have so good an opportunity of cultivating, and acquiring a taste for them, that I am sorry you have not disposed of your leisure time in that way. But there is nothing like experience; and I hope, when next you return home, you will give up this uninteresting pursuit of yours, doing nothing, if a pursuit that be: and make use of your time to improve your mind. Believe me, if you do, you will find that the hours you spend in exercise and amusement with your dogs or in your garden will afford you double the pleasure they have given on this occasion; and I am sure when you leave home now, you will not look back upon these idle wasted mornings with half the satisfaction you will feel in recalling to mind our quiet improving parable evenings.'

GEORGE. I am sure of that, dearest mother. I am very foolish; I am like the man that hid his talent.*

MRS. M. Then my child, be warned by his example, ere it be too late. Remember the awful sentence pronounced upon him; and pray that you may not be an unprofitable

servant, "cast out into outer darkness. " Now, in the days of youth and health and strength, endeavour to improve the means of grace, which it has pleased the Lord to bestow upon you, and to make the best use of the gifts he has freely given you. Let us earnestly, fervently, pray, that "when the Son of Man shall come in his glory and all his holy angels with Him, we may be amongst the sheep at his right hand and hear that joyful invitation, "Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

CONVERSATION XI.

THE HOUSEHOLDER.-Matt. xxi. 33-42.

MRS. MANsfield.

Well, George, I hope you are more awake this evening.'

GEORGE. 'Oh, mother, I am quite bright. I only spent three hours skaiting, and since I came in, I have been reading "Keith on unfulfilled prophecy," which papa recommended to me, and which is written in such a pleasing style, I like it very much. I sat an hour with papa in his study, and he told me a great many things I wanted to know; and indeed mamma when I come home next, I will try to stay more with him and less with the dogs.'

MRS. M. Truly, George, I think he is a far better and more profitable companion than even the beloved Dash.'

GEORGE.

ing at me, and MRS. M.

Ah, mamma, you are laughI deserve it.'

Your mentioning Keith's work reminds me that we have passed over two parables, which in their regular course should have come before those we have been considering, and which are very important ones. Now, Emily, which are they?'

EMILY. I must think, mamma. One is I believe, The Vineyard.''

GEORGE. C

Oh, we had that before.' EMILY. 'No, it was the labourers being called into the vineyard; but the one I mean, is about the householder that planted the vineyard.'

MRS. M. Read it Emily.'

EMILY reads. 6 "There was a certain householder which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the

husbandmen took his servants and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first and they did unto them likewise. But last of all, he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said, This is the heir, come, let us kill him; and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him."

MRS. M. We have this parable in St. Mark, and St. Luke also; in the 12th chapter of the former, and the 20th of the latter. Who, suppose you, is meant by the householder, Emily?'

EMILY. I understand it to be God: and I remember you told me the vineyard was the Jewish people; you made me read the fifth chapter of Isaiah, and then said that the vineyard there spoken of is the same as that of which our Lord speaks in this parable.'

MRS. M. Right Emily; and you will find that the church of God, which was then amidst