distracted father; that we may both feel less the loss which we now so deeply deplore. Religion calls, it imperiously demands of me to perform this duty; and it gives me the consolatory assurance that it will fortify my mind against all my own feelings: that by rising superior to my own distresses, I may be better enabled to comfort his days, and so make life desirable to the dearest, the best of fathers; to him who has no such source from which he can derive a balm to heal his wound who has yet to learn the efficacy of that gracious dispensation, by which in due time every tear is wiped off every eye;' to him, who knows not that his sorrow may be converted into joy who is not assured, like the pious David, that he can go whither his son is gone before; to that son who, however we may grieve for his loss, would unwillingly change perfect and eternal bliss for imperfect, temporary, and visionary happiness. Alas! alas! my father's agony must be dreadful for he has no such alleviation as our religion affords its followers:—he has nothing that can extract the sting which death inflicts." And she fell upon her father's neck in excess of affectionate tenderness.

:

"My dearest, my beloved daughter," said

Lorraine, as he raised her, while he wiped away his tears, "surely God has given you to be a ministering angel to bring me to his presence. If Christianity, my dear girl, as our friend was so feelingly going on to assert, can afford such relief in these bitter necessities, as your present conduct proves may be derived from it; if it can bring such soothing reflections as you deduce from it; if it can impress courage on one, otherwise so timid and alive to fear, while the want of it enervates the strong and hardy; if it can make you trample upon your own sufferings, that you may more efficiently discharge your duties to a frail and ungodly parent like myself what is there that I can more ardently desire than to participate in these benefits with yourself? Lead me, therefore, my beloved child, to this great and pure fountain of happiness, that I may drink, deeply drink, of its waters. My good friend here must assist me, (and I know he will,) to complete that change of sentiment which his reasoning had already begun to excite in me, ere the severe, yet merciful dispensation of Providence, taught me that it was my duty to strive to acquire that religious wisdom which guides him

in his useful passage through life. Oh, show me, my friend, the path which leads to another world; and give me, from it, a prospect of its transcendent glories: for with Maria, now my sole companion, I will endeavour to pursue it. From this time I renounce Nature as my guide : henceforth I will seek the conduct of one infallible!" So saying he hurried out of the

room.

"I have now to contend," said Maria, "with feelings directly opposite to each other, - grief for the heavy affliction that has befallen us, and joy that it should have produced such a happy, such an unlooked for, effect as this."

your own and

"Ah, my dear Miss Lorraine," said the Doctor," this is only one instance out of innumerable others in which I have witnessed the mercy of the Almighty, who, out of evil, knows how to produce good. Do you continue to strive to alleviate your father's sufferings, and to follow up these impressions which have been made upon his mind. I shall set out at a very early hour to-morrow morning for the University, and I will there stand in the place of your father. - God bless you

you!"

33

THE MERCHANT'S FAMILY.

DR. FREEMAN was sitting in his library at breakfast, grappling with a learned author upon the knotty subject of some profound piece of theology, when he was roused from his abstraction by a rap at his door, and by the entrance of his friend Mr. Trustwell, a merchant.

"If you are not particularly engaged, Doctor," said he, "I am desirous of having a little conversation with you. I want to ask your advice upon something that materially interests me; and I apply to you with confidence, because it is a matter in which you have already rendered me essential service. You know very well that my two sons, Alexander and Vincent, were destined by me, the one for my own business, the other for a sailor; but in consequence of Vincent's delicate state of health, I have been compelled to alter my original intentions respecting him: and, through your recommendation, I have given both him and his brother an academical education, before I left them at liberty to make choice of a profession. Yester

day, upon their return home after having taken their degrees, we entered upon the subject; and it led to a long discussion, the result of which was, that Alexander has given the preference, as I hoped he would, to the offer I have made him of taking him into our firm; but Vincent has formed the resolution of entering the Church. Now, I think, for one whose general health is not very good, the retired duties of a clergyman are those which are peculiarly suitable to him; but, unfortunately, he has taken what I consider to be an unhappy twist in his opinions, and I am altogether at a loss to know what to do, whether to comply with his inclinations or not. If I yield to them, I am giving a direct sanction to the propagation of principles which I directly disapprove if I do not accede to them, I am equally unable to determine what to do; for his health will not admit of an active line of life, and his mind will probably not incline to it."

"But," replied Dr. Freeman, "what grounds have

you for thinking that he entertains the peculiar sentiments to which you allude?"

66

Why, Alexander has given us a detailed account of their general proceedings during their