CHAPTER XIV.

WE were much surprised, early the next morning, by receiving a visit from Mary and her father. There was an evident pleasure in the eyes of our young people, at the sight of Mary; a secret attraction was growing between them, and it was delightful to observe that it was grounded on love in the Lord.

Mary went close up to Louisa, and said, I hope you will forgive me for coming so soon, but mamma has such a bad headache, that my father thought I might come and join in your engagements this morning.

On hearing this, I said to my sister,-As this is the case, will you permit me to appoint them some work?

With pleasure.

Then it is this: Sit down for an hour or two and select me some examples from Scripture, of the blessedness of families who are unitedly devoted to the

Lord and in the evening you shall propose these selections for consideration.

The plan seemed pleasing to all, and I proposed that my friend should accompany us in a ramble, in search of evidence of the state in which the families in the neighborhood were brought up.

As we set out, he said,-Discipline is out of the question in this inquiry, for never did I yet see a poor family brought up with any due attention to it.

It is indeed rarely to be met with; but I know some beautiful instances; one of which is old Thomas's family: and in some other cases, I have seen the want of discipline supplied by the grace given to the children, who, instructed by the Spirit of God, have been taught to love, honor, and succor their parents, even through difficulties that would appear insurmountable to any other principle.

We had crossed some fields, and found ourselves at the back part of the village; and just as we approached a cottage, a girl, in a bonnet and shawl, was lifting the latch to go in, but seemed surprised to find it fast; she rattled the latch, and tapped at the door, but no one came to let her in; I saw her then try the window, which she slided back, and called, Father!

Father! She waited, and then called, Mother, can you let me in? We went up to her, and when she turned to answer our inquiry,—if her father might not be gone out, I saw it was the girl about whom I had been so much interested by old Thomas's account.

I don't know, sir, she answered curtseying, with a modest air, but there was an expression of alarm in her face.

You are frightened; have you been doing anything wrong?

In a hesitating voice, she answered, No, sir,-but— But what? young woman. If all is right you need not be afraid.

O no, sir, all isn't right, my mother! my mother! She seemed in an agony.

Why, you don't think anything has happened to her, do you? Shall I break open the door?

O no, sir, she said, hastily pulling me back by the sleeve; and then as if a sudden thought had occurred to her, she ran round the corner of the house, and we lost sight of her.

The door of the house was soon opened, and a surlylooking man, evidently in liquor, though so early, had the arm of the girl in his grasp, and turning her out