The evening was spent amid games and pastimes till the hour for retiring, when they conducted her to a warm and elegantly furnished room, so comfortable that it made her long, for a moment, for her sister to share it with her; for, despite the difference in their natures, Error loved her sister.  The soft couch, however, soon lulled her to sleep.  She, slumbered deeply, and dreamed that Truth was walking all night, cold and hungry, when suddenly a lovely form came out of the clouds.  It was none other than Astrea, whom she had seen often in her starry home, talking with Truth.  She saw her fold a soft, delicate garment about the cold form of her sister, at the same time saying, in reproving tones, to herself, “This is not the only time you have left your sister alone in the cold and cared for yourself.  The sin of selfishness is great, and the gods will succor the innocent and punish the offender.”

She closed, and was rising, with Truth in her arms, to the skies, when Error gave such a loud shriek that Astrea dropped her, and a strong current of air took the goddess out of sight.  It was well for the earth, which might have been forever in darkness, that Truth was dropped, though hard for her.

Error awoke from her dream, which seemed more real than her elegant surroundings, and resolved to go in search of Truth when the morning came; but a blinding storm of snow and sleet, and the remonstrance of the family, added to her own innate love of ease, left Truth uncared for by one whose duty it was to seek her.

The days glided into weeks, and yet Error remained, much to the wonder of the poorer neighbors around, that Mrs. Highbred should encourage and keep such a companion for her daughters.  They could see at a glance that Error was superficial, that she possessed no depth of thought or feeling; and their wonder grew to deep surprise when they saw all the gentry for miles around giving parties in honor of her.  Everywhere she was flattered and adored, until she became, if possible, more vain and full of her own conceit.

“You should see the feasts of the gods in our starry realms,” she would say, as each one vied with a preceding festivity to outshine its splendor.

After Error left her sister, Truth walked slowly and thoughtfully towards the cottage on the hill-side.  She went slowly up the path, which wound in summer by beds of roses, to the door, and rapped gently.  It was opened by a fair and beautiful woman, who bade her “walk in” in tones which matched the kindness of her features.  The next moment Truth felt her gentle hands removing her hood and cloak, and felt that she was welcome.  A table covered with a snowy cloth stood in the centre of the room, on which was an abundant supply of plain, substantial food, more attractive to a hungry traveler than more costly viands.  A chair was placed for her by the bright fire, while the air of welcome entered her soul and drew tears from her deep, sad eyes.  It was so seldom she was thus entertained—­so often that the manner of both high and low made the highway pleasanter than their habitations.  How often had she walked alone all night unsheltered, while Error, her sister, reposed on beds of down!  The sharp contrast of their lives was the great mystery yet unrevealed.  It cost her many hours of deep and earnest thought.