any interruption, should break them down; and the keeper stood in despair, with his arms folded, and leaning his back against the gate, marvelling how long this new state of affairs would last.

I never took such a fearful walk before. I am sure I hope never to take such an one again. I never else could have been so much struck with the contrast that the end of the walk presented. We turned out of the public road again into a quiet lane. The early winter wind had not yet swept off the yellow elm leaves, nor had the frost touched the healthy dog-rose and wild honeysuckle boughs, nor shrivelled the gay scarlet hips, nor scattered the haws. We stood before a low wicket-gate. It opened into a neat cottage garden, even at that season bearing marks of the peaceful and steady diligence of the owners. There was on either side the neatly trimmed sweet-briar hedge, beneath whichmaking even winter gay-blossomed those most cheerful of flowers, the marygold and the contented heart's-ease. If there is an emblem of a meek and grateful spirit, surely it is that little flower. Place it in the shade or the sunshine, still it blossoms. Tear away the greatest part of its root, still it takes hold and thrives, and re

turns thanks from its profuse flowers for every breeze of pure air and every drop of dew. Why has God so filled the world with beautiful emblems, and man will not understand them? Why do we not all see and feel that heart's ease will grow and blossom in the shadiest corner, and in the lowliest spot; and yet what but pride -what but rebellion against God and his providence has brought upon us at this time this overwhelming calamity?

It was so pleasant to feel ourselves in shelter, that we waited in the little garden a minute longer. Here and there smiled a straggling primrose, or two or three pale polyanthuses. -The remembrancers of spring gleaming unexpectedly, as the feelings and affections of early days once now and then shine into our hearts in later years, calling our attention to very much that is lost, and reminding us of pleasures gone by, rather because they are dissimilar, than that they resemble. But what a night was this for musing! Again the tramp of feet at no great distance, and the angry shout of answering voices, told us that we were still within the circle of riot and bloodshed.

We opened the cottage door, and though the

scene which presented itself was sad, it was to our harrassed minds inexpressibly soothing also. Order and comfort were stamped on every thing in the cottage. The geraniums in the windowseat, the clean and well-mended stock of linen hanging on the line, the few but well-preserved books ranged against the wall,-all spoke of good housewifery, and of those circumstances of comfort, which, bad as times may be, are still obtained in eight instances out of ten, where there is industry, economy, and prudence. The light of a clear fire gleamed on the sweet pale face of a young woman. Her arm was supported on the elbow of her large chair, and her forehead leant upon her hand. Her head was bent in fixed attention on the countenance of a very delicate infant, which lay upon her knees, as if she could see traced in the blue veins of its forehead the history of its coming days; or rather, as if feeling how very short its life on earth would be, she longed by so earnest a look to impress on her mind those dear lineaments, that so-soon though it should moulder out of her sight, amongst all the change and suffering she might know that image might never be forgotten. The child lay perfectly still, as one ex

hausted-not agonised-by his mortal disease; and except that now and then the small fingers clenched with a sort of involuntary motion, and the little lips quivered,

"As if, like summer air

Ruffling the rose leaves, there
The soul were fluttering,"

and showed that it still breathed, we might have thought our visit was too late. Oh! how ready it looked to depart and be with Christ,—and in that season of strife, and terror, and anxiety (ah, do we feel thus in times of prosperity also?) how gladly would we have changed places with it. A neat matron welcomed us with a feeling of deep interest, which showed her to be the mother's mother as well as nurse. "We were sorry to trouble you, Sir, on such a night," she said, "but I don't think my poor child's baby will last through the night." The tears streamed down the young woman's cheek ;-" But I tell her he'll be safely out of a wicked world." Oh how passionately our hearts responded, "Very, very true; and what a comfort to lay him in his kind Saviour's arms, and to know that he will be taken care of.”

The minister knelt down as the rubric prescribed, with those that were present, to call upon God; and he began in the perfect form of words that the Author of all acceptable prayer himself deigned to teach, and what said the rubric more, with so many of the collects "as the time and the present exigence will suffer." The time-the shadows of death were darkening round the dear child, his soul was longing to fly away and be at rest; and to us the perilous evening was coming on, and the steps that we should make homeward were to be made in haste and terror. Yet even the "present exigence” allowed that short time of peace, and suffered us with beating hearts and trembling voices, indeed, and yet in steady faith, to call upon our God in prayer; and reminded us that amidst all the trouble which our church was now called upon to bear, her members had to give "humble thanks to the Almighty and Everlasting God."Yes! Almighty, though "the heathen rage and the kingdoms are moved:" Everlasting, "or ever the earth was, before thou hadst founded the light and the sun, thou art God:"-" for that He had vouchsafed to call us to the knowledge of his grace and faith in him." We called upon