our friends found it was night. The heavens were lit up with stars and moons. Filled with awe and love at what they had just witnessed, they went to the palace. Perpetua, having first commended Mrs. Jay and Peter to the hospitalities of the mayor of the palace, who received them with great consideration, left them for the night. They were shown into a spacious hall splendidly lighted, where they sat down conversing with Laurens on all they had seen during the day, till servitors of both sexes came to show them to their several apartments. Thus ended with our friends their first day spent in the delightful circles of this new world.

CHAPTER IV.

Et. Perpetua sends Persis to Mrs. Jay with a Message-Their Conversation-The Idea of Married Life entertained by Persis-Her Admiration of Mrs. JayScenes on Silver Lake-Mrs. Jay joins Perpetua, who relates the Story of her Martyrdom at Carthage-Of her appearance before Hilarion-Scene in the Amphitheatre-Her Companions in Martyrdom-Of the Fathers of the ChurchThe Similarity of Pagan and Papal Religions in Social Life-St. Perpetua and Mrs. Jay are joined by Faustinus and Calliste, just returned after an Absence of fourteen Centuries-Their Colloquy with Mrs. Jay-Their Surprise at hearing of the Discovery of a "New World"-Mrs. Jay describes her meeting Satan, the "Architect of Ruin "-Faustinus's Account of the New World whence he has returned-Public Opinion in Rome, A.D. 880-Roman Society of the Fourth Century-Calliste tells the Story of her Conversion; her Interviews with St. Paul, of her Trials and Martyrdom.

THE next day, Mrs. Jay, as she was walking through a long gallery of paintings, was waited upon by a young native girl, with a message from St. Perpetua, to bring Mrs. Jay to an island, which was a favorite haunt of hers, in Silver Lake.

As she walked with the sweet girl through the garden, Mrs. Jay inquired of her her name and duties in the palace. The girl replied, "My name is Persis, which name St. Perpetua gave me while an infant. I have

grown up under her care, and she has taught me your tongue, that it might be useful to such of our visitants as come from England and America."

"What is your age, Persis ?"

"I am almost eighteen, and then I shall be marriageable."

This was said with a joyousness which spoke more of earth than anything Mrs. Jay had heard for a long time.

"Is it possible that your happiness can be enhanced by being married?" cried Mrs. Jay, with much astonish"I thought," she continued, "angels neither marry nor are given in marriage."

ment.

"O yes, angels; but I am so glad I'm not an angel; for I cannot conceive how any one can but be happier for loving and being loved," said the girl with earnest

ness.

"It may be so in this world," replied Mrs. Jay; "but in my world the wider the target of our bosoms, the more sure are the shafts of death to pierce the heart."

"What a world that must be!" said Persis, with a look of painful surprise. "All such ideas are so terrible to me, if indeed I do rightly appreciate the thoughts expressed. No skill of mine can reach the profundities opened to my mind while I listen to what is told of your world; only this, that by some surpassing manifestation of the mercy of God, outcasts from holiness and heaven

have become by adoption, 'one with God, as Christ and God are one!" And Persis's look, as she fixedly gazed upon the face of Mrs. Jay and its halo, and thence at her iridescent robes which fell in graceful and ample folds at her feet, showed the intensity of her awe and admiration of beings so mysteriously endowed by the great Creator.

On reaching the shore of the lake, Persis pointed out to Mrs. Jay the island, and asked her to take a seat in a little skiff which she unfastened from a rock, to which it had been held by a golden chain.

"It is unnecessary, Persis; I can will myself across the water," said Mrs. Jay.

Yes, but I shall be pleased to accompany you, and I want to sit and listen to your conversation with my lovely lady. Then, too, you will lose the pleasure only to be enjoyed by sailing over our blue and beautiful lake. You see others, who could as readily as yourself reach their places of destination by a volition, rowing their skiffs, or who, by raising silken sails, are wafted across the surface of the water. Will you permit me to row you over ?"

"Oh, certainly," said Mrs. Jay; and Persis ferried her over in her skiff; her every motion was the perfection of grace, and Mrs. Jay was pleased to think she had not lost the pleasure of witnessing such beauty. The island lay a mile distant, and as they glided over the rippling surface, skiffs of various forms, all alike beautiful in shape,

and managed with equal skill by others as young and graceful as Persis, passed rapidly by them, piloted to one of the many green gems of the lake; some freighted with many, some with few of the Redeemed, who, thus surrounded by the loveliest of His works, were keeping a new holiday with God.

As they neared the island, which was almost covered by a temple of purest marble, they discovered Perpetua seated with a golden lyre, which gave forth sweet chords as her fingers swept over the strings, soft as if waked to life by whispering zephyrs. As they ascended the marble steps, Mrs. Jay saw that Perpetua was rapt in far-off visions; and her face, always full of sweetness and majesty, was now angelic. The strain ended, and resting the lyre on her lap, she covered her face with her hands, and sat for a while silent.

Persis spoke, and Perpetua, rousing herself, received Mrs. Jay with a graceful smile. "I have been indulging myself with lofty and far-reaching thoughts of the love of God in the redemption of the world. 'O the heights and the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judg ments, and his ways past finding out!'"*

This said, Perpetua took a seat beside Mrs. Jay, while Persis placed herself at the feet of her mistress. After calling the attention of her guest to a fragrant flower which twined about the pillar near her, Perpetua

* Romans, xi. 83.