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dark; and there are not a few persons in the world, who might do well to consider how much the aggre. gate of human happiness might be increased, and of human misery diminished, by following the example of the wiser woman. We have the apostolic injunction sounded in our ears, "Be content with such things as ye have." Oh! if we listened to this injunction more seriously, more prayerfully; if we endeavoured more closely to follow the steps of him who, under Divine inspiration, penned it, and whe commanded us to be followers of him, as he was of Christ, we should not give way to such murmurings and such complainings; we should not hear of such frequent changings of situations, to the evident injury of usefulness, and, I might say, to the lessening of respectability; nor should we see such black looks and hear such hard complaints, about little matters, which, considered even in a worldly point of view, may be acknowledged to be very bearable, and which, when weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, will diminish into absolute nothings.

It is something, then, to use the language of Leighton, to take things by the right ear.' The effect which external circumstances have upon the mind, from the nature and state of the mind itself, is another consideration. The snow which melts in the valley, rests upon the mountain. The acid which falls harmless on the solid marble, effervesces on the powdered chalk. The battering ram, which beats down the proud resisting wall, is deadened by the yielding sail-cloth.

I am a sad rambler. That mysterious mental power, which ancient metaphysicians called the law of association of ideas, and which the moderns more

intelligibly style the law of suggestion, and which' like many other things, we know better in its agency than in its nature, has led me in this little disquisition, from thought to thought, until I feel that it is time to pause, and that I ought scarcely to add another link to the chain which I have been carelessly forming.

My hints are peculiarly offered to governesses-but remarks addressed to one particular class may sometimes have a more general application; and the point on which I have ventured to write, cheerful contentment"in the state of life to which it has pleased God to call us," is a lesson that we all require to learn. Far be it from me to assert or to imply that the class of governesses is the most discontented class in the world.-I do not say this.-I do not even hint it, nor mean it; but I do say, and I would boldly stand to it, that in this boasting, aspiring, useful-knowledge age, there is a very great quantity of discontent; and we know, on the highest authority, that even a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." Discontent is one of our besetting national sins; and pride is at the root of discontent. The people of England are making a push en avant ; we may find to our cost, the truth of the old French proverb: 'Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien.' We shall find that it is only that people who have the Lord for their God who have no complaining in their streets.

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If, like David, we had our sin ever before us, and like him too, set the Lord always before us, the united contemplation would, in the words of an old divine, certainly prevent discontent, boasting, and despondency.' M. A. S.

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MEMOIR OF ANNIE

[Concluded from page 144.]

When the account was first given to me of the character of this little child, I was immediately impressed with the persuasion that its parents had in all probability been under that peculiar influence themselves, as to be mindful of the spiritual interest of its soul, and by prayer had interceded for a blessing; and thus, in one sense, like John the Baptist, their voice had cried "in the wilderness, making straight the way of the Lord,” and preparing an opportunity for its early beholding "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world;" that they had begun a communion in its behalf before its birth, so that when it did enter into this world, it came not as a stranger to heaven, but as one for whom had been obtained a previous preparation, having been presented as one who should be trained for the courts of the Lord's house.

Without assigning a reason, or describing my own sentiments, I asked this important question,-What was the frame of the parents' minds before the birth of the child? and received this confidential reply from the father: That on the first supposition he was likely to be blessed with a child, he had a remarkable earnestness for the divine blessing, accompanied with a powerful influence upon his soul, poured out in frequent ardent prayer that the child

might be devoted to the Lord as an entire offering to his praise and that the mother also was under similar impressions for the same grace, and who, when the time was come, gave birth to twins. One immediately died, and the life of the other, a girl, whose short history it is which we are now investigating, remained a long time in suspense.

During the trial, the father declared his entire resignation to God's purpose; much as his affections were called out, his self-will was kept in complete subjection until the child received vigor and was given to them.

From the first moment, the child evinced a spirit of patience, though remaining delicate, and often suffering; even its plaintive cry was seldom heard. And though of so young a child, little can be adduced of its life, yet we can trace the dawnings of its impressions by many traits of evidences.

During the regular hours of family prayer, the babe was always one of the assembly, laying on its mother's knee, and always appearing to give intense attention, remaining in perfect quietness as if listening to the scripture, and as if soothed by the act of devotion.

When about eight months old little Annie appeared to have attained to perfect health, and was accustomed to be put to bed in her own crib at an early hour; the mother also, being ill at the same period, had been obliged to retire earlier than usual; the father in consequence sought his own retirement for prayer near his child's bed. She happened to be awake, and with an uncommon degree of sprightly playfulness, being pleased to see him, expressed her delight with unusual liveliness, but he, desiring

to pursue his reading and devotion, wished the child to be quiet though he did not express it but by taking up his bible, which she perceiving, notwithstanding she was in the height of her spirits, immediately dropped on her bed in a sort of holy quiet, and remained with clasped hands in an expression of devotion.

When between twelve and thirteen months old, her parents having pressing business in the shop at the Christmas season, being in the grocery line, many persons requiring attention, the hour of family reading was interrupted. Breakfast was prepared, but the servant girl had neglected to put the Bible on the table. The parents sat down, not noticing or thinking of the circumstance; but the little one was not so forgetful. On observing the intention to take breakfast without reading, she put out her hand to obstruct them, saying with earnestness, Ather! ather! No, no!'

Her mother, surprised asked, ' What do you want, Annie?'

She looked wistfully up to the bible on the shelf. 'Is it the bible, Annie?' her father inquired. 'Is! is!' she answered, clapping her hands with delight that she was understood.

The parents, thus admonished, took down the bible and read, whilst the child sat with clasped hands in an attitude of reverence.

She was remarkable for her affection and sympathy which were repeatedly evidenced by such actions and feeling as these. When about nineteen months old, her mother being ill, she expressed her sorrow to her father in a tone of tenderness, 'Poor mother, very poorly!'

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