is what every that's not al Pray do you ant a gentle- Yes," here Mr. and the history ya must give me th you." dig your garden, ould be delightful, any books?" Mary replied, "Not many, but they had kind friends who would lend them some." So the little party seemed establishing in good harmony, and Mr. B. was beginning to taste the delights of family union, and Esther soon won his affections by her modest, unobtruding manners, her industry, and her duty to her parent. 66 Things were in this train, Mr. B. going up every evening to the Brow, and returning the following morning before breakfast, when James Brown called in with a message from Mr. Lascelles to Margaret, to ask her to step to the rectory. "Nothing the matter I hope, James Brown?" Nothing that I know of. No, I believe it's something, some charity or other, because my mistress was sitting in the greenhouse this morning, they were talking in a low tone together, and then my master desired me to step for you.' Oh, very well," said Margaret, "I'll be with his reverence directly; I'll just put on a clean apron, James Brown, and get my bonnet, do not stop, child, for I shall walk too slow for you. 66 James. "Oh, you need not heed that, Mrs. Beal." 66 No, child, go, I'd rather come by myself." James departed, and now all eyes were turned to Margaret to know if any thing was the matter. "I don't know till I get there; you shall hear all about it when I come back, that is to say, if I'm at liberty to mention it." "That is a very good clause, Margaret," said her brother. The honest woman smiled, and departed. Nothing is indifferent to a mind under the influence of religion, as is beautifully observed in a little work designed for children; 'Eyes and no eyes, or the difference of a walk, to a mind awake to the beauties of nature, and a mind stupidly inclosed in a body, moving mechanically.' Every neighbour Margaret met awakened some interest, for the spirit of love dwelt in her bosom. If they were indifferent, she sighed for them, if they were alive to their eternal interests, there was the sacred union, the tie of sisterhood, and the dear old Christian had a kind word for all. She met the little ones coming from the school, and it was, Well dears, good children, I hope. Oh, how differently does the Christian, warmed with the sense of God's pity and compassion, walk through this wilderness world; how different to the mere moral character, who looks with the every day vacancy on every object; how full of life and vitality is every moment of existence; how important to some, indifferent to none. Time bears us on, but not heedlessly, and while Margaret obeyed keep to the right, and while he was thus conversing with her, Mr. Lascelles passing through the garden, overheard this last direction. "Who can that be?" said he, musing, and when he understood for whom he enquired, pulling on his gloves which he had heretofore held in his hand, he said, "I am going to visit a sick neighbour, and I will put you on your road." So Mr. Lascelles and Mr. B. walked on together. "You are Mrs. Beal's brother, I presume?" Yes, Sir." "You are happy in two very amiable sisters, and two whom I consider very useful in my parish." (Mr. Brownrigg.) "I am glad to hear it, Sir, though I could not have expected it, for I should never have thought they had the power of being useful. "Excuse me," said Mr. Lascelles, "I do not mean in giving money, that I consider as of secondary importance; but their example, their order, their willingness to assist in every act of mercy and kindness, and your little niece, Sir, is a pattern for young persons." Brownrigg's eyes glistened at this news, he said," he had seen her but once, and could not give an opinion, but he was glad that she had conducted herself so as to merit his notice." By this time they had reached the street, and were drawing near the cottage. "I fear, Sir, I have taken you out of your way." No, 66 indeed," said Mr. Lascelles, "I was going past the very door." They were all in order to receive their brother, and had a dish of tea in readiness for him. "Thank you, thank you," said the good-natured man, "but I have breakfasted, and since that been to your parson's, who walked with me to your door. I like him much: he seems a judicious, sensible man, and a fine looking man too." "Oh, brother, he is indeed a good man," said Mary, "I think you'll be pleased to hear him preach, and he is very kind to his parish, visiting the sick, and he gives away a great deal; and his wife is always doing something for the good of the poor." "That's all as it should be," said Mr. Brownrigg, "I like to see black coats in their duty; I give my guinea very willingly where I live, for the support of an afternoon sermon, though I cannot say much in favour of our lecturer. I believe the man means well, but when one has just had one's dinner, that equal humdrum tone in which he reads his sermon, almost puts me in mind of a line in Gray's Elegy, 'And drowsy tinklings lull the distant fold,' and it's quite an effort to me to keep awake." M. Why then, brother, do you not go |