Dame Dunton knew the buoyancy of Charles Murphy's spirits; but she was not aware that he was only endeavouring to play off his wit; and therefore she continued, seriously:-"I am afraid, young gentleman, your kind master has a good deal of trouble with you about your learning, and I fear you hardly deserve the treat provided for you. If I were sure that you did not like to learn your lessons, I can tell you that you should taste no more of my fruit at this visit, nor till I found out that you had become fond of learning. It is a sad thing when young gentlemen set their faces against learning whatever is thought necessary for them. Reading may do very well for me, and bring me much comfort; but it is not sufficient for young gentlemen. They should learn everything they can, or they will be despised when they go out into society. Above all, they should learn how to behave themselves in company, and not be quite so rude as you have been."

Charles was at all times willing to atone for his faults; but I never saw him more humble than on this occasion. As he sat down quietly, he begged her pardon, and assured her, that he only meant a little pleasantry. He spoke the truth; for no boy in the school gave our master less trouble with his lessons than Charles Murphy. His figurative language, however, breathed the sentiments of some few in the school; and our master, in order to shame them, desired that all who really loved learning, should hold up their hands. Among those who obeyed this command was Charles Murphy, whose hands were conspicuous for their erect position; and Dame

Dunton having expressed her pleasure at observing this, proceeded to ask those who, from shame, could not lift up theirs, why it was they did not love learning? Silence was observed a long time, when Samuel Rutherford, who was the greatest dunce Mr. White ever had to deal with, remarked, that he did not think it was worth much, for that he heard his father say, almost every day, when he was at home, that,

"If ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise."

On hearing this, Mr. White seemed to awaken as from a trance. "Now, Rutherford," said he, "I have discovered the secret cause of your idleness. I have no doubt that this oft-repeated, unwise line of the poet has had a great effect in making you a dunce. Coming from a parent's lips, it has had an effect upon your mind which baffles all my skill and care to counteract. It suits your disposition better to heed it than the complaints which your father is ever making to me, that he fears you will prove a dunce, and that, after all the pains I have taken, and the expenses he has incurred, he has a foreboding you will be fit for nothing, and that you will never enjoy life. That sentiment of the poet in the lips of your parent has done you irreparable mischief."

Taking no notice of our master's philosophy, Dame Dunton still pressed the others, who forebore to hold up their hands, to tell her why they did not love learning; but receiving no reply, she continued: "I am glad you are silent for that shows you are either ashamed of your

idleness, or, that you have nothing to say in your I recollect a passage in Proverbs,

own defence.

which says:

'Buy the truth, and sell it not;

Also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.'

"And then the wise man adds:

'The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice:

And he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
Thy father and thy mother shall be glad.'-Prov. xxiii. 23-25.

"Youth is the season for improvement, and if that season is passed over without it, although you may then be inclined to redeem the time lost, you may not have the opportunity. Do not, then, throw away these golden hours, but strain every nerve to improve them to advantage. Hoping that you will do so, as I have nothing to do with punishing you, I invite you all to the treat I shall give your companions before you return home."

The

The treat which Dame Dunton reserved for us on our departure was one of the richest nature. Fruit is at all times sweet to the taste of children, but its sweetness is greatly increased if they are allowed to pluck it with their own hands. good dame seems to have known this, for, leading us into her garden, she would say:-"Now, young gentlemen, let me see how clean you can strip this tree of apples. You have been good boys, and you are welcome to them all, if you can get them."

As Charles Murphy used to observe, there was no if in the case. No sooner had we received permission, than some would climb up the tree,

while others would direct their operations upon the outer branches by missiles of every description, including their hats and caps. In a few minutes the work was completed: not an apple was to be seen, and but few leaves remained to tell the

beholder that it was yet summer. As we looked up at it, and patted our pockets, and held forth our well-replenished handkerchiefs to view, we would ask our kind hostess whether we had not done our work well. "You have, young gentlemen," she would reply; "and when you come again, we will see if you can be still as clever and as industrious."

We went one, two, three, four summers to the cottage of Dame Dunton, but the fifth our master led us to her grave. As we stood over it, we thought of her kindness, and some few of us wept, while Mr. White spoke to us on the frail nature of all earthly joys, and concluded thus:"The good and pious Christian, whose bones lie mouldering under this turf, has ministered to your pleasures; but she is gone to a better world, and you will no more experience her kindness. It is one of the many streams of joy which you will find cut off as you pass through life. Seek, then, to partake of those joys which are at God's right hand, and which will last for evermore. Those only can impart to you lasting happiness."

We gathered each a bunch of daisies and buttercups, and having strewed them on the lowly grave of Dame Dunton, returned home, sorrowing that we should no more partake of her kindness or see her face in this world. I have no doubt, however, if we all prove as sincere in our professions of

Christianity as she was; if we all look for an eternal inheritance through the atonement of Christ, with the same implicit faith as she did, that we shall meet again on the shores of the heavenly Canaan, and pass a happy eternity together. With her we shall reach forth our hands, and take and eat of the fruit of paradise, and live for ever.

M