be withheld from her; and that she might fancy herself in a part of the church to which the voice of the priest could not reach, and yet to which the peace of God could.

As the day came nearer, and her strength grew less and less, she was forced to keep a tight rein over herself, to prevent her from fearing that she might not live to feel the pressure of the hands of God's great shepherd on her head, which was to seal to her the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and render her body meet to partake of the Body and Blood of Him through whose death alone she had hope of life.

The weather became cool towards the middle of August; but Susan could now only bear to be carried down stairs for a short time in the day, to lie on her sofa, which had been removed from the school to her home. It was thought, better that she should be brought down as long as she could at all bear it, because the air down stairs was a little refreshment to her. Mr. Herbert visited her every day, now that she could not come to church. To his visits she looked forward as the bright hour in the long day. She could speak very little, but even to see him come in seemed to give her a feeling of ease and rest; and she used to think, "If the sight of a minister of Christ, whom I know to be such a faint image of his Head, gives me such a feeling of

rest, what would the feeling be, if the valley of death were crossed, the bright shore won, and no fear of ever being again separated from it!" But then the thought of her many failings and weaknesses would come to her mind, and make her know that there was still much for her to do here, and that to the end she must labour, and watch, and pray.

The days passed slowly away to poor Susan; and yet with the help of Mr. Herbert's regular visits, when he generally read the Visitation-service, or, if she was a little better, he added a psalm or a portion of a chapter, she was enabled to keep her mind calm and free from anxiety.

There were classes four times a week at the school, about seven o'clock in the evening, for the persons who were preparing for Confirmation; and many of Susan's schoolfellows attended them. Mr. Herbert fixed that the men and youths should attend two evenings, and the women and girls the other two. It seemed as if her long preparation had made such instruction as the others required unnecessary for Susan; her mind was so unceasingly dwelling on the subject, that she could almost have instructed others : though she never spoke of it, excepting to Mr. and Miss Herbert and her dear mistress, her thoughts day and night were bent towards it. Often and often did she dream

of it; and then, when she awoke, a shade of disappointment would pass over her mind, when she felt her extreme weakness ; but it was only a passing feeling, for she always made a rule to say, "Thy will be done.”

Oh, now I see what beauties lay
O'er summer's close,

And autumn's calm, betrothing with decay,
With her last dying rose,-
Sweeter than spring!

'Tis that upon consumption's cheek,
Blooming though pale,

Out of some brighter world doth gently break,
And whisper a sweet tale

Of better things.

A calm awaiting seems to be
O'er leaf and wave;

A calm undressing all so silently
For calmness of the grave-
Unrepining.

Thoughts in Past Years.

AND now the evening of the 23d was come; and it closed with a bright sunset, which Susan watched from her bed till all the glow had passed away, and left only a pale pink haze, which exactly seemed to harmonise with her feelings. Mr. Herbert had called upon her in the afternoon, and had brought his ticket of approval-not, though, with

more than a very faint hope that she might be enabled, on the following day, to enjoy the fulfilment of that wish which had been her sole remaining earthly anxiety, excepting, indeed, to see her poor father and sisters turning their minds to what was to come. In this, perhaps, there seemed some prospect of her prayers being granted, at least with regard to her father; for though he was still a man with a proud heart, there was a considerable change in his manner, and she used to think that perhaps the day might come when his heart might be quite softened. She read over the Confirmation and Baptismal services, and then some prayers which are at the end of the chapters in Bishop Wilson's "Instructions to such as have learned the Catechism;" and then she tried all she could to keep her mind from any anxiety about the next day. About an hour after Martha came to bed, she sank into a quiet sleep, which lasted till five o'clock. When she awoke she felt refreshed, with less of that violent throbbing all over her than she had had for many weeks. She lay very quiet, that she might not bring on her cough, which was generally more painful to her at first moving in the morning than at any other time. When she had finished her cup of tea and little bit of baked bread for her breakfast, she read the psalms and lessons for the morning; and soon after