I will endeavor to feel what I now say, that I will be thankful for whatever you may address to me of this description.

Very well; to this I trust. You are both in a very critical moment. You are pledged to her and to God to change your whole system, and she is in a suspense whether really that system is to be wholly changed. It is not easy to make and to establish a complete change of principle and motive, especially when that change is to be of a religious nature. The whole bent of the natural mind will be against it, and you will both require a renewed mind. The right training of a child must begin with the right feeling, purpose, and apprehension of the parent; and you will perceive, therefore, that as you have hitherto been without them, you have now, in the first instance, to seek them for yourself, and you must be careful whilst you desire to expel the bad principles, that you endeavor to occupy with good. The heart swept, and even garnished with some new decorations, is in a desolate and dangerous state, unless it become inhabited by the Lord, and ornamented by the graces of the Holy Ghost. Spirits more wicked and subtle than the first may take possession, and the last state be worse than the first. And if you should take up this duty from human feeling only, using the plea of a religious motive merely as a help to obtain a selfish end, and your child should acquiesce merely because she cannot resist it, then you will

gain no solid or permanent advantage; selfishness will always seek its rest in self. Then how must I act?

Watch your child's feelings; at present she is in the situation of the man who lamented, "You have taken away my gods, and what have I left?" She is sullen and reserved, her stimulus for exertion is taken away, and she has not that love and honor for you which would compensate the loss. But again I ask, how must I act?

You must endeavor both to feel and communicate the love of God; especially inculcate His love to us as manifested in Jesus; take every opportunity afforded by passing circumstances, or by the perusal of your Bible, to illustrate and exhibit it; and show that you are sensible of that love by frequent acts of prayer to Him, which will demonstrate that you are persuaded of it,and by constant reference to His will in all you do for her, or direct her to do. In one word, Let all you do be in the Lord, and then your labor will not be in vain.

I am certainly aware that this has not been my system, or rather, I am ashamed to say, my intent. I have endeavored to carry on some religious instruction in a general way, but even this could not be done without bribery.

The worst effect of bribery is that of suffering a child to suppose itself entitled to reward on the ground of merit. This is the first principle of Pharisaism, and ought to be forever crushed

by the Scriptural truth, constantly brought forward, -that even had we done all, we still remain unprofitable servants, having done nothing more than our duty. The inward pleasure of a happy conscience will grow up out of the blessed habit of endeavoring to serve the Lord. Presumption will be checked by the revealing of sin in our manifold short-comings; and confidence and peace will spring up from the knowledge of the efficacy of the blood of sprinkling; and then the meaning of that sweet expression is learnt, "Thy commandments have I loved," and "In keeping of them there is great reward."

Alas! I fear this is a long and tedious work to accomplish.

To see the full accomplishment, we must needs wait with the patience of hope, and begin without loss of time to redeem the past, and set out, at least, in the way we should go; the path is clear and direct, and assuredly leads to the blessed end. Enter ye in, saith the Lord, at the straight gate which leadeth to everlasting life.

I do not doubt that I shall find a double blessing in the resolve; and may it be granted that my child and her parent may walk together.

In this you will find a blessing. In proportion as you can lead your Anna into the knowledge and love of God, such will be the proportion of her love and honor of her parents. You will be able to judge of the power of the principle by its effect in practice.

The conversation was now interrupted by Mrs. Bennet, who said, The time wears away fast, and I fear to lose my errand, which was to say, that I think it a great pity you should have appointed our meetings at your house so distant as weekly; for we have now an accession to the usual circle of our friends by the visitors that are in the neighborhood; and I have heard them express so much feeling on the subject of our last interview, that I could not help wishing they might be followed up a little quicker.

Expressing my readiness to meet her wishes, she undertook to collect the party, and to engage them for the next evening.

We then parted, our friends being joined by their children, Anna and Maria.

When the evening drew on, our young people reminded me of my engagement at the gardener's cottage, and inducing their mamma to accompany us, we all set out; being joined, as we had appointed, by Mary and her father, who were waiting in readiness for us.

Let us go by the way of the village, said George, that we may inquire after Dick Johnson. Our way being thus marked out, we soon drew near his dwelling.

There he is, leaning against the door.

He saw us approaching, and went in as if to avoid observation; but we tapped at the door, and asked if we might be admitted.

By all means, Sir, come in,-the mother said.

I came to ask if you or your boy have thought any more of the fifth commandment?

I can't say what he has done, but I know he was desperate angry when I told him of it this morning.

Angry! to be told of God's word, Dick! how did this happen?

She wanted to come over me!
In what way?

You see, Sir, interrupted the mother, when I'd knitted him his stockings, he grumbled to pay me my due, and said neighbor Matty would have done them cheaper. Now you see, Sir, it's here; I paid 2 d. an ounce for the worsted, and it takes eight ounces to a pair of his stockings, for you see he's a stout leg like, and the regular rule is to pay for knitting as much as worsted costs, and that made 'em come to 3s. 4d.; so he said he wouldn't pay it, any how. I know Matty would do it for less; but then the worsted is a halfpenny an ounce less, and that makes a difference: and when I told him so, he went to call me a liar :-so, Sir, I thought of "Honor thy father and mother," and I told him on't; and then he blustered and swaggered, and talked o' shifting his loom, and going somewhere else.

Indeed! and how will you settle this dispute? Nay, he's like to have his own way for aught I see; but I know if he'd honored his mother he wouldn't have bargained about a few halfpence.

You say very true, he would not; but how do you think you are to get that honor from him