eth his owner, and the ass his master's crib, but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.'

66

Nanny was struck with this: she had never remembered such a text as this, but still she was not subdued, and she observed "what a power of time it would take if we were always to be thinking about religion." My poor child," said Esther, "if we really did think of religion as we ought, it would be as natural as the air we breathe; and, oh! the peace that it gives the mind; those who hate it little know the solid enjoyment to have no fear of death, Nanny, to be satisfied that all is for the best, happen what may; and then for the temper, a Christian does not dare to make others unhappy, keeps a guard over his actions, his words, and even his thoughts; and if he falls into sin, (for who is it that liveth and sinneth not,) he is the first to be humbled under it, and can never rest till he has made his peace with those whom he has offended." All this went direct to Nanny's conscience; she knew that she had behaved very ill to Rose, and yet she had carried it off with a very high hand; she had never even thought of making an apology, but looked at her with insufferable pride, and flounced about every time she came near her.

She

thought to herself, "If Christians must humble themselves, I am sure I am not one, for 'tis the last thing I should ever think of doing." But she began to hope that all her mistress said was not gospel. Now, though I have said that Nanny was not subdued, yet there was a feeling of respect in her mind for which she could not account: her master and mistress did more for their servants than many squires and their ladies; Nanny knew, by experience, that few farmers thought of nursing their servants when they were ill. "Her poor brother would come home with a dreadful cold and cough by sleeping in his wet clothes; it is true, his master paid his wages up till the time he was taken ill, and said, There, lad, there's a shilling for you; you have been an honest boy.' But here, when William was ill, there was master up at his bed-side with messes; and if Mrs. Smith's finger did but ache, there was possets, and no one knows what, and Mrs. up and down after her as if she was a lady of the land. Certain they are uncommon kind people;" and she settled it in her mind that it was a very good place for a servant to fall sick in. But what but could Nanny make? Why, she said, it was the dullest harvest home she had ever seen. "Why, they darn't sing a song, except that old ditty,

or,

• Were I a shepherd's maid, to keep
On yonder hills a flock of sheep'

• Ere around the huge oak that o'rshadows yon hill, The fond ivy had learn'd to entwine;'

or some such moral nonsense; then Mrs. must have a hymn at the end, as if that were proper when people were making merry. No; for her part she thought it was a dull house after all, she should try it a year; she didn't think it was well to be changing so often, and she thought mother would not like it;" so she condescended to determine to bear with their religion and themselves a few months longer, upon the broad principle of her own convenience, not at all uncommon with selfish servants. But be it known to such, if any such should read such should read "Michael, the Married Man," these children of the earth reap of the fruit of their own way; and however a master or a mistress may do them good upon principle, they cannot feel the attachment that a generous Christian servant inspires.

There was another habit of this house, which did not quite suit Nanny's taste: they all dined together; Betty Smith took the bottom of the table, Esther took the top, and Michael sat on one side by her. They were very attentive and kind, fed

them very well, but still the restraint upon their mirth at meals was not at all agreeable to them. Michael would sometimes good-humouredly relate some innocent

anecdotes that he had heard; and Brownrigg, who sometimes joined them at table, and who read the newspapers daily, had always something new to communicate. He was indeed a general favourite, and though he sometimes gave Nanny a quiet lesson when she came of an errand from the Brow, she could forgive it, because there was a drollery mixed with all he said and did. As, for instance: one day when she sat chattering in the kitchen to Peggy, after he had given her a message, he went in, and putting on her pattens, placed his hands comically before him, asking her if she had any more commands, for that he could not stop longer, as his mistress would wonder what he was about. Now though this reproof for her gossipping was felt, and well understood, the droll figure of this tall thin man in pattens so amused her, that no resentment was felt. If Peggy staid anywhere where Brownrigg sent her, he would go to the place, and tyeing his handkerchief round her wrist without uttering a single word, lead her quietly home. This happened once after she came into the country, and the nearness into which the

handkerchief brought Peggy to her master, caused a report that he was going to marry that young girl, as they appeared to be walking arm in arm; and the Miss Jennings were not displeased to have this little tale to amuse them, for indeed they were not always confined to such clear probabilities. But Peggy loved her master with very different feelings-the feeling of a child to a parent; and however disagreeable the situation in which he placed her, if she happened to do any thing he did not like, the anger was momentary, and the feeling of love and respect unshaken.

Peggy was an orphan, and was about to be sent to the workhouse, when one Monday evening she was brought up to the committee, before she was introduced; Brownrigg was one of the gentlemen who sat at the table, and the little creature, attracted by we know not what, but certainly it was providentially ordered, for Peggy laid her soft hand upon Brownrigg's as she hung by a poor neighbour's apron. The appeal thrilled through his veins till it reached the heart; and the light brown curls which shaded her open brow, and the fine dark tint of her infant eye, we must own had something to do with it; for Brownrigg was an admirer of beauty, and the pale hue that was stealing over her