of respect for religion in the abstract, providing that it in no way interfered with his own amusements and gratifications. Accordingly, when for a short time twice in the year, he had seen his daughter, and observed her personal and intellectual improvement, and listened with feelings of parental pride to the complimentary remarks of his new acquaintance, he congratulated himself upon his preference of a private and religious education, to a showy and fashionable one-and would even go so far as to declare that in his opinion solid acquirements and sterling principles, out-weighed all other advantages.

But neither Mr. Frankland nor Emma fully realized the effects of the course which had been adopted, until her final return to her father's house; not as a visitor but as an inmate. Hitherto she had not been exposed to temptations of a worldly nature, and had yet to learn that it is a difficult matter to preserve christian consistency in new and untried situations. Happily for Emma, however, she had but one test of faith and practice; but one standard by which she measured her opinions and conduct, and that was the Bible, which, as her aunt had spared no pains to impress upon her mind, was sufficient to guide aright under the most difficult circumstances. By simply adhering to this test, Emma, young as she was, and of an affectionate, generous disposition, was enabled to steer clear of many errors into which she might otherwise have fallen.

Mr. Frankland, though by no means regular in his own attendance at the house of God, had a pew in one of the adjacent churches. Mrs. Frankland was a decided invalid, and up to this period their seat had frequently been empty for successive Sabbaths; Mr. Frankland using the Lord's day as one of recreation and convivial enjoyment. On his daughter's return home, however, he decided upon accompanying her to divine service once a day; and as the morning was the most fashionable time, he for some time attended pretty regularly along with his family in the sanctuary. But Emma was far from satisfied with this partial observance of that holy day, which she had been accustomed to spend in a succession of pleasing duties. In addition to attending public worship twice, she had been a teacher in the Sunday school, and seldom did she pass a Sabbath without accompanying her aunt and cousins on some errand of mercy to

the aged or sick in the neighbourhood.

Emma, therefore, seized a propitious moment, and modestly requested to be allowed to attend evening service, accompanied by the children; and, as this did not interfere with his dinner hour, Mr. Frankland consented.

After service, it too frequently happened that Emma found herself compelled to join her father's dinner table, in company with guests who were ill calculated, by their conversation and demeanour, to strengthen the religious feelings inspired by the solemnities of worship. But as such visitors were, for the most part, gentlemen, Emma retired, as soon as she possibly could, to her mother's room, and read to her, or taught the little ones, endeavoring by this means to recal the sweet and holy lessons she had received in her own childhood, and which had been eminently useful in the formation of her character. Perhaps there was no time when Emma found it so difficult to preserve her ordinary cheerfulness as on a Sabbath evening. Faithfully did busy memory picture the animated group. Assembled in the little parlour, so long the scene of her studies and amusements, and anxious as she really was to do her duty in the state in which it had pleased God to place her, it is no wonder if, at such seasons, she could not altogether repress her regret. But it was not Emma's way to mourn over evils which were inevitable; to make the best of the present time was her theory, and by steadily putting it in practice, she enjoyed a degree of satisfaction which imparted to her countenance, her step, and her whole manner, a charm which won the hearts, and secured the approval of the parents, whose welfare and comfort she thus endeavored, according to her small ability, to promote.

Mr. Frankland was not insensible to the merits of his child, and felt proud of her; for though she had none of the affected style, or fashionable airs which young ladies of her age are apt to consider very charming, there was a modest dignity in her carriage, and a fund of good sense and intelligence in her conversation, which marked the real superiority of her character, and compelled the most volatile and trifling of her father's guests, to treat her with respectful attention. It was with emotions of thankfulness and delight this good daughter perceived she was gaining ground in the affections of her parents, and earnestly did she strive, and fervently pray, that she might truly prove a comfort and blessing to them.

In proportion as Mr. Frankland appeared to appreciate her efforts to gratify him, Emma found it difficult to act in any way so as to annoy or displease him; yet this was occasionally inevitable. The first serious instance of this kind happened when she had been at home about three months. It was on a Sunday evening. The cloth had been just removed, and Mr. Frankland wishing to enjoy the society of his children, and exhibit them to a select circle of friends, called to his daughter as she was in the act of leaving the dining room, and desired her to return, accompanied by her brothers. Emma dared not disobey, though she was much disappointed, as she had promised the children to hear them repeat their hymns in their mother's room; and she also felt unwilling they should listen to the foolish and worldly conversation common on these occasions.

The re-appearance of Emma, with the little boys, was followed by many of those common-place and unmeaning compliments, and inquiries, which visitors deem it polite to make on similar occasions; and the children passed from one guest to another, well pleased with the admiration, and still more so with the dainties, offered them. At length a gentleman present asked Arthur, the youngest of the two, then in his sixth year, if he

could read.

By way of reply to this question, the fond father pulled from his pocket a newspaper, and calling the boy to him, pointed out a certain paragraph, desiring him to read it for the company. Elated by the notice he had received, and excited by childish vanity, Arthur eagerly prepared to comply; when, suddenly, an expression of thought stole over his animated features, and, looking up in his father's face, he said, seriously,—" But, papa, my sister has forbidden us to read newspapers on Sunday.”

Mr. Frankland, though not destitute of what is called kindness of heart, possessed little command of temper; and although he could repress the expression of anger when he considered it politic to do so, in the company of his superiors; or where its indulgence might prove injurious to his worldly interests, he had unhappily been all his life in the habit of indulging in bursts of passion, on the most trifling occasions, in his own family, and towards his dependents; a circumstance which induced his children and frequently his wife to experience a kind of relief in his

absence from the domestic circle. On this occasion, even the courtesy due to his guests proved insufficient to restrain the expression of his displeasure; and he inquired, angrily, “What did you say, Sir?"

Terrified by the manner he had long held in awe, Arthur hesitated. Again Mr. Frankland repeated the question.

Emma now came forward, pale, but making a violent effort to speak with calmness, she said, "Allow me to explain, papa; last Sunday, Harry and Arthur were amusing themselves by trying to make out the advertisement of an exhibition of waxwork; I took away the paper, and told them it was not a proper amusement for the Sabbath."

"Of course I bow to your superior judgment, Miss Frankland," replied her father in a voice tremulous with rage, though intended to seem calmly ironical. Then addressing the children, he added, "You understand, young gentlemen, that your sister is to be obeyed in all such matters! You are never to attend to my wishes if they interfere with her religious opinions; one of which I now perceive to be, to encourage children to sit in judgment upon the conduct of their parents, and condemn it. The next lesson will, I presume, be to enforce open disobedience; to prevent which, I now order you to obey her. Do you hear me!" he continued, raising his voice, and gradually losing the little selfcommand he had exercised.

The children, too young to understand any part of this speech, save that their father was displeased, and that they were to obey their sister, timidly replied, "Yes, Sir;" upon which, Mr. Frankland ordered them out of the room. Emma following, and hastening to her own apartment relieved her agitated feelings by a flood of tears.

Many and bitter were the reflections which passed through her mind as she compared the present with the past; but they were speedily checked by the voice of conscience, whispering that after all there was selfishness mixed with her repinings. "I must and will forget myself," she said, "for the sake of those dear children, and for my parents' sakes. It was natural my father should feel mortified and vexed. Arthur's observation was very unfortunate, especially before those people. I must be more prudent in future." Having come to this decision, Emma selected from her

small library a volume which she fancied her sister and cousins might then be reading aloud, and gradually becoming interested in its contents, she regained her habitual composure. Nor did she leave her room without pouring out her full heart to her Father which seeth in secret, and imploring the guidance of his Holy Spirit. Remembering the words addressed by our blessed Lord to his disciples, 66 Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves," she humbly prayed for grace to enable her so to act, as to bring no reproach upon religion. She also implored the divine blessing on her father, her mother, and the little ones confided to her care; and thus having commended her cause to God, she went to her mother's room, intending to relate to her all that had passed, and indulging a secret hope that from her sympathy and affectionate approval, she should derive encourage

ment.

In this hope she was disappointed. It appeared that Mr. Frankland had almost immediately followed his children, and expecting to find them in his wife's room, had repaired thither, and given full vent to his angry feelings, after which, he, accompanied by his visitors, left the house in order to go on a boating excursion. Of all his habitual recreations, this was the most disliked by Mrs. Frankland, not because she disapproved of such amusements on the Lord's day, but simply because she dreaded the water, and associated certain ideas of danger with a pleasure boat.

"You are doing more harm than good, Emma," she said, "by your strict and foolish notions. Your interference in a matter which did not concern you, has driven your father into real danger. He is not of a temper to bear thwarting by any one, much more by a young girl such as you. The only effect of such a course of conduct, will be to force him from his home to seek pleasure elsewhere."

"But, mamma," pleaded Emma, vented this?"

"how could I have pre

By avoiding any improper interference with other people, and not putting your over-strict notions into the children's heads." They are entrusted to my care by you and my father," observed Emma, modestly, " and I must do what I consider my duty by them."