ings with such of his creatures as he designs to bring effectually to himself. A little observation, and a little reflection, with God's blessing, soon brought Blanche to see where the divine operations commonly commence in the restoration of sinful man, and also where the work of human instruction may be advantageously resorted

to.

There is a certain principle, which, whether called original sin, the lust of the flesh, pride, selfishness, or by what other name you please, reigns alike in the hearts of all human beings by nature-holding each individual in entire subjection, leading him to make self his idol, alienating him from God, and rendering him callous to the feelings of others. This evil principle, however concealed or modified, however palliated to the ear by refined and plausible sentiments, or to the eye by beauty, elegance, and fashion, is every where the same baneful, poisonous, destructive, and horrible propensity; and though not breaking out so disgustingly in every distinct individual, is yet in all the unconverted children of Adam, before that God "to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid,' equally deserving of everlasting death, or eternal banishment from the divine presence. This principle, therefore, is what parents should wage war against in their children; and it was with this that Blanche began, not only in the management of her own little boys, but also in the case of her noble and darling nursling. Accordingly, all the earliest lessons to which Theodosia's attention was called, tended to the abasement of self, and the exaltation of God. With this two-fold end in prospect, she exhibited to the children of her charge no false or deceitful view of things; but continually and simply stated to them the many sad circumstances attendant on man's natural condition in the world, to wit, his depraved soul; his stubborn will; his perverted taste; the grossness of his desires; his delight in that which is low and vile; his folly; his vain and filthy thoughts; together with his love and preference of self: the innumerable loathsome diseases to which he is subject; his want even of outward comeliness during the greater part of the years of his life; his subjection to death; the corruption of his body in the grave: his becoming food for

worms-all these things at different times she took occasion to point out to her little pupils, very generally insisting upon the necessity of overcoming self, as the great enemy of every man, as that which principally keeps him back from God, and which without the divine assistance can never be wholly subdued. And as she endeavoured to lower self in the minds of her children, she strove likewise to exalt the Creator in their ideas, dwelling continually on the love of God, as shewn forth in the mighty work of man's salvation. Neither was it only by precept that Blanche endeavoured to subdue every selfish principle in her children: she led them also by example to innumerable little acts of self-denial by which they might benefit others. Moreover, she

taught them to reject praise as not belonging to them, but as due only to God; a kind of incense to which no creature has any title, all the good we possess being the property of God.

Thus on the broad basis of humility and self-denial did Blanche begin and carry on the education of her beloved Theodosia. She taught her, that it was an actual sin to occupy either her time or her talents with a view to self-gratification; and that every action and thought of this kind would, to say the least, procure neither profit nor pleasure in the end. At the same time, she endeavoured to make her laborious in her exertions for the poor, preparing and carrying to them coats and garments, visiting and reading to the sick, and catechising such of the neighbouring little ones as were allowed by their parents and the priests to hear the pure doctrines of the reformed Church, in which Blanche of course educated her noble pupil.

Theodosia was also taught to read such ancient religious books as were approved by the father of Blanche; on which account, as those books were for the most part written in Latin it became necessary that she should study that language. Blanche also taught her to play upon the lute, and to accompany it with her voice in singing such hymns as were judged accordant to true religion. This the young lady accomplished in an exceeding sweet and simple manner, having a fine voice, and no desire to set forth her own excellencies while singing the praises of her Creator. She also assisted her

adopted mother in many little household businesses. In this manner passed the happy early days of Theodosia, who grew up exceedingly lovely in her outward appearance; which loveliness was greatly enhanced by the simplicity of her manners, and that absence of selfishness which was observable in her deportment. Her four brothers, as she called them, loved her as a very dear sister; while Basil and Blanche felt for her as for the most beloved of daughters.

When Theodosia was twelve years of age, a particular apartment, and that the most convenient in the house, was appropriated to her by her kind friends. It was a large upper room, with an oriel window at one end, which being raised several steps, and projecting a considerable way from the wall of the house, commanded a view on one side a considerable way up the dingle or dell in which the building stood, together with the brook making its way along its pebbled bed, till, winding in part round the house, it disappeared under a rude bridge at a little distance. On the other side of this window, the principal features which presented themselves to the eye, were a path cut in the wood, which at the distance of half a quarter of a mile was terminated by an old gateway of the chateau, and one or two towers, which arose in gloomy majesty above the trees. In this apartment, Theodosia's little bed was placed in a recess; which during the day time was closed up by folding-doors of carved wood, rendered almost black by time: and here also were her book-shelves, her materials for needlework and writing, with sundry curious old chests, in which were laid up coats and garments prepared for the poor. In the oriel window of this room, Blanche and Theodosia spent most of their summer afternoons, sometimes accompanied by an old servant who had assisted the wife of Basil in bringing up her children, and who had finished her labours of this kind by attending on the little Theodosia. And sometimes their party was augmented by Blanche's eldest son, who was destined to succeed his grandfather in the care of his little flock among the mountains, and who therefore was devoted to the study of divinity; while his younger brothers were occupied with their father in such rural employments as were adapted to their several ages. Thus the oriel was

the daily scene of industry, charity, and holy instruction; for it was the great pleasure of the younger Basil, to impart the knowledge he acquired to his beloved sister Theodosia and to this end, while she was employed with her needle, he read aloud such books as his grandfather had recommended to his study, commenting as he went along, and pointing out those passages which he thought most worthy of her attention.

It was the continual care of Blanche to draw Theodosia from herself, and from selfish cares of every kind, leading her to be continually occupied with the feelings, the interests, and the welfare of others. She taught Theodosia, and her adopted brother confirmed his pious mother's instructions, that the end of man here on earth, and of all that he is made to suffer by a kind Providence, is in order to bring his will into a strict conformity to the will of God.

"When we are enabled to say, with our beloved Saviour," remarked the pious Blanche, " Thy will, O Lord, not mine be done, then are we in the way to be happy both in life and in death. But while we still eagerly desire self-indulgence of any kind, making self the subject of our private contemplation or our public discourse, and while our own wills and desires outrun the permission of God, we are to a certain degree in an unconverted state, and must expect, if we are to be finally saved, that he will still further empty us of self, and still more deeply abase us in our own sight.

She also taught Theodosia how this work of self-humiliation, or mortification of sin, must be carried on; not by any human means, (although it must be accompanied by outward acts of self-denial,) but by the power of the Spirit of God, through which only we can be enabled to subdue our natural evil inclinations. All other means, she remarked, had, by long experience, proved themselves utterly inefficacious; and must, of necessity, do so, since outward acts of mortification, however severe, could hardly be considered in any other light than that of so many incentives to self-confidence and spiritual pride, tending rather to increase than to diminish the evil propensities of our nature.

Neither the pious instructions nor the lovely Christian example of Blanche were lost upon the young Theodo

sia; but, being accompanied by the blessing of God, they produced in her the fairest fruits, insomuch that as she grew in stature she grew in favour both with God and with such of her fellow-creatures as were permitted to associate with her. And in this manner passed her life till she had attained her sixteenth year, at which time those principles which her parents by adoption had endeavoured to inculcate with such unremitting labour, were brought to an unexpected test.

From the period that the present count had come into possession of the estates of L till this time, he had not once visited his chateau, having resided in Paris with his whole family, of which Theodosia's sister continually formed a part: but now he sent Basil orders to have every thing prepared for the reception of his family at the chateau, where in a few weeks he arrived with a numerous train of attendants.

It was evening when the count and his family reached the chateau, whither Basil immediately went up to pay his duty to his lord.

The family were at supper in the hall, which was superbly lighted up with chandeliers sent purposely from Paris, when the old steward was admitted.

He was received by the noble party in a manner due to his hoary hairs and long services, and made to sit down, while the count held him in conversation for the space of half an hour. During this time Basil had an opportunity of looking round him and examining the countenances of the children of his lord, who were now fully grown up; as well as of Eleanor, the daughter of his former master and sister of his adopted child.

Basil, however, saw nothing in these young people which in his opinion could render them comparable to Theodosia. Eleanor somewhat resembled her sister in respect of form and features; but her manner was bold and haughty, and the expression of her countenance harsh and self-confident. The eldest son of the count, who next excited the interest of Basil, though still very young, looked already like a man of the world, and had the air of one whose youthful bloom was prematurely impaired by late hours and corrupt habits.

When Eleanor understood who Basil was, she coolly and formally enquired after her sister; and the countess