that, even if the trials of your place were much more serious than they are, they would not be very lasting; you know that you are not to live there always."

"No, Mrs. Simpson! I really have thought, a great deal lately about leaving; and if you should hear of a better place for me, I hope you will let me know."

"That is not what I mean, Sally. I shall not hear, nor do I wish to hear, of a better place for you. If you were to try a fresh place to-morrow, you would find that it had the same difficulties, or, perhaps, greater; and all you would gain by it would be to injure your character; to offend your friends, and to find the old saying true, 'that a rolling stone gathers no moss.' I meant to remind you, dear child, that this world is not to be your home: you should consider yourself like a girl at school, sent there to be taught and qualified for future duties; accustom yourself to think that all you meet with here, whether pleasant or unpleasant, is like a lesson for you to learn, or discipline for you to submit to, and let it be your endeavour to improve by them all; then these little troubles will seem, as they really are, very trifling ones. I have my trials, Sally, as well as you, and so has every one on earth; but I know that all trials may be made to work for our good in the end."

This conversation tended greatly to settle Sarah's mind: she began to see things in their true light,—that her place, on the whole, was very comfortable; and, upon reflection, she felt convinced that most of the evils of which she had complained, had either arisen from her own neglect or carelessness, or had at least been increased by it. She therefore exerted a little more resolution in early rising; was more attentive and punctual in performing the various duties of her situation; took more pains to understand and fulfil the directions of her fellow-servant; and, as her good friend had foretold, she found her difficulties rapidly vanish away. "A word in season, how good it is!" and how happy was poor Sarah, in having so prudent a friend as Mrs. Simpson! Many a thoughtless girl, in pouring out her list of troubles to a youthful companion, has been led by her illjudged sympathy and counsel to throw up a comfortable home, rather than "put up with" its petty trials.

The next time Sarah visited her friend, her conversation and disposition were quite different, —no longer full of complaints; but she spoke much of the kindness of her mistress, and begged Mrs. Simpson to let her have her famous receipt

for cleaning and polishing mahogany tables, which she knew would please Betty. In time, Sarah became a valuable servant, and, by her active and obliging disposition, gained the good-will of Betty, who, being a very good servant, gave Sarah such instruction, that, when, in a few years, she left Mrs. Roper to be married, Sarah, though still young, was able to take her place.

Faithful Servant.

CONTENTMENT.

CONTENTED be,-though low thy state,
Thy portion, toil, and care:
Thy Saviour's patience imitate;

Like Him, be much in prayer.

Contented be,-though friends are few,
And stormy be thy day;

The Lord of life will guide thee through
The dark and narrow way.

Contented be,-to do His will,
Nor murmur at the rod;
Believe Him to be gracious still,
Thy Father and thy God!

Contented be,-in humble prayer
Seek grace to walk aright;
By faith and love thine heart prepare
With angels to unite.

J. H Servants' Magazine.

RESPECTABILITY.

SOME persons make a great fuss about respectability; they wish that others should think them respectable, they wish to look respectable, and they have a great objection to do any thing which they think is not respectable. But they very often make a great mistake in judging of what is respectable and what is not. It is quite right that persons should wish to be respectable, to look so, and be thought so by others, if they have correct notions as to what true respectability is. When rightly understood, I think every female servant ought to wish to be respectable, and I should like to do all I could to help them to be so. But mind, true respectability does not consist in wearing fine clothes, nor in indulging a proud, lofty spirit, nor in refusing to do certain things which, though not pleasant, are needful to be done, and must be done by some one. I tell you, now, what servant I think is a respectable servant; she who is neat and clean in her person and her habits; unassuming in her manners, and respectful in her language and behaviour; faithful to every trust that is reposed in her, and diligent in the discharge of all the duties of her situation. The young woman who cultivates these virtues, is as respectable in her station as the lady who rides in her carriage is in hers, and she is as much respected too by all discerning and thoughtful persons.

I once knew a young woman who showed very unseemly airs because she was requested to take her master's mackintosh through the streets to a place where he would want it in the evening. She thought it was not respectable to carry any thing in the street; but it would have been ten times more respectable in her to have done it cheerfully, than to have objected to do her duty.

Do you, all of you, try, and pray for the grace of God to help you to cultivate the virtues I have named above, and then you will be really respectable, and respected by all whose respect is worth having,

A Young Minister.

DREAMS AND DREAMING.

WE have often heard young persons express a desire for pleasant dreams; and we have known some very foolish, not to say wicked, plans tried in order to secure them--but they have not been successful. We recommend our readers to give the following rules a trial:—

1st. Preserve calmness of temper during the day. Indulge in no angry, envious, or revengeful feeling. Do not disturb or quicken the current of the blood through the heart by any violent emotion. A regular pulse and calm spirits are favourable to pleasant dreams.

2dly. Avoid tightness in dress. Let the lungs and heart, the stomach and the spine, be unfettered, to perform the work appointed by the Creator.

3dly. Be temperate in all things. Permit nothing to pass into your stomach which is calculated to disorder it. Avoid high-seasoned meat, unripe fruits, and strong drinks. Even of plain and proper food do not take an undue quantity, but leave off eating before you are full.

4thly. Have your sleeping-room clean, and well aired. Wash yourself well before you go to bed, that the pores of the skin may be unchecked in their important office during sleep. If you can do nothing more, keep up the habit of washing your hands, face, and neck, and combing your hair. Let your face be entirely uncovered, and your position easy and comfortable as you lie in your bed, and have a free circulation of air in the bed-room.

5thly. Be kind, affectionate, and benevolent to those with whom you associate. Do all the good in your power. Preserve cheerfulness of spirits, voice, and manner. Keep a "conscience void of offence towards God and man."

6thly. If any evil has been harboured in your bosom, through the day, cast it forth ere you sleep, by penitence and prayer. Lay your head upon your pillow at peace with all the world. Close your eyes and resign yourself trustfully to the care of Him who never sleeps. Do this, and if you have any dreams they will be pleasant ones.

M. G.

ON THE GOVERNMENT OF THE THOUGHTS.

NEVER recall the ideas of, or ruminate on, past injuries or provocations. This is the amusement of many in their solitary hours, and they might as well play with cannon-balls or fire. They may work themselves up to distraction, to hate every thing and every body, and to have the temper and disposition of the Destroyer himself. "Anger may glance into the bosom of a wise man, but remaineth only in the breast of fools." Make the most candid allowances for the offender; consider his natural temper; turn your anger into pity; regard him as ill of a bad distemper; think of the patience and meekness of Christ, and the petition in the Lord's prayer, how much you stand in need of forgiveness yourself from God and man. Above all, be sure to set a strict guard upon your tongue when the angry mood is upon you. Before we allow ourselves to find fault with any one behind his back, we should ask ourselves three questions: - 1st. Is it true? 2ndly. Is it kind? And 3dly. Is it necessary ?"

Horne

OCCUPATION OF CHILDREN.

THE usual habits of children prove that occupation is a necessity with most of them. They love to be busy even about nothing, and still more to be usefully employed. In active children, if this desire for occupation is not turned to good by those who ought to be their guides, it will produce evil, and verify the old adage, that "idleness is the mother of mischief." A love of industry and honest independence may be promoted by very early accustoming a child to feel pleasure in being of some use. The little thing who can but just pick up his mother's thimble, or ball of cotton, and give it to her, is capable of this pleasure. It is well worth consideration in parents, teachers, or nursemaids, how to furnish children with employment suited to their years, and yet that it shall be of some use. At schools, it is the custom, till