truth; and I do hope that you will prevent.