what made him scream so? Well then, I will tell you; he had been beating James, and had told an untruth, therefore he was shut up in a room by himself, and like most naughty boys, with guilty consciences, he was afraid of being alone.

Little girl, what made you so afraid of being alone the other day? Was it because you knew you had done what was wrong? What made you look behind you in such a hurried, frightened manner, but because you was doing something which your mother told you not to do. Oh! how your Teachers wish they could teach you how to act as in the sight of God, to remember constantly that his eye is upon you, that he knows all your words and ways, and that he writes them down in his book; that he knows your thoughts, that he hears you when you use bad words, that he sees you when you quarrel with your brothers and sisters, and that he is very angry with you too; they wish you would think of these truths.

When Thomas came down stairs, he looked very silly, he hung down his head and dared not speak a word, and was going to run out into the fields, but his mother prevented him, saying, "Stop, sir, come and sit down here if you please." Thomas was obliged to obey, and he put his finger in his mouth, and I felt quite ashamed of him. I called him to me, but he did not choose to move from his seat. Ah! naughty, obstinate boy! what do you think his poor mother must have felt? and I know she was grieved, for I saw her wipe her eyes! Cruel boy! to grieve such a tender mother; hard-hearted child! His mother had done every thing for him; she had watched his pillow while he slept, she had rejoiced when he rejoiced, and she had wept when he wept; but he forgot all that.

"Go away from me, Thomas," said Mrs. Barker, and after that I saw no more of him. When he was gone,

I talked to the children upon the wickedness of such bad tempers, and told them I was afraid that if Thomas did not alter, he would be a wicked man when he grew up, and urged them to think how sad such conduct was; and I do think that James knew better than to do so. I loved that little boy-there was something in him so affectionate, so persevering, and so open in his conduct, that it was enough to make any body love him.

That afternoon he ventured to lay his arms on my lap, his hands were clean, not as when I saw them last, and he looked up in my face several times very significantly, and I thought it meant something about the Saturday lessons, but however I did not like to ask, lest I should have heard a bad account. Sarah sat on a little stool at my feet, and Mary was mending a stocking.

"Well, Mrs. Barker," said I, "I am going to leave you, I shall not see you any more I suppose after to-day.” She looked surprised, and said something expressive of her sorrow.

"And now," continued I, "I commend you to God and the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified, and may you be preserved faithful unto the end, looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith." I exhorted her to go on in the strength of the Lord, and in instructing her children to "be instant in season and out of season," to press upon their attention the concerns of eternity, to teach them to love the Saviour, which is the first principle of godliness, and to instil into their minds the lessons of wisdom, and encouraged her by these words:

"Let those who sow in sadness wait

Till the fair harvest come."

"Do not I sow in sadness?" said she, and she thought of Thomas.

"But you have placed one sheaf in the garner of the Lord," I replied; "Susan you know is safely housed; you may be joyful as well as sorrowful." I then took James's hand in mine, and I said, "And James too will seek God."

James smiled, and said, "Yes, I shall pray to God every night and morning."

"That's right," I resumed, "and the Lord who has fed me all my life bless the lad."

Little Sarah climbed upon the stool to receive my parting blessing, which in simple words I gave

her.

I then told Mary how much the Lord would require at her hands, and advised her to continue in the path of piety, and to serve the Lord with a perfect heart, willingly having so done I kissed the dear little ones, blessed the babe, and bade them all a long adieu.

I soon returned home, and when in my closet, in the hour of retirement, wrote for your amusement, and I hope for your benefit also, this short account of my visit. It is true I saw more of the family of the Barkers than I have related, but I know how soon little folks are tired, and therefore have not told you all.

CHAP. VI.

SERIOUS INSTRUCTION.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS EXPLAINED.

We are all of us taught to say the Ten Commandments, but there are few of us, I am afraid, who rightly understand them, and fewer still who walk by them, and try to practise them. I may add, that there are none who do not break, more or less, one or other of the ten, and that therefore there is no man living who could bear to be judged by them.

We read in the 20th chapter of Exodus (from whence the Commandments are taken), that God spake all these words saying, "I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." God was here speaking to the Jews, who were of old his favorite people. The Ten Commandments were first given to them, and through them to us. We must not wonder, therefore, if we find a few expressions which suited the Jews better than they will suit us. Let us now proceed to the explanation.

FIRST COMMANDMENT.

"Thou shalt have no other Gods but me."

This means, that we must have, or choose to ourselves, the one true and only God of the Scriptures. Now, in order to know who this God of the Scriptures is, it is plain that we must read the Scriptures, and especially the New Testament. He was the God who appeared to Moses, at Mount Sinai, and gave him all these Commandments. He was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,

and all the prophets and holy men that lived on the earth. He afterwards was still more plainly made known as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom he sent into the world to die for our sins; and he now sends his Holy Spirit into the hearts of those who call upon him. It would take too much time to enter here fully into the character of God; let us only repeat shortly a few of the many things which the scriptures have said concerning him. He is "the High and Lofty One who inhabiteth eternity." "From everlasting to everlasting he is God.” He is the "Almighty;" "His wisdom is infinite;” “the light and the darkness are both alike to Him;" "He searcheth the hearts of all the children of men." "By Him actions are weighed "-yea, He "judgeth the secrets of men's hearts." "Our God shall bring every work into judgment, whether it be good or whether it be evil;" "for he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained;" and "then the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.” He is at the same time a God of compassion, and of tender mercy. What can more strongly prove it than His sending Christ to die for us, and to offer salvation to us? “God is love." "Not that we loved Him," says the apostle, "but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins." He described himself to Moses as being "the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and of great goodness, keeping mercy for thousands;" yet, at the same time, He will by no means excuse or "clear" the unrepenting and the "guilty." Moreover let us remark, that He is the God of nature and providence; He made the world, and He now governs it. "Not a sparrow falls to the ground without his notice." He orders the events of nations and of individuals. He doth all things, both in heaven above, and in

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