provided. Every little work which can stimulate to industry, economy, and sobriety, to the discharge of filial and fraternal duties, and to the cultivation of benevolent action, should be hailed as a harbinger of good. Those works which are calculated to attract the opening mind to the study of the sacred Scriptures, are, it is believed, peculiarly important at the present time. There is a growing sentiment, and one of an auspicious character, in almost every Protestant community, that questions of doctrine and principles of action are to be brought to the pages of the Bible for adjustment. "What hath the Lord

taught," is becoming a more common as well as more rational inquiry, than what is to be gathered from the whispers of tradition, from the jarring suggestions of early uninspired history, or from the arid fields of metaphysical speculation. Let this resort to the umpirage of the Bible be encouraged, let the young, especially, be taught to repair to this sacred record for wisdom, let the study of it be rendered as attractive as possible by the help of maps, charts, and brief expositions, and we cannot but anticipate a great increase of early conversions, and a growing harmony of views among the chosen of the Lord.

To the hope of adding some small stimulus to the early reading of the Scriptures, this little book owes its existence. The volume is humble, making no pretensions to deep research or to eloquence of diction. It is the simple story of that lovely pious queen whose name it bears. From its brevity, its modern dress, and school-book form, it was thought that it might awaken in some youthful readers a desire to search and ponder the inspired narrative of this same illustrious personage, and subsequently to peruse other biographies with which the Old Testament abounds. The idea of preparing the work was suggested by a

friend, who, as well as the author, in a course of Bible-class instruction, had occasion to study the book of Esther. Should this little volume prove acceptable to youthful readers, possibly others, drawn from the Old Testament, and of the same historical character, may, ere long, succeed.

For the short poem,

66

Esther, the

Jewess," appended to this work, the author is much indebted, and would here express her gratitude, to her kind friend, Miss H. F. Gould, whose sprightly and benevolent muse is both known and appreciated by the American public.