fitting his noble nature,-it was no less than educating his soul for eternity!-preparing it watching over its

for boundless happiness,

every thought and desire with the most jealous. vigilance- checking its wanderings, and examining its motives, with the strictest attention. Eternity!- an eternity of misery!-how dreadful, beyond mortal conception! It is not a

million years, or a million of millions, for that, though unutterably horrible, would offer some ray of hope ;-but it is without end! And yet we cannot keep this in view,-so debased, so ignoble are our minds, that we incur the risk of this eternal punishment, for the sake of enjoyments so low and of such brief duration, that they deserve not the name of enjoyment.

How much greater, even in an earthly point of view, are the Christian's pleasures. Self-approval, that sweetener of life's trials, is his constant com. panion; and the sense of protection from above is so comfortable, so inexpressibly delightful.

Sedley's estate was situated in that most beautiful of English counties, Bshire. His house

commanded a distant view of a pretty country town; the Thames, after flowing past it, wound its way to his grounds, sometimes disappearing amidst groves of willows and thickly wooded banks, sometimes peeping out brightly through the tangled underwood, and often displayed fully to the sight in broad, serene majesty; on one side lay a wide expanse of undulating country, enriched with fields of corn, and on the opposite side the bank was in some places almost perpendicular and thickly wooded, or clothed with rich verdure where it sloped gently, and the bright meadows were studded with cattle.

Time passed, and Teresa resumed her equanimity of mind. Farquhar had continued calling frequently at Plover's Cliff, and Catherine Brand was wild with happiness. But, one morning his servant brought a note from him, addressed to Mrs. Derby, in which he informed her that he was going to leave the neighbourhood that day, and should be happy to execute any commands. she might have in London.

Mrs. Derby placed the note in Catherine's.

hands, who, as soon as she had read it, ran up into the school-room, and dismissing the young ladies from their studies, she threw herself on Teresa's neck, and sobbed violently. Teresa was apprehensive of some dreadful misfortune, and with tenderness attempted to soothe her friend.

At length Catherine was sufficiently recovered to speak, and, giving the note to Teresa, she said, "Read that, Teresa, and pity me you see how prophetic were your warnings, but, alas! how vain."

Here the re-commenced weeping, and Teresa read the note. Having finished it, she said, "Surely, dear Miss Brand, these lines are not the sole cause of your grief?"

"Oh yes," replied Catherine, "and they are quite sufficient to render me wretched and miserable. You see how cold and laconic is his note, he does not even name me, and then to leave the neighbourhood without calling to take leave of us, after his marked attentions to me-and even you, Teresa, considered them marked. Oh! it is too much-and I am doomed to disappointment."

Teresa knew too well the violence of Cathe rine's feelings to attempt reasoning with her, she only tried to soothe her wounded heart, and talked encouragingly of her prospects.

But Catherine could not be comforted, and
And I was so secure, so happy ;—

sobbed out,

it was but yesterday!"

It was but yesterday! Ah! what a mighty power in those four words! What floods of agony-what unbearable regrets-what keen self-reproach-what awful warning may be conveyed in that one short sentence! In how many different accents of despairing sorrow are those words being repeated at this moment throughout the world.

"It was but yesterday," one exclaims, "that my beloved wife, the mother of my children, was radiant with beauty, joy, and life; her smile enlivened my dwelling; her light footstep rejoiced my heart, as it approached; her gentle voice soothed my cares; her melodious laugh rang in my ears; and, suddenly, the arrow of death pierced her, and she fell."

"that

،، It was but yesterday," says another, my noble brother, the handsomest, the bravest, ae most generous of God's creatures, greeted

is family with cheerful and open looks; his heart beat with warm affection towards us; the un shone not on a more upright, guileless being; we talked together so unrestrainedly of our mutual feelings, we admired the loveliness of nature so enthusiastically, we formed harmless and pleasant schemes of amusement, we drew plans for the far future; when, lo! he encounters a fellow-being in a moment of excitement-hasty words are bandied-the thirst of blood possesses them-they fight, and he falls-and we look in anguish on the bleeding remains of what was an hour before beautiful and fraught with life."

"It was but yesterday that a gallant, glorious vessel parted from the shore, richly freighted with the young, the brave, the good, the beautiful, the loved! and handkerchiefs waved adieus, and tearful eyes were strained to catch a last look, and hearts beat high with hope and excitement, and the blue sky smiled, and the bright sun