chael they were as distinct as the conquest of Peru and Magna Charta. His preference for Esther had arisen entirely from the modesty of her appearance, from her industrious habits, her duty to her mother, and her quiet deportment in the house of God. There was no light wandering during service, no giddy gossipping before or after; her arm sustained her mother through the church-yard to the church, and the same respect was again offered when she quitted it; the other young people would be gathering in groups at one another's houses, but Esther stood an isolated being, except when she spoke to Fanny Meredith, or kissed little Michael as they passed from the porch together; and had Michael followed her home, he had been yet more gratified, for it was the habit of that cottage, as soon as they came from the church, to have the tea and the great Bible, and to recollect all that had been said in the sermon. " Now, aunt, do you try and remember the divisions, and will remember the beginning if I can; and you, mother, take the application, and then we shall pretty near have it all, and if we can make it out together, I can write it down; and then what a rich store we shall have, for Mr. Lascelles's are beautiful sermons." As Esther was

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saying this one Sunday, she saw her aunt smile, and she heard her say, That's no matter;" and then she saw her shake her head, and heard her go on, saying, "No,

no.

At last Esther took courage, and she said, "Aunt, what is that?" Her aunt smiled again: "What do you want to know, Esther?"-" I want to know what you meant, aunt, when you said, it was no matter."-" Why, child, I meant that the beauty of the sermon was. no matter to us? Are we better for it? Do we feel that the Holy Spirit carries it home to the heart? or do we hear as though we heard not? Do we go away, and forget what manner of beings we are. My poor dear man used to say, 'Margaret, we shall have a deal to account for, you and I; we have not been left in our ignorance, we have been well taught.' It was thus that these good people endeavoured inwardly to digest what they had heard, and it is likely there was not a house in that village where the instructions of the good pastor were collected with more diligence; and what was the effect? It was this: the text on Sunday was, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." work was slack, and Esther began to grow a little uneasy at having nothing to do,

If

and to fear that she should become burdensome to her kind aunt, she would refer her to the text, "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." "Yes, aunt, but I should be unhappy to injure you."-" What did the reverend say, child? Did not he bid us be content with a state of dependence?"-" Yes, but, aunt, it would not be my duty to stay here if I was likely to become burdensome to you.' "Come, Esther, what says the Big Book? • He that believeth shall not make haste,' that is to say " Here Mary smiled. "You must go to the Big Book again, Margaret".

Tarry thou the Lord's leisure, be strong, and he shall comfort thy heart." It were indeed an endless job to tell the reader all the Scripture references of these good people; this will suffice to show how they lived upon their Sunday's food through the week, and endeavoured to regulate their practice by the preaching of their excellent pastor.

Margaret Beal received an affectionate brotherly letter from Mr. Brownrigg, and as the latter part was characteristic, we will copy it. "I think you women must miss me sadly; there is something unnatural in a house where there is no male governor, but I've no thoughts of intruding on you

at present. Tell Esther that I desire she'll hold up her head and have a proper pride, for I think, as my niece, and one for whom I shall certainly provide, she has no right to humble to the Miss Jennings' or any of the misses around. I have a great regard for Esther, and I wish her to consider me as a friend; I have sent her by the coach some cloth to make her a pelisse, and as she is so handy with her needle and scissors, I suppose she will be able to make it up for herself. Tell Mr. Kemp, that if I should wish to come and see you again, I hope he will let me my old lodgings. I began to get used to him and Betty, and was very comfortable there; but I had Peggy at home waiting for me, who did every thing she could to get things in order against my return, and I do not well know how to part with her, though I think I shall make some change in my way of life. But one thing I shall never change, in true attachment to you, to Mary, and to Esther. Yours. J. B."

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They were greatly pleased with the kindness of this letter. "But dear me," said Margaret, my poor brother and his proper pride. Do you think, Mary, he ever reads the Scriptures?"-" Why no, sister, I fear not; and if he does, it is with a view

to confirm himself in his own opinions, or to perform a duty to satisfy his conscience; and I am very certain he will never think of applying the condemnatory part of the passages to his own state, he would never acknowledge that the whole head was sick, and the whole heart faint; nor does he believe, that whatsoever was written aforetime, was written for his instruction."

Esther. My dear mother, my dear aunt, I am very hopeful about my uncle, only let us be careful to give him no needless offence.

Mary. Well, Eshter love, you're in the right, there's no need to offend; I am sure, if you speak to my brother in kindness and affection, he is not a man to harden himself against you.

Margaret. Well, 'tis a very remarkable thing how some people do forget; I thought, that when people had been almost turned out of doors, they must have owned that there was some deep prejudice against real religion.

Mary only smiled, and repeated that text, "He hath blotted out my iniquities, as a cloud and as a thick cloud, my transgressions."

Margaret. True, child, and you do right in remembering, that "his arm is not shortened, neither is his ear heavy." But