NINTH LETTEE. 



are still at the ancient capital of the world. 

 Here is abundant evidence that the Romans 

 were once rich, powerful, and happy, as worldly things 

 go. These ruins bear testimony on every hand. The 

 Arch of Constantine talks to us still of mighty 

 victories. The Arch of Titus, in its bas-reliefs, tells 

 us of Roman power and of Hebrew humiliation. The 

 very stone talks to us of God's justice and impartiality, 

 sparing not even His own when they provoked His 

 wrath by their repeated sins. 



Just as we were entering the Museum on the 

 Palatine Hill we were surprised very agreeably by 

 our musical son from Paris coming on us suddenly, 

 and asking if we were in want of a guide. After 

 being so long and so widely separated, the meeting 

 for a little robbed us of our relish for things 

 antiquated. He had learned from our letters when 

 we expected to reach Rome, and had ventured to come 

 down and find us. After our surprise was over, he 

 joined us in our pleasures over the interesting sights 

 and relics with which Rome abounds. 



