culty, and had smoothed his passage to the grave, and lighted it with heavenly glory, No wonder that he was so calm and happy! Its poor possessor, I said. Well, he was poor in this world, and friendless, and unknown; yet, as I firmly believe, "rich in faith, and an heir of the kingdom that God hath promised to them that love him."

Shall I write more? Shall I say that that strange event was the turning point in my history? that the accusations of an awakened conscience drove me almost to despair, until I was enabled to embrace the faithful saying, worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, even the chief; and that now my recovered Bible is dearer to me than all the books in my library, because the gospel it contains has been made to me, through faith in Christ, the power of God unto salvation?

CONTRAST AND COMPENSATION.

"Ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal."

PART I.

"Ir isn't fair, is it, Miss Hannah?" This was spoken by a smart-looking young footman to the maid who stood at the gate, looking after her young mistress as she cantered down the road on a beautiful horse, followed by a servant also on horseback. Hannah had been arranging the habit, and handing up the elegant little riding whip, and there had been some little rebuke administered by the impatient mistress, which the maid evidently resented in her heart though not with her lips.

"You see I can read your looks, Miss Hannah," continued the footman, "and they say what I'm sure I'm not surprised at, for I think just the same thing myself."

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Pray what may that be?" asked Hannah, coolly, for she was not disposed to bear with any freedom just then. Why, they say-I wonder why she should go riding and taking her pleasure, while I must walk and work? And I wonder too, for it isn't as it should be. What better is she than you and me?"

66 I suppose we are born to it," said Hannah, with a touch of bitterness.

"That don't settle it to my mind," retorted the young man: "I feel that I've as good a right to be master as anybody else, and I mean to try it one of these days."

"Master of what, you goose? Get away, and learn to be master of yourself first," said the old butler, suddenly putting his head out of a window, as he overheard the remark. Hannah smiled, and went in, while her companion, with a saucy laugh, turned off in another direction. After luncheon Hannah had to pass through a similar piece of duty, attending the young lady to the carriage to drive out and pay visits with her mamma.

Hannah," said a sweet young voice, “don't forget that lace flounce again; you haven't mended it yet where I caught it on the stupid nail: and, Hannah, put the new wreath carefully by; I do believe I left it out of the drawer. And have everything quite ready, that I may be dressed in good time."

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"Very well, ma'am," said Hannah's lips, but her heart said, Very fine; and then sit up till I'm worn out to undress you again: rides and parties, and wreaths and lace, and all pleasure for you, and-"

"What's the matter, Miss Hannah? you don't look over happy to-day;" said the butler, who seemed to be as good an observer as the footman, and who was moreover a privileged sort of person, licensed to say what he pleased unquestioned by anybody, from the master downwards.

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"Don't I, Mr. Watts ?" answered Hannah, following him into the room, where he was busy with his plate. Well, perhaps I'm not. I'm only a poor girl, and our young lady, not so old as me, is

"A rich one, you would say. Hannah ?"

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And what of that, Miss

Oh, it comes across me to wonder why it is—why some are born to be rich, and some to be poor ?"

"And more particularly why you are among the poor? Well, if you are born to it, you can't help it, you see, neither of you; so whose fault is it?"

"I don't know; but did you never feel it yourself, Mr. Watts, when master orders you about?"

"Because I can't order him about instead? Well, I can't say I do. But, Miss Hannah, you forget that everything has been turned topsy-turvy in this world."

"I'm sure I can't forget that, Mr. Watts. I'm feeling it a great deal since I saw things as they are here: such grand ways and doings all for one family, that would keep twenty families I could name. I wish somebody could set them straight again, and give us each our share."

"All in good time; it'll come about some day. And you and me, Miss Hannah, what shall we look for then?" "Not to work, for one thing, Mr. Watts."

"But to make somebody work for us? You see, a setting to rights that's only to please you and me would scarcely be worth while. You'd like somebody else to be considered, wouldn't you? else there would be another talkative old butler, and another-may I say it ?-discontented Miss Hannah." And a kind pair of eyes looked up the silver to the face of the girl. "I don't care for such a revolution as yours would be; it isn't fair and wide enough for all," he added, shaking his gray head.

"But you say it will come about some day."

from

"Yes, yes; but it will be done by One who can provide for the satisfaction of the whole community. There will still be the wise, but they shall not glory in their wisdom; there will still be the mighty, but they shall not glory in their might."

Ah, you mean in a better world, and after we've done with this: but I am not quite so near it as you are, Mr. Watts."

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"You don't know that, my young friend," returned the butler, gravely. However, nearing my journey's end doesn't make me think less of those who are coming after. And there's one place of consequence to you, Hannah, where things are more topsy-turvy than all the rest; and if the righting of them begins there, you'll have patience to wait the good time that's coming for all the others."

"Where is that, pray?" asked Hannah, feeling interested into a better humour.

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Why, you see, one day there was a mighty revolution that upset all the good in the world, and made things crooked for you and me among the rest. It began in our heart, when pride and self-will got into it, and the righting must begin in the same place by getting them turned out again. That sort of reformation is going on quietly as fast as every man, woman, and child finds out the root of the matter, and goes to the great Reformer to get back the good thing that was lost. Happiness and contentment went away with it, and both of them come back with it."

"But what has that to do with us being servants, Mr. Watts? You mean that sin got in, and ruined everything; but holiness won't alter our positions, will it ?"

"Yes, very much to our own hearts and feelings. There can be no holiness without faith and love to God, and when we get that we soon see how 'he appointed to every one his work,' and when we take up his service, we are ready and willing for the duty and the position he bids us occupy. Now then, Miss Hannah, the Lord invites you to be his servant; he ordered it that you should be born in a station where you can be engaged to this family and wait on Miss Leonore; and he says, Do it for me. Won't you

try?"

Hannah stood silent. Mr. Watts' doctrine was not yet quite palatable.

Be so good as tell me now, Miss Hannah, what happiness there can be in going about the world with your hands folded, doing nothing?"

"Our young lady does so, and isn't she happy?" said Hannah, quickly.

'Well, then, she ought not; and I don't know whether she's happy or not, but you have only to judge for yourself."

"Well, master does so, and I'm sure he's happy enough; you never see a cross look on his face."

"He has no time to be cross, he's always busy; he is a magistrate, and a guardian of the poor; he is a member of I don't know how many committees; he supports a school and a hospital almost all himself, and he never gets one penny for all the work he does."

"Well but, Mr. Watts, it comes to the same thing after all, for he needn't do it if he didn't like, you know."

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Ah, Miss Hannah, don't you see that the seat of the thing is in the heart. Our master is a servant of the Lord, and so he likes to be useful and busy for him in the duties of the station in which God has placed him, and that's the reason he is happy, as you see. Now just you ask the good Lord to let you see things by the light of his Spirit, learn of Him who was meek and lowly in heart,' and you'll soon find rest from all these questionings and murmurings that are plaguing you out of heart for your duty now."

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6

"I don't know that I'm proud and self-willed," murmured Hannah. "Are not you uncharitable, Mr. Watts ?" Well, my dear, I'm sorry if I've offended you," said the old man, kindly; "you must forgive me, and not count me an enemy' because I have told you the truth.' I only wanted to see you look more happy, and feel right. But

take care how you listen to that monkey of a nephew of mine, whom master took into the family out of regard for me. He talks a deal of nonsense."

"I'd a great deal rather listen to you," said Hannah. "I know you mean to do me good, and if I do try your way, Mr. Watts, you will help me sometimes, won't you ?"

"With all my heart, dear child, I will. We are proud and self-willed by nature since the evil one whispered his lies to our mother Eve, and he knows very well how to torment us by our own sinful thoughts. A meek and lowly heart is the work and gift of the Lord Jesus by his Spirit, and it's just like new eyes to see the wisdom of God's ways, and a new will to submit to them and be satisfied with them. I shall pray that he give you this best of blessings, Hannah."

"I wish I'd been born good to begin with," said Hannah, with a little sigh, "it seems so hard to think we must be watching and fighting against ourselves: my bad thoughts are gone down a little since you've been talking to me, but I know they'll be up again when I go to Miss Leonore's room.".

"Not if you ask the Lord to go with you. If we are to fight, he finds the sword; and if we are to watch, he provides the light. Draw nigh to him, Hannah, as a sinner that wants to be saved, and knows that nobody else can do it. Then you will grow to be good and holy; and who knows but you may be made a blessing to your young mistress here? Come, now, you are going to live for something you haven't thought of before-to be blessed yourself, and a blessing to others. I can't talk any more now; so good day, Miss Hannah, and be you sure of this, that whoever lets self-will hold the bridle drives to mischief."

"CAST THY BURDEN UPON THE LORD."

Ir was with a sigh of relief that Jane Barton, farmer Saunders' governess, dismissed one November afternoon her little band of pupils, and escaped from the schoolroom into her little chamber, where she could cast off her forced cheerfulness and be alone with her God and her sorrow. Hastily she locked her room door; then sunk down upon her knees and wept bitterly. Rising from her knees, some