can dwell with Him, and the work of the Divine Spirit is to make us pure; and while we are in the flesh, to uphold us in the right and straight road, till being made one with God our sanctification is accomplished.  Now then is our hour of temptation.  Marten—­and believe me, my boy, if you attempt to withstand that temptation in your own strength, you are like one putting fire to tow, and expecting it will escape conflagration.”

Marten made no reply, for he was tired of the subject; but after Mrs. Mortimer had left the room, he said to Reuben—­“Well, we shall see what we shall see, and mamma shall acknowledge I am right after all.”  So the carriage came to the door next morning betimes, and Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer got into it, and Marten and Reuben stood in the coach drive to hold the gate open for the carriage to pass through; and the great dog Nero stood by them very much excited, not knowing whether to go with the carriage or to stay with the boys.

“Be sure you see Nero has a run every day, Marten,” said Mr. Mortimer, as the carriage passed through the gate—­“that dog wants plenty of exercise.”

“Oh! don’t fear, papa, I shall not forget him,” replied Marten, running a step or two after the carriage; “and mamma, I will attend to your doves—­you had forgotten to speak about them, had you not, mamma?  I will remember them and Nero too, papa, and Reuben also.  Yes, I will attend to all—­I shall have plenty of time for all.  Have you anything more you wish done, papa?” and Marten was obliged to stop speaking, as the carriage was now going on rapidly, and he found he could not talk and keep up with it at the same time.

“No, no, Marten,” replied Mr. Mortimer laughing—­“No, no, my boy—­you have got more on your hands now than will suffice you:  so off with you home, and take care that when we return we do not find the doves flown, Nero lost, or Reuben with black eye or bruised leg, and yourself in some unlucky plight, my boy.  Now go home, and God bless and watch over you, my sons.  We hope it will not be long before we return,” and he waved his hand to bid good bye.  Marten had run himself out of breath, so he was not able to answer his father, and he was not sorry to stand still an instant or two to watch the carriage out of sight, and give time for Reuben to overtake him, for the child could not keep up with his brother’s quick running.  And even now Marten might have read this lesson, had he been wise enough so to do that already, he had been led away by temptation to forget his brother, and that though he had done so, Nero had been more faithful than himself; for Nero, though he could have outran Marten, yet would not forsake the child, but restrained his impatience that he might keep near the little one, who ever needed a protector by his side, for the child was young, and his mother had perhaps reared him too delicately.

Reuben had never before been separated from his mamma, and he was half inclined to cry, and perhaps fret at her absence; but Marten, who was a very kind brother, and really loved the child tenderly, contrived so to divert his attention that he soon forgot his troubles.