person. The country, though clothed in all its verdure, presenting on every side nought but loveliness and beauty, soon became dull and uninteresting to her vitiated taste: religion and its professors alike tiresome; she saw no beauty in holiness-felt no delight in the contemplation of God and goodness. At first, the sight of her benefactor and pastor affected her, and the tones of that voice she had so often listened to with reverence, struck the chords of feeling; almost unconsciously she joined in the prayer which he offered, and thought, that could she always hear Mr. Stanley, she might be able to visit the church even twice upon the Sabbath, without thinking the service so very long and tedious, as she had lately done.

Mrs. Neville wept over the alienated state of her poor girl, and fervently prayed that she might be brought to a love of the truth. Mrs. Stanley was sorry that Elizabeth had ever left her service, for the more fashionable family of Mrs. Forbes. No one could be unmindful of the alteration which her residence in the metropolis had made; and while her dress and manners became the topic for ridicule among

her rustic neighbours, her former friends and benefactors grieved at the change.

Elizabeth dared not sport her new opinions before her grandmother, but she said enough to convince the good woman that the tempter had been employing his wiles. She became inquisitive about the young man, Elizabeth confessed an acquaintance with, and, with sorrow of heart, heard that he was not a Christian. She rejoiced that there were some difficulties thrown in the way of their union, and sincerely hoped it would never take place, and though Elizabeth boasted of his respectability, and of his good qualities, the want of "the one thing needful," rendered every other recommendation of no value in her account.

As Elizabeth could not be prevailed upon to take a situation in the country, it became necessary that she should return to town to seek service; thither we propose to accompany her, and again leave the placid delights of rural life, to review scenes of deep and painful interest.

I

CHAPTER X.

"In that dread moment, how the frantic soul
Raves round the walls of her clay tenement !
Runs to each avenue, and shrieks for help,
But shrieks in vain! How wishfully she looks
On all she's leaving, now no longer hers!
A little longer, yet a little longer,

Oh, might she stay to wash away her stains,
And fit her for her passage! Mournful sight!
Her very eyes weep blood, and every groan
She heaves is big with horror."

Blair.

ELIZABETH SOOn obtained a situation, but as the character of the family respecting holy things formed no part of her inquiries, and she had long ceased to seek for that direction in all her ways, which might have guided her steps aright, it is no wonder that she should now fall among those who not only made no profession of religion, but even indulged in a mockery of what they called its formal pretensions. It was here, however, by the good providence of God, whose eye was still upon her, and who had designs of mercy towards her, that she was, by a

solemn event, to receive a check in her wanderings, and be brought back with sorrow and repentance to the fold of God.

The family to whom she had engaged her services, lived in all the dissipation and gaiety of those, who seek their only pleasure-their only portion in this life. Their Sabbaths were altogether desecrated; neither rest nor retirement marked the hallowed hours; they were devoted entirely to what they styled pleasure. Jaunts into the country, visiting, and receiving company, were the allotted engagements, and these were pursued with greater avidity upon the holy day, than upon any other.

Mrs. Holcroft was often a severe sufferer from ill health, many and frequent were the admonitions which affliction gave; the "still small voice" often whispered prepare, “prepare to meet thy God." But alas! she would not give ear: even in the solitude of her chamber, she would contrive to silence the intruder with the noise and din of this world's vanities. If the sickness was too severe for her to bear with all the folly, and the silly gossip of pretended friends, then indeed she was wretched. She possessed no resources in her own mind

she did not love God-she knew nothing of his holiness. His goodness did not constrain her love and obedience, nor did she even understand its nature, though perpetually the subject of it; if she ever bestowed a thought at all upon the matter, it was, that he was merciful, and would never punish sin, or look upon his creatures in any other way than with favour; and that whatever divines might say, so long as pity was showed to the poor, and honesty towards all, no more was required. The Bible would have taught another and a holier lesson, but, though Mrs. Holcroft spared no expense in the costliness of her ornaments, or the richness of her plate and furniture, this heavenly treasure was not among her possessions. This book of God-this guide to eternal life, found not a place in her dwelling. The New Testament, indeed, had by some means gained an entrance, but even this small and very precious portion of divine truth, lay a sealed book, entirely neglected, whilst novels and romances, and works of most trifling interest, were perused with avidity.

The injury incurred by this sort of reading is incalculable. The imagination becomes