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"It was so, no doubt," answered Edith; "and such answers are an encouragement to us for the future," Yes," was the reply, "and the more we know of God, the more implicitly we shall trust in Him. Not only when our path seems clear, as mine does now, but also when it is hedged up, and we cannot tell which way to turn."

Edith and the widow were strangers, and their stations in life were very different; yet they at once felt at home with each other, because each loved the same Saviour, and confided in the same Father. There is, to adopt the comparison of an old clergyman, a sort of free-masonry among Christians, which makes them brothers and friends, wherever and however they may meet. How closely and inseparably are those linked whom the Cross unites!

As soon as they left the cottage, Minnie exclaimed, “Oh, I am so glad Mrs. Leslie has got this situation; it is the very thing for her. After all her troubles, there is a nice home provided for her. How little I thought when I told you her history this morning, that the next chapter of it would be such a bright one! It is all for the best, as you said."

Yes; Minnie, like many persons, and many Christians too, could think that all was for the best, when all looked bright and promising. It is easy in prosperity to believe that God cares for us, and smiles upon us; but those only whose faith is firm and real can realize his love in adversity. It was not long before Minnie herself proved this.

For a day or two afterwards, as the cousins were getting ready to go to Mr. Franklyn's, there came sad tidings about Mrs. Leslie. The little girl belonging to the house where she lodged, and who, notwithstanding the character of her message, spoke as slowly, and looked as unmoved as ever, brought word that the widow had been knocked down and run over in the street by a cart that was tearing along; that her right

leg was broken, and that she had been carried immediately to the hospital. What other injuries she might have met with, had not yet been ascertained.

Mrs. Sutherland, and Edith, and Minnie, and indeed everybody in the house, were very sorry to hear of the accident. Such accidents are at any time painful and distressing, but this seemed doubly so now, because it swept away the widow's brightened prospects, and filled again to overflowing her cup of sorrow.

"Oh Edith," said Minnie, "doesn't it seem very hard that just as everything was so nicely arranged for her, that it should be upset in this way! Is it all for the best, now, Edith ?" she added, doubtfully. "Yes," said Edith.

What do you say, dear reader?

AN

WHERE THE ANGEL TOOK ME.

ARCHITECT'S

SUNDAY

VISION.

* AND so we passed into the sun-lit street, floating (as it seemed) along, without any effort of my own, but all in obedience to the Angel's will. Loudly were the Church bells sounding; and people were bending their steps to the houses of prayer.

The Spirit stopped not here, but passing onwards, left the busy street, and turned down dingy alleys, each, as we proceeded, darker and dirtier than the one before, till we entered a narrow court, surmounted by tall, black, houses, hideous with gloom and dirt; and here the Spirit paused. "Observe, oh! well observe," she said; "and tell me, are spots like these right, in a Christian land ?"

No longer were we breathing the fresh air; no longer were we cheered by the pleasant sunshine. But we stood in an atmosphere, thick with pollution, and reeking with disease and death. In a place where no breath of fresh air, fragrant from the coun try, could find entrance. No healing shower could force its way between those tall houses, bringing with it health and cleanliness; no clear rays of joyous sunshine could pierce into that dark well

of misery; but there it stood, solitary in its gloom, a deadly stain, and plague-spot, in that city's being. There it stood, and into its houses slunk gaunt men and women, pallid and diseased; their features marked with those grievous lines, which sin, and misery, and shame, so darkly write upon that human counte nance, which some, in foolish moments, have called "divine." Children were there too; and such children! Look, ah! look again; but you will vainly look for the bright smile, and the joyous step, and the gay spirits of exulting childhood! Instead of these, all around you may see, and too plainly see, low cunning and guile imprinted on each little sharp pinched face, leering and glittering out of every sunken eye; and you will hear the lisped oath, and see the unchecked wrath; and worse, yes, worse than all, who of all these shall you see, who know even their own misery?

And as I stood and thought on these things, once more the Spirit said, "Oh shame! that spots like these should stain a Christian land."

And as I stood, silent and bowed down in thought, listening unconsciously to the sad sounds of blasphemy, of rage, and of despair, far above, in the clear air, softly sounding like a messenger of peace, came the music of the distant bells; and then I cried unto the Spirit, who stood looking on, "A grievous sin and shame it is, indeed, that dens such as these should stain our country; but who of all those who this day are, as they think, so piously fulfilling their religious duties, know, or knowing, care that there are such scenes as these? Oh, Spirit, well may the poor think lightly of the rich, who stretch not out their hands to free us from such stains as these? If we so carefully preserve such nurseries and hot-beds of crime, how can we wonder that evil is increasing? Who, of all these children, has ever heard the word of kindness, or felt his cold heart warmed with looks of love? Who, of all, has heard the words of gentle instruction and good advice? Unnurtured, untutored, and uncared for, they grow up in sin and wickedness; and truly, 'as we sow, so shall we reap.'

Then the Spirit replied, "Yes, so it is; but be not hasty in condemnation. Were these things universally known, not long would they be suffered; and the evil is preserved now, more through most lamentable ignorance, than through lack of kindness and love in those of (as the world term it) superior station. That which is wanted, is a general knowledge of the true state of things; and then, an ardent spirit breathing into all those who possess the power, to rise and extirpate these dread evils. Oh! for another St. Patrick to cast out these plagues. another hermit to preach a new crusade. A crusade unstained

Oh! for

with blood, and unsullied with the cries of misery; one whose only sounds should be, praises to God, and hymns of thankfulness; one of those episodes which rest upon the earth like a gleam of sunshine, and, like it, dissipate each gloomy cloud, and noxious vapour.

"O! Englishmen, arise! In your gigantic cities there are lying, marked with disease, and in the very shadow of death, hundreds and thousands of your fellow-men, in bondage, worse than ever Turk inflicted, or Christian suffered; bound, body and soul, and all unable of themselves to rise. Oh! stretch forth the hand of brotherhood, and help them before the time is past, before it be too late."

Then, as she looked at me, she continued, "And you, architects, you who know these things, and know how well they might be remedied, see that you do your share in this holy warfare, for you know that there is no necessity that in our cities the poor should live in misery, and inhale continually the breath of death. It is known to you that the air might be pure as that which ranges over field and forest, unheeded and unchecked. Therefore, do your share, that the poor may indeed enjoy the fulness, and understand the meaning of that blessed word, 'home.' Then were they loved and cared for, and were their dwellings bright and cheerful, and good to live in, how good to give them instruction, and counsel, and advice; but till then-mark my words, for they are true-till then, it is almost useless!"

As she ceased, a ray of enthusiasm and hope shot through my heart, yet I felt sad, and very sad. So, with pleasure I perceived her borne away from this dark scene, to pursue our onward course. Yet, ere we left, once more she turned, and once more did we see that grim abode, with all its vice, and misery, and wailing, and its continual witness against the carelessness and supineness of all those who "might," but "will not." Once more she said, "Oh, England! sin and shame that there should be spots black as this upon a Christian land."

So we left that place, and soon were floating in the pure air and brilliant sunshine. And very sweet and pure it then appeared, after what we had so lately witnessed. Yet sweeter and purer still, as quickly pursuing our way onwards, we passed into the quiet country, and saw the blessedness and stillness of a country Sabbath.

So we went through pleasant fields for a long way, and heard music from those sweet singers whom man may not even hope to equal, and saw the flowers shining in the hedge-rows, and the trees clothed with pleasant foliage, delight succeeding delight, and delights innumerable, till we paused once more. This time in no plague spot, but by a pleasant village, and near its ancient

Church, under whose roof were gathered the greater part of the village inhabitants; and we could hear the well known sound of the glorious old Church tunes as we listened.

Here," said my guide, "we are far from all those dread nurseries of crime, from which we have so lately escaped; here we are in the pure air, and pleasant country, and see what fruit the country produces." Then, turning down a quiet lane, we stop. ped against a cottage; one of those which poets sometimes see in dreams-but which we beheld in reality-but very seldom ; one that was covered with woodbines and roses, with a pleasant garden, and amongst noble trees; one which seemed placed in the midst of perfect peace. But, as we gazed, a voice was heard from within that pleasant cottage, cruel in its tone, and wicked in its words.

Was it a remnant ringing in our ears, of the foul language we had lately heard? Would that it had been so. But no, out of that pleasant cottage there came forth, staggering with uncertain step, and cursing as he came, a man (must I call him so?) followed by his young, pale wife, who, with words of mild entreaty, followed him to the garden gate, begging him to go out no more that day. As she clung around his neck, and he raised his hand to strike, she released her hold, saying, "Edward, that one wickedness I will spare you;" and so she went back to soothe her wailing child, and vainly strive to calm her own fastbreaking heart!

Spirit," I cried, "why hast thou shown me this ?"

"It may be," she replied, "a painful lesson; but, nevertheless, such things are done on this earth continually, and it is good that we should know them. This is, however, not the reason for which I brought you here. But for this :-There is a class of men who, zealous in their efforts, and warm in their wishes, suffer themselves foolishly to be misled by enthusiasm, and so injure, instead of strengthening their cause. These men continually talk as if, in the present day, we had but to put the poor into clean and wholesome dwellings-but to give them Mechanics' Institutes, art lectures, and other such good things-and then, forthwith, they would start at once into new being and new life, free from sin and wickedness, and crimes be henceforth a thing only to be known and met with in books and records of the past.

"But against all such foolish views as these, let this which you have just seen be warning ever; and remember, that one thing alone can extirpate vice,-one thing alone can give the universal happiness, and peace, and concord; and that thing is not art, nor learning, but RELIGION."

Then once more she turned, and rapidly retracing our steps we stood again in that dismal court, and ascending a grim and