wanderer not bound to hasten homeward, lingered involuntarily on the bridge which spanned the scene below, and among such came a youth of respectable appearance, and just then of thoughtful countenance, who, after gazing right and left, chose a spot at a distance from all observers, and, planting his arm upon the parapet, leaned over apparently to watch a boat shooting through an arch, or to note the ripples that played softly against the piers. He stood until all others, discerning but little more to attract in the deepening twilight, had retired; and still he stood, until the moon shed her silver light from the deep blue sky, and few distinct sounds disturbed his reverie, save the clang of a chain as a boatman moored his bark, or the roll of a carriage over the bridge behind him. What could thus absorb the attention, and occupy the mind of David Carver? Certainly nothing visible to his bodily eyes; but to his earnest mental gaze, an object dear to his heart was distinctly and influentially present.

Many, many leagues away, the little sitting-room in his dear old home is pictured to his imagination. The window is open, and a gentle evening breeze, laden with the perfume of flowers, fans the snowy curtain, and refreshes the calm pale face of one who sits near it. Before the window is a little table just large enough to bear a great open volume, on the page of which rests the hand of his widowed mother, as unable to read further, she has taken off the spectacles suddenly bedimmed with loving tears, and looking up to the sky, where a star or two begins to twinkle, she prays to the God "whose eyes are in every place beholding the evil and the good," for her absent boy.

If he could hear her speak, there might be the faintest tremor in her voice, but the smile would play round her lip, hope would sparkle in her eye, for faith in the pledged word of a covenant-keeping God was warm and active at her heart. Thus he had seen her on the last Sabbath | evening they had spent together, when her earnest counsels accompanied the maternal blessing, and deeply touched by the tenderness of the being who loved him best on earth, and the nearness of the hour of separation, David had

knelt by her side, and earnestly promised to remember and to do as she desired.

"I will not exact too many promises from you, my son," she had said, "but there is one which I could desire to invest almost with the sacredness of a vow. Its fulfilment might prove a blessing; its neglect must assuredly lead to evil and sorrow. It is this, that wherever you are, however situated, tempted, or beguiled by the sophistries which sometimes make evil appear good, and good evil, you resolutely keep holy the Sabbath-day."

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Oh, mother!" he had exclaimed, "surely you do not think I could so far forget the habits and training of childhood and youth as to become a Sabbath-breaker."

"Not at once, David; I am sure it would cost your conscience many a pang before you could become habitually negligent of the whole of the Lord's day. But you have known few temptations at home. You have supported your mother's steps to the house of God ever since she was bereaved of her best earthly friend, and one of his dying charges on your behalf was this,' Teach our boy to reverence the whole of the Sabbath-day. It is not his, not an hour of it, for ordinary work, or thought, or pleasure. It is a link between fallen man and the great Father, who waits to be gracious in pardoning love through his risen and interceding Son. It is a clue, amidst the labyrinths of sin, by which man may retrace his wandering steps towards his forsaken home; and he who reverences and keeps the Lord's day is at least in the way to meet the offered blessing of the Lord himself.' And now David, you are going where many consider all days alike, or, if there be a difference, they make Sunday the most profane and godless of the seven. Many, too, devote an hour or two to formal prayer, and claim the rest for their own amusement. Places of entertainment will entice you on every side, but oh, be never beguiled to enter one of them on a Sabbath-day: for if you have not opportunity to enjoy such recreation or amusement without breaking God's command, neither benefit nor pleasure can result. On the contrary, the benefit and the blessing are lodged in self

denying obedience; for it is written, 'If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.' If the Lord God set apart one day out of seven to be peculiarly hallowed when man was innocent and happy, how much more is it needful now, when man is fallen and miserable, and all around him tends to withdraw his mind from Him to whom 'belong mercies and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against him.' He who keeps the Sabbath is constrained to obey another precept: 'Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth; while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh,' when 'man goeth to his long home,' dust returning to the earth as it was, and the spirit unto God who gave it.' Once more, my son, if I may add a lower motive, the Sabbath-day will remind you of your mother, of her prayers and hopes for you; and now dare she ask you to promise to keep it holy?" "Yes," he had earnestly answered, "I do promise." "Not lightly, my son. Let us count some possible, nay, probable cost, a fierce struggle with some wayward will, of the strength of which you are not yet aware; the friendship of some admired companion, whose views may seem more enlarged, whose education you may deem more liberal than your own; the laugh of some mocking jester, who scoffs at God's authority as an old fable, and recognises no law but his own choice; the charge of hypocrisy, self-righteousness, fanaticism. Could you bear all this

for Christ's sake ?"

replied, with a 'If sinners en

"I could bear it, mother, for your sake." "Then the Lord help thee higher," she gentle sigh; "be it so, bear it for my sake. tice thee, consent thou not;' it would grieve your mother." All this, and much more, had passed vividly through

the young man's mind, as he leaned on the parapet of the bridge that Saturday night; and as the clocks struck ten, startling him into a recollection of the fast flying hours, he dropped his head upon his hands, and half murmured to himself, "It would grieve my mother; no, mother, I cannot, I will not go." Then brushing away a salutary tear, he darted off with the speed of an arrow, and paused not until he gained the door of a house, where stood a young man a few years his senior, with his hands in his pockets, lounging against the door-post, smoking a cigar.

“Ah, Carver,” he cried, as David came up, “is it you? Glad to see you. Come in and take a puff."

"No, I thank you," replied David; "but I am glad to find you at home, for I wished to tell you that I have changed my mind, or rather my intention about accompanying you to-morrow. I shall not go."

"And why not? Of course you have a good reason for disappointing me, and breaking your word."

"I am sorry to cause you any disappointment, though indeed my vanity did not suggest that possibility; but I do not remember to have pledged my word; it was rather a sort of silent consent, more weak and foolish though, I admit."

"But your reason, man, your reason," impatiently demanded the other.

"It satisfies myself, Horton, but I do not conclude it will be equally satisfactory to you, therefore it is needless to inquire."

"This is ungentlemanly," cried Horton hastily; but seeing, in the lamplight, the expression of David's countenance, he changed his tone, and added, "Forgive me, Carver, I mean it is unfriendly, unkind, when you know my desire for your company and your own enjoyment. May I not claim your confidence on this little matter!"

"I wish your reason could influence you, Horton, and in hope that it may from the kind feeling you have shown towards me, I will give it. I faithfully and solemnly promised my mother, when I parted from her, that I would reverence the Sabbath-day. We were intending to break

it to-morrow, and the recollection of her wishes and my promise deters me."

"Ah, I see," said Horton, repressing the sneering laugh which had almost burst forth; "but come in and let us talk it over. I can soon show you your good mother's mistake, in withholding from the Deity the acceptable offering of your enjoyment of his works in creation, and the uses to which they have been applied by the ingenuities of art. We can worship too, more freely under the blue sky than within the crowded walls of churches. But if you are so scrupulous, you can go and say your prayers first, if you please, for we shall not start until noon."

"How long is a day ?" asked David quietly.

"A day! Why, from morning till night, I suppose." "It is written, 'Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy.' I am decided, Horton, and, with many thanks for your intended kindness, I must say good night."

"Stop, stop, Carver! you may never have such an opportunity again. I do really wish you to see this wonderfully beautiful place, and if you will go with me to-morrow, I will never interfere with your mother's wishes again. Come, oblige me this once, and remember that your company may be useful to me. I may go to church to please you next Sabbath.”

This was plausible. Horton was a talented, fascinang companion. What if he could be led to a more serious way of life. Surely one concession,-even his mother might yield this-his mother! Ah, no! his uncompromising mother never did evil that good might come. Happy remembrance! "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not, it would grieve your mother;" and turning full towards Horton,-the wavering moment had passed, and with one more steady and gentle refusal, David bade him good night. His step was not so rapid as to prevent the shrill whistle and loud laugh of the tempter from reaching his ear, and then the bang of disappointment and vexation which was inflicted on the unconscious door. On reaching his lodgings, David found one of the officials