999

I never call but I seem as if I had brightened my armour; and when I return to my own dwelling, where blessings are scattered in profusion about me, I am ready to say, How many things are here which a Christian does not want." 66 My love," said Mrs. Lascelles, "I hope you do not think I desire any thing beyond what is right?" "I hope not, I am sure," and she hesitated. "Far from it, my love; I only say, that when I visit the cottages of my poor neighbours-poor in this world, yet rich in faith and heirs of eternal life, I can only say,' How does our good God make up with the smile of his countenance for the want of all that a vain world deems necessary.' And when I sit down and look around me, and see one little improvement, and say, 'It is pretty,' and improve another, I look upon it as in Scripture language, 'cisterns that will hold no water.' Nothing can satisfy the christian mind but thy presence; all besides is too mean, too poor for an immortal soul."

At these occasional conversations his dear children were present; the elder Miss Lascelles was of a silent character, peculiarly prone to reflect upon and digest conversation, even when she appeared not to listen to it, and would often retire into the silence of her own apartment, and

side of his fire, and sometimes read the

newspaper.

We must own, there was something of regret when he read there of his juniors rising into notice and command, while he was just getting the bread for the day in a distant part of his native country. But this good man was an acquisition; for though Brownrigg was a kind neighbour, and very chatty, he had not been brought up as an agriculturist, and found it difficult to keep up that sort of conversation with which the village abounded; and while Ferguson supplied this want, Brownrigg was an active and kind friend, assisting, and overlooking every little alteration in his new residence, and supplying that knowledge of mankind in which Ferguson was eminently deficient. Oh, my dear reader, if we were all to extend an arm, where it is wanted; to supply each other's deficiencies, we should not only bestow, but receive comfort. The selfish being, shut up in his own narrow circle, knows little of the pleasure to be enjoyed in this sweet interchange of mutual good offices. As it is sometimes seen that the most unexpected success attends the most unpromising characters, so at this moment the whole family of the Kemp's were surprised by the marriage of Joe to his master's daugh

ter: she was a smart girl, but not very discriminating, it may be supposed; Joe had known her many years, and he went on so long, so quietly and so steadily, that the father made no objection; and while his own family were wondering and astonished, the father of the young person was rather pleased than otherwise to have her settled in a house where respectability had so long distinguished them; Joe might really be said to owe this happiness to his connexions, the care they took to keep him from improper society, the influence of his father over his weak mind, the neatness of his mother in his personal appearance.-Reader, it is no small blessing to be respectably connected, and those who link themselves with honourable persons are far happier than those who look for wealth.

This young creature was really pitied by the Kemp family, who thought she was deceived; and so conscientious was old Joseph, that had not the affair gone so far he would have spoken to his mastèr. Now some little reader will exclaim, What, injure his own son?"" Yes, my dear young friend, Joseph Kemp was under that law. 'Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them.' But he had no reason to

66

regret his forbearance, for a gracious Providence so ordered it that Joseph behaved very well, and all his habits under his father having the force of law, he did nothing wrong, had no temptation to wander, no genius to betray, and we are happy to say that his little wife, though not highly gifted, felt her power, and used it without abusing it. James Finch, in his frequent visits to the Brow, gained much under the ministry of Mr. Lascelles, and was in the habit of occasional calls at all the houses, not excepting the cottage of Margaret Beal, whose light burnt clearer and brighter as she advanced nearer to her heavenly home, and how this old Christian rejoiced in seeing the young ones around her rising in life and usefulness, can only be conceived by the Christian mind. She would say to herself sometimes, Yes, I see it, the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters do cover the sea; it will be-I shall not live to see it; but no matter, I shall be in—;" and she lengthened out the words, "Where there is fulness of joy and pleasures at thy righthand for evermore.'

In the pastoral visits of Mr. Lascelles he was wont to say, "To some houses I go as a learner, to others as a teacher. At the cottage of Margaret Beal, Mentoria,

I never call but I seem as if I had brightened my armour; and when I return to my own dwelling, where blessings are scattered in profusion about me, I am ready to say, How many things are here which a Christian does not want." 66 My love," said Mrs. Lascelles, "I hope you do not think I desire any thing beyond what is right?" "I hope not, I am sure," and she hesitated." Far from it, my love; I only say, that when I visit the cottages of my poor neighbours-poor in this world, yet rich in faith and heirs of eternal life, I can only say, How does our good God make up with the smile of his countenance for the want of all that a vain world deems necessary.' And when I sit down and look around me, and see one little improvement, and say, 'It is pretty,' and improve another, I look upon it as in Scripture language, 'cisterns that will hold no water.' Nothing can satisfy the christian mind but thy presence; all besides is too mean, too poor for an immortal soul."

At these occasional conversations his dear children were present; the elder Miss Lascelles was of a silent character, peculiarly prone to reflect upon and digest conversation, even when she appeared not to listen to it, and would often retire into the silence of her own apartment, and