If Constance had flattered herself that, when she ceased to read at the sight of the first signs of supper, she might, perchance, be favored with some small expression of thanks, or with what, to a reader, is sometimes more agreeable, some indication from the auditors that she had excited some interest-if she had so flattered herself, she was to be disappointed, for the very first words which were uttered after she had closed her last volume, were, "Oh! Mrs. Norman, to think that I should not have told you before, that the everlasting green velvet bonnet, Miss Pilkington's green velvet bonnet, has actually appeared again-for the fourth winter, I could swear,—with coqliquot trimmings, and something like peonies of the same color, set round her poor sunk cheeks!"

"You do not say so, Mrs. Martha," was the reply on the part of Mrs. Norman, "she would have done better to have selected a wreath of everlastings."

"Nay! nay, Mrs. Norman," was Mrs. Martha's answer, "you must not expend your wit on such a thread-bare subject as that old bonnet."

If Mrs. Norman again answered, it does not appear that anything was said worthy of repetition. Constance had taken up her needlework, and being no more referred to, was very soon engaged in some thoughts of home, and what was going on there.

Now, inasmuch as an indifference, or want of sensitiveness to such sort of little checks to a person's feelings-such sort of too common rudenesses, constantly shewn to those who, like Constance, are desiring to do others good, very rarely fail of giving sharp, though sometimes only transient pain, it ought to be explained how it was that that the little sting did not smart even for a few minutes in the case of Constance, for it is not pretended that she naturally differed from other human beings. The case was this, that the lessons of holy obedience conveyed to her by her parents had been received into her mind through the divine grace in such pure simplicity, that no other motive but that of the straightforward desire of accomplishing any divine purpose or work set before her, as well as it might be done by such poor means as she had at command, was allowed to mix itself with what she did. At least, there was less alloy in the fine gold of

her obedience, than is commonly evidenced even in some of the noblest christian characters. It was on this simple obedience that the true courage of this young girl was established. It was a permanent feeling with her-one inspired almost from babyhood—that, if her divine and human parents smiled on what she did, it was enough; the approval or disapproval of others being not to be brought into calculation.

The evening passed without family prayer, or any reference to other than the most trifling subjects, some of which were renewed by Mrs. Norman at breakfast, as if they carried no small weight and interest in her mind. After breakfast, the old lady commenced and carried on, perchance for more than an hour and a half, the same sort of busy idleness which Blanche had observed during the first morning of her own visit. These small businesses or pastimes (taking this last term in its most liberal sense) consisted in frequent examinations of the weather without doors, and the passengers in the street, with sundry exclamatory comments on the figures cut by these last; the more serious business of arranging the toys and trinkets on the various tables and shelves, filling up the intervals There was this toy to be dusted with an old silk handkerchief, and that, with a fine rag; this to be puffed at, and that to be brushed. This labor was accompanied with many lamentations, and self condolences; as for example, “I declare that one could almost keep a beggar's child with the trouble and expence of all these things. When a friend gives one a costly trinket, one must have it repaired when any thing happens to it, and one must not receive such things without making a proper remuneration; and there is not a servant one can trust to dust them. As Mrs. Martha says, there has never come up a more costly and troublesome custom, than this, of making a drawing room, a toy shop."

Constance thought, then why do you do it? But she restrained herself from speaking the thought; she did well, for nothing weakens such influence as she hoped to use, more than a pragmatical interference with unimportant matters, especially of a younger with an elder person. How long these labors of Mrs. Norman might have continued is not known, (for it is one of the properties of such unprofitable works that they are never done,) had not a servant entered with a newspaper. Mrs. Norman

immediately sat down, and putting on her spectacles, turned impatiently to the columns of country news, for she was no politician, though very much of a gossiping news-monger. Having looked for a moment on the desired articles, she threw the paper down, saying, “It is in vain, I cannot distinguish a word." She however took the paper up again, and was making another trial, when Constance, who if at that moment she were not deeply touched with pity, was no partaker in the spirit of him who sympathised with all, said, “You must let me be your eyes, dear aunt; what else have I to do, but to wait upon you and serve you.”

Mrs. Norman's countenance brightened up, and handing the paper to her niece, she said, “Well then, my dear niece, you will give me the news."

"Yes, aunt,” replied Constance, “I will read the news to you as long as you like, only you must let me chose that news which is of most importance, lest any one should come in to interrupt us.” "As you will;” replied Mrs. Norman, as she took off and wiped her glasses, and settled herself in her chair.

"I will not come on you with a surprise dear aunt,” said Constance, laying aside the paper, and taking up her Bible; "you have given me leave to read the best news first, and what news can be better than the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. I must begin with these; and then, if you desire it, the tidings of the kingdoms of the world. You will not be offended with me, aunt, if I use no reserve but confess in all respect, and I trust humility, that I dare not do otherwise in obedience to my Lord and Saviour, than use the opportunities now given me; now especially, when your own eyes fail you, to read that Holy Book to you, in which we as dying creatures can only find the sources of real hope and joy."

"Your father has told you, I presume, Constance," replied Mrs. Norman, in that sort of choking tone which betrayed no trifling storm within, "that I am not a religious woman; I hope he is mistaken," she added, with a short uneasy laugh, "but that is not to the point. He probably allowed Blanche to come at my request, hoping that she might make a convert of me, but finding that the sweet gentle girl had not the spirit to try any such thing, he brought you with better hopes. Well! be it so; of course I cannot object to any thing which you may

do me the favor to read to me; poor purblind creature, that I am."

She was going on, when Constance promptly thanking her for the permission, proceeded immediately from where she had left off, in the Gospel of St. John, the evening before; reading clearly and deliberately, and even stopping at the end of two chapters, to ask if she should proceed, or turn to the newspaper?

Mrs. Norman had taken up the comforter she was knitting, and to judge by the tone in which she answered, As you please, of course one cannot hear too much of the Scriptures: though one has read and heard them from babyhood, they must always be new;” she had fallen into a state of calm satisfaction, and was not in the least irritated. At least Constance, who was particularly sharp-sighted in these things, so understood the matter, and in consequence added several more chapters before she turned to the newspaper.

Some might ask, "Does or can the Bible profit, where and when it is forced in such a manner as that above described on an unwilling hearer ?" The answer is "Can there be a chance of kindling a heap of dead and damp fuel, by withholding the flame of the candle from it; does not the person whose business is to set it to burn, apply the fire in this and that direction, and aid its kindling with his breath?" But they who would put this question, know not the power of the Divine Word.

It was a peculiar beauty in the character of Constance, that she was generally a modest, retiring, and very conceding person in all matters which did not affect her obedience to the divine will, as far as she was enabled to see it. The youthful, cheerful, active, and obliging deportment of Constance, invited the affection of her elders, even when they were most angry with the steadiness with which she made it impossible for them to resist her, when she had what she judged a duty to fulfill. For she was not left by her heavenly Father to make one backward step. As she had begun a morning and evening scripture reading, so she went on with both; though for some days entirely on sufferance, and without the smallest encouragement from either of her auditors; till at length Mrs. Martha one day said, just as they were settling down after tea, "Well, Miss Constance, I cannot but say that yesterday I was touched as I don't remember being before, just in the same way any how; with your chapter of the

Good Shepherd. I never observed, till then, how many other passages in Scripture there are where our Lord is pointed to as a shepherd, and we as the sheep. Suppose, my dear, this being Sunday night, you pick out and read some of these passages to us,—that is, if Mrs. Norman is agreeable."

Mrs. Norman however was not agreeable; though she went not beyond her cold “As you please;" on the occasion.

No persons, but those who have studied the scriptures with the light from on high, can know how rich it is in every subject; every view of life; and of things which can come under human consideration. Hence, both the old ladies were astonished at the various passages, touching the shepherd's craft, which Constance Mrs. Martha's mouth was was enabled to bring forward.

opened in wonder at herself, that all these things should be in the Scriptures, and she never have found them out.

But how were these things working with the more intellectual, the more stubborn, the more self-sufficient Mrs. Norman ? Though this lady had hitherto shewn herself as little more than a mere trifler, there had long abode within her breast a strong determination to oppose the truth, as it had often and often been pressed upon her by her brother; and absolutely to reject the doctrine of justification by faith, as utterly overthrowing every idea of human merit. Any one watching her would have said, “The poor girl, her niece, is spending her breath in vain as far as her aunt is concerned." And not so only during the first days and weeks of her residence with her, but even to the end of the two months; during the whole course of which Constance received no manner of encouragement; no not one word of comment or remark on her Scripture reading; and was even actually met with a denial in every attempt which she made to get family prayers introduced.

Had the young lady looked for any evidence of her labors, any reward of any kind for her services, she must have returned to her home completely disappointed; but so clearly was she enabled this passage, "Paul planteth, to comprehend and live upon Apollos watereth, but God giveth the increase,” that she was ready to pass on to other acts of obedience, without the slightest relaxation of her holy courage-to God give all the glory. Amen. M. M. S.