FICTION has painted the picture of a maiden whose lover left her for a voyage to the holy land, promising on his return to make her his beloved bride. Many told her she would never see him again. But she believed his word, and evening by evening she went down to the lonely shore and kindled there a beacon light in sight of the roaring wave, to hail and welcome the returning ship which was to bring again her betrothed. And by that watch-fire she took her stand each night, praying to the winds to hasten on the sluggish sails, that he who was everything to her might come. Even so that blessed Lord who has loved us unto death, has gone away to the mysterious holy land of heaven, promising on His return to make us His happy and eternal bride. Some say that He has gone forever, and that here we shall never see Him more. But His last word was, “Yea, I come quickly.” And on the dark and misty beach, sloping out into the eternal sea, each true believer stands by the love-lit fire, looking, and waiting, and praying, and hoping for the fulfilment of His word, in nothing gladder than in His pledge and promise, and calling ever from the soul of sacred love, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” And some of these nights, while the world's busy with its gay frivolities, and laughing at the maiden on the shore, a form shall rise over the surging waves, as once on Galilee, to vindicate forever all this watching and devotion, and bring to a faithful and constant heart a joy and glory and triumph which never more shall end.—Selected.