when he had begun to turn aside into the path of sin and, if such do at last find that place for repentance which Esau could not find, and are again received into the presence of a reconciled Father in Christ Jesus, yet what bitter anguish of spirit, what rebukes of conscience, what open shame in the sight of men, do they undergo, while the faithful children of God have still joy and peace in believing, and go on from strength to strength!"

"Mamma," said Rose, "I hope you will always teach me thus: I am ready enough to admire the beauty of God's works, but I do not always seek rightly to be instructed by them."

"You must pray for wisdom, my dear child, and seek knowledge in every thing. You are very fond of the Psalms; but has it never struck you, how much of their deep impressiveness, and touching simplicity, arises from the use which David makes of those things which are daily before our eyes? The starry heavens, the rolling ocean, the rivers, mountains, vallies, and fieldsthe animal and vegetable creation-all these are constantly brought forward, to assist the blessed work of praise to Him who formed them. What

makes the 23d Psalm so beautiful? and the 104th, and 107th, and others? Is it not, that the inspired writer gives us in his compositions, a rich example of his own comprehensive expression, 'All thy works praise thee, O Lord: and all thy saints give thanks unto thee?'

They had now reached a bend of the road which gave them another view of the lake, and the swan upon it, at a considerable distance, gleaming like a pearl upon the soft blue waters. Rose ran up a little hillock, and stretched her neck to gaze upon it, crying out in a tone of joy and tenderness, "Beautiful swan, beautiful swan! sail peacefully on your own quiet lake, for God has placed you there, and none can hurt you without His permission. Oh! it would be a

cruel and a wicked hand that tried to hurt

you.

Lovely swan, I will not forget you, nor the lesyou have given me."

son that

Instruct me, gracious Lord, and show

The path where Thou would'st have me go;

And bid my willing steps abide

Where quietness and peace reside.

From thy kind care I would not stray,

To loiter in the sinner's way,

Nor walk where men ungodly meet,
Nor rest upon the scorner's seat.

If dangers threat, or sorrows come,
Oh! may they find me in my home!
That home where thou shalt ever see
An altar rais'd, my God, to thee.

Or if, by needful cares of life,
Compell❜d to mix in worldly strife,
Let thy bright presence cheer my breast,
And go with me, and give me rest.

Thy favour is my life-I see
My whole salvation, Lord, in thee;
With thee I find the fount of light,
Without thee, everlasting night.

THE BOAT.

ONCE on a very pleasant morning in summer, a gentleman and his wife left home to pass the day at a friend's house, and as their little girl and boy had behaved so as to satisfy them that they were not unworthy of some indulgence, they were allowed to accompany papa and mamma. The house to which they were going, was a few miles distant; it stood near the bank of a fine river, quite wide and deep, and nothing could be prettier than that gently sloping lawn that led from the house to the water. It was a great treat to little John and his sister Bess, to ride in the gig, through the pleasant shady lanes, to enjoy the smell of the sweet flowers in the hedges and fields, and to hear the little birds sing so

gaily in the trees and green bushes. They saw fine gardens and houses as they went along; but none appeared so nice as the one which they were going to visit, with its neat smooth lawn, and the river gently winding at the bottom of it. Corn was ripening in the fields, and fruit in the orchards—both are the gift of the merciful Lord God to his sinful creatures; who too often look upon His undeserved bounties, and eat of them too, without one feeling of thankfulness to Him who "openeth his hand and filleth all things living with plenteousness.'

The gentleman and lady to whom the house belonged, were very glad to see the children with their papa and mamma, and kindly noticed them. After getting their dinner, they had leave given to play upon the lawn, and their papa warned them not to go too near the bank of the river, nor on any account to get into any boat that they might find there. John and Bess, had been so often told that the eye of the Lord God was always upon them, and that nothing could ever be hid from Him who would hereafter judge them that they had, through the divine blessing on these good instructions, been kept from