Your correspondent will, I am sure, be glad to know that one heart, at least, among the class of persons she has addressed, most sincerely sympathises with her in those feelings she has so sweetly expressed.

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Similar thoughts occupied the mind of the writer, while pursuing her usual labors, just previously to her reading the paper in question, and she experienced a sensation of no ordinary pleasure in the knowledge of the fact that one, at least, of her fellowlaborers was, as well as herself, deeply impressed with the feeling of responsibility which rested upon her when carrying the glad tidings of salvation to those who are ignorant and out of the way." Most cordially, therefore, do I unite with your correspondent in recommending that a portion of time should always be employed in supplicating the throne of grace for support and direction previously to setting out on our errands of mercy. Let us trust implicitly in the promises of him " who cannot lie," and rest confidingly on that arm of strength and wisdom which cannot fail. But let us also pray for each other. Let us remember that many of our young fellow-countrywomen are engaged (probably at the same time) in the same duties; that they have the same weight of responsibility to sustain; and that they stand in need of the same assistance as ourselves. While, therefore, we pray for a blessing on our own labors, let our petitions ascend also for others, that they, as well as we, may be encouraged and supported by rich supplies of "that assistance which cometh from above;" but let us unite in prayer. Union is strength. We have one common mercy-seat; there let us meet (though personally unacquainted), and let us together besiege the throne of grace, and earnestly and perseveringly pray that our visits may be the means, in the hand of a superior power, of "bringing many sons unto glory," and that many, very many, who are poor in this world's goods, may, through our feeble instrumentality, become "rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom of heaven. Let us think less of ourselves, and more of Christ, and our conversation will be more likely to benefit those whose interest we have at heart. We are young, and find it very difficult to meet the necessities of the various characters we meet with. We need a wisdom and experience beyond our own to be able to speak a word in season;" and to whom can we apply but to

that Saviour who will always assist us by his grace. May the labors of your correspondent, and every other dear young friend who is earnestly seeking the advancement of the kingdom of God, be abundantly blessed; and while watering the souls of others, may their own souls be watered from above.

Yours, dear Sir, very sincerely,

A DISTRICT VISITOR.

THE SUBDUED HEART.

"Dear Father, we consent

To discipline divine;

And bless the strokes that make our souls

Still more entirely thine."

"I THOUGHT, mamma, we were going to grandpapa's to-day," said Emma Watson.

"So we were, my love, but Colonel and Mrs. Benson are unexpectedly coming this afternoon."

we

"Of course," rejoined Emma, looking extremely cross, are very glad to see Colonel and Mrs. Benson, but I suppose, mamma, we shall go to-morrow ?"

"Why, no, I am sorry to say, the visit must be put off awhile, for I have no other leisure day this week; next week, you know, aunt Charlotte intends coming, and we should neither wish to leave home when she is here, nor to go to grandpapa's when she is out."

"Then it will be eight or ten days before we see aunt, and we shall not see grandpapa at all. I think people ought not to come unexpectedly, putting everything and everybody out of the way."

"My dear child, I see but one person put out, one thing altered, and that a thing of no very great importance; nothing preventing, we shall probably return with aunt; however, I would much rather teach you cheerfully to bear disappointment, and thus promote your lasting benefit, than hold forth the present comfort of an equivalent for your loss."

Emma made no reply, but burst into a passionate fit of tears, while Mrs. Watson continued quietly at work, thinking it better to let her child's excited feelings spend themselves before she

attempted to reason further with her. At length Emma said sullenly

"Mamma, you have not told me what I am to do to-day."

"Go on either with the bag which interested you so much yesterday, or with the frock for Mrs. Wilson's baby; perhaps, the frock will be best, for I fear just now you will have scarcely patience to do fancy-work correctly."

Emma took the frock, and soon experienced the beneficial effects of being usefully employed; she first admired the little garment, next thought how pleased the poor woman would be to receive it, and finally, felt happy in making others so. Satisfied however as the little girl felt with her present employment, she could not look back on the past hour without shame and regret. Turning to her parent with a look of humble penitence, she said, "I am sorry, dear mamma, I made myself so unhappy, and behaved so ill."

"I am sorry, too, my love, but now you are in a better frame of mind, we will quietly talk the matter over; and I trust you will not only feel the truth of what I say now, but endeavor to act upon it the next time you are tempted to impatient forgetfulness. It is by bearing our principles in mind, by being on the constant watch against self-will, by drawing grace every moment from God, the only Fountain of Holiness, that we can overcome sin; it is easy after a trial to judge and feel correctly, but this is not enough; the Christian should be habitually prepared to glorify God by his conduct, under varying circumstances, as they rise. The present state, dear Emma, is a state of discipline, and little crosses, properly borne, strengthen the mind for those severe sorrows with which our heavenly Father chastens us for our good. Our stubborn wills must be subjected to the Divine will; we must learn to be content when enjoyments are withheld which we should like to possess; when duties or trials are appointed which we would gladly avoid; and when all the arrangements we have made are entirely set aside. Nor is this cheerful submission to be exercised, merely when a Divine hand is clearly seen; we must manifest it also under the more trying interference of second causes; God designs us to be dependant upon him, and on each other, and I will tell you why; it is because the first, and almost every subsequent transgression, has

arisen from man's proud spirit of independence. We like to form our plans, to follow them, and say, 'Who is Lord over us?' So that when we are hindered or thwarted, the unrenewed, and too often the partially-renewed heart, frets and is angry. Now, till we can take the Lord for our Ruler, and quietly say, 'Thy will be done,' we know little of the spirit of Christian obedience; we shall neither attain to holiness nor happiness, but bring dishonor on our profession, guilt and darkness on our souls. Nor can we be at all fit to join that blessed company who serve in the presence of the Most High, and know no will but his. Be thankful, therefore, my child, for every salutary lesson by which a gracious Providence condescends to instruct you; pray for grace that you may receive it sweetly; seek a blessing on all the Divine dispensations, that by them you may be educated for eternity, and obtain that conformity to the mind of the Lord, which constitutes so large a portion of the bliss of heaven. If you are enabled to improve each little instance of 'loving correction,' you will doubtless be spared much of that heavier chastisement by which our God, in merciful severity, bows the rebellious spirit. I have lately, Emma, been reading Walker's' Practical Christianity,' I will lend it you, and you will find many profitable remarks on man's spirit of independence." "Thank you, mamma; I hope I shall profit by it, and never again lose myself so sadly."

Thus ended the conversation; and it was not long before this excellent mother was called to a painful exemplification of the principles she had endeavored to inculcate in the mind of her daughter.

Mrs. Watson was a widow lady, left with one child, and a very slender portion of this world's provision; yet her heavenly Friend, the Father of the fatherless, and the God of the widow, had supplied all her need; chiefly through the instrumentality of that aunt Charlotte, who has been already named. Ill-health had hitherto prevented exertion on the part of the young widow herself, and none of her other relatives were in a situation to assist her: this lady, however, had been enriched by the bequeathed property of a kind and opulent god-mother, and one among many ways in which she tasted the luxury of doing good, was by making the hearts of her niece and her little grand-niece sing for joy.

The visit of this dear and excellent friend took place at the time appointed, and a few days of special enjoyment were vouchsafed. At the end of that time, however, symptoms of a fever suddenly appeared; and, ere another week had passed, all that remained of this beloved, efficient relative, was the lifeless clay that once enshrined her spirit. Yet during all these agonizing days, her niece, with calm and holy resignation, fulfilled the watchful duties of a tender nurse. And when she found that unerring wisdom denied the fervent prayers she offered for recovery, meekly did she adopt the language of Job, and say, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be the name of the Lord!" Flowing tears, indeed, often came to her relief; but they were unmixed with murmuring or impatience. As the bereaved widow gazed upon this last earthly prop, which had now sunk from beneath her, her spirit felt subdued, and melted; yet could she lift her eye to heaven, and say, "The Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock; and praised be the God of my salvation." She followed the corpse of her endeared friend to its last restingplace, and as Emma received her mother's parting kiss, a deep pang of repentance shot across her heart, on remembering how she had suffered a trifling disappointment respecting her journey to that very place, to cloud a day otherwise bright with providential blessings. "Surely," she exclaimed, "now I have known real sorrow, I shall never again make troubles, or be insensible to mercies." "Dear child!" replied her mother, "you will grow in this, and every other grace, in exact proportion to your dependence on the influences of the Holy Spirit,"

It was not the apprehension of any pecuniary loss, but the being deprived of an affectionate judicious friend, that oppressed the heart of Mrs. Watson; for that friend, with a tenderness which would shield the object of its love even from the anticipation of evil, had assured her that provision was made in her will for an increase rather than a diminution of aid. Painful, indeed, therefore, were the widow's feelings when, on reaching her father's house, (the favorite brother of aunt Charlotte, with whom she always resided,) it was found that through the carelessness of a servant, a fire had broken out in her mistress's dressing-room. It had, indeed, been extinguished with difficulty; but not until it had destroyed, among other things, the desk containing her will