forget; and brought the man over himself to Mrs. Paterson's house, where, with his smooth tongue, he glossed over what had passed, and prevailed on his wife to return home with him. I remained at the widow's house, by her special request, till all this matter was put straight, and then I took my leave, in company with Mr. Price, first agreeing with Mrs. Paterson that we should keep this affair as quiet as we could.

During my walk with Mr. Price I spoke in commendation of his daughter's earnestness to serve a friend in distress. He was pleased with what I said, and talked of Lucy as the pride of his heart and the delight of his eyes; and, from something he dropped, I gathered also that he did not altogether approve of the choice it was supposed she had made of James Paterson; but he seemed one of those fathers who do not know how to oppose the wishes of a beloved child, whether those wishes make for her own happiness or not.

CHAPTER IX.

A VISIT FROM JABEZ REYNOLDS.

ON Monday morning Jabez Reynolds sent to tell me that he was quite at liberty to spend halfan-hour with me; and I, being at home and disengaged, signified my readiness to receive him. As soon as he arrived, I took him apart into my little parlour, where I was not likely to be intruded upon by any one.

I had occasionally seen Jabez Reynolds, and thought him a young man of pleasant countenance, though there was a peculiar kind of stiffness in his carriage and somewhat of strut in his gait, which would have led one to suppose that he had no mean opinion of himself. However, we must not judge always by these tokens; sometimes they are not natural to a man, but only acquired by the imitation of some person highly esteemed on more important accounts. Jabez appeared on a Sunday in a black coat and white neckcloth, and low-crowned hat, and his hair combed down very smoothly over his face, and

was generally seen with an umbrella under his

arm.

I have often mentioned that I am a great noticer of little things, and therefore I trust to be pardoned for these details. As for the character of Jabez Reynolds, I knew little of it but from common hearsay, and when I found myself seated opposite to him, and he looking as if he was waiting for me to open my budget, I felt as if I did not know exactly where to commence our business; so I began where most English people do when they are at a loss. "Fine day, Mr. Reynolds."

"Very fine day, Mr. Smith."

“Very seasonable after the rain we have had," returned I.

"Quite so, Sir."

"There is something," said I to myself, “cheerful and good-humoured in the young man's countenance, I will come to the point at once." And depending for Wisdom which never fails to direct me, I thus proceeded

"You must think it extraordinary, Mr. Reynolds, that I should have taken the liberty of sending to speak to you?"

"O, not at all, Mr. Smith; I take it in quite another light."

Perhaps you will not think so when you know the object I have in view. I wish to ask for an explanation of your conduct."

"In what respect, Sir?"

P

"I am told," I answered, " and upon good authority-I may as well come to the point-that you have been endeavouring to draw away my niece Susan from the Church."

"Not at all, Sir: I have no objection to the Church, none whatever, I do assure you."

"Mr. Reynolds," said I, "if you, before God and after diligent search and enquiry, have made up your mind that you cannot conscientiously join in communion with the Church of England, that is nothing to me, it is not to me that you must render an account of these matters; but, I beseech you, do not, like some professors, speak well of the Church before one churchman, and slightingly of it to another. Answer me candidly, I entreat you, Mr. Reynolds; you will lose nothing by so doing; have you not spoken slightingly of the Church to my niece Susan, and endeavoured to draw her to your own persuasion?"

"You press home, Mr. Smith. Well, I will admit I may have done something of this. I have a high opinion of your niece, Mr. Smith, and think it is a pity she should not enjoy full Gospel privileges."

"You think, then, that she does not enjoy them in our Church?" asked I.

The young man was silent.

"Speak out, Mr. Reynolds, speak out," said I; "it is truth, not victory, I am seeking for."

"Well then, Mr. Smith, I must say that the parsons in your Church, according to my view, go

upon crutches, and they keep back their people. When do you ever hear of a man being converted in a Church?"

to say that no person but those of your persuasion can go to heaven? and that no churchman ever enters there?"

"O dear, no, Mr. Smith; I never meant to say any such thing."

Then, Mr. Reynolds, you must hold that unconverted people go to heaven; aud that contradicts the Scriptures. Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.""

The young man seemed posed.

"I believe," continued I, "that Church-people in general, are more still and quiet as to what is passing in their minds than Christians of many other denominations; but it does not follow from thence that nothing is passing in their minds: you must look a little at their lives and conduct. If one who has been sick is restored to health, you may judge of his restoration to health as well by his actions and motions, as by his crying out aloud in the streets, 'How well I am, how well I am.' And if you will study diligently the Sermon on the Mount, you will find many texts which condemn noise and ostentation in religion."

"There are many good people in the Church, Mr. Smith," returned Jabez, "I never meant to dispute that and as for myself, I got all my