they are rare. Can you read, my friend?'

"No, Sir, unfortunately."

"But you have some one, perhaps, in your family who can ?'

"My wife can read, Sir, though her eyes are now becoming dim; and my two sons are good scholars. I felt the loss it was not to be able to read, and I, therefore, gave my poor boys a little education; and it has fully repaid me: for many a long winter's evening, when the winds were beating on our little shed and the rains were falling fast, have they beguiled away with some instructive and interesting story. And then it was pleasant to close the night with a chapter from the Bible; and well did my dear lads read the holy volume.'

66

I rejoice to hear such an account of your domestic circle, my aged friend May the Spirit teach you more and more the value of that sacrifice which the Redeemer offered on the cross; and may you and your's daily grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! To know him is life eternal.'

CHAP. II.

"What to this are palaces,
Where the heart is ill at ease?
Is not in this murmuring rill,
Trickling from its basin chill,
In this solemn whispering wind,
Deeper medicine to the mind-
In this lonely twilight wood,
Lovelier leisure to be good-

Than ever wounded spirit found

In the world's distracting round."

My companion paused for a moment as he concluded the narrative of his conversation with the wood-cutter; repeating, as if unconsciously, "To know Him, is life eternal!" Then, turning to me, he said, "Yes, my brother, to know the Saviour, not as the world know him, but experimentally and with the heart, is life indeed! By his knowledge shall my righteous servant save many,' O what a blessedness to have a hope in Christ!"

"Blessedness of a truth!" I replied. "Amidst all the vicissitudes of these unstable scenes, where could the soul find rest, if not in her Redeemer's love? Every thing we survey is passing from us; and we, ourselves, as a leaf, do fade. Our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away; and where then, O where could our heart repose, if not upon the rock of ages, and under the covert of Emmanuel's wings?

"After putting into the hand of this good old man," said my friend, resuming the broken thread of his story, "a little volume, which I had lately received from the author, and which would serve to remind him that there was still a Prophetin Israel, and furnish something at once amusing and instructive for the evening circle of his cabin, I continued my rout towards the retreat, whither my steps had gradually been tending. As I skirted the wood, the voice of the

turtle met me from its seclusion, and its sweet plaintive note shed a soothing melancholy over my mind. I thought of the innocence in which it dwelt, and the calm tranquillity of retirement. There, unmolested by sinful and cruel man, it lived a life of solitude and peace. With its fond mate as a companion, and trusting for its daily food to the neverfailing bounty of Providence, it sojourned in quietude : proving that had not disobedience entailed a curse on our ill-fated race, this world, would have been to us, as it was to it, the abode of happiness of uninterrupted joy. Then, indeed, had Sharon been a fold of flocks, and in the valley of Achor had herds lain down!' Oh the glory of the latter days, when they shall no more hurt or destroy in all these moun tains, for they shall be holy unto the Lord!

"I had now attained the highest