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sea comes tide after tide, washing up a beach of shells. Shells are there innumerable; but you may search that shore for hours, and find no perfect specimen: the shells are broken. I can conceive many a disheartened traveller in life's hard journey sitting down among those shells, and saying, "Behold the image of my own experience, of my broken resolutions, unaccomplished purposes, and perpetual failures! Even in the Christian Church are not a few who feel that they have failed of the high aims, the noble impulses, which warmed and quickened them at first!

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To any such disheartened souls this story of Mark's recovery should come like a trumpet call of hope. Too late, say you, to join the ranks once more, to become men of high attainment, heavenly character, and fervent spirit; too late to win the brighter crown, and the more abundant entrance ? Never too late, while life lasts. Stronger than the oldest habit of evil is the Spirit of God poured into the willing human heart. You, too, though you hide trembling among the stuff, have a part that you can play, and a prize that you may win. Once more to the front! If Paul does not trust you, Barnabas will. If Paul does not care for you now, he may come to lean on you with all his strength. And One, whom you know of, clearer-sighted by far than that shrewd Apostle, tenderer of heart than that "son of consolation," marks your struggles, and prays for your success; and He, as you arise, will breathe into your ear those words of unutterable hope and encouragement: "Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more."

LESBIA'S CHILDREN.

"Ir a child is old enough to interpret the tones of his mother's voice, he is old enough to obey," said my cousin Lesbia.

"Humph!" said my grandmother. My sister looked anxiously down upon the scrap of humanity before her. A handsome little " scrap' it was, with keen grey eyes, which sought his mother's face occasionally, but were scowlingly withdrawn.

"Franky will pick up the apple for mamma, won't he?" said my sister coaxingly.

The "scrap" shook his head. "You have asked him three times already. I should have asked him but once," said Lesbia, calmly.

"Humph!" ejaculated my grand

mother again, while the baby eyes regarded Lesbia with a superb disdain.

"What should you do, Lesbia?" asked Ellen, despairingly.

"Punish him until he obeys," was the unflinching reply.

My grandmother coughed. Ellen took the small, plump hand in hers. Weak little woman, how she dreaded it!

"Mother must punish Franky because he will not mind"— a little tap, at which the grey eyes opened wider with wonder. "She doesn't want to do it because-because-" here she clasped the little figure tightly in her arms. "Oh, Franky, Franky, she loves him so."

"Mamma

The rosy lip quivered. needn't 'hip me," he lisped, taking

her hand in his, and laying his | impatience; but afterwards-well -cheek upon it. he came, he saw, he conquered Lesbia.

"Will you pick up the apple ? For answer he darted from her lap, raised the apple from the spot where he had spitefully thrown it a few minutes before; then, springing into her arms again, he put his little white teeth into it with an air of great satisfaction.

My grandmother's sharp eyes stole a glance of triumph at Lesbia; but that lady remained undaunted. "If I ever have children they shall mind always and at once," said she decisively, as she rose to go. "We've heard of old-maids' children before," remarked my grandmother, quietly.

Lesbia smiled with unruffled serenity. Queenly Lesbia! Self-possession seemed her element, and dignity her native air. A situation as teacher in a young ladies' seminary had tended neither to weaken the one nor disturb the other. Her discipline was strict, her rules unsparing; yet the parents respected while the scholars idolised her. At thirty Lesbia reminded us of nothing but a tall, white lily, calm and self-poised. A flower which men look at and admire, but whose stately beauty seems to forbid the touch of hands profane.

"It is a pity," said I to my grandmother, one day, "that Lesbia will never marry.'

"Why do you think she will never marry?" asked my grand

mother.

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Very fair and stately looked our white lily upon her wedding morning. We could not see her go from us unmoved; but she looked upon our tearful faces with clear eyes, and though the proud head drooped a little, there was no other sign of weakness-none. She kissed the weeping scholars calmly, then turned to us for a last embrace.

"If Lesbia has a heart I hope that man will find it,” said my grandmother, as we stood looking at the departing carriage.

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Oh, Lesbia has a heart, I am sure of it," replied Ellen, wiping her eyes. "You are a little too hard, grandmother."

"I don't know where she keeps it, then; and I don't believe she does," was the blunt rejoinder.

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Five years passed, bringing little change to our small household. My grandmother's hair was scarce whit more snowy; nor had time dealt harshly with Ellen's laughing face. And though Frank had been a school-boy for two long years, and passed triumphantly through "Primer" and "First Reader," he was (though we dared not tell him so) our baby still.

But time had brought two children to Lesbia's home. Bright little blossoms (as she wrote us), which she made it the study of her life to bring up wisely, and which she was only afraid of indulging too much.

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Humph!" said my grandmother, as she folded the letter.

And when, some time afterward, we learned that Mrs. Charles Grafton, with her little girl and boy, was to spend the summer in her native county, I cannot tell whether we looked forward to the visit with more interest or curiosity.

Owing to the claims of "husband's relatives," which Lesbia like a dutiful wife felt it her first duty to

acknowledge, it was some time knew to what garden-flower to before we caught even a glimpse of liken this scowling "little blossom," our white lily. And strangely who certainly had nothing of the enough, our first meeting took spirituelle about her, but was emplace in that most prosaic of vehi- phatically of the earth earthy. cles, a railway car. Subsequently I found her bright and womanly; keen to investigate and quick to understand the small mysteries of her years; with a warm, tender, loving little heart, at the discovery of which possession she at first seemed half ashamed. But now she was just a naughty child, who seemed richly to deserve the punishment which Lesbia had threatened in the olden time.

My grandmother and I were riding silently along, tired and content with the result of our shopping expedition, when a tall lady entered, accompanied by a little girl of four years.

At first our pale flower seemed unchanged. She walked to her seat with all the grace of which circumstances would permit, and the smile with which she greeted us was Lesbia's own.

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As we sat chatting, forgetting with increasing interest the lapse "You didn't know I was in of years, we suddenly missed Nettie, B-?" she began, when at length and, looking upon the platform, we we found a place beside her. Of discovered the small damsel in course not, for I only came yester- animated conversation with the day. Mr. Grafton's cousin has conductor, who stood smilingly bought the Russell estate, and I attentive. am staying there. How perfectly natural everything looks! Things are not constantly changing, as with us. I have wanted so much to come to you. But you know my time is not my own now, andNettie, my dear, take your feet down from the cushions."

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"That's just like her," exclaimed
Lesbia in a troubled tone.
"She
hasn't a particle of reserve. Nettie,
my child, come here."

But "my child" didn't move.
Nettie, come to me."

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Again the cross little shrug and scowl. The child leaned forward, putting her head inside the car, and regarding her mother with unqualified dissatisfaction.

Lesbia raised her voice. The tones were not sweet, nor silvery nor serene now. A lady and gentleman opposite sat quietly expectant, biting their lips. I was uncomfortable.

"Come to me, my daughter, immediately!" rang out the voice, in tones of unmistakable displeasure.

Two little gaitered feet, by a series of ungraceful jumps, reached the place where Lesbia was sitting. There they stood impatiently tapping, until, having arrived at their destination, they left the car.

"Lesbia makes her child mind," said I to my grandmother, as we walked leisurely towards our own gate.

"She is making them mind all withstanding the unfavourable rethe time, I fancy," answered my port that we had heard of Master grandmother grimly. "Family dis- Johnny, our hearts went out to cipline in a railway car. Humph!" the perfect specimen of healthy We had promised to see Lesbia babyhood who sat regarding us again shortly; so a few days after- with round, solemn blue eyes, until ward we wended our way to the at length, evidently finding us to aristocratic - looking mansion in his mind, the lips parted with the which she had taken up her abode sweetest of smiles disclosing two for the time. The large cool par- rows of even pearls. The eyes lour, where everything harmonised laughed, too; and altogether the and nothing obtruded itself, seemed baby face was a study for poet or especially inviting after our long painter, until— walk in the sun, and Lesbia, as she entered in her dainty morning costume, looked part and parcel of it all. For half an hour we sat and chatted, becoming more and more oblivious of time as old memories came thick and fast upon us, when the door was thrown open with a bang, and a little voice called loudly,

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"I wish his clothes changed, of course," answered Lesbia, flushing. We heard the scampering of the little feet again, and then their quick return.

"He's kicking like everything. Nurse wants you to come and hold his feet."

Lesbia rose. 66 'Margaret is so incompetent," she said, with a shade of impatience in her tone. "She has no tact at all. Excuse me, please." And she left the room. My grandmother and I exchanged glances, wicked ones, I fear; but we spoke not a word.

"Go and shake hands with the ladies," said Lesbia's quiet voice. "No; no want to," was the reply. "But Johnny must go," said the mother, calmly.

"No, Johnnie mustn't."

"I don't know who my children are like," remarked Lesbia, turning to my grandmother with a quick, impatient motion; "certainly not like me, and Mr. Grafton says they do not resemble his family. They have such a very strong individuality, and they will assert it, too."

“I wouldn't give much for them if they didn't," was my grandmother's reply.

"But it is so inconvenient," sighed Lesbia. "Johnny, my son, go and shake hands with the ladies at once."

"No."

"You must do it, or I shall punish you."

"No." The chubby face was like a small thunder cloud; the blue eyes, looking almost black with baby anger, flashed at us with a wrathful glance, which would have been fearful, had it not been amusing.

"You must do it, Johnny "-and Lesbia, with a sudden movement, ousted her refactory offspring from his seat in her lap, then taking him by the hand attempted to lead him toward us.

Five, ten, fifteen minutes passed, and then Lesbia re-entered, holding But that was no easy matter. in her arms a chubby little fellow, Master Johnny, though naturally of little more than two years. Not- light, could make himself a leaden

weight when inclination prompted; lap? I've no doubt that either of and inclination prompted now

But Lesbia was determined. To my grandmother's feet she dragged her disobedient son, the little fellow screaming lustily all the while.

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us could have had him in ours five minutes later if she'd only have let him alone; but to insist upon his shaking hands, especially with an old woman like me-bah! I've no patience with her."

Lesbia came to us, as she had promised. The children, naughty as they were, soon found their way

Now, Johnny," said she, "shake hands with this lady this minute." My grandmother extended her hand, but the small fingers, instead of clasping, struck it angrily. Then to our by no means flinty hearts. with one energetic pull the baby When they were good, which was freed himself from his mother's more often as their visit lengthdetaining grasp, and (alas! that I ened, their little winning ways were must write it) kicked furiously at most enticing. They loved us all her with his little slippered feet. dearly; but to Ellen they clung most closely, because, to use Nettie's own words, "She was Franky's mother, and she loved him so."

Then it was that Lesbia's patience gave way. She administered a shake, much as any common mother might have done it, and led her naughty child from the room with no gentle hand. When she returned she was more like a rose than "a lily pale and fair."

Lesbia heard the words, and her pale cheek flushed. I wondered if she had noticed the shower of kisses which fell to Ellen's share, and had contrasted it with her own meagre "He knows better," said she, portion; wondered if she had seen impatiently. "There is no excuse that Ellen was like a child herself for him. I shall punish him se- when with her boy, entering into verely, and make him shake hands all his little plans, thinking nothing with me instead. I will be obeyed." which concerned him too trivial for "If I ever have children, they her notice, making the yoke of shall mind always and at once, ," obedience easy, and its burden light, thought I; but I was not wicked because," she loved him so.' enough to say it.

"Do you think it worth while always to command ?" asked my grandmother cautiously. "Isn't it as well, in little matters, sometimes to suggest? A child so enjoys the privilege of thinking for himself."

"I think the mother knows best," replied Lesbia, in a dignified tone. "Well, well, be merciful to that little man of yours. Remember what a little man he is," laughed my grandmother as we rose to take leave; “and don't forget that you are to come to us next week."

"What horrid little creatures!" I exclaimed, as soon as we were out of hearing.

"Not at all! not at all!" was the emphatic reply. "What could be sweeter than that baby's face as he looked at us from his mother's

But I had almost forgotten my curiosity ere it was satisfied. At length, however, my sister received the following:

"MY DEAR ELLEN,-Do you remember my old theories upon that most interesting of subjects, the management of children? Of course you do, for I aired them continually and unsparingly in your presence. Well, I have a confession to make. I have found that a little experience can bring to naught the grandest theory, and two pairs of baby hands have utterly demolished mine. At first I refused to believe in their destruction, and long after my heart told me they were dead, dead, dead, my pride clung to their inanimate remains. I think I never quite threw them off until I came to you.

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