The incidents which have gathered round her supposed history, are more or less connected with the persecution and martyrdom of the Early Church in Britain, and afterwards in Rome.

A glance like this into the past may be made useful to the young reader, if it should quicken a desire for the intelligent study of history, and help the student to look upon the events of bygone ages as they affected real men and women, who had the same hopes and fears, and aims and ends, as we have, who are living so long after them.

We are, naturally perhaps, too apt to think of those of whom we read in these distant ages, as myths rather than as the brothers and sisters of the one great family of God, to which we all belong. Their human hearts beat with the same affections as ours, and through the mists of superstition and ignorance the lamp of an undying love shines out here and there, as a light in a dark place.

Thus, through the symbol of the sacred fire, which the Vestals vowed to keep for ever burning, we may see the foreshadowing of the mission of every Christian woman, matron or maiden, whose high vocation it is to keep the light of truth, purity, and love, for ever burning in her daily life, and by giving light to those around fulfil the command of her Master, when He said—

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

CONTENTS.

Page
Chapter I. A silent City[ 9]
— II. Night[ 21]
— III. The missing Slave[ 39]
— IV. Capture and Death[ 55]
— V. Claudius fulfils his Vow[ 72]
— VI. By Land and Sea[ 92]
— VII. Rome[ 105]
— VIII. Discipleship[ 122]
— IX. Dayspring[ 142]
— X. Sunset[ 161]
— XI. June, 313—The Festival of Vesta[ 177]
— XII. Vanishing[ 198]
— XIII. A.D. 333—Alexandria[ 211]
— XIV. The Cross[ 227]
— XV. The Crown of Light[ 240]
— XVI. Onward and Upward[ 248]
— XVII. Triumph[ 266]