the gratification of his avarice, pride, and ambition—­characteristics directly opposed to the deportment of the humble Christian, and such as our Heavenly Father has never promised to prosper.  How truly has “the wise man” said, “He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.”  How strikingly has this passage been verified in the course of Lewis!  For a few paltry sums of gain, could he consent, not alone to rob the poor, for whom it was kindly given as unto the Lord, but to turn scornfully away from that poor, illiterate, and humble slave wife, whom he had, in their mutual adversity, vowed to cherish in prosperity as well as in all other circumstances through life.  That wife, who had borne with him the sorrows of Slavery—­the humble choice of a bondman!  She, who fled with him anticipating additional happiness in a life of freedom!  Poor woman!  Disappointment is of an earthly growth, yet God is merciful; notwithstanding we have the same authority as above, for saying that “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord:  though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”

In the hands of a righteous Judge we leave him, who, for the wealth that perisheth,—­who, for worldly honor and selfish gratification, could barter his honesty and integrity, as “Esau, who sold his birth-right for a mess of pottage.”

To me the lesson is an impressive one, and I am thinking it would be well for us all to examine the foundation on which we stand.  If based upon the solid and broad foundation of christianity, doing to others in all things as we would they should do to us, sacrificing on all occasions our own ease, and worldly honor, for the benefit of our fellow-men, and the good of our country, then indeed, we need fear no evil; if the winds of adversity howl about our dwelling, we shall find it will stand, being founded on a ROCK.  But if we build upon “the sands” of fame or self-aggrandizement, and, like the towering oak, lift our insignificant heads in proud defiance of the coming storm, we may expect that our superstruction will fall!  “And great will be the fall of it!”

CHAPTER XXXIV.

MY RETURN TO ROCHESTER.

Having closed my business in Wilberforce, I prepared to leave on the expiration of my term of office as township clerk, which was now near at hand.  Notwithstanding, I ever felt a sensation of relief and pleasure, when I thought of returning to my old home and friends in the States, yet as often as I look abroad over the settlement and remember all my glowing hopes,—­all my delightful anticipations of a prosperous future for those poor, struggling colonists; when I recollected with what zeal and honest purpose, with what sincerity and sacrifice I had prosecuted my labor among them,—­a dark shadow of disappointment would flit across my mind, however welcome it might be.  That I had