little school-girl. She asked her if she were well, and how her parents were; and she even inquired for her late mistress and the children. Then Miss Montagu said; 'I am very glad to see you a servant in this house, Mary. I am sure you will try to do your duty. You will meet with some trials and difficulties which will perhaps be new to you; but, you know how to overcome them? David says, "Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee." None can walk safely, or keep in the narrow way, but those who make the word of God their guide in all things. Our Lord and Master has given us both a promise and a precept for our rule of life. First, He promises, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you;" and, secondly, He commands us, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation." If we think it enough to follow our own in

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clinations, or the wishes of others, we shall never walk stedfastly in the right way; but if we follow the will of God, making that our constant endeavour and prayer, "He is able to keep us from evil;" and if we are always willing to help others, and to show them kindness, we shall gain their esteem, and we may be made the means of doing them good.' Then Miss Montagu talked to Mary about her parents; and, when she returned to the kitchen, she wondered at the change in her spirits. She began to help one of the servants, who was washing the china tea-things. The bell soon rang for evening prayers, for all the servants were assembled to hear the word of God, to thank Him for His mercies, and ask His protection through the night. Mary went to her rest with a thankful heart, asking the blessing of God, and she rose early in the morning, beginning the day, as she did every other day, by reading her Bible and Prayer.

It was quite true that Mary found many difficulties in her new situation from some of her fellow-servants, but still she was happy in it; for she walked uprightly, fearing God more than man. I do not mean that she never did wrong; but, when she had done so, she was never happy till she had confessed her fault, and sought forgiveness her very faults thus made her more watchful for the future, and more ready to feel for others. On Sundays she saw her parents; she walked home with them from Church, and sometimes she had an hour to stay, sometimes only a few minutes. She always tried to help them to remember something of the sermon, and the lessons, and all through the week they would think of what she had put them in mind of on the Sunday.

Mrs. Montagu always paid her maid-servants' wages herself, once a quarter. This was a happy day with Mary, for her mistress

spoke so kindly to her, that she seemed to think almost as much about seeing her as about receiving her wages. Then she was a faithful servant; her mistress seldom had any fault to find with her: but, if she had, she spoke so kindly, and showed the way to improve so plainly, that Mary loved her all the more, and was sure to earn her approval the next time. Mary observed, that those servants who waited on the young ladies were more thoughtful than the others. She did not wonder at this, for she felt that she never saw her mistress, or Miss Montagu, without trying still more to do what was right. It is not every great family which is like this one: some are very different; nor is it every servant who is like Mary. It is the fear and love of God which makes all the difference in families and servants. If we fear God we shall never choose a situation for ourselves, or any that belong to us, with those who have no fear of Him before their eyes,

but who live to dishonour Him and to break His laws.

When Mary had lived two years at the Hall she was raised to an under-housemaid's place. In this situation she remained three years longer, when one spring-morning, just as the early flowers were beginning to bloom and the little birds to sing, she was called from her work by one of the servants, who said that her mistress had sent for her. Quarter-day was over, and Mary had never been sent for on any other. What could it be? The servants looked at her as if they wondered, and expected her to know; the housekeeper, who had just come from her mistress, looked very grave, and went into her room. The colour came into Mary's face, and she ran for her white apron; but in a minute her confusion went off, for she had an easy conscience, and she soon felt only pleasure at the thought of seeing her mistress; still she wondered what it could