piles which, as village churches, are endeared to the hearts of those who have been accustomed to worship within their walls. I now see the primrose-studded bank along which our path lay, and the neat village folk pursuing the same road in their well-kept garb of ancient mode; for then those remote from towns were contented to appear week after week, nay, year after year, in the same attire, being guided in the choice of their clothes by the consideration whether they would wear well, and whether they were suitable for them, and not whether they would make them look smart. My well-judging companion was wont to exchange a few words of courtesy with these good people, but, as far as I remember, never entered much into conversation with them; indeed, it is most probable she did not, for she was particularly scrupulous who her young lady either talked to or overheard her talking with; and in this, as in many other respects, she was an excellent example to those who have the care of children. Vulgar expressions and low ideas are often caught by little creatures whose minds and imitative powers are on the alert to receive and copy whatever may be presented to them. to Though of very small stature and delicate make, Mary T.'s energy and strength of mind made her face danger with the daring of one possessing great bodily powers. If any alarm arose in the night, she was the first to be aroused and to be about in the house; and this she would do alone, regardless of any fear on her own account, only anxious for the safety of her master and his family. After many years' service, when her charge no longer required her attendance, she passed into other places, but "her heart untravelled still returned that loved child, and she entered our family again, and lived with us some time in a different capacity, but eventually left us, and retired to a cottage in her native county, a constant correspondence being kept up between her child and herself. And now comes a most noble trait in her character. In consequence of depreciation in the value of property, and the conduct of an unprincipled individual, the family to whom she was thus strongly attached were plunged into adversity. What did she do? Give up all intercourse with them, like many of their worldly friends who had been indebted to them for substantial favours? No; there was no time lost in showing how different were the motives by which she was impelled. She did not offer mere words, expressions of feeling; but― hear it all ye selfish!-her whole fortune, all her savings, were proffered, and, beyond that, her services; she would be the only servant, and do everything. Could anything be more noble? Generous woman! we would not have imposed so heavy a burden on your weak frame! rather would I have lent my aid to have supported your declining years. But this privilege was denied; nor could I, alas! watch by you in your last moments. My comfort was that they were cheered by the consolations of the gospel, and that the good clergyman of the parish was a frequent visitor at your humble abode, and testified the respect he felt for your sterling virtues. L. DOING NOTHING. "He made me out a sinner for doing nothing!" This remark fell from the lips of one who was under conviction of sin, and of whom we asked the question, How were you awakened? He had heard a sermon from the words, "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion!" It was a new thought to the poor man, who had been comforting himself with the plea that he had done nothing very bad. But now he saw that his greatest sin was the very thing in which he had been comforting himself-doing nothing! We were reminded of this incident by meeting in an old religious magazine with the following ingenious interrogatories on the words, "Curse The writer saysMeroz." ye By whose authority? The angel of the Lord's. Because they did What ought Meroz to have done? Come to the help of the Lord. Could not the Lord do without Meroz? The Lord did do without Meroz. Did the Lord sustain, then, any loss? No, but Meroz did. Is Meroz then to be cursed? Yes, and that bitterly. Is it right that a man should be cursed for doing nothing? Yes, when he ought to do something. Who says so? The angel of the Lord. That servant which knew his Lord's will, and did not according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes, Luke xii. 47. A. P. ETERNITY. In the morning, when up, I retired and meditated for about two hours, and having before read of the resurrection, I had thoughts of it which were very serious; I had also many thoughts of the day of judgment, and of eternity, which were very awakening to me. Whilst I was considering that every action I did here was a seed for eternity, and that eternity must be the measure of my joys or sorrows, I found myself, as it were, to be overwhelmed and amazed, and to begin to tremble at the thoughts how it should be with me for ever. Lady Warwick's Diary. CHRIST FOR US, AND CHRIST IN US. DECEIVE not thyself; no mercy of God, no blood of Christ, will bring thee to heaven in thy unregenerate state; for God will never open a fountain of mercy to wash away his own holiness and truth; nor did Christ shed his precious blood to blot out the truths of God, or to overturn God's measures about the salvation of sinners. They never yet knew well their errand to Christ that went not to him for the sin of their nature; for his blood to take away the guilt of it, and his Spirit to break the power of it. He that would walk aright must have one eye upward to Jesus Christ, and another inward to the corruption of his own nature: it is not enough that we look about us, we must also look within us. Boston. LENT, NOT GIVEN. CHILDREN, relations, friends, honours, houses, lands, and endowments, the goods of nature and fortune, nay, even of grace itself, are only lent. It is our misfortune to fancy they are given. We start, therefore, and are angry when the loan is called in. We think ourselves masters when we are only stewards; and forget that to each of us will it one day be said, “Give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward." Bishop Horne. THE BIBLE IN SOUTH AMERICA. DR. THOMPSON, who travelled through South America for the Bible Society, gives the following account of his visit to Tacunga, a small town in the province of Quito : "There is a town called Tacunga, about twenty miles from Ambato, on the straight road to Quito. As I had met with so many delays on my journey from Guayaquil, I wished to reach Quito as soon as possible; and, on that account, I intended not to stop at Tacunga, but to push on to a village called Mutalo, and pass the night there, in order to reach Quito the next day. I was the more inclined to do so, as I understood that Tacunga was inhabited almost wholly by Indians, none of whom could use our books. "I had scarcely left Ambato, when a friar, travelling to Quito, came up with me on the road. As he was accompanied by a servant only, and unencumbered with luggage, he could get faster on his way than I could, accompanied as I was with the loaded mules. We, however, rode together for some time, and fell into various conversation. He urged me to go forward with him, and leave the loaded mules to follow us; which, after some hesitation, I complied with, and we rode on together at a gentle trot. His intention was to stop all night at Tacunga, as he had some business there; he invited me to stay the night there also, in order that we might go on together next day to Quito; offering me a hospitable lodging in the convent of St. Dominic, to which he belonged. I still, however, thought it my duty to push forward, so as to reach Quito the next day, which I could not do if I slept at Tacunga. Before we reached the place, in passing a river, my horse, in climbing the bank, which was rather difficult to get up, stumbled, plunged again into the river, and nearly threw me. I got safe out, though a good deal wet this circumstance determined me to stop at Tacunga till I could have my clothes dried. On reaching the town, I went with my friend to his convent; where I got myself comfortably dried, and prepared for the journey. Before I was ready to set out, there came on a thunderstorm; and by the time the weather cleared up it was rather too late to go. My good friends in the convent strongly urged me to pass the night with them, which I consented to do. "I found the town larger than I expected, and, as I was to pass the night there, I was anxious to seize the opportunity of offering the word of God to them, although I had not much confidence as to the success I should meet with. I found myself rather embarrassed. I was lodged in a convent, and knew not how the friars might be disposed towards the distribution of the Scriptures; especially to their being sold in the convent. I wished myself lodged elsewhere; indeed, anywhere else; but could not with any decency remove, as my friends loaded me with kindness. Had I known when I entered the town that I was to have a sale of New Testaments there, I would not have gone to the convent; more especially, as I had letters of introduction to the governor, and to another gentleman in the place. After some hesitation, I resolved to make an attempt where I was. I went pensively to the case in which the New Testaments were, took out one, and went direct to the prior, to show it to him, praying all the while as I went that the God of heaven would dispose his heart, and the hearts of the rest, to befriend the circulation of his holy word. My prayers were heard. The prior was much pleased with the New Testament, and bought it; he showed it to one of the rest, and recommended it; while I did not fail to put in a word to the same effect, pointing out the advantage of the Scriptures to all, and how more immediately it concerned them, as ministers of religion, to possess it, and to recommend it to others. Yes,' said one of them, 'it is the very book which concerns us, and we would gladly encourage others to receive it.' I then told him that I had a number of copies, and that I wished to expose them for sale in that town. I showed the prior the advertisements, and said that I should be glad to have the sale in the convent, if it were agreeable to him. By all means,' said he; and immediately filled up the blanks in the notices with his own hand, and sent a person to fix them up. The advertisements were scarcely up when one, and another, and another came tripping in to purchase a New Testament. In a little time the buyers thickened, while the friars stood round enjoying the sight, and warmly recommended the sacred volume to all who came, and assisted me in the sale when occasion required. The result was, that in two hours and a half, that is, till night came on, I sold 104 copies; which was more than I had sold in Guaranda, Riobamba, and Ambato, all together; though I staid two days at each of those places. 6 "Among others whom the sound of our horn brought together, came the vicar of the town on learning who he was, I made my obeisance to him, and entered into conversation, and, to my great joy, I found him also a friend to this object. "At an early part of the sale I brought out a handsomely bound Bible; it had the desired effect; it arrested the attention, and might have been sold many a time; none being able to obtain it, a little circle resolved to improve the occasion to learn what it contained; while a friar in the middle kept reading aloud for a considerable time. There was another attraction; the "Brief View of the Bible Society;" this also drew attention, and was eagerly read; and they, by turns, expressed their approbation of the objects of |