upon. Oh, my best friend, what do I owe you! But for you, I had before this time been his wife. Forgive my obstinacy and folly.". She could say no more; I pressed her to my bosom, and thanked God for thus saving her from destruction.

I scarcely need say, that all intercourse with Mr. Summers was from this time at an end. Poor Mrs. Summers soon after died, and her son married an amia ble young woman, who would have reformed him if any body could have done so. Few who marry vicious men can effect a change in them. Mr. Summers went from bad to worse, until he became a mere sot, used his wife ill, neglected his business, and in less than five years was obliged to give up his farm. Whether he removed, or what became of him and his wretched wife, I never heard. The farm was taken by a sober, industrious, religious, worthy man, who is beloved and respected by all that know him; I mean your father, Mr. White. At the end of two years, each being fully convinced of the other's worthiness, he and Jane were married; and that they have always lived virtuously and happily together, I need not tell you.

"They have indeed," said the delighted Fanny.My father often says, he is indebted to you for the best of wives, as I am sure, I and my brothers and sisters are for the best of mothers. But what happened to you after her marriage?

"Having now," replied Mrs. Williams, "lost my principal assistant, and Mary Lewis's time being expired, I resolved to reduce my business to what I could do myself with ease and comfort. Having carried it on in this quiet manner for some years, as I began to grow old and my eye-sight to become dim, I consulted Mr. Grant, and finding that he had in his hands what would bring me in about forty pounds a year, I resolved to give it up entirely.

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I can still, by assisting my poor neighbours, and doing what little work I want for myself, find employment enough to amuse me. My friends are kind to me, and from your dear parents I receive the most af fectionate attentions. You and your brothers an sisters are a great source of pleasure to me, and I 1

heaven that you may render the latter days of your pa rents as happy as they do mine. Your kind father gives me a conveyance every Sunday to church; and I often spend a week with Mr. Gray and his amiable family.

"The only affliction I have suffered since the death of Mrs. Gray, has arisen from that of my two brothers, with whom, although we were seldom able to meet on account of the distance which separated us, and the nature of their employments, I had kept up, a regular correspondence. I console myself under the loss by the certainty, that, having led truly pious and virtuous lives as sincere believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, they will, through the tender mercy of their heavenly Father, enjoy everlasting happiness in that blessed world, where I hope in a short time to meet them again.

"I have been so peculiarly favoured by Providence through my whole life, that I can never express half my gratitude. I have many defects, many weaknesses: but I strive to amend and rectify them. For that salvation, which has been promised by our Lord Jesus Christ to all who diligently seek it, I trust with humble confidence to the infinite mercy of his father and my father, his God and my God."

Such was the simple story of "good Mrs. Williams." May you all, my dear readers, be induced to imitate her piety, her uprightness of heart, her benevolence, meekness and humility! And may your lives be as bappy as hers! But should it be ordained by divine wisdom and goodness, that your faith, patience and resignation should be tried, and your virtue strengthened by sickness, poverty, or other sufferings,-remember, that whilst you preserve a clear conscience, and put your trust in heaven, you are in possession of "that peace of God which passeth all understanding, which the world can neither give nor take away." With this you can never be miserable, never want comfort."Whoso endureth," patiently, "to the end, the same shall be saved;" and "to those who are faithful unto death, shall be given a crown of life.”

M. A. P.

OR,

GOOD NEWS FOR COTTAGERS.

BY MARY HUGHES,

AUTHOR OF THE TWIN BROTHERS.

PHILADELPHIA:

PRINTED FOR THE TRACT AND BOOK SOCIETY OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF ST. JOHN.

William Fry, Printer.

WILLIAM'S RETURN, &c.

WILLIAM SEYMOUR was brought up to day-labour, in a small village in one of the midland counties; he had for some time been absent from home, to the great loss of his mother, who had been several years a widow; for, though she had three other children now able to maintain themselves, and do something for her, yet, from idle habits and bad management, it was not without difficulty that she procured the common comforts of life, and they never had amongst them a single guinea beforehand. Her husband was a sober, honest and industrious man, and while he lived things went on tolerably well; but instead of contributing her full share to the prosperity of her family by constant and active exertion, she contented herself with making and mending her own and the children's clothes, dressing their food and keeping the house tolerably clean. She might and ought to have done more than this; for she could spin both wool and flax, and do many other things which would have saved and gained money: but she thought only of living like the rest of the world, and made no attempt to be more notable than other women in their station.

Fortunately for the children there was a good school in the village; and William, who took great delight in learning, could read well, and write a tolerable hand, before the death of their father took