of the kindest of all parents, Mr. Acehambur. Having conferred with Alison, Mr. Acehambur called him in, and gave him to understand all that passed between him and Alison.

The day of their marriage was now fixed. All being done to his satisfaction, Mr. Maclandreth was scarcely himself. He walked lordly about the room, uttering big words, saying that he was highly and most exceedingly pleased with the manner in which all things had been so duly and wisely arranged, &c., &c., &c.

CHAPTER VII.

"God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;

He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,

He treasures up his bright designs,

And works his sovereign will."

COWPER.

THE STORY OF AGNES JACOB.

Taken from a Sketch of her Life, drawn up by her Intended, the Rev. Isaac Bransby, a short time before his Execution.

"AGNES JACOB was born in Poland. Her father was a wealthy Jew: Her mother, however, though a professed Israelite, was at heart a Christian, having been brought up in a Christian family in Switzerland. The father took great pains to instruct his only child in the principles of the Jewish religion.

"His hatred to the Christian religion and his spite against the Nazarene knew no bounds. He delighted in teaching the infant lips of his

father's influence She was at first

child to curse him. The mother was far otherwise inclined, and secretly did all she could towards counteracting the over the mind of her child. very timid and apprehensive, lest the child should unconsciously betray her real sentiments. But as her mind began to expand itself, the mother's anxiety increased lest a wrong bias given to her thoughts at that tender age should fix her father's principles too firmly in her heart. In this dilemma, she fixed upon a plan, which she knew the father would highly approve, and which would, at the same time, eventually secure the end she had in view. Her scheme proposed thoroughly to ground the child in all the prophecies respecting the Great Deliverer who was to rescue the seed of Jacob from their present degraded condition. The father was highly gratified at what he considered her devotedness to his principles, and her desire to instil them into the mind of her child, while she, on the other hand, was equally pleased with the hope of turning the whole to a very different purpose. While endeavouring to cultivate the tender mind com

mitted to her care, she found that her own soul was becoming more and more attached to the religion of Jesus Christ. instruction imparted to the own support and comfort.

She felt that the child became her So true did she

find the promise, "He that watereth others, shall be watered himself," that her soul daily rejoiced in God her Saviour. At length Agnes became her mother's confidant. The spirit of her dear mother found its way with the instructions conveyed into her heart. At this juncture a circumstance occurred which greatly relieved their anxieties. The father was called from home, and his absence, in consequence of various and unexpected changes in his projects, was prolonged, and he did not return for nearly eighteen months. During this interval Agnes and her mother carefully read the four Gospels, and both determined, in the strength of God, to break their minds to Agnes's father, and come what would, to make a public profession of their faith in Jesus Christ. Upon a maturer consideration, however, knowing the pain that the disclosure would give him, they came to the determination of concealing all from him.

for the space of one month, and then to tell him the result of their inquiries, and the conclusion to which their impartial examination of the Prophecies had led them. On his return home, the father felt very unwell, in consequence of his having had a damp bed during his absence. Mrs. Jacob, however, did all she could to cheer and comfort him, and little Agnes was unremitting in her attention. Nor were they, both parent and child, less constant and earnest in their secret prayers on his behalf. In addition to his bodily weakness he had an unusual gloom, accompanied with great irritability of temper. This uneasiness was too settled, and accompanied with feelings of too melancholy a character, to be wholly accounted for by reason of his declining health.

"It was now evident to all that knew him that he was in a rapid decline, and would not long survive. One day, while labouring under his great exhaustion of spirit, he said to his daughter:

"Agnes, my love, would you like to go to school? I have been thinking of a school, which is kept by a very dear friend of mine,