them shall fall to the ground. The thought of Amadeus, it is true, would often cast a shade upon his brow, and extend its gloom downward to his heart. Yet, if he could not feel an assured confidence, that his boy had been removed to a better place, the tear of tender and anxious regret was occasionally illumined with a ray of comfort, that forbade him to sorrow as others who have no hope.'

CHAP. II.

'Here have I found at length a quiet home
To hide me from the world; far from its noise
To feed that never-dying spirit, which,

Though link'd to human beings by the bond
Of earthly love, hath yet a loftier aim
Than perishable joy; and through the calm,
That sleeps amid this mountain-solitude,
Can hear the billows of Eternity,
And hear delighted.'

FROM the moment when first it pleased the Father of mercies to enlighten the eyes of his understanding,' and to reveal to him the danger of their situation, who know not God,' the instruction of his family became to du Blesne a subject of the deepest solicitude. They were straying from the paths of life, and ignorant of the way of salvation. If they worshipped, their altar was erected on a shadowy foundation, and

dedicated, like the Athenian's of old, to an unknown God.' And yet, the next instant might summon them to his presence. The next breath they drew might leave them there, where the voice of forgiveness could never reach.

Actuated by feelings of so interesting a kind, he could not long continue to deny them his assistance. His acquaintance with divine things was, it is true, but small, yet did he not consider himself justified in withholding from them the little he might be enabled to impart. Intimately persuaded, himself, of the unspeakable importance of being prepared for the final account, he could neither forbear to pray, nor labour, inefficient as his exertions might be, for the furtherance of their everlasting welfare. His high aim now soared above the trivial and passing occurrences of time, and rested on the enduring events of Eternity. No occasion, henceforward, was omitted which could assist him in his pleasing task; no incident unnoticed, that offered an opportunity of. impressing the minds of his wife or children

with the conviction of the shortness and uncertainty of our present existence, or of the value of that Gospel which has brought life and immortality to light.'

During their evening rambles, particularly, it was his delight to seat himself on some lofty rock that overlooked the surrounding landscape, and there to dwell upon all that was nearest his heart. • The close of day,' he was accustomed to remark, seemed especially and mercifully suited for heavenly contemplation. The business and bustle of the preceding hours, wherein man goeth forth to his labour,' have given place to the quietude of repose. The discordant sounds of an active world have died away, `and been lost in the sweet stillness of the distance. The hurry of forgetfulness has subsided into the calm of reflection. Another sun has irrevocably gone down, and we are another day nearer to the grave. The shades, that deepen round, inspire the solemn thought, that the night is approaching wherein no man can work,' and that that hour is hastening, when our eyes will be closed in the

darkness of death, and we shall

whence we shall never return.'

go the way

While he thus went forward with humility and prayer in his endeavours to instil the principles, which were now so closely interwoven with every wish he had on earth, into the minds of those who were dearest to him, he was not allowed to proceed without some fruits to quicken his diligence, and enliven his confidence of final success. The first earnest of the harvest, he was afterwards to reap, was the submission of her who lay in his bosom' to the Gospel of his hope. She witnessed its healing power in her husband, whose occasional asperities it had softened, and whom it had supported and consoled; and she gradually became desirous of participating in his joy. Imperceptibly, as it were, she followed in his footsteps, and professed herself a disciple of Him who called her to take up the cross.' Insensibly, also, their children entered the ways that lead to Zion-ways, wherein the Christian is permitted, amidst many outward and inward trials which the world knows not of,