would have gone if their master would have let them?" 66 Why yes, I know that, but I had never been there; I thought it was something mighty pleasant, but how could I tell Mrs. Smith?" Well now,

my girl," said Betty, "do you turn to Matthew, xviii. 28. You are just in the same spirit with this poor man; you see, though he had got the money and been forgiven, yet how hard he was upon his fellow. Now you, Ann, who wanted to go, and you, Rose, who would have liked to have gone. You see you are blaming, and condemning, and forgetting the sins of your own hearts." They both cast their eyes down, for they felt the truth of what Betty was saying. "And what should we do, Mrs. Smith ?" said Ann. "Why, dears, ye should walk humbly, and ye should remember what ye were yourselves, and have pity upon others."

It was far more difficult to convince Ann than Rose, such is the advantage of early association with good people, however slight. I can only compare it with the effect which dwelling near the Jews had upon the neighbouring nations: they gained the knowledge of God and his laws almost intuitively, and there is an outward decency of conduct which such knowledge generates, and which otherwise

they would never have attained to. Thus, for instance, the infidel who acts in the light of revelation, while he denies that light, and ascribes that to nature which unassisted nature could never attain. To take a view of all the islands we have visited in their original state; you will find them worshipping idols, eating human victims, and delighting in the most cruel reprisals in war. These are the fruits of poor unassisted natural reason; we need but read the Missionary Register, and see what is doing in the four quarters of the globe, to bear testimony to the truth of my observation. Absurd, superstitious, idolatrous cruelty, are found every where, till the light of revelation dawns. Ask the poor widow of the Hindoo wherefore she devotes herself to a cruel and untimely death? She would reply, "That some hope of dwelling in an ideal state of happiness with her departed husband leads to this rash desperation." Ask the fifty courtiers, who, following the light of a wild superstition, immolate themselves upon the grave of their king; they will tell you, that some fanatical expectations in attending their deceased master in his new state of being has wrought them to this frenzy. But not to multiply instances, human nature left to itself is full of the

wildest absurdity, and natural religion exhibits only the insane vagaries of disordered imagination. He who made the heart, who knows what is in the heart, can alone regulate and bring it back to him from whom it hath strayed. Oh, the mighty mischief wrought by man's disobedience, when he chooses not to retain God in his thoughts, given up to believe a lie, working all uncleanness with greediness, plunging deeper at every step in the awful ruin, till even the increase of the multitude strengthens the fatal determination to do evil. How common is the infatuated observation, "I do no more than others." Little do these sad votaries of eternal ruin think how companionship in misery will aggravate their misery. Sinner, stop, ere the descent be too mighty for thee; it is truly said, that the first steps are the most important. It is vain to suppose we can pause in our midway course; no, the impetus is then too strong, and down they rush without power, I had almost said, without inclination to stop.

Jem's little ground was now in forwardness, he rose early and worked late; and Peggy's dear friend, the kind Mr. Brownrigg, was indefatigable in his attendance on masons and carpenters. This good man had very correct ideas of any good he

was about to perform. Thus, for instance : "I am not going to build you a drawingroom, Mrs. Peggy, the room you will inhabit will serve for kitchen, parlour, and all;" but it was an ample kitchen: "and by and bye," said her kind master, "when we shall see Brown and Co. gilt and emblazoned with many a flourish, when young apprentices pour in their hundreds upon you for board and instruction in the art of slipping and grafting, then my good Mr. James may build you a smart parlour if he pleases." So the new house consisted of one large airy kitchen, with a washhouse on the one side, and on the other a pantry, in which to lodge every comfort of life; a most excellent cellar, two good sleeping rooms with attics over them: and as for the green-house, forcing-house, &c. it was very complete; and as this good man considered before he acted, he laid out his money in a spot where it might reasonably be supposed it would return him interest; that is, at that extremity of the parish where other parishes bounded, and might reasonably be expected to come for those articles which James had to dispose of it was equi-distant from three towns, and within a mile of the village church. Neatness pervaded every part, all was new and all was pretty, except the

garden-that was young, and a young garden is never pretty. And the bridal day came, and the young couple invited all that were dear to them on both sides; and their kind patron opened his cottage, and procured an excellent dinner, which was served up cold: he was an orderly man, and any thing like bustle destroyed his happiness; and he was determined, though parting with Peggy, to smile through the day.

Perhaps it might be as well to give the reader some account of his parting advice..

It was in the evening of the day before, with a voice almost tremulous, that he said, "Child, step into the parlour," and sitting down in his ample chair, and leaning upon a small table that stood before him, As you have no natural relations, child, to counsel and protect you, I feel every way responsible, and I shall not consider my duty towards you fulfilled without a parting word." Peggy took up her apron, and began to wipe her eyes; and Brownrigg, with his natural drollery, which even at this moment could not be conquered, threw his handkerchief at her, and desired she would not misapply things but put all things to their right use. The good girl smiled through