my new dairy maid, seems a very well-disposed girl, and it is quite surprising how temperate they all are; my butcher's bills are positively nothing compared to what other people's amount to. My cook tells me she does not encourage them in eating meat, for they never get it at home, and don't require it. She makes them good wholesome puddings of the second flour, and bread with a little potatoe mixed in it, and never restricts them to quantity She is a most invaluable person to me, and so careful about every thing. She is quite a mother to the rest. I hear her of an evening setting one of the girls to read, while the others work, and sometimes she reads to them herself. She never suffers any one to call upon them, unless she knows them, and they never go out without telling her where they go, and whom they see. I was glad the other day to hear her reproving Sarah for singing a foolish song, and I sent her a hymn book, for I thought if the girl must sing about her work, she might learn some of the hymns; the next day I was surprised to hear her voice louder than before, in the very tune that cook had condemned, but on sending for her to hear what it was, I found that the girl, knowing no sacred airs, and perhaps not understanding the difference, was singing her old tunes to the

words of the hymns I had given her. I was afraid that they might wish to go and see the balloon that attracted so many of the worldly people last week, but they none of them mentioned it to cook, though I dare say the most of their friends were there. I was very much pleased with them, and indeed I found from cook, that when the mountebanks were in the town, and they happened to be there, they never thought of going near, though they were within sight; all this looks well, and like the conduct of persons whose hearts are set on better things."

The lady and gentleman seemed fully to agree in her opinions; the latter asked how Mrs. Harding and Miss Conroy had liked their evening. Her sister, she was sure, had enjoyed it much; she always liked every thing of that kind. Miss Conroy she hoped had also been gratified; but she was hardly able to say, for her young friend she feared had some peculiarities. "Ah! she appears very good-natured, but I should think inclined to conform too much to the manners and appearance of the world."

"I don't know that I should exactly say that of her," replied the hostess, "knowing her real character as I do; she is certainly not sufficiently aware of the importance of attending to

what she would call indifferent points; but she is deeply interested in religion itself, and would, I believe, make any sacrifices, if she saw it needful, to promote its interests. She has also lived a good deal among worldly people, many of her nearest relatives being quite dark; and I fear she may have been somewhat infected; but we hope to see her recover from this. She is unfortunately allowed to live too much with an uncle who is in a very dark state, and this must be a great hindrance to the advance of religion; but I mean to speak seriously to her on the subject before we part. She is not obstinate in her opinions, and does not take any thing amiss that is said to her. By the bye, she did not go out with my sister, I'll inquire if she is in the house."

Mary was terribly afraid that her retreat would be discovered. She heard the housemaid tap at the drawing-room door, a custom that was usual in this establishment. Her mistress desired her to come in, and bid her go and see if Miss Conroy was in the house. As soon as the door was closed the conversation was renewed, and her whole toilette brought under the consideration of the party. Between the embarrassment of hearing herself discussed

I

in detail, and the dread of being summoned from her retreat, she felt quite annoyed; and looking from the window, preferred risking her ancles to remaining any longer in such a situation. She therefore lifted the sash quietly, and making a spring, succeeded in gaining the ground uninjured.

Now she was at liberty to reflect upon what she had heard. She looked herself over (as the term is), and being, as we have said, of a cheerful and lively spirit by nature, she could not help laughing at the distinction her dress had gained. She was often ridiculed among her friends for wearing her clothes so long, and her yearly bills were never beyond a very moderate amount; and satisfied that neither in quality, quantity, nor value, she exceeded the bounds of propriety in her wardrobe, her next inquiry was upon the offending deportment alleged. She was by nature of a cheerful and buoyant disposition, inclined to see every thing in its best colours, and seldom given to depression. Now that her thoughts and affections centered in heaven, was it necessary to subdue all these feelings, and to look gloomy and sad, when she had new motives for cheerfulness, and fresh incentives to happiness? She thought

not. Had her occasional residence with her uncle proved injurious to her advance in religion; as they concluded? She considered the point attentively, and decided that since she had been, from outward circumstances, compelled to look for and rely on the Spirit's teaching alone, her views had become considerably enlarged, and she trusted that her progress in the divine life had also proportionably increased. She felt assured that her chief desire and heart's prayer was, that her relative, so kind and parental in his care of her, might be found in "the Bundle of life" at the last day. Was she, while exculpating herself from every charge alleged against her, incurring a still heavier one by self-justification and pride? She considered the subject calmly, but thought there was no merit in that sort of humility which seems to meet censure, even when it is undeserved. She felt, on the other hand, that had her judges possessed a little more discernment, they might have touched on sins and errors against which she durst not have lifted her eyes in disavowal; but happily none but the mind of Omnipotence could read the secrets of the heart, and He had said, He would cast her sins behind Him, and remember her transgressions no more. Com