excellence. It is to be found in Ephesians vi. 9, and consists only of two words. Forbearing threatening.""

Perceiving that I remained silent, my father continued.

"In other words, never attempt to enforce obedience by a threat. Children soon learn to appreciate the characters and dispositions of those who are set over them, and they are quick to perceive any fault of temper or infirmity of purpose in their teachers. They soon detect the difference between mere ill humour and irritability, and a conscientious adherence to principle. If punishment be necessary, it should be administered with kindness. No harsh or upbraiding language should accompany it. Threats seldom reform, but generally harden. Having once explained that a certain penalty will attach to any act of wilful disobedience, enforce the punishment strictly, but in such a spirit as shall convince the offender that a sense of duty, not a feeling of resentment, influences your conduct."

"Oh, papa, I do not forget my old grievances on that score." "Well, my dear, you cannot make a better use of your experience than by turning it to the advantage of your pupils.”

In conclusion, my father urged upon me the necessity and importance of personal religion, as the most essential qualification for one engaged in the work of education. It was in vain I attempted to parry his remarks by observing that I should not be considered accountable for the religious opinions of my pupils.

"Your deportment, conversation, and example," said he, "will operate constantly and powerfully upon the children confided to your care. Whether you intend it or not, that most important talent,-influence, will be constantly at work for good or evil. The dear children who will become your charge, are, together with yourself, partakers of a fallen nature. How diversified soever may be their dispositions and talents, in one respect they will be alike: naturally estranged from God, and inclined to evil. It will be your duty, my Caroline, to instruct these little ones in the doctrines of our holy religion: to explain to them their lost condition, to urge them to pray for the gift of that blessed Spirit of Truth, which alone can enlighten their minds, and dispose them to love and obey God, and to point them to that precious Redeemer who died for them. But

how can you hope to do this effectually if you have not experienced your need of a Saviour, and come to him in humble reliance upon the merits of his atoning blood? If I felt assured that you were truly a child of God, and that you were entering upon your present duties, earnestly desiring to act with a single eye to his glory, I should feel satisfied that you were in the path of duty, and cheerfully leave the result in His hands, who hath promised that "all things shall work together for good to them who love Him."

This affectionate appeal was not altogether lost upon me, but induced such a disposition of mind, as enabled me to encounter, with some degree of fortitude, the difficulties of my situation.

I say difficulties, for even under the favorable circumstances in which I commenced my career as a governess, I was by no means exempt from trials. I will not dwell upon these, but state briefly that they resulted mostly from incompetency and want of experience. I carried my habit of castle-building into my new occupation-aimed at too much, and consequently was discouraged and annoyed by repeated failures.

I generally meant well, and really wished to do my duty, but was mortified and grieved when my efforts were not, as I imagined, fully appreciated. However, time and attention. brought more judicious plans, and more moderate expectations; and at the end of two years my school was pretty well established. I may also mention that the first fruits of the income arising from it, were added to the sum set apart for enabling Philip to spend a winter in Madeira, whence he returned so much improved in health as to be enabled to enter at once upon the duties of his profession.

Never shall I forget the delight with which I placed my first earnings in the hands of my dear father, nor his gratified affection on receiving this proof of my persevering industry. Towards the close of the second year the long wished for curate was engaged, and my father being desirous of placing himself under the care of a medical friend in London, it was arranged I should accompany him to town, the summer vacation having just commenced.

Seven years had passed away since my former visit to the metropolis. During that long interval, many changes had

taken place in my own family. True, we had not experienced that most bitter of griefs-bereavement; but sickness, anxiety, and care, had alternately cast their shadows over our domestic circle, and as I alighted from the hackney coach that conveyed us to the door of the modest lodgings provided for us by my father's friend, I involuntarily contrasted their simplicity with the spacious and elegant mansion in which the Daltons resided. I now entertained a hope of renewing my acquaintance with Elizabeth, from whom I had never heard since we parted so unexpectedly at school. As I reflected that I was within reach of my early friend, former feelings and associations crowded into my mind, and my desire to see her once more gained additional strength from a little delay occasioned by the unsettled state of the weather; which prevented my father from venturing out during the few days following our arrival in town.

At length a bright sunshine succeeded to the drizzling rain, and with highly raised expectations I directed the coachman to stop before the well known mansion in one of our fashionable squares. My disappointment was bitter when we were informed that no such person as Mr. Dalton lived there.

"Perhaps the footman could direct us to that gentleman's residence," suggested my father.

"No;" he had never heard the name.

66

"This seems to be a bootless errand," he added, as the coachIman waited for further orders. 'Caroline, my dear, there is little probability of discovering your friend in this great city; you had better give it up at once."

"Oh no, indeed, papa; I cannot give up the hope of finding out Elizabeth: do pray allow us to call at the nearest library and consult the directory."

My father assented, and in a few minutes I was busied in looking over a long catalogue of names. There were Daltons in plenty, but this very circumstance puzzled and confused me.

"Had you not better consult the list of firms," said my father. You mentioned that Mr. Dalton had a partner, do you recollect his name?"

"Oh yes,-Harmer. 'Dalton and Harmer,' I repeated, glancing my eye over the page which the obliging librarian had placed before me.

“There is a gentleman called Harmer, who resides in the adjoining square,” observed the man, “and I think he was at one time in partnership with a Mr. Dalton.”

“Oh thank you, sir,” I exclaimed joyfully. "It is indeed fortunate we called here. We can gain all the information we wish from Mrs. Harmer." So saying, I hurried back to the carriage, and my father, having ascertained the exact address of Mr. Harmer, followed, and desired the coachman to drive on.

"This is just as it should be, papa, I exclaimed. Mrs. Harmer will be delighted to see you, she considers you in the light of an old friend.”

My father smiled, but a sad expression mingled with his amusement. I knew he was sceptical respecting the sincerity of that lady's warm expressions of regard towards himself, and I felt a little indignant at what I considered his injustice. I had not time, however, to argue the point, for the coach soon drew up before the very door we had left a few minutes previously. Having sent in our cards, we were informed that Mrs. Harmer was at home, and were presently ushered into that lady's presence, who received us with her accustomed blandness, making minute enquiries after my father's health. As she did not mention the Daltons, nor allude to our former interview, I took advantage of the first pause in the conversation to enquire after my friend; but at the mention of Elizabeth's name, Mrs. Harmer's manner suddenly changed.

In a tone of haughty reserve, she replied that she was not able to give me any information respecting Miss Dalton: then addressing my father, she alluded to Mr. Dalton as a person whose misconduct had involved his family in irretrievable disgrace and ruin. He had absconded, she said, some years before, under circumstances which precluded the possibility of his return to England. His family, at least part of them, were living in obscurity some where in London. She spoke as one deeply injured, and plainly intimated that the subject was altogether distasteful to her.

My father acted upon this hint, and after a few remarks on ordinary topics, rose to depart.

But I did not intend to be thus easily diverted from my purpose. Though indescribably shocked by what I had just

heard, my wish to see Elizabeth was stronger than ever. Approaching Mrs. Harmer therefore, I returned to the charge, "I am so very anxious to see Miss Dalton; can you not give me any idea where I may meet with her?"

"It is altogether out of my power," she replied coldly. "Perhaps you can think of some mutual acquaintance who might be able to assist me?" I added, imploringly.

"The only person at all likely is one of my husband's clerks. He is an old servant, and was once in Mr. Dalton's employhis name is Porter." On farther enquiry we learned that he was living in the very street in which our lodgings were situated, and I begged my father to lose no time in returning thither.

Observing that he needed rest however, I did not attempt to pursue my search farther at that time; but after an early tea I obtained permission to call upon the Porters, and if possible obtain Elizabeth's address. With what success the next chapter must show. S. A.

THE MOUNT,

Newcastle under Lyme.

(To be continued.)

THE USE OF DIFFICULTIES.*

IF a man's convictions are against religion, his irreligion has something of sincerity and manliness about it. But such a case, I imagine, is not to be found. There are thousands it may be, who have no convictions at all on the subject, but I cannot believe, that there is a solitary individual to be found whose convictions are actually against it; they may be against some of the forms which it assumess-its caricatures; but not against its spirit and its essence. Has there lived a man think you, who has had the conviction that it was right to be irreligious —that it was wrong to love excellence-to venerate greatness -to praise goodness and to worship God? I believe not.

* We make this weighty and beautiful extract from the second of a Course of Lectures to Young Men, by the Rev. D. Thomas, of Stockwell. The course, just completed, comprises six eloquent and argumentative Addresses on Religious Decision, all of which are eminently worthy of prayerful attention and study by that class for whose benefit they are intended. ED.