delight from Emily. Sometimes, too, the gum trees interlaced their branches above her head, and beneath their shade, in huge fantastic shapes, other masses of rock would group-the clustering tea-tree, with its snowy blossoms, or the honeysuckle's prickly shrub, with its curious red waxen-looking petals, springing close beside, or the scarlet creeper flinging its graceful drapery over them. Huge boulders there were, supporting smaller masses of stone up-thrown by no human hand, and seemingly so delicately poised that a mere touch might dislodge them.

Emily gazed with wondering and delighted eyes, as they rode slowly through these new scenes, for she was but an inexperienced horsewoman at present. And though Maggie's pony had very easy paces, and a smooth and graceful canter, she preferred a walk through this scenery at least, and her husband did not hurry her.

They presently turned off the road, and their became still more rugged.

way

"Where are we going now?" Emily asked, as they commenced a slow descent.

"We are going to cross the creek just below us, dear. Do you not see the stepping-stones? Well, now look up to the rocks that rise from its banks; there, straight before you-can you see the house, near the top ?"

"A house up there?"

"Yes and this is the only way of entrance. Sometimes this creek is so swollen by winter rains, that it is impossible to cross. The inhabitants are quite shut in. But they are satisfied with their home, and you see they have formed a garden up

there, and have a dairy quite up at the top of the hill, from which Glen Ness receives some of its best butter. I will fasten our horses here, for I fancy we shall accomplish the rest of the way best on foot."

A house among the rocks, and such a prettylooking house, too, Emily had never expected to find. Why, all the world was below them! and so indeed she presently thought it seemed, in more senses than one. When introduced into the neat little front room, they found the object of their visit seated in a large cushioned arm-chair, and crippled with rheumatism, yet wearing that sweet and gentle look beneath her broad-bordered cap, that Emily knew could only be the result of a mind well-ordered within.

"We have missed you, my dear sister, at Glen Ness," said Mr. Owen, kindly, taking a seat near her, for the old lady added deafness to her many infirmities. "I feared you had been ill, for no other reason usually keeps you from us in fine weather like this."

"Eh! I hae been sair an' bad, sir, wi' my auld complain', but I've mair need to tell o' mercy than wae!" said the old woman, a bright smile of welcome lighting up her thin, worn face.

"We have all more reason to do that, Mrs. Duncan," replied Gilbert. "I have brought my wife to see you. She is delighted with your situation

here, but a little tired with climbing the rocks."

"Eh! and its rough for unkenned feet! Come here, come here, Isabel; place a chair for the lady. Eh, dear! an' it was a happy day when ye tookit the

minister: a happy choice ye've made! God send ye may both prove a blessing to ane anither!"

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'Amen, amen!" said Gilbert, speaking for his wife ; we are both anxious to do His will, my sister; both desirous of working for Him. Have you been very ill ?"

"Eh! I thocht I had e'en maist done wi' earth. God seemed sae near, an' the light o' heaven shining roun'. Rarely wrackit wi' pain was I; His presence tookit the sting awa'."

"It does that, indeed!" replied Mrs. Owen, greatly moved. "The sting of DEATH is sin,

Pardoned sin has no sting—

And how do you feel now, my friend, so lately almost at the end of your journey, and now recalled to battle a time longer with its cares and trials?"

"Eh the will o' the Lord be done! I would hae weel liket to have ganged hame, for this crazy auld body canna do muckle the noo. But He chooset me to stay awhile; it canna be for lang, ye ken.”

"Your work was not done, sister Duncan; the shock of corn was not fully ripe."

"Eh, sir! its nae muckle such a puir body can do -but the dear Lord kens best."

"Yes. He does know best, and takes His children home just when He thinks fit. The finished work— then the crown of praise-home at the end of the journey!"

"Hame! sweet hame! and it will be sweeter, ye ken, for a' the sair trouble here."

"I said your work was not done, sister," said Gilbert, turning suddenly round to look at his wife. Her face was beaming, though her eyes were full of tears. "You have been spared to do us good today, and it is not the first time you have refreshed my spirits. You remind me, sister, of our Lord's own words-' And ye now therefore have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.' Yes, the sorrow will indeed look little against the joy at the end! And now shall I read a little before we part?"

"Eh! do, if it please ye; we can never hear too muckle of God's ain word."

And Gilbert Owen drew towards him the old

family Bible, in its green baize cover. He opened in the same chapter in John from which he had quoted the last text, reading and commenting upon it as he read. He knelt and prayed most fervently at its conclusion; prayed that they might have increased faith, might look beyond every sorrow, every affliction, here, to the journey's end, returning hearty thanks for the life still spared, and asking for strength and submission in the future, whatever awaited.

They rose from their knees to go, but that was not permitted without refreshment. A cloth was spread over the rude table, a huge bowl of rich milk, accompanied by mugs of blue ware, a huge loaf flanked by as huge a cheese, and jars of jam, was the fare to which they were invited most cordially to "sit ben" and partake. The bread was sweet and white, the cheese excellent, and the milk refreshing.

Emily at least found it so, for her ride had made her very hungry, and she was prepared to enjoy everything, from the roughly-plastered walls and rude benches, to the wide chimney that took up nearly one side of the little room. That visit to the cottage among the rocks was one long remembered. The savour of the conversation there was not easily forgotten. The ride home was a very pleasant one.