affectionate of children; but do not require me to deny the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ-leave me at liberty to worship him in that way which Scripture, reason, and an awakened conscience, point out to be most acceptable to the Deity. In all other matters I will be your obedient son. 'Reject not, my dear, dear father, this last request of your affectionate and afflicted

'HENRY.'

CHAPTER V.

Forsake thy father's land,

Kindred and friends and pleasant home.

In exile though thou roam,

Walk there with God, and thou shalt find,

Double for all thy faith resigned....Montgomery.

NIGHT came on, and Henry received no reply to his note; and after remaining up much longer than usual, he retired to rest with a heart overcharged with grief; for in addition to his other afflictions, his mother had not come to see him for two days. Under such circumstances, to sleep was impossible; he spent the night in alternate weeping and prayer. At times passages of holy Scripture recurred to him, and he recollected it was written, The brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child; and

ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake; but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.'

He arose with the dawn, and went to his seat in the glen; he took out the Bible to read, but could not arrange a single idea; his eyes wandered over the pages, while his heart was mourning over the separation that must soon ensue, between him and all he loved on earth. · My dear parents and sisters,' he said, ' am I to be torn away from you, perhaps forever, thrown upon the world, and not have wherewith to support nature? O can the Lord require this bitter sacrifice? He will not require more than human nature can perform —more than I can do. I will return, submit to my father, and live happy in the bosom of my family.'

When the mind is exercised by some severe trial, the arch enemy of mankind puts forth all his powers to turn the soul from dependence upon the Rock of Ages, to lying vanities and creature comfort. It was by his agency the suggestion presented itself to Henry, that he might temporise with our Saviour: or in other words, try to reconcile the services of God and the world that he might in private study Scripture, and in exterior, conform to the will of his father, Full of this idea he was returning to put it into execution, but reflecting it was yet too early to see his father, he retraced his steps, and prolonged his walk to the summit of the mountain. Upon more mature deliberation of the plan he was about to pursue, the divine monitor, that still, small voice' within us, whispered all was not right. Recalled thus to a sense of his danger, he threw himself on his knees, exclaiming, Lord, what wilt thou have

me to do? Leave me not, neither forsake me, O my God.' While he remained in the posture of prayer, the following portions of Scripture were brought to his memory: He that loveth father and mother more than me, is not worthy of me.' In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.' 'Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' 'Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.' He arose, humbled in the dust for his rebellious thoughts, grateful to God for his escape, and resolved to endure any tribulation rather than give up the blessed hope of everlasting life which he had been taught by a diligent perusal of holy

writ.

On his return, he encountered Pat going to his morning's occupation, digging potatoes.

'Well, Mr. Henry,' said he, 'sure enough one would think there was something pleasant in this lonesome place; sure, Sir, it was time enough for you to rise this two hours.'

Then, Pat, it seems you are not fond of early rising.'

'No, indeed, Sir, if I could help it, sorra bit of me would rise till it was far in the day.'

'Yet,' said Henry, it is more healthful to get up early, and the contrary is a sinful practice.'

Sinful,' repeated Pat with astonishment; 'myself never heard it was a sin to be in bed; but where did you learn this Mr. Henry?'

'In the Bible, Pat.'

'Now, Mr. Henry, you are joking me, you say

it is the Word of God, and sure, Sir, he is too great to think about whether the likes of me lies in bed or not.'

'I should be sorry Pat, to mislead you in any point, or to assert a falsehood—though the Lord of heaven and earth dwelleth in the regions of blessedness above all, yet he hath respect unto the meanest part of the creation, not even a sparrow can fall to the ground without his permission.He tells us that "an idle soul shall suffer hunger," and "drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.'

'That's wonderful; I never thought it was a sin to stay in bed, Mr. Henry.'

'You mistake me, Pat; to take natural rest is not forbidden, but the over indulgence of any gratification ever so innocent is wrong; now, do you say your prayers before going to work in the morning?'

'I don't have time, Sir, only to bless myself.' 'Here lies one part of the sin, Pat; you neglect a duty commanded by the Lord, because you consume the time appointed for it in sloth.'

Sure, Sir, Father Martin wouldn't blame me, if I bless myself, and say the cross of Christ about me, in the morning, and my prayers at night, it will do very well.'

'We are commanded to worship the Lord in the morning, as well as in the evening; and Pat, how can you expect to be preserved from danger, if you do not beg his blessing before you begin the labour of the day-sloth deprives us of those moments we should devote to the worship of God, so we rush into the world with all its temptations, unprepared to resist them, therefore it generally happens that we fall into sin.'

'Well now, Mr. Henry, this is wonderful; I never heard the likes before.'

Pat, the Word of God teaches those things you call wonderful, and if the priest is not at the trouble of telling you what is right, it does not follow that it is new or extraordinary; he seems not to mind what you do, except that he prohibits the Bible.'

'He's very exact, Sir, about hearing mass, confession, and paying our dues- he never forgets this; but as for a little divarsion, he doesn't hinder us. But, Mr. Henry, he was in a great passion yesterday after mass; he talked about new religions, and cursed any body that would be wandering from the true church; and said that he would make a living example of them all the days of their life, and after. Oh, Sir, if you saw the ways, the master and the ladies looked like as if they were crying; and the men drew back, and the women blessed themselves it was wonder

ful, Sir, so it was.'

--

Henry was well aware what the priest meant by this harangue, but made no reply. Pat continued,

6

Sure, Mr. Henry, it wasn't you he was talking of, it can't be he'd curse you, Sir.'

While in the path of duty I care not; but, Pat, I think it were better. I left the country; then all this sin and blasphemy would cease.'

'Ah, Sir, sure you won't: and where would you go to, and what would I do after you?' Pat's emotion prevented further utterance, he drew the back of his hand over his eyes to brush away the falling tears.

In the course of that morning the priest came