does define the nature of true religion with great accuracy, and teaches us how to become religious.'

Mr. Lester."I think her opinions very erroneous, and very pernicious in their tendency."

Mrs. Lester." Particularly so, my dear Charlotte, and I hope you will be persuaded to throw them aside. Why should you, at your early age, have your mind engaged by such a gloomy subject? Why not enjoy the world ?”

Miss Lester." I have, as you well know, tried the world. I have visited its theatres-its concerts -and its watering places. I have associated with its most impassioned admirers. I have sacrificed at every shrine of vanity which it has constructed for its devotees. I have dwelt amidst its real and imaginary scenes of felicity; but it has always disappointed me. I have pursued its rising phantoms of bliss, but they have vanished away, when I have been about to grasp them. I was anxiously enquiring where happiness could be found, when I heard my father say, that Miss More's Practical Piety' points us to the source of true felicity. The remark fell like an angel's voice on my ear. My curiosity was awakened. I read the book, and the result has been a confirmation of the correctness of his remark. You say, that religion is a gloomy subject; but not when we discern its nature and its practical design. It then becomes clear as the light, and refreshing in its influence, as the dew drops of evening on the exhausted plants of nature -the source of spiritual animation and strength, and is the well spring of mental felicity."

Mrs. Lester." Why your conversation alarms me. You talk wildly. I cannot understand you. How affecting, Mr. Lester, that she should have heard your foolish remark! What is to be done ?"

Mr. Lester." You know, my dear Charlotte, that I have never denied you any thing which I have thought would be for your comfort." Miss Lester." Never, my father."

Mr. Lester." The same disposition now compels me to say, that I shall not permit you to read that book any more; nor yet any other of a similar character."

Miss Lester." Not permit me to read an author, who like Goldsmith's village preacher,

"Allures to brighter worlds, and leads the way.” Would this be kind? would it be reasonable? would it be just? would it be conducive to my happiness?"

Mr. Lester." The purity of my motive will justify the apparent severity of the prohibition. If I see you taking a wrong course, it is my duty to restrain you, though by so doing, I may encroach a little on your freedom."

Miss Lester."It is not my wish to offer any improper resistance to parental authority; but I certainly think, that on religious questions, I must be convinced that I am imbibing unscriptural sentiments, before I can be expected to submit to the dictation or control of any human being."

Mr. Lester." And is disobedience to parental authority to be the first fruits of your Evangelical sentiments? if so, will not my objection against them, on account of their pernicious tendency, be confirmed ?"

Miss Lester. The rights of parents, like those of children, being limited, ought not to go beyond the prescribed bounds; and if injunctions should be issued which are not sanctioned by our supreme Legislator, I conceive, that disobedience is no

crime. Permit me to ask you one question. Ought I to be compelled to embrace Evangelical senti. ments if I think them directly opposed to the tenor of the Scriptures ?"

Mr. Lester." Compelled to embrace them! Certainly not."

Miss Lester.- -"But suppose I should be convinced, by the most conclusive evidence, that they are in perfect accordance with the Scriptures, ought I to be compelled to renounce them?"

Mr. Lester." But they are not in accordance with the Scriptures !"

Miss Lester.

But suppose I should be convinced that they are in accordance with the Scriptures; ought I, in that case, to be compelled to renounce them?"

Mr. Lester." You ought to hold no religious opinions which your parents disapprove of."

Miss Lester." But suppose, in my enquiries after truth, I should be led to adopt an opinion which you deem heretical, how am I to renounce it? can I renounce an opinion with as much ease as I can abstain from doing an action which you wish me to avoid?"

Mr. Lester. But if you imbibe religious opinions which we disapprove of, you may be led to the adoption of habits, and manners which will offend us; and thus one evil will generate many others."

Miss Lester."I presume you do not suppose that I shall adopt any anti-virtuous habits or manners."

Mr. Lester."Oh! no, we do not suppose that you are in any danger of doing that; you will, unless checked, run to the opposite extreme. You will become, not too virtuous, but too religious in

your habits and manners. You will become an enthusista fanatic-a Calvinist. You will run into all the wild vagaries and absurdities of the Modern Saints, who make themselves appear as ridiculous in the estimation of the wise, as they are contemptible in the estimation of the respectable."

Mrs. Lester, who had listened to this conversation with great impatience, and whose waspish disposition was provoked by the cool intrepidity with which Miss Lester met the specious, yet fallacious arguments of her father, said in the true naivete of her character, "I suppose Miss Charlotte, you already begin to think that it is very sinful to visit theatres, and masquerades, and concerts? Have you composed a tract against them? if so, perhaps you will let your father publish it, who will doubtless give you all the profits, in aid of the Evangelical fund."

This latter sarcasm wounded, but it did not irritate. It drew tears from her eye, but they were such as the Redeemer shed when weeping over the obduracy and impenitence of man. She meekly replied, "I assure you, my dear mother, that I have been too deeply absorbed since I read Miss More's Practical Piety,' by the paramount claims of another world, to bestow much attention on the recreative amusements or pleasures of this; but I think it is likely that I shall never again frequent such scenes of popular amusement."

Mrs. Lester. "When will your tract come out ?",

Mr. Lester."A truce to sarcasm."

Miss Lester rose, gave her hand to her father, and wished him a good night. She then offered it to her mother, (who refused it,) and wished her a good night; and very properly left the room.

Mrs. Lester." You are too mild with her."
Mr. Lester." And you too severe."

Mrs. Lester." I say the heresy must be nipped in the bud, or it will grow up a deadly night-shade; and frosts you know must be severe or they will never kill!"

Mr. Lester." Yes, but the errors of the human judgment generally take the deeper root by a severe opposition. We must reclaim her, but it must be done by persuasion, not by force. She has a high spirit, which may yield to kindness, but not to constraint."

Mrs. Lester." I was severe, I know; but was it not provoking to hear her reply to all your powerful arguments with so much shrewdness? Well, well, I will go and make an apology; perhaps that will pacify her."

Mr. Lester." If you make an apology you will neutralize the force of your influence. You had better let it pass, and take no notice. Yes, she did reply with great shrewdness. It won't do for us to encounter her with any other weapons than persuasion."

On entering her room she took up a little manual of devotion, which contained the following reflections on the subjoined passage of holy writ.

"And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred-fold, and shall inherit everlasting li. "

"Let me not mistake this declaration. It cannot be that the religion of truth and love should require me, in one sense of the word, to 'forsake' any human being; and far less those who, by birth or connection, are bound to me by the most inti

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