“I gave My life for thee,
    My precious blood I shed
    That thou might’st ransomed be
    And quickened from the dead;
    I gave My life for thee: 
    What hast thou done for Me?

    “My Father’s house of light,
    My glory-circled throne,
    I left for earthly night,
    For wanderings sad and lone;
    I left it all for thee: 
    Hast thou left aught for Me?

    “I suffered much for thee,
    More than thy tongue can tell,
    Of bitterest agony,
    To rescue thee from hell;
    I’ve borne it all for thee: 
    What hast thou borne for Me?

    “And I have brought to thee,
    Down from my home above,
    Salvation full and free,
    My pardon and My love;
    I bring rich gifts to thee: 
    What hast thou brought to Me?”

At the conclusion of the song the pastor led in a consecration prayer, knowing that in many the bonds of worldliness were forever snapped asunder, and that henceforth the victorious, overcoming life would be theirs, making themselves heirs of the promise:  “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.”

After a few moments of silence, the quartette softly sang “The Home of the Soul,” while a vast procession slowly marched before the casket, placing upon it gifts of silver, gold and bank notes all in one great heap.

At last all that was earthly of him whose simple life and final victory had proven so powerful a sermon, was tenderly carried out and laid to rest in a beautiful lot purchased by Dr. Dale, while the setting sun was painting the western sky with almost heavenly glory.

“God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.”

[Illustration]

IX.

“A little child shall lead them.”

The day was over.

Esther and her father, possessed of a calm, holy joy deeper than ever before, were seated in his study, while with them were Dr. and Mrs. Dale, Rosa and Mrs. Gray.

Esther had been undergoing a struggle, for it would be hard to give Rosa up.  She had planned to keep her as her own little sister, to educate her, to train her in things both temporal and spiritual, and to guard her till she should develop into a pure, strong, noble woman.

Now she felt that it must be otherwise, for evidently God had so determined.  Knowing that His will always would be her deliberate choice, could she see the end from the beginning as He can, she was growing positively happy at this unexpected turn of events.  It was a part of her religion not to be simply passively submissive to His will, but in it always to rejoice.  The psalmist’s declaration, “I delight to do Thy will, O my God,” was the expression of her heart’s desire.