which some other young girls are required to perform, I only take work out of the hands of servants appointed to do it. If I give to the poor, as I much wish to do, I only give it to those whom my mother has already amply assisted, or would assist, had I not forestalled her. Sometimes I have endeavoured to forget the uneventful course of life I am doomed to lead, by studying hard and taking bodily exercise. But this could never satisfy me for any length of time, as although it is very delightful to acquire fresh knowledge with each succeeding day, still I have always felt, that in the end that was a selfish pleasure, compared with the bright visions I have entertained, of accomplishing some great work for the general good."

"Eleanor,” said I, “ have you the courage to lay aside these enticing visions, and work out steadily the good which lies in your daily pathway? I can discover to you no romantic course, no heroic career, which will make your name famous, but I think I can point out to you some humble duties which you have left unfulfilled, while dreaming of impossibilities."

It would take too long were I to give the full details of this and many other conversations that passed between Eleanor and myself. Suffice it to say that I made it my aim to convince her, that instruction, counsel, and sympathy were frequently of more value than the mere giving of money; and that the conviction of having spent our days in the fulfilment of the duties especially assigned to us by Providence, would prove more satisfactory than the feverish longings and strivings that were so beguiling to her youthful imagination. Eleanor had an excellent understanding, and, what was far better, a kind heart, so that once alive to the duties of her actual position, she devoted herself to their fulfilment with an energy which sometimes required checking, or at any rate guiding. The parish where she resided was so unimportant both in extent and population, that there was neither church nor school in it. True it was under the care of an excellent clergyman, the rector of the adjoining parish; and elder children attended his superior Sunday and week-day schools. But then some had to walk more than a mile, and so none under eight years of age were allowed to attend, and there was no school in their own village for the younger children. When this want was pointed

out to Eleanor, she entertained serious ideas of becoming schoolmistress herself, but was persuaded finally to look out for a good respectable teacher, whose labours she directed, paid, and superintended. On some occasions, indeed, she became instructress herself, and established a Sunday class of those who were too young to attend the distant Sunday school. Once embarked on a career of home usefulness, it was wonderful how many opportunities of doing good, in a quiet unpretending way, presented themselves to her. She became the true friend and valued counsellor of all her poorer neighbours. Her mother's charities had been universal and unfailing, but not systematic. Eleanor first taught the poor around her to lay by a portion of their earnings as something to fall back upon in the time of old age or sickness. She established clothing and coal clubs, drew up the regulations, collected the contributions, and gave an acceptable addition at the end of the year out of her own ample pocket-money. She encouraged a taste for instructive reading in both old and young, and set up a lending library, which has aided the improvement and enlightenment of the poor around.

It is now seven years since we sought together for the partridge's nest, and much has indeed been accomplished by her during that time for the real good of others. Of course she has met with checks and disappointments, but her unfailing energy and earnest desire to do right, have supported her through all. The influence that her character has had in forming those of her younger sisters is most beneficial. Without her vivid imagination, and singular energy, they are conscientious and willing workers in that path of duty, which it required an effort in her to follow; and she herself has long learned to smile at her early ideas of greatness and goodness. The knowledge of having been permitted to do some real good in the state of life" unto which it hath pleased God to call her," is now far more dear to her than the prospect of mere worldly fame. Report says that she will not long remain in her native village, but though the scene will be changed, the character of her duties will remain the same; and while her sisters, taught by her example, will continue to carry out the plans set on foot by her, she, as the wife of a country gentleman, desirous of pro

moting the true interests of the poor around her, will still joyfully labour in those useful, but unromantic paths she formerly undervalued, but now pursues with such benefit to others, and satisfaction to herself.

VERONICA.

A WHISPER TO OUR YOUNG MEN.

WE scarcely ever take up a book, a report, or a paper bearing on the religious movements of the day, without finding it to be eloquent on the infidelity of the time. But we have been so long accustomed to this phraseology, that we begin to doubt whether every age and generation in the history of our country has not been described in similar phraseology. Of one thing, however, we feel thoroughly assured that the increased knowledge now everywhere prevalent, if it do not actually take the form of that which "puffeth up" without edifying, and betray its possessor into a pompous, untractable, self-elated style of thinking, speaking, and writing-affords, at all events, unprecedented opportunities for the development of opinions which seem opposed to the simplicity and teachableness which belong to the really great and good.

We never feared the most open and downright forms of infidelity, as we consider them generally self-defeating. The atheist, for example, has been disposed of for us, in the Word of Truth itself, which calls him, not in the assumption of arrant dogmatism, or the figurative terms of poetry or allegory, but in sober, and advised, and proved truth-"a fool," deficient in the first principles of truth, and consequently without any means of arguing out the shifting, slippery position he has taken up for the sake of a silly notoriety. Of the deist we are not much more afraid. He is compelled so very often to make use, directly or indirectly, of the very book which he affects to despise, and of which he affects so complacent an ignorance, that we can hardly consider him to be enlisted against us. But we really dread those kisses of the enemy, which, whilst they are apparently bestowed in hearty good will, upon the verities of our holy faith, are emphatically deceitful and heartless. And this latter phase of infidelity

seems to be pre-eminently characteristic of our own day. Students, even in our theological colleges, have caught the dangerous infection; and we owe a deep debt of gratitude to the vigilance and fidelity of those who have the rule over them, for detecting, analysing, exposing, and marking with their signal and substantial displeasure, these tendencies in the minds of those who, reversing the good old apostolic rule, would be men in malice, whilst they are but children in understanding.

Turn we, however, to a more grateful subject, and one which derives additional beauty from the contrast we have just brought forward. "The Seventh Report of the Young Men's Christian Association" has been just placed, by the kindness of a friend on the committee, in our hands, and our minds have been powerfully refreshed and cheered by the touching character of its statements, and especially by the spirit of sound, deep, catholic piety that breathes through every line, and developes itself in every fact. From the first page to the last, it is a warm, genial, heart-healing narrative of what enlightened Christianity can do, has done, and is still doing amongst the young men of London and the provinces. "Allprayer" has lost nothing of its virtue since the days of good old Bunyan, and we see it here, in conjunction with high intellect and sterling earnestness, in pulpit and on platform, bringing into the one fold of our common Shepherd, the youth of our own age-the "trustees of the coming generation."

The lectures at Exeter Hall, though not strictly speaking of a religious character, have effected in some known cases, spiritual good. One who had attended them thus writes:

"For some little time I have felt desirous of effecting a change in my course of living. I have gradually become persuaded of the utter sinfulness of a life wherein our Lord Jesus Christ does not occupy the smallest compartment of our heart, and where our worldly desires and pleasures pursue a course totally at variance with his word and example. I have felt a deep necessity to approach Him in humbleness, and to be with him in spirit and in truth. The company of those,

To be had at the Office, 7, Gresham Street, City.

hitherto acceptable and pleasing, I desire to free myself from, and to make an humble member of the Church of Christ. The causes which led to these desires, I thankfully ascribe to the teaching of a mother, who has since sought her rest. I attended lectures at Exeter Hall, delivered in co-operation with the Young Men's Christian Association, by which I derived great benefit; each succeeding lecture confirming my parent's advice, and softening my heart towards my Maker..

"As I frequently spend my Sabbaths at home (Windsor), I have not strict communion with any of the churches of Christ, but am desirous so to do."

An interesting illustration of the mode in which the leaven works, is furnished by another correspondent. More than half a million of these lectures having been printed, their field of usefulness has been almost indefinitely extended.

"In the evening of one of those bright days in August," says this friend," when the sun pours forth unusual glow, and all nature more than smiles, I stopped at a roadside inn. In a few minutes I was in conversation with the landlord, who was a Chistian man. He told me, that when at Bath, some little time before, he saw in a bookseller's window a book of Lectures to Young Men, delivered at Exeter Hall, London; and, after reading it, gave it to his son, and sent to Bath for either four or five more, that he might lend them to the young men, farmers' sons, &c., in the village. The reading the lectures so struck the old man's mind, that he invited several young men to meet at his house for the express purpose of mutual improvement. He further stated that they much enjoyed so meeting. History, the Holy Scriptures, &c., occupied their attention. I told him I had the privilege of being a member of the Association for whom the lectures were delivered. He was delighted, desired to know more of the Association, and said he should go on the more vigorously with the Young Men's Meetings."

Amongst the varied agencies at work for this Society, few have returned void. The tracts destributed by them have in many cases been either suggestive, or directly productive, of great good. A gentleman from the country writes thus of a young