found a sober and satisfying pleasure, not from any particular affection to her person, but as the child of the same Almighty Father, trusting in the merits of the same all-sufficient Saviour, and sanctified by the influence of the same all-powerful spirito de tot Jeser Tei Jou urant 5,099 i

di gerech gndparent tonie je aegyh

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"How joyful and pleasant a thing it is to be thankful," said Irwin, one morning as he entered the library, where Ellen, sitting at her work, was chaunting the notes of praise and gladness: " and how well do they prepare for the duties of the day who commence it with grateful thanksgivings to that Being who has preserved them through the dangers of the night."

"It is our lawful tribute," replied Ellen, "which it would be rebellion in us to withhold; setting aside the claim of love, it is his by right; but happy, most happy, are they who feel their hearts uniting with their tongues in this service: it has often struck me how little they know of comfort and security who seek their happiness in any thing but his smile; their strength in any thing but his arm.”

At such moments as these, Irwin and Ellen seemed to forget that they were not brother and sister; their sentiments were inter

changed with all the freedom and kindness of that friendly relation; with the same anxiety each for the other as if the same mother had watched over their infancy, and the same lip breathed the first lesson of piety and love.

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"O who," cried Irwin, " can fully judge how cheering is that smile but the self-convicted sinner who has trembled beneath the avenging frown? Who can declare the almighty strength of that arm but the man who has felt it plucking him as a brand out of the burning; snatching him from the pit of sin and destruction; the gulf of misery and despair? Still, Ellen, I say, blessed are those who, like Samuel, have ministered to the Lord from their childhood, who have never turned aside after Satan; such possess a purity of heart, a meetness for heaven, which the most penitent who have for a long season trod in the paths of sin, rarely if ever attain in this world: rejoice then that from a child you have known the Holy Scriptures, and through them have been early made wise unto salvation. Thank, Ellen, thank fervently the Lord that, though tainted with the natural

corruption of your kind, you have never had to endure the bitter struggles of him who. cries for mercy, but fears that his cry will be in vain."

Irwin paused, for he seldom brought himself forward as the subject of conversation; but Ellen looked at him with an affectionate. smile, and said, "Do you think I am not sufficiently interested in your concerns to listen to you any longer with patience?

"No," answered Irwin; "I know your kindness; but any thing I have to say, to you will be superfluous; you may instruct me, but I fear I cannot repay you in kind."

"Believe me, you are mistaken," said Ellen; "the weakest Christian may strengthen the strongest; the testimony of one poor struggling creature, who is only able to cry out, Lord, save me, I perish!' is of incalculable value to all who seek not merely the salvation of their own souls, but the gathering together of that fold, over every returning sheep of which the angels of God rejoice continually; and why should not your evidence, who can declare that when you thus cried out,

the Lord stretched out his hand, and preserved you from sinking, be' esteemed by me who have still so much to do even for myself? it is in the season of temptation that we are seen as we are. To me that season is not yet arrived; whether it ever will God only knows; but I dare not flatter myself that I can escape trials which all have borne, or must bear, in their turns; for who ever passed through a life undisturbed by trials and afflictions? O then how much encouragement do I need, that, when the hour of tribulation comes, I may be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might."

There was a mutual pause of some minutes; it was the pause of deep and concentrated feeling on both sides, but its object was different. Ellen was looking forward to expected trials; Irwin backward to former blessings: the infinite mercies of God bestowed upon him were at that moment present to his mind, as if but that moment he had first received them. "Yes," he said at length, in a low tone, “he has indeed preserved me from sinking; when the waves and storms of unbelief were ready to