after the wife, who serves behind the counter.▾ She has not good health, and tells you much about her ailments, and how many medicines and doctors she has tried for her recovery; but strive to turn her attention to the Physician of souls, to that medicine which heals the broken-hearted, and gives rest to the weary and heavy-laden; ask her to subscibe to the Missionary Association in the parish, and her words are few, and she says, she "doesn't hold with such things." The husband and wife are both very lukewarm and uncertain in their religious duties.

The other shop is in a more retired part of the parish; it is kept by a widow, who supports an aged and infirm mother living with her. The shop is small, and the goods in it of a common and coarse description. From a kind disposition, the widow is often unwilling to press some of her poorer customers for their payments, so that, at times, she has been in want of money herself to buy stock for her little shop, as she says "it is not her way to run in debt, though she could obtain credit if she wished." She and her grown-up daughter are constant attendants at church, and both kneel together every month at the Lord's table. The former has regularly subscribed to the Missionary Association from its first establishment, and was present a short time ago at a Missionary Meeting held in the parish; but being called away from the room, by the unexpected arrival of some friend, she

gave me, the next day, a small donation, saying, she did not like to be deprived of giving to the Society, though she was prevented from adding to the collection the evening before."

Not far from this shop lives a poor man, who, from age and infirmity, with difficulty earns 78. the week. During the past winter, he had a severe illness; but has always been ready with his usual Missionary subscription, 6d. per quarter. He is a man of few words, and gives his money at such times, as if he felt that it was as much his duty as his privilege, to assist in the spread of the Gospel. On receiving his last quarterly subscription, I remarked, that as he must have had many expenses during his long illness, I feared he could not well afford his subscription. He said "It is my duty, sir, to try and do what I can, and I hope not to give up."

In our walk through the village, we have hitherto spoken only of poorer brethren as subscribers to the Missionary Association. Let us visit another class, who are most especially dependent on the gifts of that Providence, who in His mercy sendeth the sunshine and the "early and latter rain," and causeth the earth to bring forth its fruits in due season. In the beginning of this tract, we read of one who gave a thankoffering for the goodness of God to him, in blessing him with a plentiful crop, and with

good weather to get it in; and we hope there are those who would not only do this, but would rejoice in the God of their salvation, although the fields should yield no meat, and the flocks should be cut off from the fold, and there should be no herd in the stall."** From the high road which runs through the village, you look down on many pleasant valleys. In the midst of one is situated a farm-house, which, from its very picturesque appearance, has been often sketched by the passer-by. The labourers who are at work on the farm are so orderly and quiet in their behaviour and conversation, that you cannot but think they belong to a master, who, with his house, serves God. And such is the case, and it is well known in the parish, that no one need apply there for work, who is not endeavouring to keep the Sabbath holy, to refrain his tongue from evil words, and is leading a sober and godly life. Twice on a Sabbath-day, the master, with his wife and family, are seen at church; and though it is an excuse often made by farmers, that they cannot find time, on account of the farm-work, to attend God's service more than half of His holy day, yet this good man, and his wife also, make leisure to teach at an early hour in the Sunday-school every morning and afternoon. They have daily family prayer, and are, with two of their children, regular communicants; and through Lent, and at other • Habakkuk iii, 17, 18.

seasons when the Church calls to prayer and praise, are present in God's house, with their labourers, who, at those particular times of fast or festival, on week days, are not paid their full daily wages, unless they serve their heavenly, as well as earthly master. They are not particularly well off, and have had their days of trial and adversity; but from the commencement of the Missionary Association, through good times and bad times, the farmer has subscribed 10s. per annum for himself the wife, out of the profits of her poultry-yard, 108. per annum-the eldest son, 58. per annum-the youngest, a boy at school, 28. per annum; and at the last Missionary meeting in the parish, they sent between them 58. as a donation to the Society, not being able to be present at it.

A ten minutes' walk from this farm brings us to another, quite as pleasantly situated, with a short avenue of fir trees leading up to it. The cheerful sounds of a rookery are heard from the tall elms in front of the house; and the busy humming of bees over the beds of lemon-thyme and patches of the golden crocus in the nice garden at the side, would add to the gladness of any thankful heart on a fine spring morning, if, when we visit there, we could think the tenant of this comfortable little farm was one who was setting a good and Christian example to all around him. But he is a very different character from the one we before spoke of; his

labourers, so far from being bidden to attend God's house on the Sabbath, or on the most holy days of the year, run a risk of incurring their master's displeasure, should they absent themselves from their farm-work, even on those days when every knee should bow, and every tongue confess the mercies of redeeming love, in the birth and death of our most blessed Saviour. But his own attendance in the house of prayer is confined to being present only half a Sunday, and that very irregularly. We cannot expect him to be either happy or contented; and when visited by sickness, which has sometimes confined him to his bed, his fear of death is so great, that he cannot endure being left alone, yet has no desire for the prayers of his minister. He declines aiding the Missionary cause in any way, giving, as an excuse, that he "does not know what becomes of his money."

Towards the end of the parish stands a small farm, with a neat residence upon it. It is surrounded by a cheerful and varied prospect.

This farm is situated nearly two miles from the parish church, but the farmer and his wife contrive to attend there, always once, and frequently twice, on the Sabbath-day, and at all other times, when the bell is heard for service; and the wife is a constant communi. cant, and an earnest-minded Christian.

After the first year's expenses of stocking their farm were past, they, unsolicited, requested to have their names put down as