fore delay complying with your request, till the beginning of the next season.

You shall certainly have the privilege, said Mr. P. and my good wishes and help beside. On hearing this, Charles for the first time since he came to table, ventured to look boldly up, and met the brightened countenance of Prudentia full in his eye. Prudentia's cheeks put on the color of scarlet, and Charles' eyes made a precipitate retreat.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

THE time having arrived for their proposed visit to the Gen's. all things were put in readiness, and they set out early in September. The weather was delightful, and the scene enchanting, The brown stubble, and the second growth of luxuriant grass, evidenced the satisfactory reward of the husbandman's toil. The corn, approaching to ripeness, gave proof of industry and skill in the art of husbandry, and made the former smile in prospect of the coming harvest. Apples, pears, peaches, plumbs, and the clustering grape; some painted with a virgin-blush, others with the azure of the sky, others adorned with a golden dress, or clad in the forsaken green, or striped like the flag of liberty, hung at every extended bough. The soft, salubrious zephyrs of the west, already carried with them the exquisite flavor of the ripe and ripening fruit. The spring flowers had faded, but in 'their places were now seen the ready embryos for the succeeding year.

How various, how delightful the scene, said Charles; one cannot but see, and acknowledge the Creator's bounty. He has crowned the year with plenty; he has made abundant provision for man and beast. What cause of gratitude, what motives to obedience!

True, said Mr. P. but seed time and harvest have become such common blessings, but few seem to think them the gifts of God; or, that they are under any obligation to be thankful. Many lose all sense of the mercies of God, and murmur against him; because all their imaginary wants are not overnowingly supplied.

Mrs. P. remarked, infinite wisdom knows best, what to give, and what to withhold. When men have all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, it must be highly criminal to find fault with God, because he sees best to deny them of things which make nothing to real comfort.

By far the greatest part, said Charles, of the things we complain for want of, are the mere wants of imagination; and could they be possessed, they would not contribute to our enjoyment; but, perhaps, blunt our appetites for real comforts, shorten the period of life, and make that period much less desirable. Gratitude, for blessings bestowed, is a real intellectual enjoyment, becoming a dependant creature, and is deserved by his Benefactor; but ungrateful murmuring drinks up every enjoyment.

Were men, said Prudentia, but temperate in their desires, and would they apply what is layed out in luxuries to the relief of the needy, the happiness of human society might be greatly increased. But some men are so accustomed to think they have an indisputable right to lay out as they please, whatever they possess; they will not retrench a single superfluity, to administer to their wants.

Such men, said Charles, must deprive themselves of happiness, many ways, even in this life, and can have no well grounded hope of happiness in the life to come. Although I grant, that temperance, or giving to the poor, will not entitle men to heaven; yet, when men are both intemperate and covetous, it is a certain evidence they are not prepared for the refined enjoyments of the heavenly state.

They were going on with their conversation, when they came in sight of a house, at which was a gathering of people. When they came to the place, they learned that it was the funeral of a widow's only son. He had been for some months absent at sea; but having returned, the fond mother was every hour expecting to embrace him, when, to her great disappointment, and inexpressible grief, he was brought home a lifeless corpse; having fallen overboard and drowned. Poor woman, said their informant, she is quite beside herself. He was a promising, dutiful son, the only support of her old age, gone suddenly and unexpectedly in the morning of life, to the world of spirits.

They left the carriage to the care of the servant, and entering the house, saw her in an agony of grief. Her tears were abundant, all the wildness of intemperate sorrow was

seen in her couutenance, and her words, which were interrupted by the most distressing sighs, declared not only how much she felt her loss, but how much she needed christian resignation.

The minister had arrived to perform his sacred duties on the occasion, and was sitting by her attempting to alleviate her sorrows, and lead her to a dependence on God and a submission to his will. He owned her affliction great, but said, the grace of God was sufficient for her; and if she would attend rightly to the affliction, she might see in it a father's care and kindness. God, said he, has thus afflicted

you, to make you a partaker of his holiness.

But all this, and much more which he said, was to little purpose; he therefore desisted, and offered up to God a fervent and appropriate prayer; which availed as little as the conversation. When her son was carried out, she burst into loud distracted lamentations. Here our visitors left them to pursue their journey..

When they were again on their way, Mrs. P. said, what an evidence have we seen of the importance of possessing that religion, which reconciles the soul to God and gives it submission to his will. Though religion does not reduce the mind to a stoical insensibility, or divest it of any of the tender and social affections, yet it binds or sanctifies the un-ruly passions, harmonizes the powers, and imparts peace and quietness to the soul. I had the trial of parting with a be-loved child, before I experienced the effect of religion, and the same trial has been repeated since; and I know there is a vast difference in the feelings of the mind, under the two situations. In the first case, I was almost inconsolable, and had no refuge for my troubled spirit; but in the second, though I did not love my child less, yet I loved my God: more; and an assurance, that he, who gave, had a just right: to take, and would sanctify it to my soul's eternal good, gave me a comfort and good hope, which I cannot well describe.. In every state of life, said Charles, religion is really need ed. The sons of prosperity, need it, to shew them the source of their prosperity, to keep them grateful, humble, and liberal; the sons of adversity stand in peculiar need of it, to inspire them with patience, resignation, and a lively hope of immortality. The aged should possess it, to bear them up under the infirmities of age; and that their setting sun may o down with brightness; and the youth, that their feet slide

not in the way of destruction; but are directed in the way of holiness. To the rich, religion would be a peculiar trea sure, and prevent trusting in uncertain riches, and lead to trust in the living God; and if the poor in this world were rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, they could rejoice in hope of an enduring substance. Were rulers to live under its influence, they would be God's ministers; a terror to evil doers, a praise to those that do well; and subjects guided by it, need not be afraid of their power; but leading quiet lives in all godliness and honesty they would be an ornament to religion, and a blessing to mankind. Nor can ministers and people, husbands and wives, parents and children, masters and servants, any more dispense with its vital influence and holy consolations.

What a pity, said Prudentia, that so few can be persuaded to seek for this invaluable blessing.

We ought, my dear, said Mr. P. so to live before them, as to afford conviction, that religion is the sovereign good. It is much to be lamented, that among many, who profess faith in Christ, there may be seen the same pride and extravagance, the same worldly mindedness and covetousness, the same vanity and irreligious conversation, the same murmuring and discontent; which are to be found among those, who make no pretensions to the religion of the gospel.

I feel, said Prudentia, that the desire I have for the salvation of souls; is a powerful inducement to me, to live in conconformity to the gospel. I am willing men should approve my Christian walk, and should feel pain if they had just reason to disapprove; but at the same time I have a conviction, that to gain the applause or shun the disapprobation of men, are very trifles in my view, when compared to the desire I feel, that God may be glorified and souls saved.

I doubt not, said Mrs. P. but every Christian feels the worth of souls and the honor of his God to lie near his heart; and, that these and others are leading motives of his upright walk and godly conversation.

This conversation was broken off abruptly, by the sight of a house enveloped in flames. They hastened to the spot, and found to their regret, it was the habitation of a religious couple, whose all was contained in it; even the darling of their souls, a promising son of two years old; whose cries had just ceased in the midst of the devouring fire. But the love of God and Christian resignation reigned in their hearts.

They had parental feelings; but they were sanctified.They felt the stroke, the smart was severe; for the wound was deep; but they were still, and owned the righteous hand of God. They spake; but not with murmuring lips or from a murmuring heart. The tear stole down their cheeks, the involuntary sigh burst from their bosoms, for they were human beings as well as Christians. They left the smoking ruins and the ashes of their beloved child with a firm persuasion, they had a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens; and, that God would revive the ashes of their son with immortal vigor.

Mr. P. and those with him returned again to the carriage, with sorrow and delight. They were convinced of being made for sympathy; and felt it in all its refinement and strength. But to see the power of grace, the good effects of religion, was to them a subject of unutterable delight. This happy bleeding of sorrow and joy is peculiar to the saints; it shall not extend beyond this life for sorrow shall have no place in heaven.

What a train of providences, events, and circumstances, said Charles, have I witnessed since I left my father's house; I am reproved, admonished, instructed, and delighted.

No considerable time of our life passes, said Mr. P. without affording something worthy of notice, and from which a serious and reflecting mind may not draw some good.

I have often thought, said Charles, when reading the writings of the evangelists, of the examples set us by Christ; by which we are instructed to employ almost every occurrence of human life as a teacher of wisdom and piety.

The approach of a beggar, who asked alms, gave a turn to. the conversation. He bore all the marks of extreme poverty, and seemed to have a just claim on their liberality. They administered to his necessities, and added religious advice. He received the whole with tears of thankfulness.

We see, said Mr. P. how variously God has dispensed his. gifts. Some have a capacity to lay and execute the most successful schemes, and gain an abundance; others, though they seem blest with good forethought and lay their schemes well, are always blasted in their designs. You will meet with men, who undertake every thing at a disadvantage, and succeed in nothing; always laborious, always afflicted, always poor. Beauty and proportion are allotted to some persons; while others are homely and deformed. One possesses ickness of thought, sound judgment, just taste, an extensive