for though GOD has been pleased to spare me this time, and once more renewed my health and strength, yet I seem to have had so many warnings, as if to show me the necessity of preparing at once for that day which cometh as a thief in the night.

"Forgive my saying so much, dear William; but I have thought so much upon the subject since my illness, and especially since I have been alone, that when you gave me the opportunity, I could not help opening my heart."

On the same subject, to Miss E. W—.

"My dear E

"Wilmslow Rectory, Feb. 19, 1853.

“*** You mention -'s death: poor Apoor she cannot now be called! Is it not an awful warning to us, so nearly her own age? Are we prepared as she was to enter into life, or are we not? This is an awful question, dearest E-, but we know not how soon our turn may come. How knowest thou, but what this night thy soul may be required of thee? And can we under such an uncertainty look forward with confidence to three months hence ? Is it not presumption? How do I know whether I may be alive then? and if I am, how many things may intervene to frustrate our plans! How can we, who know not even what to-day may bring forth, say at such a time, I will do this or that? *** I cannot bear, dear E- to hear you speak of future events with the confidence you do; it pained me very much when you were here, though I had not the courage to speak seriously at the time. But these awful warnings ought to teach us that sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof, without laying up disappointment and vexation for a future

time;

for what is disappointment but discontent, generally speaking-and is not that sin?

66 # * * It must be very, very sad to watch poor M. A- ‚1 but deeply interesting, for we must all follow the same path, all go through the same dark valley; but which gate do we mean to enter at the other side?

"Mamma has gone to the little Chorley Church today. I was afraid to venture, for most people say it is so bitterly cold and draughty, so I must wait till the weather gets warmer; but I much regret it, for it would have been a great privilege to be able to worship in the House of GOD twice a week. I envy William, who has daily prayers; but I fear I do not profit as I ought by the advantages I already have, so it is not likely I shall have more given me."

Although Melise had been thus early made to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, she was far from having attained to anything like the perfection of the Christian character. The following portion of a letter written to the same cousin reveals what never appeared outwardly, viz., that the pleasures of the world entered into at first from the wish to please others, had come to occupy far too considerable a place in her heart to be consistent with its entire consecration to GOD. We are told that "if any man love the world, the love of the FATHER is not in him ;" and it will doubtless appear to some, that what has been said in the

The young lady referred to in this letter, though daily expecting death at the same time that we were watching round my sister's bed, yet survived her about six weeks.

preceding pages of the inner life of this child of GOD could not be real, or there would have been no enjoyment for her in mere worldly amusements. On the other hand, it may be thought by others to whom these things are still delightful, and who yet persuade themselves that they are harmless, that here is an evident instance of one mixing and even taking pleasure in them while her heart was really above them; and such may be tempted to rest satisfied with their present state. It will however be seen by those who will take the pains to examine, that when her eyes were afterwards more fully opened to the doctrine of CHRIST crucified, and when she heard the voice of the Good Shepherd, saying, "Follow Me," she saw at once the inconsistency of loving the world, which still hates Him, and longed to withdraw entirely from contact with it. At this time also she was, through natural reserve and humility, averse to supposing that she possessed any gifts of grace which were not bestowed on all; and consequently was encouraged to do things which probably her conscience secretly reproached her with, by the example of others whom she considered her equals, if not superiors,

in holiness.

I would gladly have omitted this letter; but as I am writing the life of a real and not an ideal person, truth requires that the imperfections as well as the graces of her character should be fairly brought forward. It is not for nothing that Holy Scripture is so full of the sins and failings of good

men; and the lives of the saints bear witness to the same frailty of human nature. No one who remembers the frivolity of S. Theresa, which she was afterwards so astonished at God's mercy in bearing with, at the very time when she was receiving the most striking spiritual manifestations of JESUS, will be surprised at finding the same apparent inconsistency in the history of one whose inner life appears to me to resemble in many respects, although of course at a great distance, the experience of that highly favoured Saint. When we bear in mind that all the good there is in any of God's saints is from Him, and all that is of their own is only evil; their very sins and imperfections only exhibit to us in greater power, the super-abounding Love of the Good Shepherd, Who leads His sheep not only out of the world, but even out of themselves. The great lesson to be drawn from seeing that they were of like passions with ourselves is, that we should not rest in our present state and excuse ourselves by their faults; but, when we see how they have been drawn even from such an imperfect state to what God's grace has made them, it ought to show us that we are never to " sleep in despair and say I cannot."

To Miss E. W

66* * * I have come to the

envy me my balls! or else I am

"Dec. 23, 1853. conclusion that you sure you would not

scold me so unmercifully for enjoying them! If you had given me a good lecture on love, it would have been less

than I deserved. The pomps and vanities of the ballroom are the last things that attract me; I enjoy it merely as I do a ride my partner is my horse, if he goes well, I enjoy myself accordingly. I see

*

no more danger in my learning to love the world by going to balls, than for you in taking your country walks with the C- -S; it is the people in the world that there is a danger of my making idols of; but at the same time there are temptations for most people that would be very prejudicial. Is it not a nuisance having Christmas Day on a Sunday? May I wish you a merry one? I shall at all events be in the right box if I wish you a very happy new year; and I hope you will like the Church Service which I will send by the same post, with the leaf turned down where you are to read; I hope you will find it useful to read to some of your poor people. I don't like to go about without papa's sanction, and though I have asked him several times, he never gives me anything to do.

"Do you know I could almost envy your little friend Gracie,

"The less of this cold world the more of heaven;

The briefer life the earlier immortality.'

If only JESUS would receive me as one of His, how joyfully would I this moment yield up my life to Him. Death to me has nothing gloomy in its aspect; to the Christian it is but the bright entrance into a still brighter home. I cannot tell you how last spring I longed to die. I was very happy here; I do not think I murmured at having to remain but if GOD had seen fit to call me to Himself, how thankfully would I have obeyed. I never did wish to be old, I don't see what there is here worth living for, except to do our FATHER'S Will; and how

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