not what I expected from you. I praised you too soon, I am afraid your charitable expressions arise more from pride than good-nature."Perceiving them still silent, she continued: "but even then your coloured frocks would not be your own to do as you liked with; if I give you them to wear, it is my money which must buy others in their stead; and if I buy you clothes to give away, it will be my money and not yours which paid for them; and therefore it would be my gift rather than yours; yet not mine either," added she, "for cannot you tell me from whom all our good things come?"

"Martin says they come from GOD," said Ellen.

"Martin is very right,” replied Mrs. Irvin: "for they certainly are all sent from Him and do you know why He sends them to us in such abundance?"

"That we may do good with them, I believe;" answered Ellen.

"Very true," returned her aunt: " and therefore you see, that it is neither you nor I are to be thanked for what we give away, but GOD, who is the first giver of it, and has commanded us to make this use of it. Do you understand what I mean?”

"Yes, Ma'am," said Ellen, blushing.

"Then you will remember," said Mrs. Irvin, as they entered the garden-gate, "that you have as much reason to be thankful for having it in your power to relieve others, and for the inclination to do so, as they have who receive any benefit through your hands; and it is to GoD you should direct their thanks, as well as your own. You should also pray to Him, that you may never grow proud of what He enables you to do. And now let me kiss both my dear children, for it is to both I speak; and then you may play in the garden till dinner-time."

CHAPTER III.

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"To Thee, first Father, ceaseless praise ascend!
And, in the general hymn, my grateful voice
"Be duly heard."-

MILTON.

THE next day was Sunday.--Mr. Irvin always rejoiced at the return of the Sabbath; but she was grieved to hear the children say, that they had never been to church, and knew not how to answer all their various questions, so as to impress on their minds a proper sense of the duty they were to perform there." You have been used to say your prayers," said she; “and I dare say you have also been taught that, when GoD made the world, He appointed one day in seven to be kept holy in remembrance of it, and which we should devote to His service; for this purpose, we go to church, where we say our prayers with the clergyman, and all the people who meet together; there also we hear the Word of God, and have it explained to us; and those who love GOD, are always very sorry when they cannot attend at His house."

--

"But who is the clergyman?" asked Ellen

"will lie be very angry if we don't mind what he says?"

"You saw him yesterday," answered Mrs. Irvin," Mr Herbert: but you should remember it is to God you are praying, and it is lis Word which Mr. Herbert reads and explains to ns; and therefore it is GoD we should be fearful of offending; because He not only sees all you do, but also knows every thing you think of: and if, while you are kneeling down, and pretending to say your prayers, you are thinking of something else, Mr. Herbert may think you very good girls, while GOD will be justly displeased with you for which reason, if you do not promise to behave very attentively, I don't think 1 can take you; for it would be an offence to GOD."

"O, we will indeed, we will, my dear aunt!" said they both in one voice; " if you will but take us, we will be very good, and remember all you say."

They then went to Martin, impatient to be dressed; telling her, that they were going to church; Martin congratulated them on it, and added her strict injunction, that they were to be very attentive.

When the bell rang, Mrs. Irvin called her young companions, and, taking each by the

hand, she led them to the road: where they met the children of the Sunday-school coming from the village." Are all these little boys and girls going to church too?" said Anna; " and these men and women that are coming the other way? dear! dear! how many people we shall see!"

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"You will not forget" said Mrs. Irvin, “ that GOD is greater than all these people, and that it is of Him we must think :-you are not going to church to look about you, but to learn your duty."

She spoke rather gravely, as she wished to impress them with a serious sense of the service they were going to perform and it had the desired effect; for, when they entered the church, the little girls forbore to notice aloud any thing they saw; and though all was so new to them, they entered the seat, and sat quietly till the service began; when they were very attentive, and joined in every prayer they knew. All the time of the sermon, they kept their eye on Mr. Herbert, and afterwards repeated to their aunt some things he said, calculated to strike their minds.

"I like going to church very much," said Ellen," and hope I shall soon read well enough to carry a book as you do, aunt; then I shall know better what Mr. Herbert is saying."

"I am very glad to hear you say so, my