of the catacombs, the works of painting found within them, the inscriptions on the graves, all unite in bearing witness to the simplicity of the faith, the purity of the doctrine, the strength of the feeling, the change in the lives of the vast mass of the members of the early church of Christ.  A light had come into the world, and the dark passages of the underground cemeteries were illuminated by it, and manifest its brightness.  Wherever it reached, the world was humanized and purified.  To the merely outward eye it might at first have seemed faint and dim, but “the kingdom of God cometh not with observation.”

THREE OF US.

Such a spring day as it was!—­the sky all one mild blue, hazy on the hills, warm with sunshine overhead; a soft south-wind, expressive, and full of new impulses, blowing up from the sea, and spreading the news of life all over our brown pastures and leaf-strewn woods.  The crocuses in Friend Allis’s garden-bed shot up cups of gold and sapphire from the dark mould; slight long buds nestled under the yellow-green leafage of the violet-patch; white and sturdy points bristled on the corner that in May was thick with lilies-of-the-valley, crisp, cool, and fragrant; and in a knotty old apricot-tree two bluebirds and a robin did heralds’ duty, singing of summer’s procession to come; and we made ready to receive it both in our hearts and garments.

Josephine Boyle, Letty Allis, and I, Sarah Anderson, three cousins as we were, sat at the long window of Friend Allis’s parlor, pretending to sew, really talking.  Mr. Stepel, a German artist, had just left us; and a little trait of Miss Josephine’s, that had occurred during his call, brought out this observation from Cousin Letty:—­

“Jo, how could thee let down thy hair so before that man?”

Jo laughed.  “Thee is a little innocent, Letty, with your pretty dialect!  Why did I let my hair down?  For Mr. Stepel to see it, of course.”

“That is very evident,” interposed I; “but Letty is not so innocent or so wise as to have done wondering at your caprices, Jo; expound, if you please, for her edification.”

“I do not pretend to be wise or simple, Sarah; but I didn’t think Cousin Josephine had so much vanity.”

“You certainly shall have a preacher-bonnet, Letty.  How do you know it was vanity, my dear?  I saw you show Mr. Stepel your embroidery with the serenest satisfaction; now you made your crewel cherries, and I didn’t make my hair; which was vain?”

Letty was astounded.  “Thee has a gift of speech, certainly, Jo.”

“I have a gift of honesty, you mean.  My hair is very handsome, and I knew Mr. Stepel would admire it with real pleasure, for it is a rare color.  I took down those curls with quite as simple an intention as you brought him that little picture of Cole’s to see.”