you came to the door, it was Miss Neville; but it's wet, she won't come to day.'

This was the time, I thought, to make inquiry about the Nevilles, which I did: and the woman gave them the highest character for being good and charitable, as she termed it, and a family of the 'ould stock, all real gentlemen, it was kind for them to be good.' I was at a loss to know whether my informant was of Neville's congregation; if so, she was prejudiced; but on making the inquiry, learned they were Roman Catholics.

'Then,' said I, 'Miss Neville comes here for the purpose of endeavouring to make you change your religion.'

'No, Sir,' replied the young woman, she is too kind and considerate to do so.'

'She comes, Sir,' returned the mother, to larn my little girl to read and sew; you'd wonder what a power of trouble she took, and never axed her to turn, Sir.'

'Does she not make you read the Bible,' said I? 'She asked me, Sir, had I any dislike to do so ? -I had not, and she gave me one.'

Aye,' ,' said the old woman, and a blessed day it was that it came into the house; my little boy took to reading it, and he's a changed boy ever since.'

'How so, does he go to church?' asked I.

'O dear, no, Sir; but he was given to drinking, cock-fighting, and every badness; I am a lone woman, Sir, and have no one to work but him he was idle, my cabin almost falling, no rent for the master, and it's well we wasn't turned out on the world; but thanks be to God, it's not the case now.'

'You cannot be certain,' said I, 'that reading the Bible made this change in your son; might not the priest have spoken to him of his idle life?'

'Not a word, Sir; Father Tom never heeded him, only when he heard it, he wouldn't let him read the Bible; but the little boy got such benefit from it, he wouldn't be hindered, and now I'll warrant there's not a man in the parish minds his duty better, and he pays his dues without frown or grumble; no inatter what people says, I'll not believe the Bible could do harm.'

The rain being over, I left the house, and notwithstanding what I had heard, could not think the Nevilles took so much pains with these poor people, without having some design in it. The priest's caution, and my own prejudices, overbalanced any testimony I might hear in favour of Neville; and though I admired him greatly, yet wished we were away from his influence.

For some days Stafford did not amend, but rather grew worse; though suffering greatly, he was quite resigned, always pleased to see Neville -generally led the conversation to serious subjects, and asked him to read the Bible, which Neville seemed pleased to do, and elucidated the passages he perused.

One day that Stafford was somewhat freer from his troublesome cough, and I was settling the pillows that supported him, he said,

'My dear Henry you have much trouble with me; indeed I feel your affection most sensibly; may the Lord raise a friend for you in time of need. Ah, Ellmer, it is an awful consideration to find one's self on the verge of eternity.'

6

'Say not so,' I replied, you will yet live many,

many years, my dear Stafford, you are not worse to-day.'

'No, Henry, but I feel convinced I cannot recover; there is something within, that whispers, Prepare to meet thy God."'

'You are nervous,' said I, we will have done with this subject; cheer up, my friend, you will yet be well.'

Most fervently do I hope that all will be well with my soul, ere it appears in the presence of its Judge,' repeated Stafford with solemnity.

'What have you to fear,' returned I, has not your life been irreproachable, Stafford? it is your conversation with Neville that has made you thus gloomy and desponding.'

'On the contrary, Henry, his words are calculated to cheer my drooping soul; he directs me to where the only true comfort is to be found, to the blessed word of God; Henry, my friend, will you read for me? I am not able; here, I have marked the place I wish to hear.'

He pulled a small volume from under the pillow, and I was greatly surprised to find it the Bible, (the very one which you have seen with me.) I hesitated, but he said,

Why, my dear Ellmer, do you fear? this book, believe me, cannot unsettle our faith, which is founded on its contents.

Seeing him so earnest, I made no further objection, but read the 14th chapter of St. John's Gospel, which he had marked. When I concluded he clasped his hands, and said,

'Blessed God, I will not be troubled, I will not fear. I believe in Thee and thy divine Son, that he is able, and will save me everlastingly, that my

sins shall be blotted from the book of thy remembrance.'

He paused, much exhausted; I prevailed on him to take some rest, and left the room; I was affected even to tears, and in a state of mind that I cannot describe. Stafford's manner surprised me, so unlike what I had ever witnessed in him. I did not wish to suppose that in his present weak state, Neville would endeavour to unsettle his faith, and yet his having the Bible under his pillow, seemed almost presumptive proof. I resolved, on his recovery, which I expected would be soon, to point out his dangerous state, and urge him to fly from the contagion of error.

But time passed over, Stafford did not amend, notwithstanding the doctor's hopes; my friend was not so sanguine, frequently saying he could not recover; this, however, appeared not to give him the smallest uneasiness. Neville saw him almost daily, and usually read for him. By hearing portions of Scripture read and commented on, I began to feel interested, and sometimes took up the book to study for myself, but in stealth, fearing I was not doing right in disobeying the commands of the church; if any person approached while thus engaged, I concealed the book, and above all feared my doing so should come to the knowledge of the priest; for though, as an individual, I did not like Father Thomas, yet his sacred office, and the doctrines of the church impressed me with an awe of him.

CHAPTER VIII.

Yet above all, his luxury supreme,

And his chief glory, was the Gospel theme;
There he was copious as old Greece or Rome,
His happy eloquence seem'd there at home,
Ambitious not to shine or to excel,

But to treat justly what he loved so well....Cowper.

ONE day, while Neville and myself were sitting by Stafford's bed side, who was looking most wretchedly, yet he conversed with cheerfulness, and with more ease than usual.

Do you recollect,' said he to Neville, 'a remark I made on the evening we first had the pleasure of seeing you, relative to some lines your sister had sung?'

Yes,' replied Neville, I perceived you were then aspiring after a rest that this fleeting world cannot give.'

'Your answer at that time surprised me, Neville. I have since frequently reflected on it.'

'And I hope with comfort,' said Neville, it is most cheering to know that there is a blessed abode of rest and peace, which has been described

as a

home for weeping souls,

By sin and sorrow driven,

'When storms arise and ocean rolls,

And all is drear- but heaven.

Oh! what a hopeless, miserable state would existence be, but for the expectation of this happy con