as holy unto the Lord, and daily dedicated to him-and daily led where Jesus is-and feel, unceasingly, a holy atmosphere encompassing him-and be conducted by a soft, yet unyielding and constant influence, within the hallowed precincts of God's holy tabernacle? Mother! have you yet looked upon your son, and said, with Hannah, "As long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord?" And then, after that, did you always lend him accordingly—and, as often as you looked upon him, count him as lent—and always spake of him as such, when you talked with God-and always taught the child that he was lent to Christ-and always cherished him as a plant in God's sacred vineyard-and always imparted to him God's nurture-and trained him, every day, directly for immortality? Well, then, in after days, and "when he is old," he will be found walking there;-and, subsequently, in the heavenly circles, where will be seen Hannah and Samuel, there thou shalt greet thy own beloved offspring-once lent to Christ, and now restored to thee forever.

Abigail.

ABIGAIL rises before us as an example of a strong understanding, joined with great prudence. She was unequally yoked with a wealthy churl, Nabal by name, who resided in Maon, a few miles south of Hebron, and whose flocks were pastured in Carmel. At an annual sheep-shearing, David, then a fugitive from Saul, and sojourning in that vicinity, sent a deputation of ten young men to Nabal, to present, in their master's name, the salutations of peace, and to ask that, in the midst of his festivities and feasting, he would send, by the young men, a token of friendship, from whatever viands of the banquet might seem good to him. David, moreover, appears to have had some special claim upon Nabal, having essentially aided, during his stay in Carmel, in the protection of his flocks from depredation. Nabal, however, recognized no obligations to David, reciprocated not at all his courteous salutations, but sent back the deputation empty, and with highly contemptuous and insulting insinuations against him who had sent them. David immediately determined upon redress, and that, too, with summary and unjustifiable severity. Meanwhile, one of Nabal's men informed Abigail, his wife, touching the conduct of her husband to the messengers of David. Anticipating disastrous

consequences, she, in great haste, proceeded to avert, if possible, the threatening ruin from the house of her husband; and taking a suitable offering, she, without his knowledge of her movements, hastens to David, and meets him at the foot of Carmel, as he was already on his way with four hundred men for the punishment of Nabal. Then follows the memorable address of Abigail to David, in which she confesses the great fault of her husband-asserts her own ignorance of the message that had been sent-beseeches him to accept the offering which she had brought—and, in the spirit of prophecy, announces her husband's fall, as well as the innocence, and certain victory and prosperity of David, and closes her speech with asking that she might not be forgotten when with him all should be well.

This strong and prophetic eloquence, coming, as it did, from a woman of uncommon beauty of countenance and behavior, accomplished the desired result, and was the means of averting a dreadful tragedy which, in the course of that night, would have sent to the shades many an innocent man, as well as the stupid Nabal.

Nor does this appear to have been the only effect of the timely interview between Abigail and David. His heart, as well as his mind and judgment, was deeply affected at the presence and bearing of this noble lady. His reply to her bespeaks strong emotion, as well as profound

respect and consideration. He gives praise to God who had sent her to meet him. He pronounces his blessing upon the counsel which had been given him, and upon the fair prophetess who had uttered it, and who had thus preserved him from the intended slaughter;--and, after receiving her present, he dismissed her in peaceassuring her that he had complied with her wishes, and accepted her person.

Nabal, on being informed by his wife of the destruction that had been aimed at him, and from which, by her interference, he had barely escaped, seems to have been struck with consternation and amazement, from which he never recovered, and died, ten days afterward, by the judgment of God.

Thus a higher destiny opened before the intelligent and beautiful Abigail. However it may have been with her heart, there was no sorrow for David as he received intelligence of Nabal's demise. He remembered and loved the one whose eloquence and gracefulness had, a few days before, so won upon his heart, and from his hand a winged message of love speedily flies to the mansion of Abigail. Will the suspicion be pardoned, that such a message was expected? As, a few days since, she stood before that mighty man, did her purified vision behold for him "a sure house "-enemies vanquished-himself the approved ruler over Israel—the forthcoming decease of Nabal? With these visions

before her, and as she closed her speech, asking for herself a kind remembrance, was there no impression, meanwhile, of any connection of these great matters with her own future position?

Her modest and becoming response to the important message is not forgotten; nor that she hasted, and, with her damsels, came, like Rebecca, and greeted and wedded the royal bridegroom.

After this but little is written. One son was born to her after her marriage with David. She shared the affections of her husband, at first, with Abinoam, a previous wife; while, not long afterward, we hear of other wives still in the king's residence. Hence, how much the happiness of her life was advanced by her new position, may be a matter of uncertainty and doubt. Yet it is refreshing, that while, in her, we are permitted to discern uncommon prudence and strength of understanding, combined, also, with piety of heart, and much personal grace and beauty, no reproach attaches itself to the name of Abigail.