PREFACE.

THE details of domestic life must, to a great extent, be everywhere the same. The object of the following story is to combine these with healthful moral instruction, and to show how a firm reliance upon an overruling Providence, and earnest endeavours to promote the good of others, will insure our own happiness.

A family in moderate circumstances constitute the actors in this narrative, and show that the ability to do good lies not so much in wealth as in welldirected effort. The sweet ties of family affection and individual influence are recognised; and our readers will permit the hope, that, without startling incident, great exploit, or magnificent undertaking, the simple history of the Moreton Family may possess an interest for them, and awaken in their hearts an earnest desire so to live, and so to use the means God may put in their power, as to promote the true prosperity of their own happy land, so peculiarly favoured by the Divine blessing, and realizing, by their own experience, that "happy is that people whose God is the Lord!"

Round and round move the heavy wheels of the large waggons, now rumbling, now creaking: slowly they eve, but surely.-Page 46.