lived not unto themselves but unto the Lord. The effects of this I witnessed, when having been on a visit with some of her relations, and receiving a kind note of invitation from Sophia, I went to see her. The greatest opposers were silent: and many a wild and vicious youth was joining with Charles in preaching the gospel he once destroyed; and many a thoughtless, frivolous, or useless young woman, was then an active, encouraging, and affectionate fellow-worker with Sophia in works of usefulness and labours of love.

I saw Sophia, then, still possessing her native grace-though in other things much changed since I had first seen her as a bride, with eight lovely children around her, -a trace of this world's cares on her brow, yet beaming smiles of love and happiness ; gentle, delicate, and elegant-looking, yet ministering to her own necessities, and to them that were with her; plentifully occupied by the business of this life, yet animated herself, and animating others by the hopes of the life to come. I chanced to see her draw out from some forgotten depository, the remnants of former days,-dresses she had worn at fancy balls and such places; and as she held them up with an air of mock admiration before me, instead of one sigh of regret for times when the breath of adulation surrounded her, she broke into a hearty laugh, and throwing them aside, with a graver countenance, said, 'Naughty woman that I am to laugh; if it did not seem so very ridiculous to me now, I ought rather to cry, to think I had been such a silly creature.'

It was the next morning, about ten o'clock, I passed through a sort of yard or court leading to their little garden; into this court, Charles had

opened a window from a closet which he had turned into a study, and at this window the poor of the parish assembled every morning to proffer their petitions, or make their complaints; near to it stood a small out-house filled with sacks of corn, flour, oatmeal, and loaves of coarse bread, to which the petitioners after their audience at the window, usually repaired with tickets, to obtain relief for their necessities from the provision procured by subscriptions from the richer parishioners. In the midst of this flour-shop, enveloped in a large apron with sleeves, stood the once proud and lovely Sophia, holding a sort of tin measure in her hand, with which, after receiving the ticket, she lifted from the sacks beside her the allotted portion, and poured it into the bags or aprons which were held out to receive it. I saw that scene myself, else I might have doubted the reality of the portrait that represented it.

Sophia's health was by no means good, and the care of eight children always hanging about her, added to parochial duties, was too much for her. I urged a little excursion with me, and a short absence from daily cares-my recipe for all complaints; her husband at last consented, reluctantly, I am sorry to say; but where is to be found an unselfish man? Of this little excursion, pleasant as it was to us both, I only mention one circumstance. The undulating grounds and beautifully spreading trees that surrounded a handsome mansion, drew my attention, and turning to Sophia, I saw she too was regarding it with a quiet reflecting sort of smile. • What a

lovely place,' I ejaculated.

'I might have been its possessor,' Sophia replied, more decidedly smiling; it belongs to Mr..’

'If you had not preferred a cabin in the parish of -,' I rejoined.

That evening brought us home; the next, on entering Sophia's little apartment, dignified with the title of drawing-room, I found the whole seven children-the eighth not having yet the use of its limbs, capering about it to the sound of her piano-the only article of luxury she had always retained, while she sung to it some lively little song which the elder ones said mamma always sung when papa staid too long out.

'Your spirits are not much affected by the sight of park, yesterday,' I said.

'Oh dear! you do not know how much,' she answered, turning back her head with an arch look to me; but if Charles stays out one hour longer, perhaps you may see.'

You must be accustomed to his absence now.'

Ah! I should be so, indeed,' she replied, gradually sinking the lively notes she had been striking, until they closed entirely; but when we were at our former abode, especially at first, and in winter too, when my chest would not allow me to go over that cold bog, then it was felt,-and where there was no human being who could exchange an idea with one.' 'What did you do?'

'Yes, when I felt impatient at my loneliness, instead of counting the minutes and hours as they past, I prayed, first for myself, that I might be kept from repining for a more active life than was allotted me ; -that I might learn

'They serve him too who only stand and wait,'

and that, instead of considering my husband as my companion, I might learn to look on him as the Lord's servant; and then instead of always thinking where he might be, or when he might come home, I learned to let my thoughts follow him in prayer, that the blessing of the Lord might go with him, and that while poor, he might go from house to house, and place to place, making many rich; and when I had been thus employed for him while he was absent, and through him for others, cared not when he did return, to meet him with complaints or regrets, for I looked for an answer to my unworthy petitions, and longed to hear an account of the day; and this anxiety led me to shew an interest in all he had been about, and to seek for the detail with an eagerness which pleased poor Charles, who never, I believe, to this day, knew the cause from whence it sprung.'

'But now do not you feel and act the same way.'

Ah! matters are changed now; with eight children to mind, a house to arrange, and the wants and wishes, joys and sorrows of a whole village to participate in; you cannot think the day can appear so long as it did at, and before my first child was born. My conscience is sometimes a little uneasy when I look back to the spiritual blessedness and quiet communion I then enjoyed; but I believe the Lord has changed the manner of my life for me, and he gave me that which I once desired, just when I should be ready of myself to think I was most unfitted to perform its duties: thus am I taught humility, and can feel perfect peace when I can see the footsteps of Providence guiding me and mine through

this earthly way, and placing us just where and how we ought to be.'

Some little time after this, being with some friends at no great distance from the village of -, I once more paid Sophia a visit. She received me with open arms in her own sweet joyous manner, and then sinking back with an air of mock dignity and real grace, she curtsied low, saying,- A rector's wife, if you please, madam; allow me to introduce myself, the wife of the rector of -?

Nonsense, Sophia; what is it?'

'I am a rector's wife. Charles has had a letter from the bishop this morning, presenting him with the living of - ; and here you are just come to congratulate us.'

And I did congratulate you, Sophia, and at this distance of time the tear springs unbidden when I recall the feelings with which I did so. Sophia led me to the sofa, and embracing me, we began to talk more calmly.

6

I am thankful,' she said, though it will be heart-rending to leave this dear place, where we have so many friends, where we have met with so much kindness, and been so abundantly blessed; yet, when I see my poor children, whose education I am unable to attend to as I could wish, (for I cannot think a clergyman's wife justified in giving up her whole time to her own house) when I see them by no means kept as I could wish, Charles being able to afford me only twenty pounds a year to clothe my boys and girls and myself too, I cannot help allowing nature to plead, and find it difficult to consider the subject only as to whether God will be glorified in our change or not.'