other, "how tastefully you have arranged them. And what a quantity! Our parlour seems half transformed into a garden." "Well, we want something bright and pretty to contrast with your heavy, business-like set out there," said Minnie, glancing at the long table which was covered with working implements of various sorts and sizes, and children's garments of all kinds, some half made, and some as yet untouched; besides a large pile of calico and lilac-coloured print. "Don't you dread the long evening, Edith ? "

"No," said Edith, "why should I?"

"Why? Just think of working for at least four or five hours!" said Minnie, "It's terrible. I have only tried it once, but I was so tired—stitch, stitch, stitch—that I hardly knew what to do with myself. I have felt much more sympathy with the poor needlewomen since then than I ever did before. If it had not been for the tea I don't think I could have got through, but that revived me a little."

Edith smiled.

"Could'nt you beguile the time with conversation ? I can always work so much better when I am talking pleasantly."

"No," said Minnie, "that was the worst of it. I couldn't chatter to anybody, for I was almost a stranger there. Mary Elton, at whose house the meeting was held, was the manager and cutter out, so she was pretty well occupied; Caroline Hinton was not there; and Fanny Clements, an old friend of mine, who persuaded me to join, was taken ill that very_afternoon, so she couldn't be present. I tried to talk to Miss Jones, the young lady next to me, but she was either shy or stiff, and only answered with 'yes,' 'no,' 'very much,' 'I don't know,' 'I suppose so;' so I gave up in despair."

"But you had some reading?" inquired Edith, amused by the recital.

Reading! Yes, dear Edith; such dry stuff as I hope I shall never hear again. It was some sermon-like book about missions, and read as monotonously as Dr. Edwards used to read his sermons. I couldn't listen to it; indeed, I believe if I had I should soon have dropped asleep; so I abstracted my thoughts, and began to build some of my favourite castles in the air; and then I got on much better; at least I thought so, until I was aroused from my pleasant dreams by the closing of the dull book, and then I found that I had got on very badly, for I had made the little frock skirt with two breadths out of the three upside down! Wasn't it provoking?"

Minnie's merry look and tone, as she thus appealed for sympathy, proved that this unfortunate mistake had not left a very sad or deep impression on her mind. Edith was about to ex

press her hope that the present meeting would prove more interesting than the last, when Claude came in for his gloves, which he had left on the cheffonier.

"Dear me!" he exclaimed. "What are all these preparations for? Going to have a bazaar, Minnie?"

"No," said Minnie; "it's only for the missionary working meeting ; did you not hear it mentioned at breakfast this morning?

"I think I did hear something about it, but I was reading my letters, and did not pay any attention. Who are coming? "About twenty young ladies."

"Twenty young ladies! What a babel it will be; I am very thankful I am going out. You ought to make it a rule that not more than six shall speak at once.'

"I am sure," said Minnie, indignantly, "that it will be much quieter than it would be if there were twenty young gentlemen coming. Only recollect what an uproar there used to be in the house when Harry and Philip and Edward came to spend the day here."

My dear Minnie, what an excellent memory you have. But I cannot imagine what induced you to belong to a working meeting. Wonders will never cease. If it had been a reading meeting, or a drawing meeting, or a singing meeting, or a talking meeting"-Minnie here threw a handful of her flowers over Claude-"I should not have been surprised, but there seems no more connexion between you and needlework-"

"Than between you and politeness, just now," interposed Minnie, good humouredly. "I assure you I can work very nicely.'

"Granted; I only marvelled that you should voluntarily choose to exercise that ability. Why, Edith," he continued, "you may form some opinion of Minnie's devotion to needlework--if you have not already done so-when I tell you that not long ago I hid her thimble for three weeks, and she never missed it."

Edith and Minnie both laughed; and then Claude hastened off, for fear, he said, that he should meet any of the "twenty young ladies," if he staid longer. Before he went, however, he put half-a-crown into the collecting-box, which stood in a conspicuous place on the table; so his actions, as Minnie observed, were better than his words.

Minnie finished her flowers, and Edith her preparations, and then they sat down to rest for a few minutes before the arrival of their guests. It was only for a few minutes, for soon a knock at the door announced one of the "twenty"; and after that the knocks were repeated in rapid succession, until the large parlour

was comfortably filled. All the regular members were present, with the exception of Fanny Clements, who was ill, and Ellen Smith, who was in the country; but the number was complete without them, for Louisa and Helen Franklyn came to lend their aid Miss Franklyn could not leave her mother, as she was not so well as usual.

It was a cheerful and pleasant party which was gathered together that afternoon; and the object was a good one, whatever might be the motives which assembled it. Love of society probably influenced some; the force of example, or natural kindness of disposition, others; and one or two of them, perhaps, came because it was an easy way of linking themselves with religion; but it is not our province, nor desire, to sit in judgment upon our fellow-creatures. Those who are the most indulgent to themselves, are frequently the most severe towards others; while a spirit of self-scrutiny, and self-condemnation, tends to cherish that spirit of charity which "thinketh no evil," and "hopeth all things." But, dear reader, we may, and we ought to examine our own hearts upon these points. We are too prone to augur favourably respecting ourselves, from the interest which we feel and the pains which we take in the promotion of such undertakings as that which had convened the little group of busy workers in Mrs. Sutherland's parlour. But warmth of emotion, and zeal of action in the cause of missions, although they form pleasing features in any character; yet, unless they spring from a right source, they are not acceptable in God's sight, nor indicative of true and heart-felt Christianity. It is too possible to be engaged in sending the Gospel to others, while we have never really received it ourselves. Let conscience speak out, and tell us what is our true position. Oh, that the constraining love of Christ may lead us to consecrate ourselves heartily and cheerfully to God's service; and, whatsoever we do, to do it all to his glory.

Louisa Franklyn seemed likely to prove a great acquisition to the society, for she was very clever at needlework. She could cut out almost any pattern that was wanted, and that in the most economical, as well as most tasteful manner; and she was familiar with the latest fashions for needle cases, cushions, mats, pen wipers, and other such ornamental articles. Nothing came amiss to her; she could do plain sewing, and a celebrated lady writer says that "it takes a contented mind to go cheerfully down a long seam". '—or she could work a fine point lace collar; and I am sure it requires a considerable amount of patience to execute those tiny and elaborate stitches.

The different portions of work were distributed amongst the fair sempstresses, the roll of lilac print having been consigned to

Louisa's care, and then Edith was asked to undertake the office of reader. She readily assented, for she was fond of reading aloud-not a very common predilection with young ladies-and took up a book that was lying before her. “Oh dear,” sighed Minnie to herself, "there's that dreary book again! I suppose it is continued every month; well, it will be got through at last, that's one comfort."

She was agreeably disappointed when her cousin began to read, for intead of the dry, sermon-like volume, it was a pleasing and attractively-written memoir of a missionary's wife. Deeply interested was Minnie as she listened to the simple details of her history, and so were many of her companions; and in one heart at least, was then implanted an earnest desire to follow in the steps of that meek and devoted servant of Christ; a desire which was realized in subsequent years, when the ardent, spirited Clara Etherington left her native country to share the labours, and brave the perils of a missionary life. Often in that distant land to which God in his providence had called her, would she recur with tender and grateful emotions to the memorable afternoon when she formed one of that happy little working party. "Who hath despised the day of small things?"

When Edith ceased reading, Minnie, who with Helen Franklyn, was seated a little apart from the rest, turned to her, and said in the warmth of the moment, "Oh, how I should like to be a missionary!"

"So should I," answered Helen; "Oh, I shouldn't mind what difficulties I had to encounter if I might but go abroad to teach the heathen; it is one of the noblest of employments."

Minnie was surprised both at Helen's enthusiasm, and at the manifestation of it. Timid and reserved, and even cold in her manner, few were aware of her real earnestness and depth of feeling. It was only occasionally that she responded as freely as she now did, to the observation of another; but the missionary theme was one very dear to her. Her pale cheek flushed, and her soft blue eye brightened as she spoke; and Minnie congratulated herself upon having found out some point of interest between them, for she had begun to fear that she should never make a friend of Helen.

"Have you read the life of Henry Martyn?" asked Helen. "No," replied Minnie, "was he a missionary ?"

Helen was astonished at the question; she thought everybody had heard of Henry Martyn. But she was ready enough to enlighten Minnie's ignorance, and she drew such a lovely picture of his character, and described his trials in such touching language, that Minnie's admiration and sympathy were won for him in a moment.

Just as Helen finished her brief sketch, Caroline Hinton passed them on her way to the other side of the room, and catching a few words, said in a languid tone, "Henry Martyn, oh, yes, he was a most excellent man, but he is rather out of date now, he lived many years ago."

Caroline was no lover of antiquity; her heroes were always

the newest ones she could find.

"Lived many years ago!" repeated Helen quickly, for she was rather offended with this slighting remark, "well, and so did St. John." St. John was Helen's favorite Scripture character, and Henry Martyn she considered-whether correctly or otherwise, my readers must decide for themselves-bore a great affinity to St. John; so I suppose that was why she named them in conjunction.

Minnie was amused with the retort, but she had not time to pursue the subject, for the announcement that tea was ready in the drawing room, caused a general move amongst the young ladies.

Mrs. Sutherland presided at the tea table, and her cordial manner, and cheerful words, soon made her visitors feel quite at home with her, and with each other. All constraint wore off, even Helen caught the infection and was unusually sociable; while some of the younger ones were perhaps a little more mirthful than the occasion required, but "high spirits easily boil over," and Mrs. Sutherland was delighted to see them enjoy themselves; and she was also gratified with the practical commendation which was given to her richly and liberally supplied table. She was one of those old fashioned hostesses who cannot believe that their guests are comfortable unless they eat heartily.

When tea was over Minnie and Helen slipped away into the garden, for Minnie wanted to show Helen a small bed of tulips which she herself had reared and tended, and also to talk to her a little more about Henry Martyn, and a missionary life.

"How much pleasanter it is here," said Minnie, as they walked slowly up and down the gravelled path, "than sitting close at work in doors.

Helen was obliged to admit that it was, but said she was afraid that its results would not be so beneficial to the society. "Oh yes, it will," said Minnie, "we shall go in again so fresh with the change, that we shall be able to do twice the amount of work we otherwise should."

Helen smiled; and was easily persuaded to wait in the summerhouse, while Minnie ran to fetch a new volume of Ernest Heathwood's poems, which contained a very beautiful one, in her estimation, entitled, "The Missionary's Departure." She was