Why, you and Helen are a perpetual puzzle to me. You have some talisman about you, and I can't find out what it is, by which you seem to render yourselves independent of outward circumstances. As far as these are concerned, I should feel inclined to pity you both; but instead of that, you are the objects of my perpetual envy and wonder."

Miss Wilson did not immediately reply, and Effie went on-"Here are you-lying, weck after week, often in pain, always in languor, with nothing to vary the monotony of your life but an occasional visitor-all your favourite occupations thrown aside; there is Helen, leading a life which I know is most uncongenial to her, full of little petty worries which would almost drive me wild;-and yet you are both in possession of something so real in the shape of happiness, that I can plainly see it is not touched by any of these outward things."

"It is quite true, dear, we are both happy. Your cousin is happier than I am, because she

is more advanced in the Christian life; but I am endeavouring to press forward, and what should hinder you from coming to the same blessed source of joy. In our Father's house is bread enough, and to spare."

"I am happy," said Effie, musingly, as though she were still following out her own train of thought, "but I have a perpetual and instinctive dread of losing my joy. It seems to rest on no foundation, but to float about me. I think it belongs to my animal nature, and that the first touch of sickness or sorrow would melt it all away. Do you think it would, Miss Wilson ?"

"Why, dear, it might; and at any rate it is unsafe to rest upon a thing so fragile. Life is full of real things, Effie, and Death and Eternity are at the end of it, and they must come, and therefore I am sure that until we can look forward to the future without apprehension; until we have given ourselves up to Jesus without reserve, and realized the fact that He is able and willing to pardon us, to make

us holy, and to answer all demands for us in the great day of account;-until we can do this, there will be no rest for our souls here, much less anything approaching to happiness."

"I don't think I have done this," said Effie. “My life seems to me to have been without aim, but I have never thought much about it. And as to doing good to others, it has never seemed to me possible.”

"Why, dear?"

"I don't know how. Of course I can give money, but this is nothing; and, after all, the gift is not mine, but papa's. But to do good as Helen does, how can I? I cannot teach what I have not learnt. You have no idea how ignorant I am in all those things that Helen knows."

“Well, dear, say you are ignorant, as ignorant as a child, if you will, what hinders you from becoming as wise as Helen? The same blessed Teacher, the Holy Spirit of God, is ready to teach you. You know

there is a promise which says-'If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.' And the lesson book is the same for all-God's Word."

"Yes, I am sure you are right. I have been thinking a good deal about it lately, and wondering why it is, that when Helen and I sit down together to read the Bible, we feel so differently about it. It is always a pleasure to Helen. It is often a task to me."

"It is a sealed book to us all, dear Effic, until God opens our hearts to understand and love it. And He will open yours, if you seek the gift earnestly at His hands, do not doubt it."

They were silent for some minutes; for the subject had solemnized Effie's mind, and her friend was unwilling to break her chain of thought. At length she said, "You were speaking just now about doing good, Effie, and mourning over your want of power; but I be

lieve there is not a being in the universe who may not be an instrument in God's hand for good, if he will."

"Do you think so? I wish I could find out how."

"You have many gifts, dear, and one of the brightest is your glad and joyous spirit. There are very few who possess it in the measure you do, and do you think it was given you for yourself alone ?"

"What can I do with it?" said Effie.

"Bring the gladness of it to bear upon some of the sorrow that is around you. You have beguiled many a tedious hour for me, dear-do the same kind office for others.”

"Have I really been of any use to you, dear Miss Wilson ?" and her eye brightened as she spoke. "I never knew it, and I am very glad; but you know it has been all pleasure on my part-no sacrifice."

"But it will not always be pleasure, at least if you take the view of it which I mean. Look upon this glad spirit of yours as a talent