manner, and I procured her several, for which gifts she was most grateful. She was always cheerful and happy, and used to say, playfully, that she was better off than some of her poor neighbours, for she could earn money for her mother, and read and work as well by night as by day, without having to buy candles, as they had. She never failed in attending both the services of the church on Sunday, and also any occasional ones during the week, for being blind did not hinder her from hearing, and joining in the beautiful prayers, and listening to God's holy word, preached and explained by his appointed minister. She had the sweetest voice in the village choir, and rejoiced in being able to unite with her fellow-worshippers, in singing to the praise and glory of God. And now," continued Edith, "you know, dear Alice, how it is that I look forward with pleasure to teaching you to be a happy, industrious little woman, like Lucy."

"Yes, dear Miss Howard, and I shall, I hope, have one thing more to make me happy than Lucy had-music, I mean. Oh, that will be so delightful!" and this time Alice's eyes filled with tears, but not of sadness, produced by feel

ings of pleasure and bright hopes, long unknown to her.

And Edith, since her sad losses, had been a stranger to the emotion of joy, which now filled her heart with thankfulness for the privilege which was here allotted to her, the power of conferring happiness on this little sorrowing and afflicted one, and fervently did she pray that Sabbath eve, before she went to rest, for wisdom, and patience, and watchfulness over herself, that no inconsistency of speech or action might mar the influence she was anxious to gain over her pupils. Whilst she dwelt on her own solemn responsibility as a teacher of immortal, never-dying souls, the thought became fearfully oppressive, till, trembling and affrighted, she took her burden, and laid it at the feet of Omnipotence, and, as in a gentle whisper, she appeared to hear the words of comfort fall upon her ear, "My grace is sufficient for thee."

CHAPTER XII.

"A resolute purpose knitteth the knees, and the firm tread nourishes decision."

TUPPER.

FOR the second time in her short life, she took up her residence in a household which never met together to worship the one Lord and Master of all, or ask his help in their mutual duties, or seek that blessing which alone can give unity among the members of a family. Edith finding the children had been in the habit of going out into the garden before breakfast, during the summer weather, continued the custom, only requesting her pupils' punctual attendance in the schoolroom at eight o'clock, the usual breakfast hour, when, to their astonishment, she announced her intention of reading prayers before they sat down to that meal, ask

ing at the Throne of Grace that the minds of the young might be opened to receive instruction in a teachable spirit, that they might walk in the fear of the Lord, and be kindly affectionate one to another, and, after a life of holy obedience, be made members, through grace, of the one blessed family in heaven.

At breakfast-time, Annie, always the chief speaker, volunteered several remarks on the introduction of this new custom, adding

"One of our governesses, a Miss Smith, three or four years ago, had prayers, but she adopted the extempore fashion, and mamma disapproved of that, and put a stop to it; she said it was like the low meeting-houses; and our very last governess was a French Roman Catholic, so of course she could not teach us such things. Annie was running on, when Edith stopped her, saying

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Though I do not insist on absolute silence at meals I cannot allow so much talking, and you have had more than your share already, Annie; neither do I approve of the light manner in which you treat the subject of family worship; it is a topic you are not competent to discuss, as not having been accustomed to it you

are unable at present to appreciate its privileges or its blessings, as I trust you will at no very distant period."

The studies were preceded by the Scriptures, but as the girls had not lately been used to this important branch of instruction, Edith deemed it wiser to be moderate, lest she should create a distaste where she wished most earnestly to interest, and selected only the Psalms and Morning Second Lesson of the day for their reading, adding a short and simple explanation. She felt that if the Old Testament was also undertaken, the two chapters appointed for morning and evening must be read, or the chain of events there recorded be sadly broken and the sense thereby rendered incomplete, and as her pupils advanced in years, and also, she trusted, learned to love the things appertaining unto holiness, this difficulty would be done away.

in no

She was thankful to find herself in way interfered with on these essential points by the parents, indeed Mrs. Harcourt rarely entered the school-room but to fetch Annie away to a visitor, or to go out with her, which was of much more frequent occurrence