172 THERE IS NO HURRY.

so biterly in the brief moments left after his ac-
cident—** My children! My children!” He
had not sufficient faith to commit them to God’s
mercy; he knew he had not been a faithful
steward; and he could not bring himself from
the depths of his spiritual blindness to call upon
the Fountain that is never dried up to those who
would humbly and earnestly partake of its liv-
ing waters.

It was all a scene as of another world to the
young, beautiful, petted, and feted girl; it had
made her forget the disappointment of her love,
atleastforatime. While her brothers dared the
thunder-cloud that burst above their heads, her
mother and sisters wept beneath its influence.
Mary had looked forth, and if she did not hope,
she thought, and tried to pray; now, she fell
weeping upon her uncle’s shoulder; when she
could speak, she said, ‘‘ Forgive me; ina little
time I shall be able to conquer this; at present,
I am overwhelmed ; I feel as if knowledge and
sorrow came together; I seem to have read
more of human nature within the last three days
than in all my past life.”

“It all depends, Mary, upon the person you
meet,” said Mr. Adams, “as upon the book you
read; if you choose a foolish book or a bad
book, you can expect nothing but vice or fool-
ishness; if you choose a foolish companion,
surely you cannot expect kindness or strength.”
The kind-hearted man repeated to her all he