thought it very grand. There was a famous Dutch clock at another end, in which there were little figures, which came out and struck the hour upon hammers; Oh! it was a wonderful clock. There were many figures in Dresden china on the mantel shelf, and over it a portrait of a young man in a military dress, above which were crossed a sword and musket. I never knew the history of that picture, but my godmother sometimes looked at it, till a tear came into her eye; there was a book case too in that parlour, and many books, and a cabinet full of old curious things, such as rings, and brooches, and silver cream jugs, and spoons, and buckles, and old pocket books, and tweezer cases, but I did not see these treasures at that time.

So we were brought into the parlour, and bread and honey and milk set before us, and I eat and wondered, and thought I would come again if mamma would let me; but before we took leave, my godmother taking me before her, and holding both my hands, gave me my first lesson upon religion. It was of God she spoke, trying to make me understand the first principles of revelation, viz. the nature of God, the Trinity in Unity, and the work of that blessed Trinity in restoring lost mankind. If I did not take it all in, there was one present who was enabled in a wonderful manner to receive much of it, and this was Sally. I could not tell what made Sally wipe her eyes many times whilst my godmother was talking to me; I thought that the old lady was saying something to frighten us. I did not then understand how the eyes sometimes run down with tears when the individual is first brought to admit a view of redeeming love; but it was through the divine mercy, as testified to me, that Sally was thus touched, for she thus became the means of exceeding good to her little nurseling, repeating again and again to me

many things which my godmother had said; and she did more, for when we got home, she told my mother where we had been; this indeed she did by the express desire of the old lady, and begged permission to take me again to see the nice lady. I was present when this request was made, and when my mother seemed to be slow in granting Sally's request, I began to cry, for I was a little petted thing, and would not be appeased till my mother gave way and said, "Well, Sally, as you say she is quite a lady, I suppose it will not harm the child to visit her sometimes; to be sure she stood for her at the font, and she owes her a duty, and when you go, fail not to take her some little present from the dairy or hothouse." Thus permission was given by my indulgent mother for that which I desired, and from that time for six years, for so long my godmother lived, I never failed to visit her three or four times a week.

It was my beloved godmother who was made the means first of leading Sally, and then myself, into the ways of holiness; it was my godmother who was used by God to render Sally the channel of large blessings to all who were afterwards connected with her, and who made me, as far as human instrumentality can go, such as I am, and such as I was in my early youth; though still vile indeed by nature, yet having that principle of life which rendered it impossible for me to be at rest or peace, till I had seen father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all near and dear to me, were as sensible of their lost condition by nature, and of the assurance of their hope in Christ as I now am myself; though I have fulfilled the years appointed for the life of man, beyond which all is but labour and sorrow, and am now, through infirmity, tottering on the very brink of the grave, and waiting, as it were, till the earth shall close over me, and my place shall remember me no more.

I conclude, my gentle reader, with this enquiry"Was it chance which led my godmother to put on her best silk gown, in order to pay her compli ments to my mother, on the morning of my christening?"

OBEDIENCE.

PREFACE.

PERHAPS you have never considered, my little reader, how curious it is, that people should come into the world so small and helpless as they do, and always provided (unless in case of misfortunes, which will happen), with a father and a mother to supply all their wants, till they can take care of themselves. It is also wonderful to think how God has filled the hearts of all creatures with love for their little ones; so that even a donkey, almost the dullest of all fourfooted creatures, will, they say, run through fire in order to assist its young ones when in danger.

Now think, if parents had not such feeling for their little ones, what would become of all the silly helpless young things which come into the world?