to promote the welfare of others, we ought to take care to leave ourselves time for daily reading of the Scriptures and prayer. That was all," said Mary, glad to have finished her explanation. "You agree, then, with my friend George Herbert, who says 'By all means use sometimes to be alone; "Yes," replied Mary, "but I do not know those lines." "Well, if ever you meet George Herbert's Poems,' I advise you to read and study them; they are a mine of truth, well worth the labour of digging into. But here we are at your door. Good night; pray give my compliments to Miss Waller." So saying, Mr Wright returned home. Punctual to the moment, Captain Mostyn arrived the following day at Elmsgrove. He found Mrs Wright alone in the drawing-room, who cordially welcomed him, saying, she regretted that unavoidable business had prevented her having the pleasure of visiting the Victory with her husband and children. "I cannot tell you," she said, "how much they enjoyed themselves, or how many questions are in store for you this evening." "You terrify me: I am scarcely prepared to stand an examination," Captain Mostyn replied; "however, I shall have my revenge. I too, have questions to ask.” When the dessert was placed on the table, the bell rang for the children, and soon their merry voices were heard upon the stairs. "Now your labours are about to begin," said Mrs Wright as she observed Harry, with evident satisfaction, take possession of an unoccupied chair next to their guest. "Well, my boy, how have you been since we parted yesterday?" asked Captain Mostyn. "Right well," said Harry, pulling a piece of newspaper and a huge pair of garden scissors out of his pocket. "Will you please cut me out a jibsail?" the paper; "Let me see," said Captain Mostyn, folding "should it not be something like this?" "Yes, that's it, I'm sure," said Harry, in delight; "now my boat's finished-that's grand! I'm awfully obliged to you.' Blanche now slipped down from her father's knee, to stand by Harry's chair. "Ho, ho! my little lady," said Captain Mostyn. "How is your frock to-day? I declare it looks white as the driven snow.' "This is not the other," replied Blanche, "it is dirtier than it was yesterday; but I wear white frocks in the evening, because nurse says there is no mud for me to fall into. "A capital reason," said Captain Mostyn, laughing. “Do you know, Blanche, the difference between a pig and a sheep? When the sheep falls into the mud he gets out as quickly as he can, because he does not like mud-it is not his nature to like it; but when the pig falls in, he lies there quite contented, because it is his nature to delight in mud. Now, which are you like? the pig, or the sheep?" "Oh, the sheep!" cried Blanche; "indeed I don't like to fall into the mud, but I do like making mud pies, and Harry too." " he "I remember when I enjoyed the same diversion myself," said Captain Mostyn ; "I believe children are the same all over the world. And now,' said, turning to Mrs Wright, "I warned you that I had some questions to ask. Can you tell me how I may be useful in your neighbourhood while the Victory remains in port? I say how? for no doubt there is work to be done if I only knew what and how to do it." "Abundance indeed," Mrs Wright replied, "and we shall gladly enrol you among our parish labourers. What kind of work should you prefer?" "If I may choose for myself, I think to visit amongst the poor would suit me best." 66 "I wonder would he join Mr Jones's committee?" thought Fanny; while Mrs Wright replied, We can supply you with work enough in that line: old men and women in the alms-house, besides several of all ages, in their own cottages. So, take your choice, Captain Mostyn." "I should prefer the latter," he said. "There is less artificial life in the poor man's cottage than in a public institution. Besides, I think they are generally less looked after. So, not to lose time, for I know not how long we may be here, whom may I visit to-morrow?" After a moment's thought, Mrs Wright replied: "I do not think there is any one to whom your visits would be more welcome than poor Mrs Harpur. She lives at the far end of the lane you passed on your right hand coming here from Bloomfield. Her cottage is very poor, but tidy; kept so by her neighbours, who are, as indeed the poor generally are, very kind and ready to help those in need. She is very old, almost powerless, a martyr to rheumatism; but there is not, I believe, a more happy, cheerful Christian in the parish." "It will be a privilege to visit such a one," observed Captain Mostyn. "I am sure you will find it so ; but I will not tell you more about her-you shall judge for yourself what manner of spirit she is of," was Mrs Wright's reply. CHAPTER III. THE morning after the visit to the Victory, Mary Woods received a note from Miss Harrison, asking her to call on a poor woman, who was in great poverty and dying of consumption, without, Miss Harrison feared, any hope for the life to come. Mary, delighted to have the opportunity of helping her friend, wrote at once to say that she would call on the sick woman after dinner. At three o'clock she set out with her Bible and a few tracts in her bag, and as she walked along she asked God to enable her to sympathise in heart with the poor sufferer, to enter into the spirit of those words, "Weep with those that weep; "knowing that no acceptable service can be rendered to any one-to the poor especially-unless it be dictated by love. The miserable hut-it could not be called a house -in which Alice Wilkins lived, had to be reached by a lane called, from its horrible condition, "Breakneck Lane." Full of deep ruts, which, in wet weather, were filled with water, it was no easy matter to avoid slipping, and quite impossible to escape being spattered by mud and slush. This |