iS LiU of The 



more easily imagined than described. And it is 

 only he who has knelt to his parents and received 

 their parting blessing, ere he has bidden adieu to 

 the land of his birth, about to go forth into the land 

 of the stranger for a home and a grave, that can 

 tell what must have been the thoughts of the young 

 exile. Still the remonstrances of friends and rela- 

 tives, and the strong ties of filial affection, knocking 

 at the chambers of his heart, received no response: 

 he had formed his resolution. His parents felt that 

 they had no right to stand between him and the 

 service of his divine Master; and when he knelt by 

 his mother's knee, where he had first learned to lisp 

 his infant prayers, to receive her parting blessing, 

 she kissed his fair young brow, as she said to him: 

 "My son, I have given you to God; go withersoever 

 He calls you, and may his and your mother's 

 benediction ever attend you!" — Oh! how often, 

 amid the checkered scenes of his life, did the remem- 

 brance of his mother's voice and blessing, as she 

 bade him go; of her kindness and her care; rise 

 before and hover around him, even as guardian 

 angels, to shield and to comfort him in the hours of 

 trial and of tribulation ! 



