feelings and habits of its object. The establishment was probably the highest and most influential in Shunem. The Shunammite was an independent mistress of her own household, possessed of power to ask whom, and do what she willed; she is the prime mover in the whole narration; and she it is to whom the reward is given, as the one from whose pure mind, and noble heart, the hospitable kindness originally came.

That she did not at first know Elisha as a prophet, does but enhance the mild benevolence of her character. There was nothing in his appearance to mark superior rank, or superior endowments; nothing probably but a gentle courtesy of manners which marked him worthy of kindness and attention. That they would ever be returned, she could not for a moment suppose, for the stranger was evidently a wanderer, with no settled home or calling. But true benevolence never thinks of further recompense than the act of showing kindness brings. It is wrong to suppose that benevolence is but synonymous with acts of charity to the poor and needy. It finds space for its encouragement in every social and domestic duty of life. Benevolence to equals appears almost a paradox; yet it is not: for were such more often proved, in the earnest search after one another's social happiness, in acts of daily kindness, and ever active fellow feeling, how much happier might this life be!

It was this rare and beautiful benevolence which the Shunammite so richly possessed, and which is still more forcibly displayed in building a chamber for the man of God, than in her first hospitality. A very few interviews probably convinced her that he was something beyond that which he appeared, and the prophet's own lips

might have told the rest, or at least have imparted that his mission was of God. The bustle and varied scenes of a large establishment were no fit home for one who, when not employed in the service of his fellow-creatures, passed his time in meditation and prayer. Even a chamber to himself within the house would not have permitted him the privacy he desired, besides causing him to diverge from the plan of moderation and retirement, demanded from him as a prophet and a reprover, by act as well as word, of the far-spreading vices of the time.

To remedy this, and silently tempt his sojourning a longer time with them than the mere acceptance of a meal, the Shunammite's ready mind conceived the idea of erecting a chamber expressly for him, with an egress and ingress-of-its own, and furnished with that kindly regard to all, which might make him look upon it as his own. Her plan was, of course, imparted to her husband, and how clearly does her simple expression, "Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee," evince the affectionate confidence, only found when husband and wife are equals; even though, by a succeeding verse, we are led to suppose that her husband was very much older than herself.

The chamber was built and furnished; and greatly must Elisha have been surprised and affected by this proof of regard. We find him, in truth, making no remark; but how deeply he felt it, we learn by his desiring his servant the following morning to "call the Shunammite." Call her? Why, had she not been in the chamber to give him welcome, and bid him look on all around him as his own? No. Her truly refined and feminine nature shrunk back from obtruding herself

upon the prophet, and so compelling thanks and approbation. She wished him to feel the comfort of a retired and private home, but not that he owed her obligation; and so she kept aloof, demanding no more than her own heart gave, in the delightful thought that it was in her power to add to the comfort of a man of God.

And in this eager desire to reverence and serve the prophet, can we not read the love she bore to God? To mere earthly natures Elisha would have been nothing more than any other man,-except perhaps exciting the emotions of dislike and dread with which those persons are ever regarded, whose lives and even characters are the reprovers of our own; but to those who truly and earnestly seek to love God, His ministers are especial objects of reverence and care; and such was the feeling of the Shunammite.

"Behold! thou hast been careful for us with all this care," was the address, of Gehazi, by his master's command; "what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people."

And what a volume of feeling is contained in these brief words. Not only a perfect contentment with her lot, but a meek and sorrowful reproach, that they could think she had shown this care in the hope of reward. Nothing can be more painful to a delicately feeling mind, than the idea of receiving return for ought of kindness; the heart glowing with its own warmth, with the peculiar pleasure of serving another, shrinks chilled into itself, feeling how completely it is misunderstood; how little its pure motives can be appreciated. Some natures would have been indignant at the supposition,

that she could not do a kind deed without reward; but the character of the Shunammite permitted not the expression of the feeling. Her lip was closed, but her heart was full. Expostulation with Gehazi at the injustice of the motive attributed to her, or acceptance of the offer, were alike contrary to the retiring dignity of her character; and simply saying, "I dwell among mine own people," she retreated hastily, as desirous the conference should be closed; but Elisha was not satisfied. He himself, probably, did full justice to the pious motives which had actuated her; but he wished to make publicly manifest, that no action engaged in out of pure love of God and reverence to His ministers, should pass without reward; and on hearing from Gehazi that her husband was old and she had no child, he again summoned her, and this time into his immediate presence.

It was, no doubt, with some little repugnance, she obeyed; fearing that her sensitive feelings might again be wounded by a proffer of service which she had so fully resolved not to accept. And "when he had called her, she stood at the door"-how impressively betraying her reluctance! She could not refuse to speak with her guest; but, with that mixture of humility and real dignity which the true-feeling woman knows so well how to blend, she waited his commands on the threshold of his apartment.

This time, however, no offer of reward chilled and saddened her. The prophet asked not, sought not, the expression of her wishes; but at once promised, "Thou shalt embrace a son"-a child, a son! Should she indeed possess that for which, as a woman of Israel in the olden time, she must so often have longed, though the

wish was never uttered! and, in the fulness of her sudden joy, the promise seemed too precious for belief, "Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid!" Still, even in that moment, we trace the same gentle self-possession which had characterised her answer to Gehazi. No burst of rapture, no triumph, as would have been had she looked to her hospitality to bring reward. No; while her whole heart must have so trembled with the suddenly awakened hope and joy, that steady thought was impossible, she yet spoke calmly, seeking to strengthen her faith in the promise, by the recollection it was in truth a "man of God who spoke," even while she besought him not to deceive her the very entreaty proving how earnestly, and how long she had yearned for such a blessing.

Doubt of the power of the Eternal to bring the promise to pass, it is evident never assailed her. Her words to the prophet sprung merely from a too sudden thought of joy, and the anticipation was fulfilled; for at the proper season, exactly in accordance with Elisha's promise, she embraced a son.

Can we not picture the increase of domestic love and happiness which this infant treasure must have created in the Shunammite's happy household? All we read of her, marks her the very character to enjoy to the full the intense happiness of maternal love, in its highest and most spiritual sense one whose years passed in deeds not merely words; who would enshrine deeply in her own heart those pure emotions and high feelings from which the simplest action sprung, -one whose best resources had ever been independent of all outward excitement, and who, "dwelling among her own people," had not a

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