told them, I felt half sorry, for I know what á temptation the game is; and I believe all these overstocked preserves, that some people are so fond of, are very mischievous in many ways. But however, it was done, and I started back. As I turned over the style at the bottom of the lane I felt stopped by something, and turning round, both my hands were pinned behind me before I knew where I was. There were two men, but they had handkerchiefs over their eyes, and only one of them spoke. He asked me whether I had been blabbing at the Hall, and whether the keeper was coming down. I refused to answer. And so one of them held a gun to my head and said he would shoot me if I did not tell. I said he must then, for I would not speak. The other fellow then said, 'Leave him alone, Jack, we will send him home with a good hiding, and we shall be sure of Peter all the same.' One of them then gave me a cut over the back with an ash stick, which I felt for a long time after, and would have given me another, but I jumped forward and ran down the field as hard as I could. I went right over the hedge with one spring, and never stopped till I got to the bottom of the hill. I can tell you I never felt half so frightened in all my life; and I was thankful enough to get into the road.

When I got about half a mile I began to think what they said about Peter.

It flashed across

me in a minute that they meant to waylay and perhaps kill him. I hesitated, for it was nearly dark, and there was no way besides the lane and the wood. However I determined to try : so I got over the pales and crept up under the wood, listening every minute until I got by the place. I thought I was pretty safe then; when all of a sudden I saw one of the men lying under a hazel within fifty yards of me. I could not move for a minute, and my heart beat so that I felt sure he could hear it: but I managed to vault over the palings, and ran for my life towards the hall. Directly I got into the lane, the other fellow sprang out from the hedge and struck at me, but he missed me, and away I ran, and he after me as fast as we could go. Once he almost touched me and another time I nearly fell,-but though you laugh at my fielding, I can manage to run, you know, and I got a hundred yards a-head before I came to the lodge. There I stopped and I saw the man stop too; and he did not seem certain what to do, so I started off again and got to the Hall just in time to tell Peter. Well, they got all the men they could together, and beat the woods up and down, but all in vain. So they

D

brought me down here safe and sound. You never heard any thing about it, because Dr. Wilson thought it had better be kept quiet for a time; but one of the men was caught stealing in the holidays, and is going to be transported. And to-day the Squire has sent me down two brace of pheasants, and I have got leave to have them cooked for supper, with some other things, and I hope you will like them."

This completed the delight of the audience, and the junior boys quite forgot themselves, and called out "Three cheers for Bar.!" But the supper-bell rang and an excellent supper they had. After it was over, the Doctor read prayers, and all retired to bed.

27

CHAPTER III.

First Sunday at Athelling.

And week-days following in their train,
The fullness of Thy blessing gain;
Till all, both resting and employ,
Be one LORD's-day of holy joy.

Christian Year, Easter Day.

AT home, Sunday had been rather an uninteresting day with Godfrey. The Services in his father's church were performed, as is too commonly the case, in a manner quite unsuited to warm the heart, or even form the understanding. At Athelling, on the contrary, the chapel Service was peculiarly impressive. The greatest attention was paid to propriety. Nor was this all; every thing which could be done to make boys feel that their age was the religious as well as intellectual seed-time of life; every thing which could teach them to feel their responsibilities as Christians, and their dangers and hopes as undying beings,

was devised and done.

Alms-boxes at the door,

and constant teaching, called on the boys to remember that their duties to the poor were proportionably as great already as those of their elders; and their relative opportunities still greater than they would be hereafter: that their allowances were as truly a talent entrusted for good uses, as the property of the wealthiest; and that as boyhood is not excluded from the promise, so neither is it free from the duty, "Blessed be the man that provideth for the sick and needy : the LORD shall deliver him in the time of trouble." But that which struck the new comer most of all, and which riveted his attention long after the novelty had passed away, was the earnestness of the head of this youthful family. In prayer all his soul seemed to soar up in the words of the Liturgy in praise he was as if in heaven: in preaching he entered into every danger, every perplexity, every agitation of youth; felt with them, rebuked, encouraged, and pleaded with tears in his eyes, as affectionately as if they had been his own flesh and blood-as in very truth he felt that they were; being all one with him in CHRIST, members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.

On Godfrey's first Sunday, the sermon was