Chapter 12 A TEST

'As woods, when shaken by the breeze,

Take deeper, firmer root;

As winter's frosts but make the trees

Abound in summer fruit;

So every bitter pang and throe

That Christian firmness tries,

But nerves us for our work below,

And forms us for the skies.'-Henry Francis Lyte.

It was not to be wondered at that my thoughts dwelt muc