Incarnation of our Divine LORD; and there were some there who read a lesson of deep meaning in the way in which every ray of light tinted, as it were, with that great thought, spreading over all the Church, and enlightening its darkest recesses, rested with especial brightness upon the numerous little ones, the lambs of CHRIST'S fold, who, clad in fresh attire, were arranged nearly in front of the congregation, that they might be close beneath their pastor's eye.

Bright looked the evergreen and holly touched by that glowing light, and meet it was that all fair things of nature, and all that the skill of man could contrive, should rejoice in harmony with every heart of man on such a day. For He, Who numbereth the stars, and is worshipped by the hosts of heaven, had trodden the earth with His sacred footsteps, had cast on all beneath the sky a radiance proceeding from the Source of Light, had marked the Cross upon the brow of Nature, that henceforth, in all her varied forms of beauty, she should speak alone of Him and of His love.

And now the solemn prayers were said; the chant, as one deep voice of overflowing thankfulness, had gone up to the footstool of GOD's throne; and the pastor of the flock stood up to deliver his Master's message of glad tidings, which that day he was privileged to speak. All listened with humble fixed attention, for he was among them as a spiritual father, and he loved them with the love of CHRIST. To the sick, and sorrowful, and anxious, he had been the ministering angel of God's holy comfort; to those who, crushed beneath the load of sin and shame, had sought his direction, he had spoken the precious promises of forgiveness; his voice had warned the heedless; and if sometimes he was compelled to speak the stern words of rebuke and displeasure, they were spoken with such touching earnestness of love, that cold indeed must have been the heart which could have turned away in anger.

But there were some in whom he felt a peculiar interest, those whom he dedicated to GoD in Holy Baptism, and whom, as years passed on, he had guided into the deep things of GOD with a gentle sympathy and carefulness learned in his daily and hourly meditations on his great Example. Amongst these were the Leslies, whose parents had committed them one by one, as soon as they were able to understand his instructions, to his pastoral care, desiring to secure for their children the blessing of early guidance, over the lack of which in their own childhood they so greatly mourned. Mary, the eldest, trained in obedience and self-discipline, was a gentle, loving creature, who drew the hearts of all towards her by her winning sympathy with all; but hitherto she had been as a child, without much deep thought or great earnestness of devotion. But the reward of obedience is sure; she had faithfully obeyed to the utmost all she had been taught; and now, as after the long waiting days of Advent, she listened to the solemn words which spoke of His coming even as a little child, and of the exceeding

love which enfolded in Itself each one for whom He had so unutterably humbled Himself, the whole mystery of the spiritual life seemed to gleam out clearer and clearer before her; the Cross, in its severity and love, was lifted up manifestly before her, and beyond the eternal crown, and the accomplishment of the Church's glorious destiny. And in the brightness of that vision, “the former things had well nigh passed away, and all things had become new."

Holy Communion followed, and Mary left the Church almost Overpowered by the tide of deep feeling which overflowed her heart. And when their Reverend Pastor joined them and shook Mary's hand with an affectionate Christmas greeting, she could not articulate a single word, and could only look her thanks. She longed to speak to him, to tell him all she felt and all she wanted, but she could not overcome the "stammering" so beautifully described in the Lyra Innocentium, and knew "how hard it is to find no tongue." Mr. Grant, however, had known her long enough and deeply enough not to need words, and after walking with the large and happy party as far as the turning to Eldon Hall, he said to Mary, "I wish you would come on with me. I have a book I want you to take to old Humphries. It is sad to be alone on such a day as this, and this will speak sweet words to him of the Communion of

saints."

Mary looked up gratefully, and walked silently by his side till they reached the study where she had so often brought her childish sorrows, and whose threshold she had never left without an earnest supplication for blessing on the inmate's head.

:

He took the book down, and beginning to write his name in the title page, said without looking up, " My child, your heart is overfull to-day could it not find vent in those most blessed services ?" Mary tried to check the tears which sprang to her eyes, and at last said, "It will scarcely find vent in a whole life. Some feelings must express themselves in deeds not words. I feel as though I could die for the love of which you spoke to-day, but how can I live for it? I cannot go on doing nothing."

Mr. Grant's eyes were raised to heaven, for he ever sought there the guidance he gave to others; and then laying his hand solemnly on her head, he said, "Do all in the Name of the LORD JESUS. Count no sacrifice too small to be offered up to Him, no labour too insignificant to be laid at His feet. Listen faithfully to His voice in every daily duty, and if He has further work for you to do, He will show you how and when it must be done. Do all in the Name of the LORD JESUS."

Many a time she had heard those words before, yet now they came upon her like a burst of sunlight over a stormy sea. The waters of light were before her, but they were radiant with the light of love. The deep yearning of her heart was stilled; before her

eyes arose an object higher, holier, more tender than her most exalted dreams had ever pictured, and rapidly her mind ran over every action of daily life, every power and faculty she possessed, and in that moment they were dedicated in intensity and singleness of purpose unto Him. She had no thought then of difficulties or hinderances. Life was a long bright vista, and the portals of heaven stood open at its close.

So she raised her head after a long pause, and said earnestly, "I will try, and you will pray that I may be able?"

"Yes!" he replied.

"Was it very wrong to wish for the crown of martyrdom, as I did just now in Church ?" Deep thoughts passed through Mr. Grant's mind as she spoke. He thought of the baptism of suffering and the spiritual cross, in which she might have to partake ere she was made perfect in obedience. He had known its bitterness and anguish, and though he hoped for her such severe discipline might not be needed, there was a tenderness mingled with solemnity in its tone as he replied, "No, I would not say it was wrong. GOD sends such feelings sometimes, but we must not long for high things and then shrink from little ones. It would be like mocking God to wish to be a Martyr, and then shrink from the sharp edges of the Cross He lays upon us to form in us a Martyr's mind. If He were to send you lingering pain, or some heavy sorrow in answer to that prayer, could you accept it thankfully?" "I do not know," she said, slowly, "perhaps not."

"Then thank GOD He has given you lowly things to do, that so perhaps you may be trained for more devoted service. Commit the future to His hands. Try to feel,

"I do not ask to see

The distant scene; one step enough for me.'

"But some things seem as if they could not be sanctified, they seem so entirely earthly."

"Things which cannot be sanctified must have some wrong in them, and had better be left undone. But what are you thinking of especially ?"

"Eating, and drinking, and dressing, and sleeping, for instance," said Mary, in rather a despairing tone.

“Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of GoD. If you take food as if from the very Hand of GoD -if you lifted your heart in thankfulness for its refreshment and support to your weak and weary body,-if you looked on it as the type of that Precious Food with which He nourishes the souls of His faithful ones, and prayed that it might enable you to do His will untiringly, even as the angels in heaven; if thus you thought of them, Mary, your meals might be steps on the golden ladder of daily acts which leads from earth to heaven."

Mary was silent, a new world of thought seemed opening before her, and she never could speak when her heart was full. At last she said, "Now say something about dressing."

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"S. Paul has taught us to regard a Christian woman's dress as a type of the inward adornment of the heart. It might be done in penitential spirit, as being in itself a token of the fall, and then day by day you might be learning to be clothed with humility. It might be done in hope, as the shadow of the fair white robe of perfect innocence in which God's holy ones shall be arrayed in the day of His appearing. Can you not see how it might be done as a Christian act, and in a Christian way?"

"Oh yes!" said Mary, "and I need not ask you about sleep?" "No," he said, "the sleep of His beloved is a holy thing. A type of the rest which is prepared for the weary when the shadows of evening have fallen, and the din of earth is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and their work is done.'-It has been said, 'The sleep of the saints is prayer,' and who may know what may be the inward Communion with heaven during the sleep taken in the Arms of CHRIST, watched over by angels, breathed upon by the Spirit of His love? Only take heed that you do it in the Name of the LORD JESUS;' to enable the frail body to obey the immortal spirit. Sleep to indulge the body is a blessing turned into a deadening curse. We must not forget that these are but shadows, and when the sun is over our heads, in its full direct light and glow, there will be no shadows more.""

"And then-" began Mary.

Mr. Grant held up his watch,-" Punctuality is a duty too, Mary, and one very hard to practise, especially for you. There is a rule in colleges, that, at the sound of a certain bell calling to any duty, there is an instant stop to every occupation. The halfwritten word is left unfinished, the half-uttered sentence dies instantly on the lips of the speaker. There is admirable training of the will in such a rule as this, and you might in a measure practise it. That hour is to me as the voice of CHRIST calling me to feed His lambs, and I must heed it. You can come to-morrow for more. I am sure you have enough to think about to-day."

Ere she left him Mary knelt to receive his solemn blessing. "The LORD bless thee and keep thee; the LORD grant thee thy heart's desire, and fulfil all thy mind."

A NESTORIAN CHURCH.

THE following day being Sunday, we were roused at dawn to attend the service of the Church. The two priests officiated in white surplices. The ceremonies were short and simple; a portion

of Scripture was read and then interpreted by Kasha Hormuzd, in the dialect in use in the mountains; few understanding the Chaldæan of the books. His companion chanted the prayers; the congregation kneeling or standing, and joining in the responses. There were no idle forms or salutations; the people used the sign of the cross when entering, and bowed when the name of CHRIST Occurred in the prayers. The sacrament was administered to all present; men, women, and children partaking of the bread and wine, and my companion receiving it amongst the rest. They were disposed to feel hurt at my declining to join them, until I explained that I did not refuse from any religious prejudice. When the service was ended, the congregation embraced one another, as a symbol of brotherly love and concord,* and left the Church. I could not but contrast these simple and primitive rites with the senseless mummery and degrading forms adopted by the converted Chaldæans of the plains,—the unadorned and imageless walls, with the hideous pictures and monstrous deformities which encumber the churches of Mosul.-Leyard's Nineveh and its Remains, Vol. I., p. 201.

LUCY ASHCROFT, THE MANUFACTURER'S

DAUGHTER.

66
A TALE OF LOVE AND MERCY."

CHAP. I.-INTRODUCTORY.

EVERSLEY, now a large and important town, was, at the time our tale commences, a small and insignificant village, the quiet of which was only broken in upon on market days, or twice a week, when the "van" passed through it, and the music of the guard's horn enlivened its streets. Its rich green valleys repaid the husbandman's care with an abundant reward; and the hills in which it was embosomed sheltered it from the blustering_storm and the biting blast. There was a parable of nature for the rustics to read; for whilst the valley spake of a resting-place, where their limbs should one day repose, the hills told them of a home beyond the skies, where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. Happy, too, were the inhabitants; for they dwelt at peace among themselves, discharging the duties of their several stations, and working with their own hands to provide things honest in the sight of all men. Bound together by holy ties, and knit into the brotherhood of the saints, they were living types of

* This custom, it will be remembered, prevailed generally amongst the primitive Christians. The Roman Catholic Church has retained the remembrance of it in the "Pax."