remote from an insipid complaisance and a low familiarity."" 66 Truly," said Eugenia; "I am delighted with a definition of such antiquity, which embodies in itself the soul of true politeness, which is the same among all human beings, in every age and country. But, Charles, what are those events to which you allude, which made such a deep impression upon your mind, and render these scenes so endearing?" "The death of Mrs. Bredwell," replied Charles, "and my own dangerous illness, during which the coffin and shroud were ordered for me, insomuch that many said that I was dead; and the nurses around me once or twice determined that life was extinct. Mrs. B., for some years showed me peculiar marks of regard, and instructed and animated me as her son; and whilst I was at school at Mr. Bredwell's, she, young as I was, encouraged me in Mr. B.'s absence from home, to be the chaplain of the family and the leader of the domestic singing; and from the age of twelve years I have occasionally conducted the devotions of the family; and when she lay upon her death bed, she gave me her parting blessing; the occasion on which she gave it was very peculiar. I was setting off into Yorkshire, to make my appearance before a committee on a most important business, in which my future course of life was deeply concerned. She told me, she never expected to see me again; begged me to present her christian regards to the gentlemen of the committee, and to tell them that perhaps whilst I was before them, she should be standing before the throne of God and the Lamb, and rejoicing in spirit with them in the godlike plans which they were carrying on. Her parting words are still sounding in my ears, and her affectionate dying look gleams upon my mind's eye; and her last address with the tongue, now still in death, sounds in my ear whenever I behold that interesting personage. "Charles," said she, taking my hand, "my son in the Gospel, keep close to Jesus, love and serve him; remember your high destination in the world, if God spare you to undertake it, and may you have grace to fill it well to the benefit of thousands and the salvation of your own soulkeep your eye fixed on the crown of glory, and fight manfully the good fight of faith, till you securely reach it, and we shall rejoice together in the kingdom of God! And remember, as angels are ministering spirits, I, who have admonished you on earth, may perhaps witness your conduct, and animate you as a prompting spirit after death! - 1 "Whatever ideas I have entertained of the possibility or probability of Mrs. B- being a witnessing and admonitory spirit, true it is, that I have had numerous intercourses with her glorified spirit in my dreams-her voice has appeared to reprove, instruct, and animate me in long conversations her eye to reprove or encourage me; and I confess to you, that when higher motives were absent, and I had not faith to say, with Joseph, 'How shall I commit this fault, and sin against God?' the idea that her witnessing spirit was by, has restrained me, has weakened the power of temptation, has shamed my cowardice, and roused me to exertion,' She being dead, yet speaketh to ⚫ me'--she lives in my memory, and in my heart!" THE friends now approached the peaceful parsonage of the Rev. Mr. Bredwell, and through the opening trees discerned the cupola of his little neat chapel, whose tinkling bell called together the country gentry and the villagers, who used to love and revere their exemplary pastor. The parsonage was attached to it, bounded behind by a field, a garden, and a hanging wood; new palings separated it from the road in front, and a little ascending lawn led to the door. The house of the old disciple, Mr. Advise, the pious and worthy founder of the chapel, lay a quarter of a mile below, on the margin of the stream; moved with love to the souls of his ignorant labourers and mechanics, whose vices caused this part of the valley to be denominated "little hell," he employed a portion of the fortune which his own industry had raised, in building them a chapel, and then procuring them a clergyman, whose labours had been blessed to the conversion of many, and to the moral improvement of the whole neighbourhood. "How widely diffused," said Charles, "is the salutary influence of a pious minister. The valley now, from having been the disgusting scene of depravity, seems clad with the mantle of piety. A religious atmosphere appears to have diffused itself, liket he mist of the vale, and to have risen and spread over the hills and heaths which bound this valley." "Happy, happy fruits of religion," exclaimed Eugenia, praise to Him who sent a Messenger to sow the celestial seed in our neighbourhood. They now approached the door, and Charles knocked with a heart overflowing with affectionate emotions to embrace his beloved tutor, friend, and christian father. LUG The servant attended the door, and announced to them that Mr. Bredwell was gone upon a visit to R—, but that Miss Ann and Elizabeth were at home, who that moment presented themselves. They most gladly welcomed their brother Charles, as they always called him for from long acquaintance, and their father's religious adoption of him, they always considered him in the light of a brother. We went into the retired study, commanding a view of the hanging wood on the southern front of the house, separated from the house by an extensive green field, which rose up the hill to meet it. Here lay their Latir books; they were reading "Cæsar's Commentaries the dictionary, grammar,and note-book, in which, according to Mr. Bredwell's excellent custom, every word was written down and analysed; and the pupil felt herself growing in knowledge in every lesson, which added to the other stock of her acquisitions. Ann was about seventeen, her countenance open and animated, and her jetty locks forming a fine contrast to the ivory forehead which they shaded. Elizabeth was the most perfect model of beauty which Charles had ever beheld; her features all regular and proportioned, and a majesty diffused over her fine countenance, mingled with an indescribable sweetness which gave an interest to every expression of her lovely features, over which was diffused the rosy hue of health-she was in her fifteenth year. There was also Mary, whose arch but expressive countenance beamed with pleasant smiles, and す excited admiration and delight in every beholder-she was as yet only thirteen years of age. But these three lovely girls had been so much the constant companions of their accomplished and polite father, that they possessed the vivacity and good sense of grown-up young ladies; and with highest glee and the most perfect confidence, inquired of brother Charles his school adventures during the last three years, in which he had been at a distance from them at other schools. Upon pressing him to give them the narrative, Charles then began : my "You know how your excellent father was obliged, through ill health, to dismiss all his pupils. But, like a father to me, as he always has been, he prevailed on the celebrated Mr. Clarkson, of C-B-, a clergyman whom Mr. Romaine called the Solomon of the age, to receive me and friend Ruther into his house. There we continued a year under his pious care and that of Mrs. C-, who was a mother to us both. There, in that solitary retreat, amid extensive woods, in the centre of a spacious common, we passed about six months, when I supported the patriarchal saint's languishing head on my bosom, and heard him express the confidence of a triumphant faith, and followed him, with a numerous train of his pupils, of all ages, to the tomb; where we exclaimed, My father, my father !' as we dropped the tears of filial affection in his grave. Amongst the mourners, you know your father was conspicuous." "Yes," said Miss Ann, " my papa regarded him as a father, and he was my godfather, and I loved and venerated him. He was a saint, an Israelite, an apostle indeed; his wisdom and great spirit were known to all the country?" "Yet," said Charles, "so absorbed was he in his studies and parochial cares, that one cruel practise which I first witnessed at his house, surely could not have been known to him, or he would not have |