dandy, tightly begirt with stays, and decorated with a quizzing glass, who, turning to Melville, said, "I suppose, sir, you preach, sometimes." No sir, I am happy to be a hearer." "Ha, ha, well, 'pon honor, I think you would make a good preacher. I suppose you never smile nor indulge in a joke.'

6

"I do not know why you should suppose this. If you consider me to be religious, you ought to know that religion is the soul of happiness-that it banishes sorrow, and chases despair from the heart-that it guides into the way of peace, and produces real and permanent delight. So full of joy itself, that it seeks not such auxiliaries as have been referred to in this conversation. Allow me, sir, to recommend you to study the subject seriously, and you will soon be convinced that there is every thing in real, vital religion that conduces to cheerfulness."

The young dandy dropped his glass, and bowed assent to the remarks of Melville. He felt that he could not maintain a conversation with one who appeared to be so capable of defending his subject. The very presence of a good man has a powerful influence on the gay and dissipated, and although they may not accord with his principles, or assent to what they term his preciseness, yet they cannot but approve his conduct.

A good man seen, though silent, counsel gives.

A manly unequivocal avowal of attachment to heavenly things, is highly commendable, and indispensably necessary, and when it is combined with a modest humble demeanor, it will always be received with respect, even by persons of a hostile character.

The conversation that ensued, suspended the introduction of cards, and music was eventually introduced. Some delightful pieces from Handel were played by a young lady, with peculiar taste, and admirable execution, Cake and wine were now brought in, and a short but lively conversation closed the evening, in which Melville modestly expressed his sentiments concerning many works which had been mentioned, frequently declaring the delight he experienced in history, poetry, &c. Novels were referred to, and Melville being asked his opinion on them, observed, that he considered the far greater number of them to be not only injurious to the morals, but productive of serious consequences. That circulating libraries, where novels were principally lent, were an evil not only to respectable young ladies, but especially to servants, whose time and money were wasted, and ideas of the lightest and most pernicious sort infused into the mind.

"But there are some good novels," said the dandy.

matron.

"Oh certainly" exclaimed the venerable "I have read thousands of them in my life, and I have admired some few of them as containing very good sentiments. "Only a few of them "said Melville! "It is on that principle I do not make them a part of my reading, for to use the remark of Dr. Young, 'If a man were to find one pearl in an oyster, out of a million, it would not encour age him to commence fisherman for life. "..

"Then you do not read to be amused, said the dandy.

"My time is too limited to read for mere amusement," rejoined Melville. "I endea vour to blend the utile et dulce, for I have been taught to make much of time, and to value moments, and therefore I endeavour to abstain from what is unprofitable and to deliberate before I accept an invitation, determined if possible either to do good or to get good."

There was something in the manner of Melville that commanded approbation, and when he had taken his departure, even the dandy exclaimed that he was a charming lad, although his ideas were singular.

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"That arises from his education" said the matron, probably a little intercourse with fashionable society, will rectify his prejudices.

Yet I could wish that some of my children were equally promising. At any rate we could not reply to his remarks with any chance of suc

cess."

"I could have joked them away," said the dandy, "but he soon despoiled me of that weapon, and he looked so grave, that I was completely silenced."

After Melville had retired to his room, he began to reflect on the incidents of the evening. He perceived the importance of resolution and consistency. 'If a man be my disciple, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me. He must, for the law of the kingdom of God is absolute. He that is a friend of the world is an enemy to God. This is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith." A constant warfare must be kept up. Watchfulness and prayer must be perpetually resorted to. There are in every town persons of the worst principles, whose sole delight is to corrupt the youthful mind, and when a father sends a child from home he needs to pray that God would keep him from the evils of the world. fidels, gamesters, profligates, whoremongers, and adulterers are to be found in the common pothouse and superb hotel, in the humble cottage and stately mansion. Abandoned minds take a satanic pleasure in leading a youth from

In

the path of virtue. They call darkness light and light darkness, evil good and good evil. Like their grand progenitor, they adopt the maxim:

To do ought good shall never be our task

But ever to do ill our sole delight!!

Melville determined that nothing should move him, but he determined this in the strength of God, and having committed himself to the divine protection he calmly retired to rest, and sunk on his pillow,

As in the embraces of his God

Or on his Saviour's breast,

CHAP. VI.

"How different will be the dying reflections of that parent whose earnest endeavours have been unhappily defeated by the subsequent and voluntary perversion of his child, from him who will reasonably aggravate his pangs, by transferring the sins of his neglected child, to the number of his own transgressions!"

H. MORE.

Religious Education-Evils of inconsistency in Church Members Tragedy followed by a farceMrs. Elworthy's illness-Address to her son-Reflection Soliloquy overheard-Unexpected advice -Mrs. Elworthy's letter.

IT is an abundant source of consolation to a Christian parent that the religious education