from claiming their ready sympathy. It | rare and perfect example among her comwould have been so soothing to tell out rades, she sustained the character at home her sorrow to that maternal friend, and to with some success; but the old lady was listen to the simple but sweet comforts beginning to see that a life of idleness that even the children could supply. James would prove equally injurious to her boys would have found many an apposite text with one of more general exposure: in his bible, and Willy have repeated or already they had made some unsuitable sang to her the hymns most suitable to acquaintance in the street, for she could such a case. But she saw the burden not cage them like birds in a narrow apartgradually increasing on her best earthly ment-and by sundry pranks within doors friend; she discerned in Mary a growing had added force to the landlord's remarks spirit of discontent and disobedience; and on the folly of keeping them "like born she resolved, insteading of adding her gentlemen, with nothing to do. 'Tis no calamities to the general stock, to take a concern of mine, mistress," he added, "but double share of those which oppressed you seem such a respectable, industrious her benefactress. body yourself, and too sensible for any silly pride, that I do wonder you can't see the mischief of spoiling the lads for life."

for the refuge of those courts of the Lord's | added, "We wanted to keep her from house which were doubly and trebly endeared to her by the last few day's experience, and the too just anticipation of what was yet to come.

making herself ill; but she set her heart upon sending a message to you, and getting an answer; and so to save the ninny any farther moaning I came about it myself."

All the party now looked complacently at their guest: James sidled up to him, and said, "I do like you for being so kind to poor Sarah."

"All very fine, my little gentleman-atlarge," replied the other, with a patronising stroke of the boy's head.

"But what is the message you have been so kind as to bring us ?" asked the widow.

In the course of the week Mrs. Green had found a Sunday-school far superior to that which she had before seen, and a ministry better suited to her need. Of both these the party availed themselves, and had scarcely finished their comfortable meal, and entered upon the sweet subject of their village home and absent brother -when they were surprised by a tap at the door, followed by the entrance of Charles Wright, who civilly asked whether his coming was an interruption. "The ""Pon honour, I believe I've forgot it! addition of another of my grand-children | Oh-ay-let's see; 'tis precious nonsense to our Sunday party must be a welcome I know. Ah, I remember now: why it one," replied the widow, drawing a seat seems you'd a kick-up last Sunday with near her own for this unexpected guest; old South concerning some word that you who, after paying some compliments on couldn't agree about”the very neat and pretty abode, proceeded with no small embarrassment to open his commission.

CHAPTER VIII.

A FARTHER INSIGHT.

"FIRST, then, grandmother," said Charles, "Mother is very sorry she had'nt time to pay you a visit yet."

"I did not expect it, my dear: I knew it was a busy week with her as well as with me."

"All right:" responded the lad, whose affectation of the man was rendered more uncouth by his appearance, and the strange contrast it formed to the real manliness of Richard, who never aspired to be more than a boy: "All right; but ma'am, every body is not so reasonable, and there's poor Sarah fretting like a fool about it. Nothing will serve her but the fancy that we've all quarrelled, though we told her you were ill, and all sorts of lies. to pacify her."

The Greens were horrified, and shrank back as this unprincipled declaration was made, evidently on purpose to shock them, but the widow's steady gaze seemed to abash the young profligate, who hastily

"It was gospel," interrupted Willy: "Mr. South said it meant truth, and we told him it meant good news."

"And granny proved that it was both," added James.

"Bravo, bright memories!" exclaimed Mr. Charles, theatrically, "there's nothing like rustic genius. Well, grandmother, the poor girl's fancy was tickled by this learned debate, and she wants you to send her word by me why this same gospel, whatever it may be, is good news."

Painfully disgusting as was the studied, sneering levity of the boy, his message rejoiced them all. The widow began, in her most striking and affectionate manner to give such a reply as she deemed suitable no less to his case than to Sarah's; but after a minute he stopped her.

"Oh, mercy, ma'am! surely you don't expect my poor knowledge-box to hold all this,

and to carry it safe through the streets all the way home without spilling! Make the answer as short as you can: any thing will do for that simpleton."

Charles," said the old lady, kindly but solemnly, "I cannot allow you thus to jest and trifle with a subject so awful—a subject no less important to you than it is to Sarah and to us. You have done a most brotherly thing in coming here on such an errand: do not spoil all by your unsuitable behaviour."

The boy coloured with anger, and

seemed about to rise; but did not. Sud-right hand of God, to intercede for us: and denly recollecting himself, he said, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be "Come! do it in your own way, and I'll forgiven to them who come to God by take down the heads:" then producing Him." bit of pencil, he opened the cover of a dirty song-book, so as to display the many offensive things that were already scrawled on it. The widow calmly closed the disgraceful volume and laying upon it a piece of clean paper said, "Now proceed to make your notes."

Affecting to suppress a laugh, and putting on a face of mock gravity, he looked up for his instructions.

"We are all sinners," commenced the widow, repressing, by a look which she had seldom worn, the jeer that seemed about to pass his lips: CC we have the eye of an all-seeing, all-holy God continually upon us; and every thought of our heart is known to him. Pride, falsehood, uncleanness, intemperance, wrath, envy, all these are terribly sinful: and so is every act, every word, every feeling, that is not according to the holy will of this just God."

It was evident that Charles, though he scribbled away, was not taking it down faithfully but he could not help hearing it, and with this she resolved to be con

tent.

"The wages of sin is death: God has declared it; and that death is not the end an existence, but an eternity of torment hereafter.

"Every one of us has sinned: every one lies under this condemnation.

"When we were thus helpless, thus condemned, God accepted a ransom for our guilty souls, even the precious blood of His only Son, who became man that he might suffer and die on the cross for our iniquities.

The energy, the vivacity with which the old woman detailed these important heads of doctrine, speaking deliberately, and pausing after each, while her hand placed on his arm seemed anxious both to arrest his attention, and to direct his movements, quite overawed for a moment even the dissolute young scoffer whom she addressed. At length he looked up, and with somewhat of his usual pertness remarked, "So then, this is all the good news we have had such a fuss about?"

"Not all," replied Mrs. Green: "but this is enough of it to make you happy now and for ever, if you receive it into your heart by faith."

Oh, many thanks to you, it is no affair of mine: the silly girl yonder sent me upon a fool's errand, that's all. However, I am much obliged to you, ma'am," he added more respectfully, "for the trouble you've taken. "Tis one one thing to answer a question when a body asks you, and another to come preaching into people's houses whether they will or no." Then crumpling the paper, and thrusting it into his pocket, he shook hands with the old lady, nodded to the rest, and placing his hat on one side of his head, walked out, whistling a jig.

"I'm glad he came," remarked James; "and to tell the truth I'm glad he is gone."

"I wished him a hundred miles off," said Mary, "till I found he brought a message from poor dear Sarah. He interrupted us talking about Richard; and indeed if I wasn't thinking of Richard, Charles would always put me in mind of him."

"This sacrifice is sufficient before God, "How can you say so, Mary," exclaimed to atone for all the sins of all the sinners Helen; "how can Charles Wright possiupon earth, from the creation to the judg-bly remind you of our own dear Richard ?" ment-day; but it is only made effectual to them that believe, and come repentingly to ask it.

"Just the same, Helen, as a dark, dull winter's day in this foggy town makes me think the more of the warm bright sun"We are so blinded and hardened by shine of our morning walks by the seasin that we can neither believe nor under-side, with the little waves dancing to the stand nor serve God, without the aid of tunes the birds sang." the Holy Spirit: and this aid is given to all who for Christ's sake implore it.

"Christ having suffered for our sins, and risen from the dead, now lives, at the VOL. II. 11

"But remember, my love," said the widow, "that what you complain of, both in the place and in your cousin, is owing to the absence of light. The bright sun

in the firmament cannot dart his rays for when, on her coming to the end of her through the thick mists that hang over lecture, he began his discourse, she mildly "Excuse this town, or it would be very different; but decisively interrupted him. neither does the brighter Sun of Righ-me, neighbour, but this being the day of teousness shine upon poor Charles to drive rest from worldly labour, we must hallow away the unlovely darkness from his it by shutting out all worldly thoughts ard character." subjects too. If you will join us in reading and conversing over the bible, in our hymns and prayer, we shall be most happy to have you make one of our party: if not don't be offended, neighbour, that we must go on, even if it be the means of our losing your company."

"Charles is ugly enough," observed Mary; "but Sarah is much worse crippled than he; yet I think her quite a beauty when she looks so fond at us, and thanks us for showing her any little kindness, and asks questions about the Lord Jesus. Well, I hope now we shall have the rest of the Sunday to ourselves.".

But this wish was scarcely uttered when another tap at the door ushered in Mr. South.

"Glad to find you so comfortable at last, neighbours; I thought I'd come in for a bit of chat; but 'twas hard to make out your lodging. I met Charles Wright in the next street; he told me he had no idea where you lived."

"Oh, what a wicked story-teller he is!" cried Mary, "why he has just left us."

"Ay," muttered the visiter, with a shrug, "that's factory morals; he didn't like me to suppose he had been in such good company."

"It was owing to you that he came here, Mr. South," said Helen, "and I dare say granny will tell you all about it."

"Oh, ma'am, I'm sure it would be a great pleasure to me to join you in all those good things, if you think a little rational talk so wicked on Sunday; but I have outstaid my time already, and must bid you good-bye."

"Dear granny," said Helen, "how glad I am you got him to listen so long. Poor man! I fear he has a very uncomfortable home, and that was why I was so bold as to speak about Charles' message."

"If he tells it again," remarked Mary, "Charles will get finelydaughed at, and that will make him more spiteful than ever." "Then perhaps I did wrong," said Helen, looking distressed.

"No, my dear child, you did perfectly right. It is our duty to use whatever opportunities God gives us of being faithful to others, for their good; consequences belong to God."

Thankful for such an opening, the wi"You know, granny, the apostle warns dow took the hint, and succeeded in making her new friend listen to a pretty full us against doing evil that good may ensue; statement of truths that he would as wil-but I am afraid I often hold back from lingly have been excused from hearing; doing good for fear evil may ensue-that but she was not one of the inconsistent is, something unpleasant to myself or to Christians who put their candle under a those I love." "We are all tempted to do that, Helen; bushel when those who most need to have the light placed before them enter into the but we must pray to be made valiant for house. As a guest in other places she the truth, and never to shrink from dewas necessarily sometimes under compara-claring it. The fear of man often bringtive restraint, and therefore she preferred eth a snare." her own home, where full liberty of speech prevailed on the subject most important; contenting herself with the conviction that those who loved the theme would enjoy it; while those who loved it not, were in the way of profit if they staid, and free to depart when they chose.

South, however, came to talk about the mills, and resolved to let the old lady have her say first, in the hope that she would then listen to him. He was disappointed;

Helen deeply felt that it did; and she laid up in her heart the counsel now given by the friend who little knew what was She had, at the passing in her thoughts. moment of speaking to South, been almost withheld, from the apprehension of a fresh burst of malignity on the part of Phœbe, if he should repeat it at Wright's; but she overcame the suggestion, and boldly called forth what she hoped would profit the He was not an ill-natured poor man.

person; and though on the same afternoon he saw some of the family, nothing passed his lips on the subject. Our poor cottagers, meanwhile, enjoyed their Sabbath exercises in peace; attended an evening service, and closed the most comfortable day they had yet passed in M. with the united voice of tuneful praise.

Next day, the landlord brought tidings of what he called fine luck: there was an excellent opening for Willy in a silk-mill not very far off, and the person under whose charge he would be was a friend of his own. "Just the sort of man for you, Mrs. Green; for when I went to his house last night, they were singing psalms as loud as they could bawl, and I had to come away without seeing him: however I met him this morning, and he's ready for the boy."

This was an inducement not to be slighted, and when, on a short interview, the widow found Mr. Parkins a serious man, with every appearance of being what the landlord represented him, she committed Willy to his charge; while James was half reconciled to remain at home by the old gentleman's assurance that he was to have some very nice employment, which was realized the next day by his bringing in a few tools, with sundry bits of wood, and instructing the boy how to set about making small articles for sale.

Mary had described the spinner to whose wheel her frame was attached, as looking equally cross with old Buckle, but being, like him, better than his looks. This was true; the poor man was soured by a life of extreme labour, and his health so materially affected as to increase the gloom of his countenance; but he was not habitually ill-tempered. With the rest, he could enjoy any variety in his monotonous path; and Mary was so unlike all her companions, that she afforded him frequent amusement.

The little scavenger whose feelings the thoughtless girl had hurt on the first day was now become her special protegé; and woe to the person who should inflict any needless annoyance on Katy Malony; such woe at least as Mary Green's most eloquent and energetic rebukes could inflict. She had, for a wonder, met with a heart quite as warm as her own, a poor, persecuted, solitary child, simple as a babe in the cradle, but sensitive to an extraordinary degree, and gifted with that power of attachment which, like the ivy to its supporting oak, clings round the object of its grateful veneration, and would rather perish than be torn from it. Besides, poor little Katy had been struck by the respectable dress and deportment of the new piecener, and readily yielded her a degree of deference quite delightful to Mary Green, who, although she would have been really distressed at the idea of being thought proud, had more than the average share of that corrupt principle within, and dearly loved to be regarded as a superior. The expression of Katy's uplifted eyes, as she peered through the whirling threads at her companion above, and the pretty soft brogue, an accent quite new to her protector, in which she uttered "Miss Mary, ma'am," were more gratify

The widow visited her daughter; but Sarah, after much suffering, had been ordered an opiate, and was in a sound sleep. She therefore got no information as to the result of Charles' mission, of which his mother evidently knew nothing, by her apologizing for not one of the family ever going to see them yet. Mrs. Wright seemed sulky and downcast, and the manner in which she received a present that her mother insisted on making, in returning to her than she was aware of, from the for the trouble and expense incurred by deep respect which they implied: while entertaining so large a party, proved that the zealous devotion of the scavenger in money was just then highly acceptable. picking from Mary's can the woolly partiShe brightened up as soon as the gift, cles that often covered its contents, to the after many pretended objections, was total neglect of her own poor portion, and safely deposited in her tea-caddy, and be- the eagerness with which she volunteered came so sociable that the widow hoped to every possible good office, showed that lead her to listen to spiritual counsel; but love was the root from whence all sprang. here, as usual, she was disappointed.

We must now leave them, to take a peep into the mill of the Messrs. Z.

Katy's extreme simplicity, together with some occasional mistakes which they were pleased to call Irish bulls, rendered her