to

"Effie, I try all sorts of things, and sometimes I have a great deal of trouble. But I have a whole list of prescriptions, and when one won't do I try another. And I have been thrown so much upon myself, and have lived so much alone, that I have contracted a habit of talking out loud, which may seem very odd you; but it has become quite a second nature to me. I feel as though I were personating two natures, and I like to believe one is the new principle of good, combating and ruling the old Adam within me. I call up such thoughts as these, and repeat them aloud to the rebellious spirit within-'My Father knows all about it, could He not prevent it? And as He does not, ought it not to be?' Then I think of the ten thousand talents I owe, and the hundred pence look very small beside it. And I remember what contradictions of sinners' Jesus endured, and how we are bid to look unto Him as our example, and it almost seems a privilege then to suffer with Him, for that verse comes with the thought,

H

If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him.' And then I remember how He feels for me, and this thought is the best of all. He Himself suffered, you know, being tempted or tried, and therefore He is able to succour them that are tempted."

"Oh, Helen, this is real help, this goes to the very root of the evil; but go on, I like to hear you."

"Well, dear, if after all this the angry temper is unsubdued, I just betake myself to prayer. I pray to be delivered from my own unkind thoughts; and I pray for my aunt, that God would be pleased to show her how and where she has erred; and I think of her as one for whom the great ransom was paid; and I picture her to myself as she would be, and as I trust she will be, when she is freed from the infirmities of this sinful nature, which cleave to us all. This last prescription is the best, for we must have a higher Power than our own to meet the evil, it is so very hard to subdue."

They walked on for some little time in silence. Effie was thinking over her cousin's words. At length she said

"You know, Helen, you have often told me there is a reason for all things, and I think I begin to see the reason why I was sent here-it was that you might teach me."

"Dear Effie, I think one part of the reason must have been that you might help and cheer me, for you have done both, and made my life so much happier."

"Then I don't care if I stay here the whole winter. How very glad I am you do not think me a trouble! Papa said if anything should oblige him to remain abroad, which he thought very likely, I should go to town in October, and stay with my cousins in Grosvenor Square, but I would much rather be with you till he comes back.".

"Well, dear, there is time enough, and let us both improve and enjoy the present

They soon arrived at Miss Marsh's house, which was approached by a pretty shrubbery, and as they walked through it they observed two or three very old men engaged in weeding the walks. They were kindly welcomed by Miss Judith Marsh, who was superintending some gardening operations on the south side of the house. She was a lady evidently past fifty, below the middle size, and in her dress and outward appearance so unlike the present generation, that she looked as if she belonged to the last century. But there was in her countenance and whole deportment, something which attracted immediate respect, and rivetted the attention so completely, that these small eccentricities were scarcely observable, or, if they were, they seemed almost necessary and sacred appendages to a character consistent in all its parts, and clothed in a simplicity which is as rare as it is beautiful.

"Come in, my dears, and sit down. Ah! I have not seen this young lady before, but 1

have heard of her; very glad to make her acquaintance, and so will my sister be!"

"How is Miss Sarah to-day?" said Helen. "Not so well as usual, my dear; but she will like to see you by and by, when you are rested," and ringing the bell, Miss Judith ordered some hot coffee and cake, which it was always her hospitable custom to do if her visitors had walked any distance.

"You have some very old gardeners at work to-day," said Helen; "we passed them in the shrubbery."

"Oh yes, they are my old men. It pleases them to think they are earning something, and the longer the feeling of independence can be kept up the better. So my

brother thinks."

"But they can hardly do anything, Miss Marsh," said Effie.

"No, my dear, they cannot; but they think they have done a day's work, and the feeling is a happy and a healthful one; and money earnt, you know, is far more pleasure than