from what I ought to be. And yet," continued she, after a short pause, 66 even at this moment I am not insensible to the many blessings which claim my thankfulness; and, believe me, I am thankful; I am thankful that I have any thing which I can sacrifice to God, and thereby testify my faith and affection; I am thankful for the happiness I have so long enjoyed; thankful for the happiness which yet remains I do not mean to give way to weakness and sickly feeling. I will exert myself. And I trust and think that in a few days I shall be what I ought to be. I will take my Prayer-book in my hand, and there I know I shall find what will soothe excitement, and teach me to forget myself in communion with the Church of Christ." to me. 66 May God direct and comfort you, my dear young friend, and give you strength to bear that cross cheerfully and manfully, which all must take up daily who would be true disciples of their crucified Lord!" As I said these words, I rose hastily from the table at which we were sitting, and turned to the window, not caring to shew the emotion I was really feeling. As I did so, I saw Mark Fullerton on horseback in the distance, riding slowly towards the house. I stood gazing for a moment to satisfy myself that I was not mistaken; and then, immediately crossing the room, without giving any intimation of his approach to Mildred, I took my leave of her; and, hurrying down stairs, avoided a meeting with Mark, by going through the shrubberies at the back of the house. How much, thought I, depends upon this day's meeting! and what a happy termination of all our anxieties will it be, if, through Mildred's gentle influence, Mark should be roused from his perilous sleep of folly and self-confidence! Surely he must learn a lesson of humility and true wisdom from that poor girl's exemplary behaviour. Wealth, prosperity, affection,—all that the world most esteems, all that would be most captivating to a young creature's heart, have been set before her, and been rejected for conscience-sake. How sorely must she have been tempted to act otherwise! How friendless will be her condition when Mrs. Long dies; how narrow her means; how difficult and delicate even is her present position! All these things were against her; but habits of self-denial, and steady Church-principles, have kept her in a consistent course. Be the issue what it may, I am sanguine she will do right. A reconciliation is probably taking place at this moment. What will be the next step? If Mark's vanity and obstinacy do not get the better of him, he will be gradually led back to the paths of safety and truth. If they do, he will try to make Mildred a dissenter: but he will try in vain! Forms and Formularies. A path of peace amid the tangled grove, To make a road to heav'n-strains from above, Drinking pure light and heaven-born harmony,- Ancient of mothers, in parental love Daily unwinding from thy annual maze Treasures that wax not old, whence still may grow Fresh adoration. The Cathedral. IT Chapter IX. HE next day was Sunday,-one of those bright, warm February days, when Nature for a moment casts off her sullen winter frown, and every living thing rejoices in the smile of sunshine and cloudless skies. I felt sure that I should have a numerous congregation; and I had scarcely left home for church, before I perceived that my anticipations were in the way of being verified. High and low, rich and poor, one with another, were all turning their steps the same way. Here I overtook a joyous band of children, bowing and curtseying, their chubby cheeks beaming with health, and looking as though they were only prevented from a game of romps by the dread of soiling their Sunday-clothes. There I passed by two or three infirm parishioners, whom I had not seen at church for months, but who now, like the half-torpid bees in their own cottage-gardens, were leaving their winter-quarters, and, wending their way leisurely, supported by stick or crutch, were halting |