EDW. Do you, Gertrude, think Anna right in this?

GER. Perhaps we had better consult your instructor, Mr. Ross, how far peculiarities in trifles are right in professors of religion.

ANNA. Is it a trifle, Gertrude, to redeem time? GER. No, certainly, dear Anna. But you remember what Mr. Percy said, the last Sunday we heard him preach, "That we must not perform inferior duties, at the expense of superior;" but Mr. Ross will put us right on this particular point.

ANNA. Well, perhaps he may. But, in the mean time, you will oblige me by calling our blessed day of rest the Sabbath, not Sunday.

GER. You are right, Anna. I shall try to remember.

EDW. Well, it is remarkable by what different ways we arrive at truth. You Mamma, by patiently examining the Scriptures, have discovered that you were in error, and are now correcting all your opinions by that infallible test. Gertrude finds truth in the knowledge of Him who is truth. Anna is forced from sin and error into truth, by the deep-felt teaching of an awakened and enlightened conscience; and I am arriving at truth I cannot tell how. I seem to be in a new world, -I see every thing in a new light,—I wonder at my former, and at my present self.

GER. (smiling.) And how do you happen to

distinguish so nicely respecting others, while so ignorant respecting yourself? Have you had no assistance?

I

EDW. Yes, dear Gertrude, I have asked Mr. Ross questions, which have led him to assist me in forming the opinions I have just expressed. Indeed, I have made him, almost unconsciously to both of us, intimately acquainted with all our religious sentiments. When you know him, you will be quite satisfied that he should be so. shall never be able to repay his kindness to me. Every day he has spent some part of his precious time in instructing me. He has read great part of the scriptures with me, joining his prayers with his instruction. He has listened patiently to all my ignorant objections, and never left one till he had answered it so as to convince my judgment, and satisfy my heart. I now love him as an elder brother, and would rather spend an hour with him in his sacred little study, than with any other human being in any place on earth. He is a blessing to the parish. You shall see, to-morrow, with what reverence and respect the people regard him.

Mrs. ABER. To-morrow the people celebrate your coming of age. I do hope Mr. Ross will be able to prevent such scenes as often take place on similar occasions.

EDW. You shall see. Do you know Ashton is also to be here?

Mrs. ABER. Charles! I rejoice to hear it.

EDW. You know, before you left London, he had refused; but, on my assuring him we should have no rejoicings that he would find unsuitable to his present feelings, he consented to come. The little girls follow slowly, and will be here in a few days. But now I think we must go to my favourite retreat, amongst yonder trees.

A Grove of Trees, under which seats are placed, so as to command a view of the Lake, &c.

Mrs. ABERLEY, EDWARD, ANNA, and GERTRUDE.

GER. This is indeed lovely! Oh! who would live shut up in a town, in whose power it was to be where so much of God is manifested in the glories of his creation! What a profusion of grandeur and beauty! Look, Anna, in this direction. See those mountains, how majestically they tower to heaven, their tops glowing in the beams of the descending sun. How lovely, too, are the glassy waters of the loch, on which they seem to rest! Oh! I feel oppressed, as I gaze at the extended glory of that view! How poor, how confined, how unworthy, all the adoration that our hearts can offer to that glorious One, who has created for us such profusion of objects, to manifest to us his character, and win our affections to himself!

ANNA. Hush, Gertrude. Some one approaches by that path in the wood behind us.

Edw. It is my friend.

Enter Mr. Ross.

EDW. Welcome my dear Sir. Allow me to introduce my long-expected friends to you. My mother and eldest sister are not quite strangers to you, at least, by character; and Gertrude, as a correspondent, was your first acquaintance.

Mr. Ross. (with much feeling.) I am happy to have an opportunity of expressing my own obligations, and those of many a grateful heart in Arnavoir, to Miss Gertrude.

GER. (blushing.) Indeed, Sir, I am the person obliged; and I have to return you my most grateful acknowledgments for pointing out to me a way of being useful, where all the trouble was yours, and all, at least much, of the pleasure was

mine.

·EDW. (smiling.) No one, then, is to have the merit of doing my duty for me.

Mr. Ross. We shall ascribe it where all merit is ever due to Him who alone can so change any heart, as to incline it to love his service. I hope, however, that to-morrow Miss Gertrude will feel gratified in seeing so many young people, who, through her bounty are learning the way of salvation.

GER. Shall I have that pleasure to-morrow?

EDW. Yes. To-morrow all the people belonging to the estate have been invited to assemble on the lawn before the house, and the