certainly would have thought it a great hardship to go shopping, or tend flower-beds. She was never asked to do so: on the contrary, it seemed to be an understood thing that the pleasantest corner of the window belonged to her, and that there her little table and her great work-basket were to stand. She was to begin to stitch, and no one was to molest her.

I did not, at first, particularly like Miss Sarah. She was blunt, and not so much of a gentlewoman as the other sisters; and sometimes when I went out with Miss Perkins, to see her favourite poor people, I used to be surprised at the fervour with which they would inquire after her; and I really could not commend their taste, for I thought her by no means interesting, and perhaps a little snappish sometimes. But Miss Perkins one day put an end to my wonder. You see, my dear," she began, for every speech of hers had this little exordium-"you see, my dear, it is a very fortunate thing for us that Sarah is willing to devote herself to her needle as she does; for Ann and I have very little time, and Amelia never could bear work, excepting fancy work. Now, fancy work, such as crochet and lambs'-wool patterns, are pretty, no doubt, but they are not of much use in a family like ours. However, Amelia considers it not ladylike to sit turning gowns or darning table-cloths in the drawing-room; and as she never sits anywhere else, she does no work but what is fit for that room. So, as I was saying, my dear," she continued, "it is a most fortunate thing that Sarah is so willing to work for us all. She does nearly all our plain work, and as to trimming bonnets, making mantles, turning gowns and cloaks, and everything of that kind, she so entirely undertakes it all, that a dressmaker's bill is almost unknown to us. She has such an eye for a pattern, my dear; and that, you know, is a great advantage. We should often look very shabby, if it was not for her. And then, it is surprising how she can cut down gowns and cloaks, and turn them, and make them look decent and creditable for the poor, and with what a little expense she can make warm quilts and wraps for our poor old rheumatic neighbours. It would be a sad thing for us, and for a good many beside us, if anything were to happen to Sarah."

These were the ladies of the first family.

I now come to the character of her who caused me so many doubts and speculations. My doubts were (among others) what the mission of Miss Amelia Perkins could possibly be in this world, and my speculations were (among others) as to who would be the worse off if she were taken from it, and who would be the better.

Miss Amelia Perkins never did anything.

Let me not, however, be misunderstood. When I say that she never did anything, I mean that she never did anything that she designed to be for the comfort or assistance of others. There were no duties that she habitually performed; no place that she occupied; no one looked to her, or depended on her for anything; no one seemed to be the better for her; she seemed to have no more to do with the course of that stream of life on which she floated than the least little piece of weed may have, that being detached from its stem, goes sailing down its native brook towards the sea.

Miss Amelia Perkins was moderately good-looking, and to strangers had rather a pleasing manner. She thought it unladylike ever to bustle and be in a hurry, as her sisters sometimes were she often said, people could do what they had to do without that. Accordingly, she was never in a bustle; but then, as I said before, she never had anything particular to do.

She felt that it was a painful thing to be in straitened circumstances, and soon confided this pain to me. She said it often weighed on her spirits, and remarked that her sisters, being less sensitive, did not so much feel the trial of it. "And it seems so hard," she said, "to have so little to spend on one's clothes; the others, not having much taste in dress, don't mind it. Besides, being so much older, it matters less to them."

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Excepting your sister Bessie," I observed.

"Oh yes, Bessie," she replied; "Bessie."

“Well ;” I remarked, “is it not natural that Bessie should like to be well-dressed?"

"Oh, Bessie," she repeated; "why, Bessie is so very plain, that it would be absurd in her to expect to be admired; even if she were handsomely dressed."

I replied that I had always heard it said, that the handsomer people were, the less dependent they were on dress.

Miss Amelia did not appear to agree with my remark, and when I went on to say that I thought Bessie a remarkably happy person, and one who seemed particularly contented, she replied that she supposed Bessie was satisfied with her lot: she saw no reason why she should be otherwise; and then she said that all her sisters were very fond of Bessie. "In fact," she continued, "everyone must see what an unfair difference they make between us.'

I could not but open my eyes at this, and purposely misunderstanding her, I said, "You mean, perhaps, that they always ask Bessie to do the errands, and write the letters,

and read the newspaper to Miss Sarah, while she is at work: things which they never think of asking you to do. Yes, that does seem rather unfair."

Miss Amelia, on this, fixed her cold grey eyes on me, and not being quite sure whether I spoke in earnest or in irony, sat down to the piano, and never favoured me with any further confidence. Notwithstanding which, we became so thoroughly aware, Miss Amelia and myself, that we mutually disliked each other, that we shortly made it evident to the other ladies of the family; in consequence of which I received some hints from the excellent Miss Sarah, which I thought it incumbent on me to attend to.

You must know that Miss Bessie Perkins had a great wish to learn sketching, and I offered to teach her; but as she had a good deal to do in helping her sisters, several days passed before she could take a lesson. But, one very clear afternoon, Bessie announced that she could go with me; and we were ready, and just about to start, when she exclaimed, "Oh the letter! I quite forgot it. How troublesome!"

"Must it be written to day?" I inquired.

"Oh yes;" she replied, "because it is a business letter to our trustees, and Sarah is going to dictate it to me."

"Then one person can write it as well as another,” said I, mischievously, "you had better ask Amelia to do it."

"Amelia is just beginning to practise," said Bessie; and in truth I heard the old cracked piano sounding up-stairs. "I will tell her you want to go out," I exclaimed, “and no doubt she will write it, for she has been out." So I ran up-stairs, and delivered my message. Miss Amelia's brow clouded: "It really is a strange thing," said she, "that Bessie cannot do her own business herself. I heard her myself, at breakfast-time, offer to write that letter."

"But she has been helping Miss Sarah all the morning," said I, "and I did not know that the letter was more her business than yours."

"Sarah should have released her sooner," said Amelia, coldly.

Finding me bent on gaining my point, she at last said that perhaps she might do it when she had done practising, but on my reminding her that that would be too late for the post, she began again at the piano, and as I could obtain no satisfactory answer as to whether she would or would not do it, I was obliged to shut the door, and come down stairs again in no very amiable humour, for I was angry that my favourite Bessie was to be debarred of her walk, and that Amelia should be allowed to enjoy the fruits of all her sisters'

labours without contributing anything to them. Bessie had already taken off her bonnet, and was writing at Miss Sarah's dictation.

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"Miss Amelia," I began:-"I understand, my dear," she answered, nodding; we shall find it less trouble by far to do it ourselves than get it done for us."

She did not speak bitterly, but as if it was a matter of

course.

As the affair was no business of mine, it was a pity that I interfered further in it, by saying, "Miss Sarah, whose gown are you mending?”

She smiled as if amused at my remark and my heat in the matter, and replied that it was Amelia's. "I know Amelia means to go out again and see the steamer come in," she said; “and I don't choose she should do it with her gown in this state.'

"But," said I, "if it were not mended, she could not go out, and then she would have time to write the letter." "Yes, my dear, she could," said Miss Sarah ; "and it would be a discredit to us-I've been ashamed of it some time past or she could wear her best gown, and that we cannot afford."

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This explanation was unanswerable. "Come, my dear," said Miss Sarah, who just then was in a very good humour, suppose you help me a little.” So saying, she put a sleeve into my hand, and I took it with a very good grace, for I was ashamed of having interfered. And I sat down quietly and proceeded to trim it with fresh gimp.

When the letter was finished, I returned the sleeve, and Miss Sarah asked me if I felt any cooler; she laughed, and I could not forbear saying that there were some things which provoked my temper very much.

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My dear," she answered, and hesitated, but presently proceeded, with a sigh, "you would find this provocation quite beyond your powers to set right.'

"I am sure if I were you," I said, "I should not be so patient."

"Sarah," said Bessie, laughing, "Miss T. says she cannot think what Amelia's mission is-I told her Amelia had no particular mission."

"Did you, child?" said Miss Sarah. "Well, if Miss T. lived here long, she would find that Amelia had a very decided mission as far as she was concerned."

"What would it be, Miss Sarah," I inquired.

"To teach you forbearance and patience, my dear," she answered," and try your temper; for at present I think you

are ignorant what sort of a temper you may happen to have. Ah, we none of us know what we are, till we are tried."

"But, Miss Sarah," I replied, "it seems shocking to think that some people should be sent into the world only by being useless or unaccommodating to teach others forbearance."

"My dear," she answered, "far be it from me to say that the Almighty designed any of his creatures for such a purpose; I meant, that if we do not perform the good part that we all have it in our power to take upon us, God will make our evil subservient to the good of others. God will turn our very faults into blessings, for our neighbours. But, my dear, poor Amelia is young, and we have no right to judge her; we hope she may improve, and I feel sorry that I have been betrayed into speaking hastily of her."

So saying, Miss Sarah rose, and folding up the dress, sent Bessie up-stairs with it. After which, we went to sketch, and for Miss Amelia's further doings, I must refer you to my next chapter.

ORRIS.

THE BIBLE IN EVERY LAND.

THE BIBLE IN SMYRNA.

A FEW days back an agent of the Bible Society met at the wharf some French sailors of a frigate which had just before entered the harbour. He immediately entered into conversation with them, and found that they were desirous to have New Testaments; and having, as was his custom, some in his pocket, he presented them with six copies, for which they were very thankful. He inquired of their officer, who wished to buy a Bible for himself, if he thought more of his sailors on board would like to have Testaments. He replied that he had no doubt of it, and engaged the agent to call and see the captain on the subject.

This he did the next day, taking with him twentysix New Testaments and six Bibles. He was very favourably received by the captain, who not only readily gave his consent that he should distribute the Scriptures amongst his crew, but called the first