I think he appears to be a man who would not wish his daughter to leave home without the prospect of a maintenance." Joseph began at length to comprehend that his brother had no idea of taking him into partnership, and he walked sullenly away.

Betty Smith saw that her master was grieved about something, and she had a method of looking at him with sympathy, without uttering a word; but that look had so much of feeling, that it often drew Michael into confidence and disclosure. When Michael mentioned the occasion of these visits from the Jennings', she shook her head, "Ah, Sir, they make a great show, but there's more cry than wool. I have heard from them as knows, that young Mr. J. will spend a pound note at the public houses most market days, and that old Mr. Jennings have spent a deal of foolish money on that new house. Do you know, Sir, as those Miss Jennings's have got a morning room, and they come in, in their morning dresses, and have got little stools to put their feet on, and a neighbour told me, it was quite a beautiful sight to see the four Miss Jennings's in that apartment: they have pink curtains tied up in knots of ribbon, and all their grandmamma's china to imitate Mrs. Lascelles." Oh, Betty, it is very foolish," said M1

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chael, for he had not patience to listen to it." "No, Sir, they've got an eye to Mr. Joseph coming in half partner with you, and I heard it said, I don't know how true it is, that they thought to make quite a pretty thing of the Brow." The patience of Michael was now quite exhausted, and he said, "I really think the best thing I can do will be to send Joe home.' "I think so, Sir," said Betty, "for that Richard Moss have done Mr. Joseph no good." Michael retired to his apartment, and poured out his heart in prayer before God, for counsel and direction. It was there he renewed his strength for his journey.

It is worthy the observation of any person, who desires to profit by the providences of God, to note the small links in the great chain. Michael had settled in his own mind that Joseph should return to P—, but he had many reasons which deterred him from doing any thing rashly: he did not wish to hurt Joe's feelings, and still less did he wish to disappoint the hopes of his dear father and mother; and how to return this unpromising young man was the difficulty. It was not that Michael was unwilling to bear with him, but he really feared, that surrounded as he appeared to be by temptation, he would fall into some gross imprudence, and bring his

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parents' grey hairs with sorrow to the grave. He remained in this uneasy state the whole of the following day, watching this overgrown child; at last he determined to go and consult Fanny. Stephen met him at the door of his little dwelling, and seeing that more than usual care hung on his brow, asked if he were well? Quite well, but I want to chat with Fanny," and he related all that had passed. Oh," said Fanny, "this is no news to us, last night, Joe the Miller, when he came in to settle the account, said, there's rare news in the village, Ma'am, there's to be a grand wedding soon, not that 'twas much news to me, for I have seen it coming on many a day. I wondered at the man's talkativeness, and was just going to say, we had nothing to do with it, when Stephen said, why what's all this to us, Joseph? Joseph said, it was to us, it was in our family, that both my brothers were going to be married to two of the Miss Jennings's, that Joe was to have Miss Louisa, and that Master chose the youngest and the prettiest, Miss Antinetty.'

Michael could not help smiling, and Fanny, who stood by him, patted his shoulder, and said, "my steady brother and Miss Antoinette!" "Come, Sir," said Stephen, "do sit down: can I do any thing?" Michael

At

sighed heavily, "I am sure I do not know what to do, these foolish people seem to court their own ruin." Stephen said, "he understood that Joe was learning to play the flute, and that they looked on him as very clever at Sizors." "Oh, dear me,' said Michael, and Fanny laughed. this moment Joe came in, bringing a letter from P66 P. Come, sit down, sit down all of you," said Fanny, "and let us hear it." There was a great rattling at the door, "Dear Joe, do open the door, that's my wild boy," and the moment the door was opened, he darted across to Michael, and the eye of his fond relation looked down on him with love. The letter was as follows:

ઃઃ

"Dear Children,

Blessing and peace rest upon you. You must have thought it long since you heard from us thank God we are all well, and we are wanting news of you. I should not have written to you just now, but at the desire of our master. You know how fond he is of your father; he is very desirous to do us any good, and he wants a hand in the conservatory that should be just under your father, and he says he thinks no one would do for the place as well as Joe. Now remember, my dear

Michael, I should be exceedingly sorry to hinder you in your business, but a nurseryman's is such a good trade; and I thought if our poor dear Joe could get to be promoted, if he would like to come and could conduct himself steadily. (Every eye was bent on Joe while this passage was reading, but he stood staring out of the window, thinking of Miss Jennings.) Much allowance was to be made for his weak mind. He had lost, as he thought, promotion, all his hopes seemed to be disappointed. He and Miss Jennings had planned to live very comfortably at the Brow. They did not mean to displace Mr. Michael oh no! they thought they should add to his comfort. It must be very dull for him with that Betty Smith, and then Mrs. Jennings thought when once Miss Louisa was settled, and Mr. Michael began to know the family, her little Tiny would be sure to make her

way.

Thus do worldly people plan, and God sometimes permits their plans to take effect, and they commend themselves for their own ingenuity, till they discover that the happiness they sought, is not happiness; and their disappointed expectations are never traced to their true source, and oh, how often do we find such persons