laid it on her head, repeating Jacob's words; "The Angel that redeemed me from all evil, bless And soon after this we all parted

my child!"

for the evening.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE next morning I acquainted my sister with the great desire I felt, to obtain, if possible, an interview with the young lady, the teacher already mentioned, for the purpose of making some inquiries relative to her experience of the effect of religious instruction on the conduct of children towards their parents; and asked if she thought she could in any proper way accomplish it.

This question seemed to excite much interest among our young people, who all seemed particularly anxious to see her.

After a moment's consideration, my sister said, I think, that in all such cases, where the purpose is so distinctly to obtain a spiritual benefit, it is best to make a direct application to the persons concerned, stating the reason; and it is not probable that any difficulty would be thrown in the way. This prevents any undue liberty, and any intrusion at a time when visitors might not be acceptable. If you like, I will write a note to the young lady, and Louisa shall be the bearer of it.

Louisa sprung from her chair with delight, and Charles said,

You will think it right, my dear mother, that I should accompany my sister?

Not on the present occasion, my dear Charles, she said; I will order my maid to attend your sister, as I would wish to avoid every appearance of improper intrusion and Louisa, my dear, you had better send in the note and say you will wait the answer at the door of the school-room; and even if you are invited in, I should recommend that you politely decline accepting the invitation. The note was soon written, in the following

terms;

My dear Madam,-Though an entire stranger, I take the liberty of requesting the favor of an hour's conversation on the subject of the religious instruction you afford to so many young people, being desirous to reap the advantage of your experience in this interesting engagement. I would beg also to be permitted to introduce my own children, and to ask at the same time if you would allow my brother to accompany me, who is at present prosecuting an inquiry on one branch of Christian duty in particular, in which he conceives it most probable that he might be considerably aided by the observations you might be able kindly to communicate.-With much esteem, I beg to subscribe myself,

"Very sincerely yours,

"L. FORBES."

You shall lose no time, my dear Louisa, and if you can obtain an answer, we shall perhaps be able to gratify your uncle and ourselves to-day.

Louisa was soon on her way, leaving us seated at the table, conversing on such subjects as were presented to us.

Charles began by saying, There are a great many characters in the Scripture, uncle, from which we may derive great instruction respecting the conduct of children to parents, besides those we did consider yesterday evening.

Yes, Charles; I might have applied St. Paul's word's But what shall I more say, for the time would fail me to tell of Hophni, and Phineas, and Gideon, and Micah, and Samson, and Jonathan, and Herodius.'

Oh, uncle! exclaimed George, who, whilst he listened, had nodded his head to each of the names as they were mentioned;-what a mixture of bad and good!

Yes, George, it is a mixture of light and darkness; only you will remember that they have no fellowship with each other.

No; it is division: it reminds me that God, from the first, divided the light from the darkness, "and God called the light, day; and the darkness He called night."

That is a good lesson for us, George; let us apply it to our hearts, and remember how in their natural state they are darkness and sin; and if the Lord gives us light, we must see that it divides from the darkness. We may be given

up to darkness, or we may be illuminated with the light of life. "If thine eye be evil," the Lord says, "thy whole body shall be full of darkness; but if thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light." Luke xi. 34. And so St. Paul, addressing the Thessalonians, says, "Ye are all the children of the light, and the children of the day we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 1 Thess. v. 5.

With this idea, my sister said,-How beautifully does it refer us to Jesus, who is called the Day-star, the Day-spring: He is the Light that lighteth every man.

As it would be some time before Louisa could return, we agreed to separate; and I went out to call on my friend, Mr. Conway, who immediately commenced a conversation on the subject of the divisions in families, and said,

I should much like to go with you to talk to a family in my neighborhood, with the view of ascertaining what is the real reason of the unhappiness there, and which is the blameable party, the father or the son. The complaints of the father are bitter, and I have always thought it impossible that a father could feel so severely against his son without some strong provocation.

I have an hour or two at my disposal this morning, and I will with pleasure accompany you; perhaps, too, we may be so happy as to be peace-makers.

I begin to suspect the difference is on account of religion.

If so, the office we would desire to fulfil will prove very difficult, if not impossible; for they have, in that case, two such opposite springs of thought, word, and deed, that they must forever dissent from each other. Nature possesses the carnal mind only, and grace receives a spiritual mind all the movements of the heart, all the motives of action, all the ends in view, are "diverse one from the other ;" and they are irreconcileable one to the other. The natural mind may have amiable intentions and feelings; but being only natural, it cannot discern or understand the principles of the gracious mind; therefore they are continually mistaken, and wrong motives ascribed to them. These are two unbending principles, nor can congeniality be produced but by the overpowering grace of God, operating upon the heart of the unconverted, and letting in that light upon the soul which can enable it to discern spiritual things. No wonder, then, that where this difference exists, there should be division. But there is often a lamentable and needless aggravation of this evil from the want of wise conduct on both sides.

Here is the house, said my friend; the father is a respectable kind of a man, and engaged in a little trade, by which he makes a decent provision for his family. We will go in and make some purchase.

Though the civility of the tradesman naturally threw an expression of pleasure on his face, there was an evident care on the brow, which, in the