asked if the poor woman had any neighbour who would look in occasionally while her daughter walked to the Hall.

"But if my foot is uneasy during her absence, Ma'am," answered Mrs. Thomas, "there is nobody who can move it as well as Jane, if she chooses; but yet if she wants the soup I am sure I will not keep her at home for my pleasure or comfort."

Mrs. Colton in vain tried to turn the fretful thoughts of Mrs. Thomas into a better channel; she could, however, do nothing with her, and the old woman, in reply to all her questions, did nothing but complain that the room was too hot or too cold, that her food was disagreeable to her, and she was too poor to afford any thing better, and besides, whatever she had, Jane spoilt in the cooking. And then it was a hard thing to be forced to have her bed in the kitchen, and yet how was it possible for Jane to carry her to the room above without any assistance, and where could she get that assistance?

At length, tired of these remarks, Mrs. Colton turned to Jane, and asked her for a Bible, and having read a chapter aloud, she took occasion to say a few words about the duty of submitting with patience to such

afflictions as it pleases our heavenly Father to send, knowing that these chastisements, though sometimes grievous to be borne, are yet the evidences of his care and love.

On their rising to go, Mrs. Thomas asked if Emma was the daughter of Mr. Fortescue. Mrs. Colton replied in the affirmative.

The poor woman, who had been softened by the reading and observations of Mrs. Colton, then asked to shake hands with the child, and the tears filled her eyes as she said, “ My dear young lady, you have indeed lost a blessing in your mamma; neither do you grieve alone, for there is scarcely a cottager in this hamlet that does not remember her

with love and gratitude. While health was spared to her, she used to come here twice a week, and we would have a small party ready to meet her, and while we worked she would read aloud to us, and say so many sweet things about God and our Saviour, that I think I shall never forget them to my dying day."

Jane burst into tears at the mention of Mrs. Fortescue, though she turned away, and covered her face with her apron.

"Dear lady," continued Mrs. Thomas, "she used to call me her pensioner, and never

a week passed away without her bestowing a silver sixpence on her favourite Jane. But may God bless you, Miss, and he will do so for the sake of your beloved mamma."

Mrs. Colton and Emma now left the cottage, and the widow, after a few minutes' silence, asked her young pupil if she had discovered the reason of their visit to the cottage that day. Emma thought awhile, but she could not tell.

"Then I must tell you," said the kind lady; "I wanted to shew you a person who is constantly suffering, and is in return kind and dutiful."

"O, it is Jane, it must be Jane Thomas," said Emma, pleased with the discovery.

"Yes, my love, itis Jane Thomas," answered Mrs. Colton; "and now I will tell you a little of her past history. Jane was a wild, goodnatured, yet obstinate girl some six years ago, and gave her mother much real uneasiness, for fear she would get into disgrace by her bad conduct. Mrs. Thomas was always of an unhappy temper, and made the poor girl so uncomfortable at her home, that she took every occasion to leave it. While things were going on in this unpleasant way, your dear mamma became acquainted with Jane, and was made the instrument, through the

blessing of God, of leading this young girl to better things, and she now, from Christian principles, behaves always as you have seen her do to-day, to her poor mother, who is constantly fretful and unkind, and never expresses satisfaction with what is done for her, though at the same time she will not let her daughter leave her, as you saw to-day, even for a walk as far as the Hall."

"But when Mrs. Thomas gets well," enquired Emma, "will she not be kinder to poor Jane?"

"She will be less dependent upon her, my love," said Mrs. Colton, "and therefore the girl will be happier; but it is Mrs. Thomas's natural temper, and nothing but the divine power in her heart will enable her to control it."

CHAPTER III.

Charity envieth not.-1 COR. xiii. 4.

As they were returning home, Emma was unusually serious, and seemed to be thinking a great deal of what had been said about charity, or love; so that she scarcely spoke till they had left the cottage half a mile behind them, and then, suddenly looking up into Mrs. Colton's face, she asked her if she had ever been guilty of a want of charity.

Mrs. Colton smiled as she answered"My dear Emma, I believe that there is not one person who has ever lived upon the earth, except our blessed Lord himself, who could plead Not guilty' to such a question."

The child seemed surprised at this answer, and exclaimed, with feeling, "Oh, Mrs. Colton, how very wicked this world must be!"

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