inhabitants of the schoolroom, that those who stayed at home were as excited about it as those who went, and a full and particular account was expected of all they had seen and all they had done. Caroline and Lionel both seemed to think Marian a perfect miracle of courage in voluntarily consenting to loose a tooth. "And I am sure," said Caroline as they sat at tea, "I cannot now understand what made you have it done." "To oblige a countryman," said Marian laughing. "Well, but what was your real reason?" persisted Caroline. "Mrs. Lyddell thought it best, and so did the dentist," said Marian. 66 "O," said Caroline, "he only said so because it was his trade." "Then how could Mrs. Lyddell depend on him?" said Marian, gravely. "Dentists never are to be depended on," said Caroline; "they only try to fill their own pockets like other people." "You forget," said Lionel," Devonshire men are not like other people." "0 yes, I beg their pardon," said Caroline, while everyone laughed except Gerald, who thought the praise only their due. "But why did you have it done," said Clara, returning to the charge; "I am sure I never would." "Yes, but Marian is not you," said Lionel. "You would have disobeyed no one," said Caroline. "I do not know," said Marian, thinking of one whom she would have disobeyed by showing weakness. "Then did you think it wrong not to have that tooth drawn?" said Caroline. "I do not know." "Did you think it right to have it done?" "I do not know, unless that I did not like it." "Do you mean to say that not liking a thing makes it right," exclaimed Clara. "Very often," said Marian. "Miss Morley, now is not that Popish ?" cried Clara. "Perhaps your cousin can explain herself," said Miss Morley. "Yes, do," said Caroline; "you must tell us what you mean.' "I don't know," was Marian's first answer; but while uttering the reply, the real reason arranged itself in words; and finding she must speak clearly, she said, "Self-denial is always best, and in a doubtful case, the most disagreeable is always the safest." Miss Morley said that Marian was right in many instances, but that this was not a universal rule, and so the conversation ended. THE TALISMAN.* 1. AWAY with gems and ornaments, and braidings of the hair, II. My pilgrimage on earth may be perchance through devious ways, I often wish the pathway was a choice one and a wide, III. I shield my precious treasure well from foolish scoffers' eyes; Yet it hath wondrous healing power, to warm, and soothe, and bless, IV. With supplicative, lowly plaints, each day at morn and even, C. A. M. W. SELF-DENIAL; OR, EASTER OFFERINGS. THE Rector of had taken his family for a long day to a neighbouring town, that they might obtain the various necessaries which their rural village did not afford; and as the journey was seldom undertaken, owing to the distance and expense, it may be believed the two little children who accompanied their parents, were not the less pleased, because the pleasure was so rare. The sight of shops, from the highest to the lowest description, always has a charm for children who seldom see them, and when they do, have but little to spend in them. So it was this day, the small bits of silver, and the still less sum in heavy copper, had been counted, and recounted, during the tedious drive, till the long dull town was entered, and the carriage stopped at the principal [The MS. of this beautiful poem has been in our possession some time. In Chambers' Edinburgh Journal, of September 7, we see it is printed.] linendraper's of the place. Everything is beautiful to a child. whom custom has not taught to distinguish degrees and comparisons, so that the town they were now visiting, was to them the London of their imagination, if not of England! You must be introduced to the age and general character of these children. The eldest was a tall, thoughtful girl of eight, the other a fine merry boy of six and a half; each shop he passed unsettled his easily pleased mind, and something new or before unthought of, was fixed upon as his present for the little ones at home (for he was by no means a selfish boy,) or as a remembrance to himself of his visit to It must not here be omitted, that these children had only brought with them money that was really their own, for they did not consider all they had given them as theirs; for they had been taught that everybody who receives gifts from the Great Giver of all good things, (as all His creatures do,) owe Him a portion of their wealth, even though they possessed no more than the poor widow who cast her two mites into the LORD's treasury, so it was with these dear children: out of the little they had, the abundance of the heart gave, for they spent but a small part on themselves, as all would testify who knew them, feeling it was "better to give than to receive." The poor in their village, and the heathen through their missionary boxes, all shared in the small riches they possessed; besides this, they had been told whenever they received a new blessing, or an unexpected mercy from the hand of their Heavenly FATHER, they ought not only to offer the thanks of a grateful heart, but also to deny themselves by giving an additional mite to their usual donations as "a free will offering to the LORD." Thus, if these little ones had any money left, they failed not unnoticed to offer it. But to return to the country town where we left them. Many things were bought by the Rector and his wife, both for the household and the poor, whose commissions they generally executed; the little boy had also found at last something to his taste; but when the eldest child was asked why she did not spend her money, and whether this and that pretty thing were not exactly what she had described as wanting, her cheeks became like the crimson rose, whilst her eye brightened as she replied, "No thank you, I wish to keep my money for something else." It was seen from her deep blush that she was anxious nothing more should be asked, all were therefore silent; but as they left the tempting shops the child who had never kept a thought from her mother, came gently to her side, and begging she would stoop to hear the secret she had to tell, whispered, "it is, dearest mamma, for papa I wish to keep my money; I have often heard him say lately that his gown was worn out, and how he should like to have a new set of Church robes, but felt sure he should never be able to afford to get them; now I want to save my money to buy them !" The mother smiled P approval at the thought, and felt pleased at her litttle girl's selfdenial, feeling at the same time the simplicity, and yet the hopelessness of the desire, for a child who did not at the most have more than ten shillings a-year, to think of ever obtaining sufficient to fufil her fond, kind wish. Some weeks had gone by, and no further conversation had taken place respecting the robes; the few pence having been carefully set aside for the good intention in the form of a four-penny piece and a sixpence, fully believing, in the course of time, enough would be gained to purchase the longed for gown and cassock. When one morning early in the year a letter arrived by the post to the Rector, stating that the money (which he had paid into a society from the birth of both his eldest children to be taken out at the end of a certain number of years, with interest,) was now due to the little girl, amounting to the almost fortune of forty pounds, and that the boy's equal sum would be claimable at the same time in the succeeding year. It was agreed by the Rector and his wife that the little girl should be told of their kind consideration in saving yearly from their small means, sufficient to obtain for their eldest children at all events, this little sum, to be put by for some future occasion. The dear child was sent for, and was told; but, unlike many of her age, she was not the least elated at her riches; but after kissing her parents and saying, "how very kind of you," she blushed as she had been seen by her mother to blush before, and throwing her arms round her father's neck, she said, "but may I have ten pounds of it now? Oh do let me;" her father was going to inquire what for? and did, but the secret was still remembered by the mother, and a smile of approval again passed over her cheek. The eager girl, encouraged by this look, again kissed her father, and said, almost out of breath, “let me, oh let me, dearest papa, have the ten pounds, and then I care not what you do with the rest!" The mother's voice replied, "you shall, my child." The Rector looked surprised, he did not understand the mystery or the thought that had been communicated from daughter to mother; again he asked what for? and with a shout of joy long to be remembered, the little girl replied, “to buy the new Church robes for you, dearest papa, which I have been saving my money to do, because you so much needed them, and wished for them." The Rector dropped the letter he held, his hands were folded over his face, and a sob was heard; yes, one sob only escaped, but a silent prayer of thankfulness ascended to that Great GOD Who had given the blessing of the thought, and the blessing of the child, and tears fell amidst the smiles from all present. It need hardly be added the wish was granted; but this must be told, when the eldest boy heard of the money that was so soon to be his, he begged his sister would allow him to share the gift, and he would willingly give back the money when he had it. This could not be refused, as the pleasure was greater to both when shared. According she wrote to Mr. French, of Bolton, in her own name and that of her brother, and ordered all that was required, desiring the things might be sent in time for Easter Sunday. And never was there a happier day at the Rectory, than the one on which the large box arrived, directed to the Miss and Master -: even the little ones and the baby helped to carry it into the Rector's study, and assisted in pulling out the nails, whilst the servants shared the joy. Happy was that Easter morn, and happy are the days still, when these very little children walked up to the house of the Great GOD, attended by His minister, suitably dressed to serve and wait in His courts with fear and reverence. But on Easter Sundays, rising when the day dawns, these young ones of CHRIST's flock fail not to go in all weathers, unnoticed and alone, to the village churchyard, there to wreath the spring's first offerings of flowers wild and rare, round the foot of a little monumental cross, which marks the spot where a baby brother sleeps, in sure and certain hope that he, like the bright emblems they have brought in remembrance of a future resurrection shall, (as his Blessed SAVIOUR,) arise from the wintry grave, to blossom in an eternal summer. May those who read this true story, rememember those words, "Go thou and do likewise." A SERPENT-CHARMER IN INDIA. TOWARDS the end of the year, 1847, I went from Madras to Ceylon to visit some friends, and also to enjoy the refreshing breezes in summer. The island was then most prosperous under the judicious management of Sir Colin Campbell. În him every one found a sincere friend, and every one was contented and happy. The drums sounded gaily every evening, even into the dwellings of the irritable Candians, but every one was satisfied, and gave himself up to happiness. It might certainly be said of Ceylon, that melancholy and sadness did not agree with its climate; in England there are days so dark and dismal, when the thick mist seems to envelope one in an atmosphere not more dark and gloomy than one's own thoughts, but in Ceylon this is unknown; everything here is bright, and gay; even winter does not present the usual dreary scene of leafless trees, frost and snow: Ceylon is indeed a most enchanting residence. At Colombo, the metropolis of the entire island, I met a friend who has since lost his life on the field of battle at Sabraon; never was there a more distinguished officer or braver man than the unfortunate Captain Arthur Wellington Campbell, of the 14th regiment, son of the governor. When I was at Colombo, Captain Campbell one morning, just as he was entering his bath, discovered an enormous serpent coiled |