the Incarnate God, through his death, his sufferings, and his perfect obedience. In this place Belinda awakened the feelings of Julia, and directed those of Lucy into their proper channels, and she herself enjoyed some sweetly melancholy seasons in the contemplation of the passing nature of all temporal things, and the unchangeableness of those which are eternal.

But on the day mentioned above, whilst the children were shedding their flowers from their little baskets on the grave, the sound of carriage wheels was heard on the other side of the thick yew trees which separated the church-yard from the high road. These presently ceased, and the next moment a gentleman in a travelling dress appeared at the wicket.

'Papa, Papa, it is Papa," screamed little Lucy, flying into the extended arms of that dear parent; and from that instant the happy family were united never again to endure those long and anxious separations, the pains of which none can conceive, who have not, in some degree, experienced them.

I am happy to add, that both these children, under the kind and judicious instruction which they received, grew up in habits of implicit obedience to their parents. They were thus led on, by the blessing from above descending upon the habits of obedience inculcated by their earthly parents, to that submission to the divine will, as revealed in the holy scriptures, whereby the children of wrath are fitted to become members of the kingdom of heaven.

Let my young readers, whilst in childhood or youth, learn, that self-will and obstinacy are entirely opposed to their own happiness-that submission to parents is a duty enjoined by God-and that the path of obedience is the path of peace and happiness.

THE

USEFUL LITTLE GIRL, AND THE LITTLE GIRL WHO WAS OF NO USE AT ALL.

PREFACE.

THERE is a very sad habit which many children have, and even children who talk about God, and think themselves very good, of being very troublesome to their parents and to servants; and instead of doing what they can to be useful, they make as much work for other people as they possibly can. Now I tell you plainly, my young reader, that nothing that you can do will ever be worth any reward from God, and that if you enjoy the kingdom of Christ, which I hope you will, it will not be on account of any good you ever did, or can do, but on account of what your blessed Saviour has done for you; "for by grace (which means free favour) are ye saved, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast," Eph. ii. 8, 9. Yet I must tell you, that you must never think that you are a child of God, or that the Lord the Spirit is in your heart, whilst you are always thinking of yourselves, and never put yourself out of the way to help or please any body, and whilst you give as much trouble as you can, and are always putting yourselves

forward in company. Now read what is said of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was one with God, and equal with God, John x. 30.; and pray that you may be made able to submit yourselves in all things to the pleasure of those who are older than The words which I wish you to study are you are. in Luke ii. 51, 52.; "And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them; and Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."

MRS. BURTON lived in a large town, and had three little children; the eldest of these was Susan, and she was just four years of age at the time when my story begins; then came Bell, a pretty little girl about two years and a half old, and the baby was Charles, he might be six months or a little more.

There was an old nurse who took care of these little ones, and sate all day in the nursery, excepting when she took the baby out to enjoy the air; and there was a young maid servant also, who waited upon her, and carried little Bell when they went out, and I can assure you, that nurse and Betty had quite enough to do, for Susan, who was, as I said, four years of age, gave them more trouble by far than the other two put together.

There was not a thing which could be laid down, that she did not take up and put out of its place; and if she were told not to touch any thing, she was then sure to watch the very first moment to get hold of it;-when the nurse was dressing her brother she

would run away with his cap, or his shoes, and whenever she saw him asleep, she chose that time to make most noise.

Bell was a very quiet, gentle little baby, and every body loved her, but Susan was always contriving something to make her cry, so that there never was any peace in the nursery excepting when Susan was in the parlour with her mamma.

Now it happened one day in spring, just at that time of the year in which the mornings are often fine and sunny, and the evenings very cold, that Mrs. Burton's sister came from the country to see her. Susan was sent for into the parlour, to see her aunt, and found that the table was spread with cold meat for luncheon, for her aunt was going back into the country in about an hour. When Susan saw the meat upon the table, she immediately asked her mamma for some of it, and her mamma cut her a slice, and put it on a plate with a bit of bread, which kept her quiet for a while; and, I dare say, that Mrs. Burton was not sorry for any thing that would keep her in her place, for she was always ashamed of her rudeness before her sister, though she did not take the right way to keep her in proper order. So Susan being very busy with her cold meat, was quiet, and could hear what her aunt was saying to her

mamma.

"I went this morning into a print shop," said Mrs. Burton's sister, "and I met with two very beautiful pictures both alike. I have bought them both, and one is to be hung up in your nursery, sister, and the other in mine. They are gone to be put into frames, and, I dare say, that yours will be sent home to-morrow. They represent a shepherd with his crook in his hand, and a crown on his head; and on one side of him is a flock of milk-white sheep and lambs, and on the other a flock of goats." Then

turning to her niece, she said, "My dear Susan, this Shepherd represents the Lord Jesus Christ at the day of judgment, and the milk-white sheep on his right hand are the redeemed ones who have been made white in his blood, and the goats on his left represent those who do not belong to him. Those are the naughty people; but I hope, my dear Susan, that you will be made like one of the milk-white lambs who stand at the right hand of the Shepherd, and that you will be taken to feed in the pleasant fields which the good Shepherd has prepared for those who love him."

Mrs. Burton then said, "I hope so too, sister. Indeed I do trust that Susan is one of God's children."

"We can only tell whether a little girl is a child of God by its behaviour, you know, sister," replied the other lady, "for even a child is known by its ways; and if Susan really loves God, she will try to be kind, and gentle, and useful to nurse, and to her little brother and sister." Just as her aunt had spoken these words, Susan had put the last bit of meat into her mouth, and before she had swallowed it, she cried out" Useful, aunt! How do you mean? How can I be useful with these little hands? Mamma says I am a baby, and that I cannot be useful."

"You cannot do much, Susan," replied her aunt; "none of us can do much, and especially such a little thing as you are: but you can help being troublesome-and you can fetch and carry what is wantingand you can rock your brother's cradle-and you can lead Bell about-and at least shew that you love the good Shepherd by trying to please him, and being kind to those whom he has made."

Susan got very red whilst her aunt was speaking, and if some company had not entered at that moment, I think that she would have burst out into a loud cry,