"On the table lies her Bible, with these lines written on the fly-leaf by her mother:

'Accept, my child, this better part,
And bind its precepts to thy heart:
When every other hope shall fail,
The word of God will yet prevail.''

"I like Ruth! She had those pictures because they were about a namesake, I dare say. Ruth is a pretty name."

"It is the hour of prayer, and the household is assembled. The farmer, his wife, his daughter, and his two sons are at the upper end of the room; while George the bailiff, John the carter, William the shepherd, Ralph the cowherd, with two lads and two maidservants, are in a half-circle at the end of the table. Some of the men have on smockfrocks and heavy hobnailed shoes; but the Searcher of hearts, the Trier of the reins, regardeth not these things with him the lowly apparel that covers a humble heart is better than the crimson and purple garments of a king. The word of the Most High has been read, the farmer has sounded his pitch-pipe, and now his full, deep, bass voice, and the soft, clear tone of his daughter Ruth, are mingling with the voices of the assembled throng, in the words

:

'All people that on earth do dwell,

Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
Him serve with fear, his praise forth tell,
Come ye before him and rejoice.

They now all bow down together before the throne of grace. Thanksgivings are offered for all their mercies; prayers are preferred for the blotting out of all their sins through the atoning blood of the Redeemer, and petitions are presented for the Holy Spirit's grace, and the supply of all their wants, in the prevailing name of Jesus Christ. As they rise from their knees, they are all serious and peaceful."

"I can see them all: the farmer in his brown coat and buff waistcoat, with his wife and daughter; and some of the men in smockfrocks and heavy hobnailed shoes."

"This picture of the time of prayer is the last farm-house picture I shall give you now. Whether in town or country, it is a good thing to 'pay our vows unto the Most High,' and to give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; because his mercy endureth for

Farmers are not mindful enough of God, nor thankful enough for his goodness-The fold-yard-The threshing machineFeeding the poultry-A noisy scene-Ruth's new book. "MORE pictures, father! more pictures! I say drawing without a pencil for ever!"

"My country pictures seem to suit you, Edwin. You had some of the farm-house last time; suppose I now draw you some of the farm-yard?"

"Yes, do; for a farm-house without a farm-yard would never answer. I dare say

there will be plenty of straw in the fold-yard; and a fat pig in the sty; and horses, and cows, and sheep; and one or two peacocks."

"We shall see by and by. Farmer Bloomfield has some noble stacks of corn in his rick-yard, and abundance of wheat in his granaries; but he knows that 'unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.' How solemn are the words of holy writ-'Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire!' Matt. iii. 12. If farmers saw plainer than they do that their ploughing and sowing is in vain, unless God of his goodness give the increase; and if they were more grateful than they are to Him who crowneth the year with his goodness, and whose 'paths drop fatness,' they would be happier men than they are. We never

rob God of his glory, Edwin, without robbing ourselves of comfort and satisfaction. But you are expecting some pictures, and you shall have them."

"Yes, I want the pictures."

"The fold-yard is wet in places, but the men hardly ever pick their way in crossing it. Cattle are standing up to their knees, and pigs are routing about up to their very backs, in the clean straw which has just been thrown out."

"There! I thought there would be plenty of straw in the fold-yard."

"Jowler is leaping up, shaking his kennel chain as though he wished to be at liberty. Two or three colts, with long manes and tails, are in the yard; with geese, turkeys, and poultry. A peacock is standing on the garden wall, his tail hanging almost half way to the ground. The white pigeons have alighted on the top of the barn. Two ferrets have been put into the holes by the stable door, and men are standing watching with sticks in their hands; and a black-and-tan terrier dog near them is cocking up his sharp ears, waiting for the rats to be driven out. Mischievous young Harry, the cowherd's lad, has got astride the black and white sow; she is squealing aloud, and running off with him across the fold-yard. Ha, ha! he has now tumbled off her back into the wettest part of the fold; his heels are uppermost, and the rat-catchers are all laughing at him."

“Ha, ha! Mr. Harry; you will remember getting on the pig's back, I warrant you."

"The threshing machine is at work in the barn; for not often, now, is the sound of the flail heard. More corn will be threshed in a few hours, than two men could thresh in a week or a fortnight. It is a busy scene. Four or five horses are at work turning round the machine, and all the men are actively