Mr. Prentice-"I shall do so, Miss-(to Lady Acres,)—"Is there any thing else I can show the young lady?"

Lady Acres "No, no; she must content herself with that on the present occasion."

But Lucy, in whose head the organ of acquisitiveness is considerably developed, returns to the table-"Oh, mamma, here is such a lovely book, and the pictures are so beautiful. P-i-l, pil-g-r-i-m, grim-p-r-o, pro-g-r-e-s-s, gress."

Mr. Prentice-"I suppose the young lady has got hold of the Pilgrim's Progress."

Lady Acres examines it—“ It is indeed a beautiful book; I have never read it, yet I think I have heard of it."

Mr. Prentice-" It is a very celebrated work, indeed, madam; and I believe has been more read, gone through more editions, and had a greater sale than any book, (the Holy Bible always excepted,) not even excepting the works of Sir Walter Scott; and most divines reckon it a very able exposition of the Scriptures."

Lady Acres " Well, though I do not in general buy what are called religious books, yet, on your recommendation, Mr. Prentice, I shall take the Pilgrim."

that

Mr. Prentice-"Thank you, madam; I am sure you will find it well worth the perusal." Lady Acres" Have you got any tracts."

Mr. Prentice-"I have got a few, madam; but if you want variety, you had better go to the Bible Society's Rooms, Queen Street."

Lady Acres "Oh, no; I have no time. I daresay these are very good; I never read any of them myself; but as all the ladies of my acquaintance give tracts to the poor, and their own cottagers, I must do the same."

Lucy-"Dear mamma, let me choose them for you with the pictures; I shall be happy to give them for you."

Lady Acres" Child, you are too idle; you must be good yourself before you go about giving tracts to others. (To Mr. Prentice)-Put up a parcel if you please."

Lucy-"Oh, mamma, here is a book in a beautiful cover; let me have it."

Bookseller" All's not gold that glitters, Miss. I do not like it so well as Miss Sinclair's prose Works; at the same time I do not think the critics do it justice. I was not in Edinburgh at the time, but I am sure it contains some very accurate descriptions both of scenes and scenery; and I think it very entertaining. It is a thing of the day, written and read to be forgotten, and so indeed are most modern compositions. Is there any thing else which I can supply you with? Here is the first number of a new Magazine, called the Edinburgh Ladies' Magazine-will you allow me to put down your name for it?"

Lady Acres glances at it.-"I daresay it is trash, but I shall buy a number or two of it. But what I chiefly want is what is called light reading. Sir John orders all the History and Travels; so be so good as send me all your new novels, that I may look over them at leisure, to Barry's Hotel; and if you

allow me to take them to Acres Castle, I shall return what I do not want the following week-I shall certainly keep some of them."

Mr. Prentice-" Certainly, madam; will you favour me with your ladyship's address."

Lady Acres writes-Lady Acres, Acres Castle, near Dalmannish, by Whillywhankeen. The parcels are put into the carriage, and Lady Acres and Miss Lucy presently seat themselves, covered up with furs and cloaks.

Lady Acres-" Drive now to the Exhibition; I want to see if there are any pictures I like, that Sir John may buy them-our gallery wants some to fill it up sadly." A poor lame man approaches-"Will you please to help a poor cripple; I fell down a coal pit two years ago, and can do nothing for myself." Lucy-"Oh, poor man; do give him something, mamma."

Lady Acres "Why, Lucy, my dear, you may give him some of your own pocket money, if you please; you know that you got a shilling last Saturday."

Lucy-"Oh! but mamma, I promised to buy something for Tommy."

Lady Acres "Well, my dear; but remember, there is a fear that that which costs you nothing can be no charity of yours."—(To the footman,)—“ Have you got any soup tickets, as I desired you?"

Alexander-"Yes, my Lady."

Lady Acres "Then give one to that poor man." The cripple receives it, "God bless your Ladyship." Lucy-"What good will that do to him, mamma? You have only given him a little bit of paper."

Lady Acres "Well, my dear, that will get him a basin of soup; there are great caldrons full of broth, or soup, in different parts of the Town for poor people, and he has only to show that ticket, to procure his dinner."

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Lucy--" And does he get no tart or fruit, mamma?" Lady Acres No, my love, that does not do for poor people."

Lucy-"Oh! mamma, how I should like to go and see that great soup caldron, and the poor people getting their dinner."

Lady Acres "You are too young for that, Lucy; perhaps when you are older you may go."-(To the coachman)" Go on.'

Lucy-"But, mamma, stop at Blackwood's as we pass; you know you promised to get me a new dress -I should like it of pink satin."

Lady Acres-" Not now, darling; but if you get your lessons well when you return home, and Mademoiselle Detours is pleased with you, I shall then order a fashionable dress from Paris for you; and we shall look at the Bellé Asemblée to see what you would choose."

Lucy-"How very good you are, mamma."-Lucy looks out at the window; they drive on, stopping at different places on their way to the Hotel.

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ."

THAT all mankind, in their natural state, are in darkness, and incapable of understanding the things of the Spirit, is a truth frequently stated in Scripture. True, men have retained in some degree their natural powers and capacities, with regard to things carnal; but as to comprehending things spiritual, their understandings are as dark as was chaos before the creation of the world, or as the face of nature would be unenlightened by the sun. We must be born again; we must become new creatures, the work of conversion must take place, before we are brought "out of darkness into marvellous light." The same Almighty power which placed the sun in the centre of our universe, who, in the

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