my desires to be patient and humble. But the keeping of the heart is a work that requires great diligence, so great that we might well give up in despair, if we could not ask help from above. "How often the world turns dark, and we see nothing but clouds and gloom! O, these heart-sinkings! these heart-sinkings! They are such a dread to me, that I would purchase exemption at almost any price. I have improved in some respects. I do not encourage idle dreams, as I used to, — I do not indulge in such extravagant anticipations of the future. But I had better not say much about improvement, lest, when you come to see me, you should say, "I wonder where it is.' "I am glad they let you choose your assistant, and that you were pleased to choose me. I should like to come, and sit with you, and walk with you, and read with you, and talk with you, and hear you repeat poetry, which last is better than all the rest. In consideration of such privileges, I might well afford to take the trouble of being teacher. And, besides, I am so thoroughly tired of doing nothing, that I believe I should take labor patiently for a little while, at least. Yes, I will come. I think it will be for my good. I shall want you to help me in French, and a great many other things; but, over and above all, I want your help against those unconquerable foes that have always done me such injury. I know you will help me; and, if you do, something can be done. You must tell Mr. B. that your assistant is a great deal better and more interesting than she appears, else he may never know it. I have thought about those 'teachers' meetings.' 66 Yes, we will go to Bangor in vacation, — it will be something pleasant for us to think of. I mean to enjoy it, teaching and all. You will tell me when to come. Her friends, however, on account of her delicate health, made objections to this plan, and she was led to hesitate. "O, M.," she says, "how can I give it up,-- my heart is so much set upon it!" Still her prevailing determination was to go. "Your letter is only this moment received, and in the fulness of my heart I sit down to answer it, to prove to you, in a very remarkable way, how thankful I am. I have learned more my heart than I ever knew before. I thought, after so many years and so much experience, that I understood myself thoroughly. of "I have been taking such views of life as have made me very wretched. I have longed most earnestly for the freedom of the imprisoned spirit. But I feel better now. My state of mind is more natural. I have anticipated so much enjoyment and advantage in coming to G., that I cannot easily give it up. I do believe it will be vastly better than for me to stay here and think all summer." She finally, however, yielded to the objections of her friends, and, though reluctantly, gave up her plan of teaching. QUESTION OF A MISSIONARY LIFE. "What are we set on earth for? Say, to toil, MRS. E. B. BROWNING. THOUGH highly imaginative, Henrietta had the power of examining practical questions with great truthfulness and fidelity. Her strict conscientiousness has been frequently alluded to. Said she, on a certain occasion, to her friend M., "I wish to do right. I really do, for I dread the punishment of doing wrong. have suffered so much from that already, as to know that it can make me very wretched." In a case of peculiar difficulty, she once remarked to a friend, of whom she asked advice, "If I only knew what was right, it seems to me that I could adhere to it with the steadfastness of truth and the decision of a martyr." She was by no means happy in living what she considered "a life of self-indulgence." Passionate as was her love of the poetry of nature and the poetry of art, -bright as had been her girlhood's dreams, and shrinking, as she did, with her peculiar diffidence and sensitiveness, from the weight of care and responsibility, yet, with all this, the still small voice in her heart was never silenced. It continued its low utterings, and she continued to listen. It was this internal conflict which made life at times such a weariness, - that she "longed for the freedom of the imrisoned spirit." At this time, a most important matter came up for her decision. During her visit at Bangor, Mr. Cyrus Hamlin, of the Theological Seminary, had formed her acquaintance. He had long consecrated himself to the missionary life, and was hoping to be sent as an explorer to penetrate the interior of Africa, or, in failure of this, to labor in China. But he was unexpectedly appointed to take charge of a seminary in Constantinople for the education of Armenian youth. Feeling himself, by this appointment, authorized to look for a companion, his former interest in Miss Jackson led him to seek her as his associate in his important work. This question, presenting to her mind, in a life of usefulness, the very object which she needed, but, at the same time, involving such momentous responsibilities, and, to her affectionate heart, such sacrifices of feeling, affected her deeply. Although, from her first acquaintance, she had cherished a high esteem for Mr. Hamlin, yet her sensitive conscience forbade a hasty decision. "MY DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER: I enclose to you a letter from Mr. Hamlin, which, as my parents, you are entitled to see, and which I wish you to read, in order that you may give such counsel as I need to guide my decision of an important question. 66 In its relation to the cause of missions, it has a magnitude which may well be oppressive to me, feeling, as I do, my want of that piety and devotedness to duty which are necessary to usefulness in any part of the world, but more especially in the privations, dangers and trials, of the missionary life. I have, for a few months past, more than ever before, felt my deficiencies as a Christian. During the past winter I have reflected much upon my waste of life, and have desired - I hope with some sincerity and earnestness to devote what shall remain of it more entirely to the service of Christ. I have more than ever desired that consecration, that elevation of Christian feeling and principle, which shall raise me above the influence of selfish and worldly motives. 66 If I know my own heart, I wish that the question may be rightly decided, so that the blessing of Heaven may rest on its decision. Please to give me your thoughts and feelings, that they may aid me in my reply to this letter. "Your affectionate daughter, " HENRIETTA.” “DEAR HENRIETTA: I am willing to lay my own sacrifice and self-denial - and it will not be small out of the question you are called upon to decide. I have long felt prepared to say, 'If Christ has special work for my children, which they are able and disposed to do anywhere in this world, they shall go to that work with a father's blessing.' If you have a heart to seek not your own things, but the things of Christ, my only fears will respect your health. You must probably not lay your account for a long life anywhere, and especially in a region of fatal epidemics, and under the responsibilities of the station to which you are invited. But it is comparative usefulness, rather than length of days, which we are to consult. Seek to do most for God, and, in an impartial view of His providence, ask Him, with a child's heart, how most can be done, and you will go right, and be blessed. I know not how to part with you, and have some fears that the weight of the enterprise may prematurely bear you down. But I dare not, nay, I wish not to control what you shall find to be the deliberate, prayerful convictions of duty. In all thy ways. acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy path.' "Your affectionate 66 • FATHER." Her mother's counsels, given in conversation, were similar in spirit, and she was cheerfully commended to the guidance of Heaven, and to the decision of her own |