departure from this world of sorrow; but she forbore making her mind known to the tearful Anna, whose mild eyes never lacked moisture, whenever her dear mother was named in her presence.

At Halcyon Villa poor Anna enjoyed as much peace as a self-denied pupil in the gospel school could expect in this world, where in large families, the lovers of Jesus and children of mammon are promiscuously huddled together for a short season of trial:-the good have an opportunity to prove their armour; and the evil a chance to observe the power and worth of religion, in the objects they often affect to despise. Anna gave great satisfaction to her noble mistress, who gave her the praise of being as faithful in her calling as Hetty; and far more devoted to the service of the blessed Redeemer. Indeed, vital piety was the sole stimulating principle to action in the character of Anna: otherwise she would have sunk in despondency, a heart-broken victim to early grief. Her mother's premature exit from this world, under peculiarly trying circumstances, had loosened every cord that

bound her tender heart to earth; and she owned to Lady Saville, that she had often prostrated herself on her dear mother's grave, and prayed for death to come and end her sorrows; "but I was very rebellious, madam, against the hand that smote me: I have since been brought to see my sinfulness. I' have abhorred my carnal nature, and repented in dust and ashes: God hath forgiven me for the sake of his dear Son, who is my Advocate and Intercessor before the Father's throne, even Jesus Christ the Savior of the world."

Many a pleasant half hour did Lady Saville pass in conversing with her little black-eyed Anna, on whose lips ever sat the praise of him, who "had brought her out of darkness into his marvellous light." Nor was this act of condescension, on the part of Lady Saville, unattended with benefit to her own soul. The artless expressions of her young attendant, upon religious subjects, went strait to her heart, and revived in her soul the drooping graces of gospel salvation, that are so easily injured by the dry winds of worldly prosperity,

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that come out of a wilderness, "not to fan or to cleanse."

Lady Saville, previous to her marriage with sir William, had entered into covenant with God, to serve him all the days of her life, with reverence and godly fear; pleading the precious promises in the sacred scriptures, for the young who seek for wisdom's paths to walk therein; and asking for Mary's love, Lydia's open heart, and Anna's constant spirit of devotion in the sacred temple, or presence of God. Marriage had effected no change in her religious principles; but the "wife and mother" sometimes veiled the "pilgrim and stranger;" and Lady Saville discovered, that even conjugal fidelity, and maternal tenderness, are not beyond the reach of the tempter's snare, who studiously employs every debased spirit in his infernal realm, to watch the heart where grace begins to bud, if possible to blast the plant divine, and rob the soul of heaven. At the time of Anna's entering her domestic household, Lady Saville's mind was unusually low in religious exercise, and her devotions were short and cold-alarm

ing symptoms of spiritual decay. This inward declension was caused by the various cares, hopes and fears, excited by the approaching change in her family. I allude to the marriage of Lady Charlotte, who was betrothed to a gay young baronet, an only son, and the future heir to one of the largest earldoms in England.

After the splendid alliance was finished, and the young couple were settled in style but little inferior to royal splendor, at London, the seat of modern grandeur, Lady Saville resumed her retired studies and devotions. The former involved only the sacred science, spoken of by Jesus Christ in the memorable prayer which he offered for his church, just as he was about to commence his awful engagement with the powers of darkness in the gloomy garden. "To know God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent," was the first branch of Lady Saville's private studies. To understand and comprehend his love, to learn his will, to find out her own heart, and know all her duty to God, to his people, to the wicked, to her husband, children, acquaintance, ser、

vants, and especially her duty at home in her own breast, summed the christian scholarship and classical pursuits of the lovely wife of a rich English baronet, whose heart was also touched by the spirit of truth, and drawn to the blood-stained banner raised on the mountain Calvary.

In returning to her quiet closet, to resume the employment of "scanning the sacred page," with devout aspirations for divine aid, to understand and "practice every rule," Lady Saville literally used the words of the pious Psalmist: "Return to thy rest, O my soul!" for she had lately wandered from it, in mingling with the gay scenes that attended her daughter's nuptials, and had incurred a spiritual loss. She was convinced, it was extremely necessary to humble her soul before God, with fasting, mourning and supplication; and to this mode of humiliation the convicted lady resorted with full purpose of soul, lest spiritual death should succeed the stupor she was conscious had fallen on her mind. At this juncture, the solemn remarks that were uttered by her new attendant, had a sweet and salutary effect.