man, all that neatness, and industry could do to make him comfortable and happy; for at the best his health was but poor, and he appeared to be sinking to the grave, under the accumulated weight of infirmity and years. Though he seemed to possess an imagination which could soar above the mountains that surrounded him, and visit the abodes of man beyond them; yet he appeared like one insulated, and shut out from the bustle and perplexities of the world, and with few regrets could have parted with it forever. There was, however, the love of one tender object, which attached him to life. Nothing could exceed the filial affection of his lovely daughter, over whom the fond father had doated, for seventeen years. Her mother had died in her infancy, and to the bereaved father, had been left the sole care, and superintendence of the education of his infant child. His other children had been snatched away, one after another, and it was not a wonder that the affections of the mourning father had taken so firm hold of his daughter, since she was all that now remained, of a once numerous family. The war-worn veteran gave me a minute history of his life. He related his most interesting adventures in the revolutionary struggle. He had been advanced to a station of some honor and trust, in the American army, was placed near the body of his general, and had served in many daring and hazardous enterprises. He had cultivated the fields of his little glen, while he had been able to labor, and from them he had gleaned a scanty though comfortable support. In one corner of his little farm, he pointed out the graves of his wife and children. "My sweet Jane," said the old man, with tears, "is the very image of her mother, whom I laid here almost seventeen years ago. She has the same temper, and manifests the same assiduity to make me happy. She knows little of the mother she has lost; though often has she sat on my knee in her childhood, and wept, when I told her the story of her mother. I used often to

tell her of the virtues of her, of whom both she and myself were bereft, that I might, if possible, form her mind upon the same model; for it was that very mother who taught me, that to be conversant with virtue, is in a measure to become virtuous ourselves." "And was

་

Spell neatness, receive, industry, comfortable.
Sinking, going down. Whence the figure?
Accumulated, collected, heaped up.

Spell weight, infirmity, imagination.

Soar. Respecting what birds is this word particularly used?

Mountain, moun'tin.

Insulated, alone, solitary.

...Perplexities, anxieties, embarrassments, difficulties. World, wůrld.

Tender, delicate, sensitive, affectionate.
Attached, bound, united, cemented, fastened.

Exceed, go beyond, surpass, excel.

Spell daughter, infancy, bereaved.

Sole, only, exclusive.

Superintendence, care, guardianship, control.
Spell numerous, firm, education.

War-worn, battered, worn with war.

Veteran, tried soldier.

Minute, a measure of time, detailed, circumstantial.

Station, post, rank, office.

American army. What have you heard or read respecting it?

-General, commander, common, an officer high in rank.

Hazardous, dangerous, disastrous, exposed to loss. .Enterprises, schemes, deeds.

.

Gleaned, gathered, collected slowly and laboriously.

What kind of employment is referred to?
Spell pointed, corner, seventeen, knee.
Image, likeness, pattern, resemblance.

Assiduity, concern, attention, sedulousness.

Temper, disposition of mind, mean, medium, mode

ration.

Told, narrated to, mentioned, related.

Virtues, lovely traits of character.

Bereft, deprived, made destitute.

Model, pattern, rule, copy to be imitated.

Conversant, familiar, associated, acquainted

your daughter always assiduous to promote your welfare as now ?" "No, she was not always so. Though she possessed an amiable temper, yet she used sometimes to manifest the waywardness of youth. Never shall I forget the prayers of my poor, dying wife, that her infant child might be spared in mercy to its father, and be to me all that she would have been, had her life been prolonged. Never shall I forget her last petition for her little offspring, as she pressed it to her expiring bosom, for the last time, and then holding it in her feeble arms, she said, "Blessed Savior! I beseech thee to be the God of my child, as thou hast been my God-to sanctify its heart as I hope thou hast sanctified mine. I know that thou art able to save it. I dedicate my child to thee. I leave it in thy arms. Thou wilt remember thy ancient covenant and promise. I give my child to thee. Blessed Savior! accept my humble offering." Her voice failed. These were her last words ;-she soon expired. Oh! Mr. E., you know not how good a woman my wife was. I have often heard her in the thicket just by us, or yonder, where once stood a little hovel, earnestly engaged in prayer for me. If any are christians, I have no doubt she was one. And my beloved Jane was not so much like her mother as she is now, till two years ago, when a missionary called here, two or three times, and gave her that little Bible you saw standing upon the shelf. For a time I wished my daughter had never seen the missionary, she was so unhappy. She could do nothing but read her Bible, and weep. But after a time her mourning was turned to joy, and she has been ever since beseeching me to be a christian. She is just what her mother used to be, and often have I heard her praying for me, in the same manner and place that her mother used to pray. I was once a disbeliever in the christian religion-thought it all to be the device of man-and for a long time after I married my wife, I thought she was a visionary, under the influence of a heated imagination. But upon a candid and impartial examination of her feelings and conduct, I was fully convinced that they sprung from pure and steady principles of which I had no experience. To witness, as I do daily, how religion influ ences all the conduct of my Jane, and makes her happy

Assiduous, careful, concerned.
Spell welfare, measure, amiable.
Possessed, poz-zest'.

Waywardness, eccentricity, naughtiness.
Spared. From what?

Its father. Why is its used instead of her?
Prolonged, continued, increased in length.
Spell offspring, bosom, forget.

-Expiring, dying, breathing out.
.Beseech, pray, beg, petition.

Sanctify, make good, make holy.

Dedicate, give up, consecrate.

Ancient, àne' tshẻnt, former, of long duration, remote in time.

Covenant, determination, mutual contract, agreement, stipulation. Gen. xvii. 7.

Savior, he that saves from eternal death, Redeemer. Mr. E. Who is meant by Mr. E.?

Often, of' f'n, frequently.

Thicket, grove of small trees, dense wood.

..Christians. Who are christians? Whence do they derive their name?

Hovél, mean habitation, shed open on the sides, cottage.

Nothing, nåth' ing.

Weep. Why did she weep?

Spell shelf, daughter, engaged.

Turned, converted, changed, altered in course.

Just, exactly, precisely.

Disbeliever, one who did not believe, infidel.

Device, invention, cunning fable,

.Married, espoused, wedded,

Visionary, wild, irrational, imaginary, affected by

phantoms.

Examination, egz-âm-ề-na shin.

Convinced, satisfied, persuaded, forced to yield.

Sprung, arose, proceeded.

-Principles, internal rules of conduct.

.Influences, controls, reigns over.

Spell pray, the assembly pray for his deliverance ;

prey, the lion devoured his prey.

under all circumstances, serves to make me believe, how blissful is the lot of those who possess it." He drew a deep sigh, and would have proceeded; for I perceived he was interested in the subject. But the approach of a boat to the shore drew our attention, and we walked forward to meet it. It conveyed a small party of youth, who had called to pay their compliments to the pensioner and his daughter. As the day was far spent, I took my leave of the whole party, not without leaving a promise, that I would call frequently. I had become but little acquainted with that lovely daughter, on whom the old man leaned for support. There was something so retiring about her, and yet so winning, so simple, and yet so elegant, so humble, and yet so exalted, that I could not but admire a character made up of such contrasted qualities. I had learned enough to know that she was intelligent without ostentation; and modest without awkwardness. There was something in the character of the old man, which I did not understand.

He was frank and generous, but he seemed not to admit me to the deepest feelings of his bosom. He was cheerful, but not happy. Something seemed to bear with weight upon his mind.

LESSON XXIII.

The same, continued.

With almost the dawn of the first fair day, I betook myself to my boat, intending to take the cottagers by surprise, and sit down with them to their cheerful breakfast. The sun had risen, and was beginning to pour down his cheering beams along the ravine, between the high mountains, when I arrived at the glen. All was still, except the far off whistling watermen, who were urging their boats in various directions, over the clear blue lake, and I saw no living thing about the cottage, except the large Newfoundland mastiff, which lay by the door. As I approached the cottage, I thought I heard a voice. It was the clear, sweet voice of the daughter, reading the parable of the prodigal son. I approached nearer.

She