about it, only I do so wish to show my Saviour's strength in little things too. Oh, Aunt Hester, sometimes I almost despair when I see how small are the daily effects of being His, on myself and other people."

"Despair always seems such an unnecessary waste of time," said Hester. "Instead of moaning and doubting, it would be a great deal better to take the evil temper or the selfishness, or whatever is wrong with us, to Him who is our strength and our sanctification, and not be satisfied till we obtain the victory from Him, and the effects would soon be seen."

"It is very true," said Leslie, "that one always complains of one's-self at the wrong time, and forgets where to go when the temptation is in immediate presence. It is so strange that there is a sort of mental antagonism between Aunt Louisa and me, though in spite of all her odd, cold ways, I really believe she likes me! There is scarcely subject that we can discuss without feeling annoyed, and then if we don't discuss, there

is such a disagreeable restraint,-and I a Christian! Oh Aunt Hester!"

"Don't be discouraged; begin every day anew; the subject has been worn threadbare, so I can only say what has been said before, but Leslie, dear, do you pray to have the hooks taken away?"

"What hooks, Aunt Hester?" asked Leslie, opening her eyes very wide.

“Just the rough jagged points of character that catch and hold fast all the little daily grievances ;--such a blessing it is to have these hooks lopped off, and then the grievances fall to the ground, and are trampled under foot, -their proper end."

"I will try," murmured Leslie.

"Then it is a good plan every morning to say, 'Now how much unnecessary suffering can I prevent in this suffering world to-day?' It is so terrible to think of adding even a mite to other people's sufferings when we know what it is to suffer ourselves; the sharp word, the wounding jest, the irritating letter, the uncalled-for judgment, add more weight

to burdens heavy already, than perhaps we wot of."

"I have long felt," said Leslie, “that unless Christianity be for the home and hearth, making us like Christ in our everyday word and work, it is not worth much."

"True, indeed, and how decided, unerring, and beautiful is that family rule and motive of the Scriptures :"-and Hester repeated solemnly, "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

"Yes! I will try," repeated Leslie more cheerily; "you have put fresh heart into me," and she lifted up her face child-like to be kissed.

"For

CHAPTER V.

LADY ELINOR'S DIARY.

ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the Lord your God giveth you."-DEUT. xii. 9.

"When God at first made man,

Having a glass of blessings standing by,
'Let us,' He said, 'pour on him all we can,
Let the world's riches which dispersed lie
Contract into a span.'

"Thus strength first made a way,

Then beauty flowed, then riches, honour, pleasure;
When almost all was out God made a stay,

Perceiving that alone of all his treasure,

Rest at the bottom lay.

"For if I should,' said He,

'Bestow this jewel also on my creature,
He would adore my gifts instead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature,
So both should losers be.

"Yet let him keep the rest,

But keep them with repining restlessness;
Let him be rich and weary, that, at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness

May toss him to my breast.'"

GEORGE HERBERT.

EXTRACTS FROM DIARY.

"Oct. 1, 185-. . . . I am very miserable, very restless; I wonder why. I suppose people would moralize over me, and say

I

that I had everything to make me happy; but my heart echoes Madame Maintenon's words of desolation-Life is a frightful void.' Yet it is not so to all. Miss Morris and Miss North are happy and contented. I thought at first that I envied them, but I do not; the life of good people' always seems so uninteresting and monotonous. wonder what it really means to be 'good;' I suppose it means to settle down to do all sorts of right things, and to have no unruly thoughts, no aspiring hopes and wishes. I should not like that; it is bad enough to beat one's wings against the bars of a cage, but it would be worse to crouch down in grovelling content within. I should like to be good as they were in old times; good and great, converting a nation, standing fearless at a stake, rescuing the oppressed, leading a crusade-not good and little as people must be now, at least taken up with little things, and canting about commonplaces. I don't like what Miss Morris said to D'Arcy about coming down from a pedestal to do good; it