that he tries to cover his greasy and threadbare clothes with ?'

'That we call the Cloak of religion,' answered the guide. 'But come along, child; you must see another picture.'

'O what is that? what is that?' said Bithiah; let me stay and see that picture.' 'No, come along; you must not see that,' for it was the picture of despair.

'I must, indeed I must!' said Bithiah. But the deceiver could not detain her against her will, and she saw the same room all in a blaze, despair pictured on every feature,-women wringing their hands and tearing their hair, men standing with faces as pale as death; and as she turned round to look at her guide, she found her changed to the most frightful and hateful being she had ever beheld. In a moment she felt a sharp pain come across her forehead, and her eyes seemed pierced with a pointed instrument that made them with

pour

water, and two hands placed upon her shoulders forced her upon her knees. Her hands became clasped, the cool breeze fanned her temples, and on her knees she remained, she thought, for hours. Suddenly, however, she was aroused from this fearful position by a well-known voice, saying, 'Bithiah, dear Bithiah!' and the warm light of a lantern cheered her, and the sound of a well-known staff was like music in her ears. But yet she saw neither the staff, nor the lantern, nor the bearer of them; yet she at once knew the voice of Clauda, and without rising from her knees she begged her friend to come to her and kiss her, and tell her where she was.

But Bithiah trembled, and feared the deceiver was with her still.

Tremble not, daughter of the Lord,' said a sweet angelic being. I am not the deceiver, but I am a daughter of the King: my name is Special Mercy, and I am sent for your protection. You were nearly lost for ever; the evil one had nearly transfixed you with her potent spell; "The desire of the eyes" had all but turned your brain, but in the last moment I was sent to take away your sight. Henceforth you will see no more, but I will be your guide; you must "walk by faith, and not by sight." Your staff I have kept for you, and you will still find it useful; the lantern you have not lost, its light you may not see, but the warmth of it shall sustain you all your journey through.'

(To be continued.)

Dick did as he was told, and said, 'Never did I see anything like it! It has wings all green and gold; and its body is covered with very fine hairs; and its eyes are like gems! Where did you get it?'

Dick put down the glass, and his face grew red; for there lay one of the poor insects he had hurt!

His teacher said, 'Now, Dick, all that God has made has been made for some good end. If all the wise men in the world were to try, with all the skill they have, they could not make anything like this

I

MY OWN WAY.

PART I.

PROMISED to write often, and tell you all my adventures, dear Jane, but I have since thought that the better way would be to keep a sort of irregular journal, just to amuse you, and let you know the kind of life we lead here.

Louis and I arrived yesterday evening, after a prosperous journey; and you cannot think how fresh and beautiful everything looked, as we drove to Uncle James' cottage. Aunt Mary and little Cousin Ellen met us at the door, and after tea, when we had rested for a while, they showed us the garden, but I was much too tired to see anything more that night.

Several days have passed since I wrote last, which, although very pleasantly occupied, have yet given me no events to relate: we go every evening to see the cows milked and the fowls fed, and we walk about the farm and amuse ourselves as best we can all day. Louis has learned to catch fish in a river which runs at some distance from the house, and my great pleasure is to accompany Ellen and my uncle through the pretty flowery fields and lanes to meet him coming back. I regret to say we shall miss this enjoyment to-morrow, for uncle must be away on business, and aunt is going to see a sick friend: Louis intends fishing as usual, and now I think of it, there is nothing to prevent my going to meet him, for Ellen will be at home, and can come with me.

Oh, Jane, such a terrible thing has happened! I could not write last night, I was so miserable, and the worst of it is that it was all my fault, and was caused by liking to have my own way, without regard to circumstances or the wishes of others, which mother says is my great fault. But,

I must tell you how it all occurred. You may remember I had planned a field-walk on the day when my uncle and aunt were away. Well, on the morning of their departure, Aunt Mary said, 'Bessie, I leave Ellen in your charge; as you are so much older, I can depend on your steadiness.'

'Never fear, aunt,' I replied, we shall get on very well.'

After they had gone, I proposed to Ellen to go in the evening to meet Louis as usual.

'I should like it greatly,' she answered, 'but mother said we were not to go far from the house by ourselves.''

'But it is not very far to the river.'

'It's a long walk, Bessie, and I know mother meant us not to leave the garden, and just about home.'

'She did not say so to me, Ellen; on the contrary, she left you in my care, and I see no harm in a walk.'

Some friends of my aunt's called during the day, and stayed so late, that I began to fear that I should have to give up my plan. However, they went at length, and I began my preparations.

'Bessie,' said my little cousin, it's no use going now, for Louis will have left the river.'

'Well,' I replied, we shall meet him on the road; I think you seem determined, Ellen, to throw every difficulty in the way of this walk.'

The little girl was silenced but not satisfied, and we set off without delay. The evening was lovely, and the fields and lanes looked so gay and pleasant as we passed, that Ellen quickly recovered her spirits and prattled away merrily. After a while we came to a thick planting, and were puzzled which path to follow.

'Father used to take us only through a

corner of the wood,' said Ellen; 'I think he turned to the left.'

'No,' I replied, uncle certainly took the path to the right, and I shall try it now.'

Accordingly we walked in that direction for a good distance until Ellen exclaimed, 'I'm afraid we've taken the wrong turn, for we never were so long in the wood before."

Well, no matter; come on straight, and we must get out somewhere.'

And so we did, but it was at a strange side of the planting, and we had quite lost our way.

'Do you know which way the river lies?' I asked.

"No, I can't tell: but would it not be better, dear Bessie, to try and get home, for it's growing very late?'

"You're a silly little girl, Ellen: I'm quite determined to reach the river, and you need not be frightened, for Louis will take care of us on the way back.'

Thus encouraged she consented to go on, and our spirits revived when, from the next hill-top, we saw the river winding like a silver thread through the green fields, at only a short distance.

"Oh, Ellen, see, we're quite close to it; come on quickly, we shall soon be there.'

'I don't understand how we're to get through that field, Bessie, there's a great fence round it.'

"Yes, but I see a gate at the corner next the lane.'

She said no more, and we ran down the hill. The gate was stiff, and we had some difficulty in opening it, however we got in at last.

"I don't think we can cross the fence at the other side of the field,' said Ellen.

'We must take chance for that,' I replied; 'perhaps there's a gap: if not, the

worst that can happen to us is to return by this gate.'

Alas! little did I know what was to follow.

In crossing a rising ground towards the middle of the enclosure, we observed a large animal grazing quietly at one corner, but continued our course without taking any heed, until a low deep sound, like a smothered roar, attracted our attention.

Ellen clung to my arm. 'Oh! Bessie, turn at once, it is the mad bull.'

'Nonsense, child!' I whispered, turning slowly, for I did not want to appear afraid; 'why should you call it mad? I dare say it's a very quiet animal.'

'No, no, father sent him away because he was so wicked, and ran at the man who took care of him: I heard them say he was to be kept in a well-fenced field far away, to prevent accidents. Oh! Bessie, do run, he is following us.'

The bellowing became louder, and glancing back, to my horror, I saw we were pursued.

'Let me go, Ellen,' I screamed; 'we must run as fast as possible.'