Christianity to make me happy; I am sure any change

in my opinions on this happy than I now am. ness there is in being a Christian. I believed once, and the very recollection of those sad years never fails to give me horror. And how much happier are my uncle and aunt, than they would be without any christian faith? Their whole life is a contention between natural vivacity and religious gloom. The fact is," continued he, "the only rational religion is the one I have chosen; the middle line between atheism on one side, and revelation on the other. I acknowledge the morality of Jesus Christ to be far purer, and more perfect, than that of any other philosopher; but it may be adopted as a rule of life without believing that he received it immediately from God; or that the Almighty Maker of heaven and earth stooped down from his ineffable glory to enter into the body of a man in order to become an infinite sacrifice, to appease his own infinite wrath and reconcile his infinite justice with his infinite mercy. Such doctrine is nothing less blasphemy, and I cannot and will not degrade the character of the Deity or my own understanding by believing it. If there is any one attribute of mind displayed in the world around us, it is pure disinterested benevolence; to this I will hold, and this I will adore, let Christians say what they will. I may appear obstinate to my father and mother, and I am sorry for it, but it is only fair, that I should be allowed to have an opinion of my own; and to express it too, as independently as they express their's." Thus confirming himself in his infidel notions, as his father called them, he waited only another opportunity to meet his mother on her own ground and to contend, that mankind could not derive any real benefit from a belief in Christianity.

subject, would render me far less I know to my cost what happi

Mr and Mrs Henderson watched with intense interest the tone of their son's feelings; and made it a subject of daily prayer, that infinite wisdom would devise the means of drawing him, by the cords of love and by the bands of social affection which unite man to man, to see the beauty of holiness and to feel the enlivening power of faith in a Redeemer. George did not fail to try to engage his mother in another religious conversation, fully confident that he should now be able to manage the argument which she had suggested. He felt a little afraid of his father, dreading to excite his anger. But both his parents seemed disinclined to religious discussion; and when he purposely sought to engage his mother, she evaded the contest; always assuring him, in a gentle tone, that religion was much more an affair of the heart than of the head; that when she should be able to perceive that his affections were holy, his mind humble, his heart contrite, and his soul devoted to God and his duty, she should be persuaded he was not far from the kingdom of heaven; and that she should leave him to the Deity in whom he believed, to overrule and correct his opinions by such discipline as he should see best adapted to his case.

"How is it," thought George, at one time when he had been checked in this manner, "that if I touch on the subject of religion, my mother always makes me feel as if I had been defeated? She has such a way of turning from the point, I wish to keep in view, and of saying something foreign to what I expected, that I never know how to be prepared for her."

"I wish," said he to his mother, one day when they were alone, "I wish, mother, you were willing to talk with me sometimes on religious subjects. I very often go to church with you, because I know you desire it, and it 1*

VOL. II.

seems but fair that you should be willing to hear what I can say to defend myself."

"There is no occasion for defence, when you are not accused, my son," replied his mother. "I think religious disputes are unfavorable to the temper and heart; and the attempt to convince does often but confirm the mind in false views. I will at all times cheerfully converse with you on every subject that can afford you profit, or innocent pleasure; but I fear your mind is not yet in a frame to canvass religious subjects either profitably or innocently."

"Not innocently, mother?" asked George.

"No; if it be only to confirm your present opinions it will not be innocent, because it will injure your heart and temper, and therefore greatly harm you," said Mrs Henderson.

"How is it possible you can think it will harm me to believe what reason renders clear? Truth cannot harm, can it?" asked George.

"Truth cannot injure by itself," replied his mother. "But when some truth is combined with a great deal of falsehood, so that we cannot separate them, the truth itself may injure by inducing us to receive the falsehood with it."

"It appears to me," said George, "that you now state exactly the cause why the christian system is embraced by so many; a great deal of falsehood and absurdity is mixed with some truth, and the whole is received together."

"Can you separate them," asked his mother, so as to show me distinctly what are the truths and what the falsehoods of Christianity in your opinion ?"

"I can state very easily what I esteem the falsehoods

and the absurdities of the system," replied George; "but I am not sure I can so readily find the truths; though, I am willing to allow there are some; else it could not have deluded so many."

"It would be best then," interrupted Mrs Henderson, "to defer our conversation till you have examined the subject so carefully, as to be able to see distinctly what you believe, as well as what you disbelieve in it. In the mean time, I wish you to accompany me to Dorchester this afternoon. I have heard that the old lady whom I go every summer to visit, has been very sick, and I am desirous to learn exactly her situation; and carry her some articles which she has not the means of obtaining."

"Whom do you mean?" asked George, "you have so many strange acquaintances, that I cannot tell to whom you allude."

"I wish I had many such friends as the widow Brown," replied his mother. "Have you not been there with me?" "Yes, once, when I was very young," answered George. "I shall never forget how she looked."

"How did she look to you, George?" asked Mrs Henderson. "To me she always looked like the picture of christian resignation."

"Oh she looked dreadfully to me;" replied George. "Her eyes were so red and her hands twisted and drawn awry; and altogether I thought her a most miserable object."

"Did you not pity her?" asked his mother.

"Certainly;" he replied. "But then it is very disagreeable to see such people."

"But would you not submit to that disagreeable feeling for a little while, to alleviate the sufferings she must endure?"

"Oh yes, if I could help her," answered George, "to be sure I would go; but what good can I do her?"

"If you cannot do her good," said Mrs Henderson, "which is not certain, for she loves all who are dear to me, and would be pleased to see and talk with you ;—I am sure she would be gratified by a visit from me; and while I stay with her, she may be so much amused and interested, as to forget her troubles."

"Then I am sure you are right to go," said George. "But I cannot go without you, my son," said his mother. "You know your father cannot leave his business without great inconvenience; and there is no one else, excepting you, with whom I am willing to trust myself in the chaise. You have no engagements for the rest of the day; you told me so before dinner."

"Dear mother," interrupted George; "pray do not say so much about it, I will go with pleasure; the ride will be delightful, if the visit be irksome."

They were soon on their way to the beautiful village of Dorchester.

"Now let me tell you a little of the history of the good lady we are going to visit," said Mrs Henderson, as soon as they had escaped from the pavements.

"Well," replied George, "what has she done or discovered, to render her celebrated ?"

"She is

"Nothing in the world;" replied Mrs H. one of those unobtrusive, humble characters, who think they have no claim on the notice or regard of any; but who engage the esteem and veneration of all who know them. Her life has been a series of sufferings and sorrows; and for the last twenty years, there has never been a period when she did not endure privations and distresses