merchant had now an opportunity of exercising his charity in another quarter, and he was wont to say, that the greatest pleasure he knew was, three or four times in the course of the year, to go with his wife and spend a day or two with Mrs. Leslie and Rose, in the little cottage in which he had himself began life, rather as a poor man than the reverse. Edmund, at the age of fourteen, was taken into Mr. Selby's office, and by integrity and industry he merited the esteem and praise of his employer, and when a very young man became a partner in the same firm. Mrs. Leslie continued for some years to continue the management of her school, but when Marian was competent to undertake it it was resigned to her care; and when Edmund attained the post we have spoken of he wished his sisters to discontinue their teaching, he having put a handsome sum aside annually for his mother's use and their own, but the two sisters had acquired so honest an independency of spirit that though they accepted part of what he offered, to afford greater comforts to the now declining health of their mother, and enable them to have a something always at hand for those in need,

G

they never could be brought to accede to his request.

Of the generous merchant and his amiable and excellent wife we have no more to say, than that God ever visited them with prosperity and blessing, even in this life. They lived to a good old age, honoured and respected by all, and many were the prayers which were daily offered by those to whom they had nobly stretched forth the hand of assistance, and they died sincerely and deeply lamented by all who had known their worth.

666

666

Of the happiness of the charitable Christian in a better world what great room is there for hope, for what bright promises do the words of our Lord offer to the benevolent. Come, ye blessed of my Father,'" saith he, 'possess the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me meat, thirsty and ye gave me to drink, a stranger and ye took me in. clothed me, sick and ye visited

Naked and ye

me; I was in

prison and ye came unto me.' Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry and fed thee, or thirsty and gave thee drink? When did we see thee a

stranger and took thee in, or naked and clothed thee; or when did we see thee sick or in prison and came unto thee?'

And the King shall

Amen, I say to

answer and say unto them,

you, as long as you did it to one of these, my

least brethren, you did it to me."

34.

-Matt. xxv.