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    ( 222 )

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    FAITH AND HOPE : A PARABLE .

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    One morning , as the sun arose , two S p irits went forth upon the earth . And they were sisters . But Faith was of mature age , while Hope was yet a child . They were both beautiful . Some loved to gaze on the countenance of f aith , for her eye was- $ erene ,. and her beauty changed oot : but Hope was the delight of every heart * And the child sported ia the freshness of the morning ; aad as she hovered over the gardens and dewy lawns , her wings glittered in the sunbeams like the rainbow . " Come , my sister , " she cried , " and chase with me this butterfly from flower to flower . "

    But her sister was gazing at the lark as it arose from its low nest and warbled among the clouds . And when it was noon , the child said again , " Come , my sister , and pluck with me the flowers of the garden ; for they are beautiful , and their fragrance is sweet . " But Faith replied , " Nay , my sister , let the flowers be thine ; for thou art young , and delightest thyself in their beauty . I will meditate in the sbsde , till the lieat of the day be past . Thou wilt find me beside the fountain in the forest . Whei * thou art weary , come and repose on my bosom . "

    And she smiled and departed . After a time , Hope sought her sister . The tear was in her eye , and her countenance was mournful . Then Faith said , * ' My , sister , wherefore dost thou weep , and why is thy countenance sad ?" And the child answered , * Because a cloud is in the sky , and the sunshine is overcast . See , the rain begins to fall . "

    " It is but a shower , " Faith replied ; " and when it is over , the fields will be greener and the flowers brighter than before . " Now the place where they sat was sheltered from the rain , as it had been from the noon-day heats . And Faith comforted the child , and shewed her how the waters flowed with a fuller and a clearer stream as the shower fell . And presently the sun broke out again , and the woods resounded with

    song . Then Hope was glad , and went forth to her sports once more . —¦ After a time , the sky was again darkened . And the young Spirit looked up , and , behold ! there was no cloud in the whole circle of the heavens . Therefore Hope marvelled , for it was not yet night . And she fled to her sister , and cast herself down at her feet , and trembled exceedingly . Then Faith raised the child , and led her forth from the shade of the trees , and pointed to the sun , and said , " A shadow is passing over the face thereof , but no ray of his glory is extinguished . He still walketh in brightness , and thou shalt again delight thyself in his beams . See ! even yet , his face is not wholly hidden from us . But " the child dared not look up , for the gloom struck upon her heart . And when all was bright again , she feared to wander from her sister , and her sports were less gay than before . — When the eventide was come , Faith wont forth from the forest shade , and

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1830, page 222, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2583/page/6/