There were now many tokens of regret, that our little meeting was at an end; but being urged by my friends to think of them often, and to become the steady spiritual superintendent of their families, I was glad to have the prospect of continued usefulness amongst them, and the permission to watch over the young disciples with constant attention. This prospect seemed also cheering to them, and we parted, commending ourselves in all our various interests to the Great Shepherd of the sheep.

Not one left me without taking my hand, and the affectionate pressure which they gave, spake many things; the expresssion was different according to the different characters, and I thought I could discern some tokens which were indicative of the purposes of the heart, that they would honor their father and their mother, that their days might be long in the earth; and that all the promises might be sought, that they should do that which is well pleasing unto the Lord, and right, and that it might go well with them.

A CHARACTER.

AMELIA was born of highly respectable parents. Her father, a magistrate, was quite a man of the world; but very kind and indulgent to his dear, his only daughter. He would have rejoiced to have seen his darling Amelia at the head of fashionable parties, in which her personal beauty and accomplishments would have qualified her to shine, and sometimes he rallied her on her retired habits; yet he could not but rejoice that she was different from the frivolous votaries of fashion and folly. It was Amelia that nursed him when confined with illness; it was her cheerful smile that chased away his rising irritability; it was she that devised for him numerous little comforts, and anticipated all his wants. There was no one, as he would often say, could wait upon him like his affectionate Amelia. These tender assiduities won a father's heart, and made him love the fruits of Amelia's religion, though he did not trace them to their roots, the pious principles of his daughter.

Amelia, like Timothy of old, was blessed with a pious mother, who, being almost constantly an invalid, had devoted herself to the instruction of her daughter. The loss of an only son, at the age of nineteen, had deeply afflicted the whole family; but, through the divine blessing, this

event had been sanctified to fix the religious impressions of childhood deep on the heart of Amelia. She sought refuge at the cross of Christ, and found pardon and peace in his atoning sacrifice.

Now, it was Amelia's desire and delight, in every way that became her sex and her station, to recommend that gospel from which she derived all her happiness and her hope. The circulation of Religious Tracts was a means just adapted to the unobtrusive character of Amelia. She visited her father's tenants; placed the broad-sheet Tracts on the walls of their farm houses, and encouraged their little children to expect the welcome present of a pretty picturebook, as a reward, for the chapters and hymns that they repeated.

Many were the pleasing instances which encouraged the hopes of Amelia; though, of course, mingled with such disappointments as all those who labor for the spiritual good of others may reasonably expect. One circumstance, at the beginning of Amelia's course, afforded her great satisfaction. A former servant of the family, who had nursed Amelia when an infant, had a daughter about fourteen years old, who fell a victim to consumption. To this child Amelia paid daily attention; she read the scriptures and various tracts to her, and had the happiness to find that her efforts were blessed of God. Amelia attended this young girl during her lingering illness, beheld her wasting frame, watched her

glazed eyes, and at length closed them in her dying moments. The end of this pious child was peace, and one of her last prayers was,

May Jesus bless you, ma'am ;-may we meet in heaven." To this Amelia responded, "Amen :" and the recollection of the prayer communicated to her mind such delight as none but the Christian can experience.

Who, that has any virtuous feelings, not to say, scriptural views, can compare the character of Amelia with the giddy votaries of pleasure, without seeing the vast disparity? Surely, as St. Paul told the youthful Timothy, "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." (1 Tim. iv. 8.)

My youthful reader! What does conscience say, as to your own character? Are you godly? Are you a sincere believer in Christ? Are you living to his glory? Are you an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ Jesus? I say, Is such your present, your decided CHARACTER?

PRAYER. Zech. xii. 10.

PRAYER is the soul's sincere desire
Utter'd or unexpress'd;

The motion of a hidden fire,

That trembles in the breast.

Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,

The upward glancing of an eye,
When none but God is near.

Prayer is the simplest form of speech,

That infant lips can try :

Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach The Majesty on high.