as Abraham sat in the door of his tent at Mamre, looking out upon a landscape lovely almost as Eden. Around him on every side stretched ripening fields of wheat and barley, giving promise of a plenteous harvest; while on the verdant uplands and smiling valleys, vast herds were feeding, among whom herdsmen were moving in every variety of occupation.

The young Ishmael, a tall boy of fifteen,

wild and graceful as an antelope, was perhaps careering over the plain on an Arabian courser, throwing the jereed or spear, a warlike pastime in which he took great delight; while at a distance, Hagar watched her son with all a mother's pride and fondness in her large dark eyes.

Sarah, the constant companion and comforter of her husband, was near him in the tent, ever and anon coming to his side and listening to his words of wisdom and kind

ness.

The illustrious father of the Jewish nation, though more than a hundred years old, was still apparently in the full strength of manhood. His form was erect and vigorous, his eye had not waxed dim, nor were the energies of mind or body abated. In his thoughtful and serene countenance, wisdom and humility, firmness and gentleness were so beautifully blended, that one might read as in an open book the character of the man, and in trouble would instinctively have turned to him. for shelter and protection.

While still sitting in his tent-door, he saw

approaching over the plain three strangers, whose mysterious and venerable appearance proclaimed them travellers of no ordinary character. Abraham rose instantly, and advancing to meet the strangers, bowed down before them with dignified courtesy, saying,

"My lord, if I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree; and I will bring a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; and after that. ye shall pass on, for therefore are ye come to your servant."

This invitation having been graciously accepted, the noble old man hastens first to the tent, and bids Sarah prepare cakes of fine flour, while he goes to the field, and selecting a calf from the choicest of the herd, gives it to an attendant with orders to make it ready for the repast.

The duties of hospitality were so sacred that they could be entrusted to no meaner hands than his own and those of his beloved Sarah, however exalted his station or numer

ous his retinue might be.

Carrying out his courtesy to the utmost extent of oriental custom, the patriarch stands by his guests during the meal, in readiness for any service they might require. When it was concluded, the strangers inquire, "Where is Sarah thy wife?"

"Behold, she is in the tent, my lord," was the reply; after which the most distinguished one of the guests, who seems now as on former occasions to have revealed himself to Abraham, assured him that he would certainly visit him in mercy, and that Sarah should become the mother of a son. From the immediate proximity of the tree to the tent, the wife of Abraham heard all that passed, and laughed silently, with a mingled emotion of joy and incredulity.

What was her astonishment when she heard the exalted personage who had uttered the promise, inquire of Abraham, "Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I surely bear a child, seeing I am old?' Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed, I will return, and Sarah shall bear a son."

Terrified and ashamed, the impulsive Sarah

attempted to deny her fault, but in a tone which admitted of no reply, the Lord-for such was the distinguished stranger—reaffirmed the charge, and the strangers departed, accompanied by Abraham, who sought to prolong to the last possible moment the intercourse with which he was so signally favored.

As they walked, the Angel of the covenant made known to Abraham, as a man to his friend, his purpose of destroying the cities of the plain, whose wickedness cried aloud to heaven for vengeance.

The patriarch ventured to plead for the guilty inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, and at last obtained the gracious promise that if but ten righteous men could be found in the city, it should be spared for their sake. But small as this number was, it exceeded that of the righteous in the corrupt city; and of all its proud inhabitants, Lot and his two daughters alone escaped the general destruction.

When Abraham arose the next morning, and looked towards the doomed cities, a cloud of bituminous smoke, hanging like a dark canopy over the spot where they stood, told him