At first they did but whisper and mutter; but soon becoming bolder, as the multitude gathered about them, they grew quite loud and scurrilous in their abuse, raising such a commotion that the whole street was disturbed, while the inhabitants came crowding to their doors and windows.

Then said Inbred-Sin, "Did I not tell you it would be so? Why, then, did you not listen to my advice, and pull off these outward garments, which are peculiar to pilgrims, and put on such as accord a little with the fashions of the place? In so doing, you might have passed quietly through the town; after which, at a more convenient time and place, you might readily have put on your white garments again."

But," replied little Peace, our Lord hath solemnly said, 'Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."" (Mark viii. 38.)

Inbred-Sin answered," But who can feel otherwise than ashamed on such an occasion? And who can help fearing such a generation of men as these, even more than they fear him who will hereafter come in the clouds of heaven, with all his holy angels?"

Then did Peace rebuke Inbred-Sin; but Humble Mind and Playful kept silence.

Now the crowd pressed more and more upon the little pilgrims, terrifying them exceedingly with their bold and blasphemous language: neither did they refrain from casting mud and mire at them, in order to defile their beautiful garments which had been made white in the blood of the Lamb.

Then was Inbred-Sin very earnest with the little ones to turn into some of those convenient houses on the side of the street, which are opened by the prince of Vanity for the use of passengers, and

provided by him with all such accommodations as are agreeable to the flesh: in return for which accommodations, however, no less is required than the whole of a man's estate, both body and soul, to be delivered up for ever to the prince himself.

Meanwhile the insults and threatenings of the mob continued so to alarm the little pilgrims, that they looked this way, and that way, like persons beside themselves, not knowing what course to take. Playful was for following InbredSin's advice without hesitation; while Humble Mind looked as white as a sheet: but little Peace, notwithstanding the perplexing whisperings of Inbred-Sin, continued instant in prayer for the Lord was with her-and as she held the hand of Playful, she restrained her from turning into any of those houses of entertainment in which InbredSin would have had them take refuge from the insults of the mob. All this while the ungodly multitude ceased not to press upon the little pilgrims, still pelting them with mire and dirt; insomuch that with the heat of their onset and the violence of their clamour, the discouraged travellers were nearly overcome; and little Peace especially, being young and of a tender constitution, though strong in the power of the Lord, actually fainted and fell. At this, certain persons in the crowd, who were less hard-hearted than the rest, cried out shame! Whereupon the throng giving way, the child was lifted up and placed at the door of a house near at hand; where her brother and sister stood by her, chafing her temples and moistening her lips with cold water, which some charitable person had brought in a cup. And behold, Inbred-Sin shrunk back at the sight.

Now, as she lay fainting, I observed her sweet pale face to change, as for death, while the cold sweats stood upon her brow. Then I looked up and called for help, being exceedingly afflicted at

the situation of little Peace. But ere I could frame my lips to a prayer, behold, two shining ones appeared in the east; whence they approached with an exceeding swift motion, and rested in the heavens over where the dying infant lay, waiting to receive her spirit—but they who were below perceived them not. Presently, the paleness left her face for a moment, when she looked affectionately at her brother and sister, saying, "Sweet companions of my pilgrimage, I am about to leave you: but I go to him who died for me -to him who shed his blood for me upon the cross-to him who loved me more than his own life-and he will present me to himself without spot or stain of sin." Then suddenly lifting up her eyes, she saw the pitying angels, as messengers waiting to convey her home, and holding in their hands the crown of glory which was prepared for her, through the free grace and mercy of her Lord. Then did all earthly scenes pass for ever from her view wrapped together as a scroll-and at that moment an internal struggle took place between heavenly joy and mortal anguish. She smiled in the agony of death, continuing to look stedfastly at the angels till her eyes became fixed and motionless; when she breathed slower, and slower, and slower, till at length her fair spirit, made pure through her Redeemer's blood, and holy by his imputed righteousness, quitted her little languid body, resigning it to corruption and the worm until that day when the trumpet shall sound, and when that which was sown in corruption shall be raised in incorruption-that which was sown in dishonour shall be raised in glorythat which was sown in weakness shall be raised in power-and that which was sown a natural body shall be raised a spiritual body. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin. But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. xv. 42-44. 55-57.)

Then the holy angels who were waiting above, received her spirit in their arms, and bore her away to the gates of heaven-and I saw her no more. Thus she was delivered from Inbred-Sin, and from the devil, that adversary of mankind, who, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour. (1 Pet. v. 8.) And now she walks with God, high in salvation and the climes of bliss; where she sees the King in his beauty, and beholds the land which is very far off. (Isaiah xxxiii. 17.)

So for awhile I could look no longer, by reason of the tears which filled my eyes and obscured my sight: nevertheless, I blessed God for delivering this little fair one from all her spiritual enemies, as well as from all the troubles and mischances of this present life. Then perceiving that Peace could not dwell with vanity, I applied to the little departing pilgrim these words of the wise manShe pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners she was translated. For her soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take her away from among the wicked. (Wisdom iv. 10, 14.)

CHAPTER XVII.

As soon as I could wipe away my tears, I looked after poor Humble Mind and Playful; and behold, they were fallen down by the body of their sister, each holding one of her pale cold hands: and there they lay like persons more dead than alive. And behold, the noisy multitude had fled, terrified at the sight of death-for the wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. (Prov. xxviii. 1.)

Now, about this time, good Mr. Orthodox, of whom mention hath been made before, received a letter from the damsels of the palace Beautiful, entreating him to have regard to certain little pilgrims, Humble Mind, Playful, and Peace, who about that time were to pass through the town of Vanity. For after the little ones had left the palace Beautiful, Prudence said to her sisters, "I am much afraid lest those little ones should miss of the house of Mr. Orthodox, and carry our letters to some other person; since there are several individuals, it is said, in the town of Vanity, who assume the name of that worthy and discreet pastor. I therefore advise that we write another letter to Mr. Orthodox, and send it by some trusty person, entreating him to look after the young pilgrims.' So the damsels approving what Prudence suggested, the letter was written in haste, and Mr. Watchful, the