His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.'”1

I

Bessy. "You told us one day, Mary, the explanation Mr. Howard had given you of the elect. wish you would be so kind as to repeat it."

Mary. "I think it was this. The elect are all those to whom the Gospel is preached. Therefore all are elected, called of God, who are admitted into God's Church by baptism. Whether we obey this call, and so make our election sure, depends on ourselves, as we are all free agents, though sinners; 'for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.' 2 Yet we shall be saved, being 'justified by faith ;' which faith must be shown in our actions, while on earth, by good works, and love to God. If we really love God, we shall rejoice to do good for His sake. If we say we have faith, and despise good works, we shall be like the barren tree which shall be cut down ; as Mr. Groves said to-day."

Jane. "We must not forget all he said about preparing our hearts and minds, by constant prayer and diligent self-examination, for our first time of commemorating our Lord's death by attending at His table."

Bessy. "We shall have the opportunity of doing so next Sunday. Mr. Groves said he hoped every one of us who are to be confirmed on Tuesday would be a communicant on the following Sunday."

Jane.

"Here is father coming to meet us."

1 Titus iii. 5-7. 2 Rom. iii. 23. 3 Rom. iii. 28.

The farmer told them he had just seen Mr. Groves, who had expressed much satisfaction at the clear answers given by Jane and Bessy to the questions put to them. They had answered better than any of the other young people."

"And did you tell him, father," asked Bessy, "that it was all owing to Mary?"

"Oh, no, not owing to me," exclaimed Mary, "for I have only repeated what I learned from the kind instructions of Mr. and Miss Howard. You owe it to them, and to your own willingness to learn, and your attention, which makes you remember."

CHAPTER XVI.

"Draw, Holy Ghost, Thy sevenfold veil
Between us and the fires of youth;
Breathe, Holy Ghost, Thy freshening gale,
Our fever'd brow in age to soothe.
And oft as sin and sorrow tire,

The hallow'd hours do Thou renew,

When beckon'd up the awful choir

By pastoral hands, toward Thee we drew!
When trembling at the sacred rail,

We hid our eyes and held our breath,

Felt Thee how strong, our hearts how frail,

And longed to own Thee to the death !"-KEBLE.

It was a fine, bright morning on the following Tuesday, the day fixed for the Confirmation to take place. Farmer Thorpe's family started in good time for the town where it was to be held-the farmer driving his wife and Susan in his cart, Mary and her cousins being on foot. Silence prevailed during their walk. Both Jane and Bessy's thoughts were too full of the solemn service in which they were about

to take a part, for them to be much inclined for conversation; and Mary was unwilling to disturb them by any remark of hers. They were some time in the church before the service began. During that period, Jane and Bessy found sufficient to occupy them in reading their Prayer-book, without looking about and observing those who came into the church.

All who have witnessed a Confirmation know what

an interesting sight it is. A number of young persons advancing in succession to the steps leading to the Communion-table, there to dedicate themselves, their souls and bodies, to the service of Christ, and openly acknowledging themselves as His followers, prepared to take up the Cross under His banner, and own Him to the death. Interesting to the spectators, and deeply impressive to the young people themselves, when led to consider it as seriously as Jane and Bessy had been. They listened attentively to the preface which the Bishop reads at the beginning of the Confirmation-service.

On

being asked whether they were willing to ratify the promises made for them at their baptism, and believed themselves bound to keep those promises, they answered, "I do," in a clear, firm voice, feeling from their hearts the intention so to do, with the assistance of their blessed Saviour, as is expressed in the sentence which immediately follows, 'Our help is in the name of the Lord.' They remembered that Jesus Christ has said, 'Without me, ye can do

H

nothing." Most fervently and sincerely did they join in the prayers that followed, and trusted that they received the blessing into their hearts and minds.

Their return home was as silent as their walk to church had been. They were reflecting on all the Bishop had said to them in his charge, knowing that was the best way of keeping it ever in their memories. They did not enter into conversation with their neighbours, and eluded all attempts on the part of those they met or passed to induce them to stop or exchange more than a very few words. Mr. Groves had advised them to spend the rest of the day as quietly and seriously as they could, in occupations suitable to the religious service of which they had been partakers in the morning. For this purpose, he had given them some little books on Confirmation and the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, which he wished them to read. These they read aloud to Mary, and talked and thought much upon them. But the first thing they did, on reaching home, was to pray God fervently that the impression which this service of Confirmation had left on their minds might never, never be effaced.

In the evening, Richard and Susan joined them at tea.

"Do you intend to stay for the Sacrament next. Sunday, mother?" inquired Richard.

"Both your father and I do," replied his mother.

1 John xv. 5.