uncle's name had excited a sneer on the lip of every one, before whom I had spoken it.' However before the bailiff could reply, a young man came forward of a very pleasing appearance, and undertook to lead me whither I wished to go; whereupon all the others were silent, and I was led through the hall along several passages, such as are commonly seen in large houses, to a door, which, being opened, I saw before me my venerable uncle seated at a table, with his pen in his hand, writing with much assiduity, and as one deeply interested in his work. As I pronounced my name, and advanced towards him, he hastened to meet and embrace me, calling me his son, and congratulating me on my entrance into the service of the best of masters. 'The best of masters' thought I, what am I to make of this ; 'who is to be my master here, and what sort of fellow-servants am I to have?' My uncle then gave orders that water should be brought in order that I might be washed,' serving me with his own hand; and this being done, he caused refreshment to be set before me by the young man spoken of above, for I afterwards found, this young man, although he had other busi

1 "Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us." Psalm xliv. 13.

2 "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter iii. 21.

ness in the house, loved my uncle, and had a delight in doing him service; and my uncle encouraged this regard of the young man towards him, often taking occasion to say to him, 'Well my son, when will your mind be brought to leave your present employments for a better service?' By which I was made to understand, that this youth was in the condition of one who is "halting between two opinions," but I shall have occasion to speak more largely of him hereafter. So we dined, after which, my uncle fell into a discourse which lasted till bed-time, for I was to have a little chamber within the parlour,1 near to another thus situated, which was occupied by the old gentleman himself, and it was on occasion of my uncle saying to me, 'You may rest there, Nicodemus, with little interruption from the noise of the family,' that brings me to the point where I needed satisfaction. My good sir,' I said, you speak of the noise of the family, and in truth, what I have seen of this household, as I passed through the offices, but ill accords with what you say of the master and lord of these lands; if the lord is such as you declare him to be, why does he not rule his people with more diligence, and make his law more effective in producing order?' And then I went on to say how disappointed I had been in finding things so

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"Thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues."-Psalm xxxi. 20.

different in my lord's heritage from what I had been led to suppose from his letter.

'And what, my nephew,' replied the old gentleman, 'what did I lead you to believe, in the letter of invitation which I sent you? Did I promise you present enjoyment, or a deliverance from present trouble? I held out to you, indeed, the assurance that your future welfare should be secured for you, and that in the long run the privilege of this service should be past all count or calculation, for "faithful is he that has called you," but I promised no present exemption from pain. Reconsider the letter,' he added, if you have it with you, and if the master seems to have failed in aught that he hath already promised, then count me a liar and unfaithful, and one who has not rightly interpreted the message which he gave me to deliver; for I am only as an hinge or joint in this affair, and if the door turneth not well on the hinge, then is the hinge rusty, and good only to be cast away. Yet I trust I have not so done my lord's errand, as to have led you into an error, Nicodemus. I rather fear that the desires of your heart have deceived you, and that you have not yet been brought to consider all things of little importance in comparison with your well-being at a future period; but such are not the true servants of the lord, for they count the present things of little value, and desire only to be prepared

to meet him with joy when he shall return to his house.'

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Whilst my uncle thus spake to me, I turned to the letter in question, and conned every word of it, and wondered how I had been led to see the promise of present prosperity and advancement in any part thereof; and no doubt my altered looks betrayed my feelings on this second perusal, for as I closed the letter, and put it back into my breast, my uncle remarked, You see, nephew, that I have said nothing in that epistle respecting present enjoyment any further, than as proceeding from that peace of mind, which every man must experience when he feels that his future concerns are provided for, by one that is wiser than himself, and one in whom he may have perfect dependence. Such is my master; I have lived in his service these many years, and never have I seen one confounded, who has put his trust in him. But Sir,' I said, ' you only perplex me the more by what you say. Is not this fair estate, with this castle, and its parks, and fields, and all that

1 "Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Phil. iii. 8.

2 "Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire into his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavi. lion in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me: he shall set me up upon a rock." Psalm xxvii. 3-5.

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appertain thereunto, belonging to your master ; and if so, why can he not, and does he not, provide for the present, as well as the future comfort of his people; for I am told that he is not here, and has not been here this many a day, and that those whom he has left in charge, lord it over his possessions, and manage every thing their own way. Now pardon me, my esteemed uncle, but the truth is this, that I do not understand how it can be consistent with a good master to act thus towards his people; for thus much have I gathered on my way, that the steward who rules here under the master is more thought of than the master himself; and that every body thinks it right to pay court to the housekeeper, although she is not even a country-woman of my lord.'

'Neither have you heard one word more than the truth,' replied my uncle, as it respects the assumption of the intendant, and the honour paid to the housekeeper; for I can tell you much more than what you have heard, and yet with all this, you have not got the right end of the clue.' And then my uncle went on to state how the matter really lay. This estate,' said he,' from time immemorial, has been the property of the Lord ;— the letters of my Lord, which you have been called into this service to copy and disseminate among the people, speak in languge most beautiful of the early times in which our Lord ruled with undisturbed sway in these lands. This place was