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Ruth, with her mother, is at Bethlehem; and the second scene of her history is the scene of the harvest-field. Nor is it easy to conceive of a more enchanting picture of earthly beauty than what is here portrayed. There spreads out before the eye an extensive field of ripened grain, waving gracefully in the soft breezes of that lovely day. The reapers are abroad, and their track is marked by the shining rows of fallen grain stretching away in the distance. The maidens are also there-and they are wreathing the strong bands that are to inclose the swelling sheaves, while, at a little distance, is seen another, graceful, though poor-noble in bearing, though of pensive and modest aspect. Fairer days shone over her once. Though yet young and beautiful, she has drunk deep of the cup of bitterness. She has buried the one she loved-she is far away from her native fields and forests. She has come of late, a voluntary exile, to Judah's land, and has taken refuge beneath the wing of Judah's God. This morning, an unseen hand has led her to that harvest scene; and she has sought permission to glean behind the reapers, that she may gather the widow's scanty pittance.

Meanwhile, another one arrives; it is the wealthy and noble proprietor of the field. The joy of harvest is beaming from his countenance, as his eye rests upon the animated and brilliant scenery, and his mind is ascending to the God of providence, who has crowned the year with his

goodness, and covered the valleys over with corn. "The Lord be with you!" is his salutation to the reapers. "The Lord bless thee!" is their joint and glad response. Well said, ye reapers! Your prayer is heard, and the blessing invoked for your master is already there, though he and you know not of it. "Whose damsel this ?" he whispers, as he points to the beautiful gleaner. Was not that first glance the glance of love? That heart of goodness-is it not already trembling? Now the eye no longer follows the reapers, as with their shining sickles they gather the cumbrous grain. The maidens ply their lighter tasks unnoticed. That golden field is suddenly forgotten. An object more attractive than all harvest-scenes has riveted his eye, and his soul cleaves, though almost unconsciously, to this gentle, lovely stranger. Soft words succeed-the genuine accents of a heart whose great deep is stirred-which leaps forth to bless the charming object, but yet trembles at the first notes of its stifled voice. "Go not to glean in another field. No harm shall touch thee here. When thirsty, come and drink from the vessels. At meal-time, come and eat to the full. I have heard of thee, and of all thy sorrows and sacrifices. The Lord recompense thee abundantly! Ye reapers, deal kindly and generously with the gleaner !”

A high day was that to the gentle Ruth-and not for the much corn she gathered. At evening, bearing her treasure, she sought her beloved mo

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ther away in the city; and "the man's name failed not to be spoken, that night, in their humble dwelling. More than once that name was blessed from the lips of Naomi; while, in her heart, deep thoughts were struggling, as, at the same moment, she spoke of Boaz, and glanced at her lovely daughter. Other days came on and passed, until the early and latter harvests were all gathered, nor, to the end, was Ruth seen to glean in "another field."

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The scene of the threshing-floor next succeeds;-planned innocently, we must hope, by the provident Naomi,-executed innocently, we must hope, by the obedient daughter,—but to be imitated never! My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee ?” Amiable impulse! Nor need we doubt that in the soul of Ruth all was in readiness for such a "rest." Had she passed all those harvest-days in the fields of Boaz-and received so many kindnesses at his generous hands--and glanced so often upon that countenance that beamed naught upon her save love and goodness,-and was her heart untouched? Even in the earliest interview she said to him, "Thou hast comforted me.' Might she not have added more, as time elapsed, and kind attentions multiplied? Tell me, ye who can guess, where, amid those days, were lingering the deep affections-the secret hopes of Ruth? If, on some day, the master of those harvest-fields tarried in Bethlehem, and came not to salute the

reapers-was there not one spirit near by, to whom his absence was more painful than she wished to confess, even to herself? And when, at coming, he would bless the company, as usual, was not one response more deep and ardent than all the others, as it spoke tremblingly, "The Lord bless thee!"

Nor must we too hastily accuse her of advancing unbecomingly. There may have beenthere doubtless were, circumstances associated with this strange interview, which we appreciate only with great difficulty. "Thou art my kinsman," steals on the ear of Boaz in the dark night. But it is a familiar voice-a voice of music to his soul--and the meaning was plain-and the hint was greatly welcome-and she knew it suchand the expected blessing was pronounced upon her.

Then follows the closing scene of this exquisite drama. Sit still, my daughter;-the crisis comes," saith Naomi, as, laden with corn, the daughter returns from the mysterious colloquy. The prediction proves true. The man is "not in rest. All the necessary preliminaries are at once attended to, and, ere that day declines, Boaz and Ruth are one.

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The record tells not to what needy ones those gleanings passed, now that the fair gleaner came to possess, so suddenly, the rich harvests themselves, and the owner thereof. Also, the brilliant happiness that awaited the daughter, and the con

Isolation that fell to the mother, remain to be inferred. Ere yet another season of reaping had arrived, there nestled in the arms of Naomi an infant boy, born of the beautiful Ruth. That boy grew up to manhood, and his son's son was the great king and bard of Israel. And whoever shall trace the illustrious line running from Abraham to God's Messiah, will not fail to discern there the name of her who, though born an alien from the commonwealth of Israel, yet vowed to one of Israel's weeping daughters, "Thy God shall be my God!"

Baunah.

FEW of the female characters of the Bible arise before us clothed with more interest and beauty than Hannah ;-and there are few, from whose excellence so slight abatements are required to be made. Her position and history remind us of those of Rachel. Like her ancient sister, she was, unhappily, not the wife, but only one of the wives of her husband, Elkanah. Like Rachel, she was, however, the favorite wife; but also, like her, she was for some years childless, while her rival, Peninnah, was favored with sons and daughters. This advantage appears to have been ostentatiously and offensively abused by the unworthy Peninnah. Her proud and arrogant behavior, in her prosperity, toward the amiable

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