GOSSIPIANA.

RELIGIOUS COURTSHIP.

A REMARKABLE instance once occurred of a courtship between a gentleman and a lady, upon their first sight of each other at church. Turning up his bible at the fifth verse of the Second Epistle of St. John, he put it into her hand, when she read.

"And now I beseech thee, Lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee; but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another."

The lady returned the book, pointing to the tenth verse of the second Chapter of Ruth:

“Then she fell on her face and bowed herself to the ground; and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that those shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger."

The gentleman then again pointed to the Second Epistle of St. John, verse twelve:

66

Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink; but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full."

Upon this simple interview their marriage took place the following week.

A LOVE LETTER.

MADAM,—Most worthy of estimation! After long consideration and much meditation on the great reputation you possess in the nation, I have a strong inclination to become your relation. On your approbation of this declaration I shall make preparation to remove my situation to a more convenient station to profess my admiration; and if each oblation is worthy of observation, and can obtain commiseration, it will be an aggrandization beyond all calculation of the joy and exultation

Of yours,
SANS DISSIMULATION.

The Answer.

SIR,-I perused your oration with much deliberation and a little consternation at the great infatuation of your weak imagination to shew such veneration on so slight a foundation. But after examination and serious contemplation, I supposed your animation was the fruit of recreation, or had sprung from ostentation to display your education by an odd enumeration or rather multiplication of words of the same termination, though of great variation in each respective signification.

Now without disputation, your laborious application to so tedious an occupation deserves commemoration; and thinking initiation a sufficient gratification, I am without hesitation,

Yours,

MARY MODERATION.

THE TESTIMONY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE FAITHFUL.

THE LAST advice, says Bishop Bull, that can be given upon the whole matter is this: let us carefully mind our duty which the Word of God hath laid before us, and then leave our comfort to our good and gracious God who will certainly dispose it in such measure as He sees best and fittest for us. There is many

a one who might have been in a much more comfortable state of mind than he is, if he had minded his comfort less, and his duty more; if he had studied more the pleasure of God, than the pleasure, peace, and satisfaction of his own mind; if he had laboured more to be a true, obedient child of God, than to know that he is so. Do not, therefore, as the manner of some is, lie down whining and crying for comfort and assurance, in the meanwhile neglecting thy duty; but rise up in the name and strength of God, and set thyself in good earnest to thy duty; honestly study to know and to do the will of God; take heed of defiling thy conscience with any wilful sin; call upon God for His grace by constant and daily prayer; and in the way of well

doing, commit thy soul to the goodness and merey of God in Christ Jesus; and whilst thou dost so, be assured thou art safe and canst never miscarry. For it is as certain that God is good and gracious as that He is; and that therefore He will never cast off those who cast themselves upon Him. Remember that, ordinarily, an abundant comfort is the reward of a fruitful piety, and therefore endeavour to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In a word, persist and persevere in thy duty, and thou canst not fail of that comfort which is convenient for thee; and to be sure what is wanting in thy joy and comfort here, shall, with infinite advantage, be made up hereafter in that fulness of joy and those pleasures which are at God's right hand for evermore.

TRAINING INSTITUTION FOR SCHOOLMISTRESSES.

OUR LAST number contained the interesting, because strictly true, history of a young person who was one of the first pupils admitted into the training school at Whitelands, Chelsea, where she received an education, fitting her for the duties of a schoolmistress; and has since not only maintained herself in great respectability, but has had the happiness of being the means of providing a house for her widowed mother in her old age. We would now call the attention of our readers more particularly to the Institution, to which, under God, these happy results may be attributed; and to remind them that it is still open for the recep tion, as far as the accommodation will allow, of young women who are desirous of becoming mistresses of National Schools in this country. Each candidate for admission must be recommended by the clergyman of her parish, and also pass an examination by the chaplain of the Institution, before she is admitted to reside at Whitelands, where she is first received on

probation for a period of six weeks. The annual payment for each pupil is £20, which covers every expense except clothing.

DURING the period of their training, the pupils have the opportunity of exercising themselves in their future vocation; for, attached to Whitelands, are schools for poor children, which are placed for alternate weeks under the charge of the young women in training. There they receive the benefit of instruction in points of the greatest future importance to them, from those, who, from long experience in the best and soundest methods of teaching children, are eminently qualified to superintend their labours in these practising schools.

HERE IT may be permitted to the writer to quote a few words from an Appeal* lately issued, which are the best testimony to the kind of education, which it is the object of this Institution to impart to those who are hereafter to become the instructors of the wives and mothers of the poor, as they shew what are the views on this subject of those under whose immediate care Whitelands has been so successfully conducted since its first establishment.

"A perfect schoolmistress-could such a one be found-would not merely be able to keep a school in the most profound order, and to teach with an intelligent mind and a winning manner; but she would be a parental guide to her pupils, preparing them, both by precept and example, for the course of life (whatever it may be) which awaits them. In order to do this, she must not only be guided in her every-day life of words and actions by strict religious principle; but she must be qualified, by a practical knowledge of common domestic duties, to teach and shew her pupils how to fulfil such in the best way; at the same time placing before them the high motive which may and ought to stimulate them in the performance of even the most menial services."

OUR ONLY cause for regret in speaking of Whitelands is, that

* Appeal to the Ladies of England by Mrs. Field.

this Institution is not supported as it ought to be, by those who profess an anxious desire for the religious education of the children of the poor, in this country. We hope, however, that it is only because hitherto the attention of Churchmen has not been drawn in particular to it, that it is now found necessary to appeal to the public, to afford it that assistance which it so eminently deserves; and that when it is stated, that from recent arrangements of the National Society, the Institution is now in great pecuniary difficulties, the needed help will not long be wanting, and the council of the Institution relieved from the responsibilities they have assumed.

THE actual wants of the Institution are as follow:

THE SUM of £600 annually, to supply the deficiency in the income of Whitelands, caused by the late resolution of the Committee of the National Society.

FURTHER accommodation, on account of the increased, and increasing number of applications for admission into the Training School, which the present buildings do not afford. Also rooms in which the pupils could be exercised in those industrial arts with which they should be made practically familiar, before entering upon their situations as schoolmistresses, a point which Mrs. Field, in the Appeal quoted above, justly urges as highly important. In speaking of this latter deficiency, it is satisfac tory to learn that £3,000 has been offered by Government to the Building Fund at Whitelands, provided it is met by an equal amount for the furtherance of the same object.

IF WHAT has been said above, has the happy effect of inducing any to take an interest in the future welfare of Whitelands, and they feel a wish to become more particulary acquainted with the nature of the Institution, and its peculiar claims on the support of the public, wo are assured that such information will be gladly afforded by either the chaplain or superintendent, on application to them at the Institution, Whitelands House, Chel

sea.