Margaret Bates. What makes me wonder most is, Jane always seems lively, and in a good humour, even on a Saturday, when she does so much to be ready for Sunday. I have stepped in to rest myself a bit, and with all her work, and her child fretting, I never saw her put out.

Betsey Wilts. It is well for her she has no temper by nature, or I will answer for it, she would storm out sometimes, or at any rate, look cross at Richard, for letting her have so much to do.

The rolling of the quilt put a stop to the talk for a few moments, and when the bustle was over, and all had taken their seats again, old Tacy Green, who sat at the end of the frame knitting, said "well, I think I must know Jane Lee better than any of you can, for I nursed her when she was a baby, watched her when she was a racing school-girl, and have lived near her almost ever since she was a wife. As to her having no temper, I know she has a high one, for I have seen her in a passion, when she was only a few months old, and many a hasty word have I heard her

speak when she was a grown girl; but the truth of the matter is, that her temper is now ruled by the grace of God; and because she ❝acknowledges him in all her ways," "he directs her paths;" and if you would all seek the same guide, neighbours, you would feel contented, if you had twice as much to fret you as Jane has.

Margaret Bates. I do not wonder so much at her being contented; but she is as lively as if she had every thing that she wanted.

Tacy. I was in there last evening while she was putting Ruth to sleep, and we talked about the time when she was such a tearing wild girl; the tears came into her eyes when she spoke of the mercy of God, who had borne so long with her passions and follies, and was now blessing her with so many comforts; and she said, "truly I may say, He hath not dealt with me after my sins, nor rewarded me according to my iniquities." "

Nelly Tilson. O yes! she is very religious; and sets herself up as a pattern, especially on a Sunday, as if there was har in taking a little pleasure that day.

Tacy. No, no, Nelly; Jane Lee never sets herself up above her neighbours, except by doing what the Bible has taught her is her duty; and I doubt not, that keeping the sabbath day holy, as she does, is one cause of her being so cheerful all the week.

Nelly. Well, let her keep it as she will herself, but not want other people to have her notions. She has taken it into her head to want to get up a Sunday school, but for my part I think it is enough to coop up the children all the week with master Rupert, without forcing them to school on Sunday too.

Tacy. If you knew as much about Sunday schools as Jane does, you would want to have one I think.

Nelly. I know enough about them. There was one two miles from where we lived before we moved here, and one of the teachers worried me into letting my Sam and Sally go; but they wore out their shoes, and Sally got a nice silk hat spoiled by being caught in the rain.

Tacy. You let them wear their shoes of a Sunday if they stay at home, and they would

xot wear them out any more walking to school than in running about the fields. And if you had made Sally a neat calico bonnet, instead of spending your money on a foolish silk one, a shower of rain would not have done it any harm.

Nelly. I let them go on for a while, but they got to making such a to do about saying their prayers before I could get them to go to bed; and then on Sunday, there was such a fuss for fear they would not get their breakfast to be in time for school, that I got tired of it, and made them quit going.

Tacy. And did they want to go?

Nelly. O yes; there was a great fretting about being kept away; Sam was as obstinate as a mule, and he got his father persuaded to say that he might go, so I had to let him for peace sake; but I was determined to do as I pleased with Sally; so I would not let her go.

Tacy. Poor child! and how did she bear it? Nelly. The first Sunday she cried all day; but when she found I did not mind that, the next Sunday, when Sam was gone, she rhymed

B

over a parcel of verses; and when he came back they went under an old shed, and I could hear her saying off to him what she had tired me with rhyming over.

Tacy. Was Samuel any the worse for going to Sunday school?

Nelly. I suppose you would say he was the better, for he quit many tricks which I had tried to scold him out of, and minded what I said to him; but I know it was only to please me, so as to get me to let Sally go too.

Tacy. And is it possible, elly, that a mother could be so hard-hearted, as to keep her child from going to Sunday school when the child wished to go?

Nelly. Hard-hearted! neighbour Green; no one ever said that of me before; but I am a mother that will have her children to mind her, and I had said that Sal should not go.

Tacy. Why Nelly, only yesterday I heard you tell your Thomas to stop throwing stones at the chickens; he said "no I won't," and you let him go on.

Nelly. O that was a trifle.

Tacy. Well, I can tell you that it is no