the whole, have the very contrary effect; they are always making you feel small in your own eyes, with not a salutary smallness, while all the time they think themselves faultless. I don't believe such people are sorry for the world's wickedness; I think they are rather glad of it as a foil for their own perfection; these self-righteous folk could have no sympathy with Mrs. Browning's beautiful lines, though they might have applied to Miss Ramsay—

"She never found fault with you, never implied

Your wrong by her right; and yet men at her side
Grew nobler, girls purer, as through the whole town
The children were gladder that hung by her gown."

"It's always such a bright, cheerful room this," said Effie," and I think I never tire watchin' the sea and listenin' to the sab o' its waves. The neighbours laugh at me for likin' it sae weel; they say unless some ane's on it they are expecting hame, they never think on't."

"I like it now," said her companion, "though I thought it eerie enough at first, and wished I could look on something else or hear some other sound than the sough o' its waves. Somehow they used to make me feel dreary and think on the loving and the brave they had swallowed up; for ye see, Effie," she continued, "our hame had been among the hills, where ye saw little but the sheep and the wild birds and the burn wimplin past our door, and heard

nought but its quiet ripple, or the cry o' the muircock among the heather."

"Is it very long since you left it?" asked Effie.

Miss Ramsay smiled as she replied, "Time seems different when ye see it frae youth than it does when one gets auld. You think it long to look forward twenty years; I think them short to look back on. They appear like a dream. Jacob said when he stood before Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years; few and evil have the days of the years of my life been ;' but I whiles think, Effie," she continued, "that it sounded something like ingratitude to God to say his days had been evil, though they nae doubt appeared few. He had had his trials and crosses, like us a’; but, Effie, it's no gude for ony o' us, either for this world or the next, if we're let alane. It takes a steady hand and clear brain to carry a full cup without spilling it; let us be thankful when the Lord empties us a wee; and after a' we'll say it has been far fuller of blessings than we deserved."

"As far as I hae come yet in life," said Effie thoughtfully, "I have had much joy and little sorrow."

cr

"Aye, but wait a bit, Effie," replied her friend, "and your time of trouble and sorrow will surely come if you're to be amongst the blessed in heaven;' and here Miss Ramsay lifted the Bible, saying, "Ye

mind what answer was given to the elder in Revelation when he asked, 'What are these that are arrayed in white robes, and whence come they'?" And then she read aloud a few verses, "And he said unto me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb; therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them nor any heat; for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall lead them into living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.' And then, Effie," she continued, "there are promises to help us in times of trial, such as, 'As thy day so shall thy strength be;' or, 'Call upon Me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee.' 'Deed the Bible's fu' o' them. So we must leave the future in God's hands for weal or woe, and feel that all shall be well."

"I hae heard ye say, Miss Ramsay, that trouble an' grief came soon to you."

"Aye, it did that, Effie," replied her friend; "but I think I weary ye wi' my auld langsyne stories, though I maun confess I like to speak about them. Ye see I am so much mysel', for George has his books, an' at the best he never was a man

o' mony words; so I'm pleased wi' a listener like you, Effie."

'An' I like to listen. Someway I am aye better after I have been here; ye put things before me in such a true light," said the girl smiling.

"Thank you, Effie," replied Miss Ramsay, and then she went on to say, "Our sister Peggy died when she was a bit young thing. That was our first trial, Effie, and we were very rebellious. We have had mony since, and I would fain hope we are learning submission; but this ane, oh! it was sair on us. She was my only sister, and we were never separate. She began to dwine and got aye weaker and weaker, but we never ance thought o' danger, for she seemed so full o' life and happiness herself. At last my mother-for my father had been long dead-got alarmed, and sent for the doctor. He came, a gruff but kindly man, and told us she had nae mony weeks to live. So my mother broke the sad tidings to her, for she said she couldna allow her to gang dreaming on o' life when it was to be so short. I'll never forget that morning, Effie, in our house. The sun was shining so bonny on the hillside where we used to play, and lighting up the purple heather growing among yellow brakens. mind o' looking at it, but I didna take it in then, nor indeed did I take in onything except the heavy tidings we had just heard; and yet is it not strange

I

I have often thought of it since, and the smallest particular of that day-the very crowing o' the cock in the yard, the very smell o' the sweetbriar that came in at the window. Peggy couldna at first understand her death-warrant, and when she did comprehend my mother's words, she gave a loud scream as if some one had struck her a heavy blow. Then she rushed to the attic room we ca'ed our ain, and was there a lang time. What took place was known only to herself and her God. When she came back, after some hours' absence, her face wore a calm, peaceful expression, and she said, as she threw her arms round mother's neck, 'Mother, the bitterness of death is past; it has lost its sting; but it has been a sair, sair trial to part with life so young. I thought, mother, oh! how I thought and wished to try that unknown future lying spread out before me; but now I can say, "Thanks be unto God who hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ;" and, trusting to Him, I will tread the dark valley and will fear no evil, for His rod and His staff will comfort me.' After this," continued Miss Ramsay, "Peggy seemed to belong more to heaven than earth, and she died exactly that day three months she got her sentence. It was a dark, dark day; aye, dark though the sun shone bonny again on the hills now lying white wi' the first snaw; but I couldna look at them; they seemed to mock my grief. I