150 MR. WILLIAM E. A. AXON ON THE 



before childless^ and therefore was a very fond father of 

 this child. The third night they came to another house 

 where they had like free entertainment as before. The 

 master of the family had a steward whom he highly prized, 

 and told them how happy he accounted himself in having 

 such a faithful servant. Next morning he sent this his 

 steward with them part of their way to direct them therein : 

 as they were going over a bridge the Angel flung the 

 steward into the river and drowned him. The last night 

 they came to a very wicked man^s house, where they had 

 very untoward entertainment ; yet the angel next morning 

 gave him the cup of gold. All this being done, the Angel 

 asked the Hermit whether he understood those things. 

 He answered his doubts of Providence were increased, not 

 resolved ; for he could not understand why he should deal 

 so hardly with those holy men who received them with so 

 much love and joy, and yet give such a gift to that wicked 

 man who used them so unworthily. The angel said, 'I 

 will now expound these things unto you. The first house 

 where we came the master of it was a holy man, yet 

 drinking in that cup every morning, it being too large, it 

 did somewhat unfit him for holy duties, though not so 

 much that others or himself did perceive it ; so I took it 

 away, since it is better for him to loose the cup of gold 

 than his temperance. The master of the family where we 

 lay the second night was a man given much to prayer and 

 meditation, and spent much time in holy duties, and was very 

 liberal to the poor, all the while he was childless j but as 

 soon as he had a son he grew so fond of it, spent so much 

 time in playing with it that he exceedingly neglected his 

 former holy exercise and gave bnt little to the poor, thinking 

 he could never lay up enough for his childe ; therefore I 

 have taken the infant to Heaven and left him to serve God 

 better upon Earth. The steward whom I did drown had 



