"Good-bye, Susan, I shall go to Mr. Blunt's on the Heath first; and should I not be home by one o'clock, don't wait dinner."

"Oh! it is you, is it, Mrs. Sims?"

"Yes, Mr. Blunt; I have called for your subscription for The Local Preachers' Mutual-Aid Association.' 999

"I don't intend to subscribe any more, Mrs. Sims."

"Why not, Mr. Blunt ?"

"I don't like the way they are proceeding."

"Who do you mean, Mr. Blunt?"

"The Committee."

"The Committee! I am sure they are all good honest gentlemen, and Christians too."

"Yes, but their expenditure."

"Expenditure! you quite astound me, Mr. Blunt! I thought there never was a society worked so cheaply as this. My late dear husband used to say so, and Brother Isaac said so too."

"But you don't know all, Mrs. Sims."

"I know, when my husband was alive, he paid all his own expenses, to the Delegate Meetings and Committee Meetings, and when he went into the country to attend public meetings, he paid his railway fare. You have certainly got a wrong impression, Mr. Blunt."

"No, no,
I have not.'

Why, whatever can it be? They only pay the secretary, who gives his whole time to the work. And, as my poor dear husband used to say, if any body's heart was in the work the secretary's was. They give something for writing the magazine. My husband said everybody could not do this, as it required learning."

"I am not objecting to these payments, Mrs. Sims. I have to pay my workmen, and I can tell you that some of them earn more than you pay your secretary."

"There is no rent to pay for office, as I have heard my husband say. No expense for committee meetings. They take tea at each other's houses, and the tea is given. Whatever can it be, Mr. Blunt?

"Why the fact is, Mrs. Sims, they have paid collectors, and when I learned that, I said, I will pay no more subscriptions."

"Dear me, Mr. Blunt! Well if I ever! Now I remember, Stephen did that in some places the subscriptions were lost, for the want of looking after, because the local secretary, being much engaged in business, could

say

brother was

not afford the time to go after the subscribers; and some poor employed, and was paid one shilling in the pound for collecting." "I shall pay no more, Mrs. Sims."

"Just look here, Mr. Blunt: you and your brother have always been liberal to the cause of God, and I do not see why you should withhold your subscription because the committee do their best to get the money in. My dear husband did not altogether like paid collectors; he said it was not Methodistical."

"My brother does not mean to pay any more either."

"Now really, Mr. Blunt, this is too bad. You are a Conference Methodist; you have built a splendid chapel on the Heath. I hear the steeple cost £500; and you have contributed largely to this building. Now, I want to know of what use is a steeple? Your poor old brother, worn out in the Lord's service, has looked to you to help to keep him out of the workhouse, and you have turned away and contributed ten times the amount you used to give us to help to raise a useless steeple."

"Were it not that I greatly respect you, Mrs. Sims, I should not listen to this. You must allow me to dispose of my property as I think best." "Your property, Brother Blunt! You and my late dear husband have sung together in days past,—

'My all thy property I own,
The steward of the Lord.'

Mark my words, my dear brother; I think you have done wrong in giving up your contributions to the poor old local preachers; and should the Lord visit you with loss of property or loss of health, as my poor dear husband used to say,''Be sure of this, that these strokes of the rod are calls of providence, to repent and do your first works' and then I hope you will pay up your subscriptions."

Mrs. Sims next called on a lady, who, like herself, was a widow, who not only paid her own subscription, but paid also for her late husband. Here she was detained, as the two had much to talk about, as it respected their late husbands, the Association, its origin, progress, benefits, &c. It was out of the question that Mrs. Sims should leave before dinner.

Her next call was on a subscriber, whose contribution was owing for three years. The servant ushered her into the drawing-room, which was splendidly furnished. Mrs. Sims looked round on the elegant apartment, and said to herself, "There is no want here." And she thought, "I will get the three years' subscriptions, if it be possible."

"Good morning, Mrs. Sims," said the gentleman, as he entered. “I suppose you have called for my subscription."

"Yes, Mr. Keydale, I was just thinking what a pleasant place you live in, and what a beautiful lofty room this is."

"We have not much to complain about our residence. Let me see, a guinea you want?”

it is

"Three, sir."

"Three!"

Yes, sir; I have it down in my book; you can see, if you will just look."

"Dear me! really, I don't know if I can afford so much at once. Are you sure it is three years ?

"Quite sure, Mr. Keydale. I have called several times, but you were out, or something or other.'

“I am sorry it should have run so long."

"I am sorry, too, sir; for when the subscriptions are not paid up regularly, as my poor husband used to say, the committee have great difficulty. to find the money for the poor old men."

66

go."

Really, Mrs. Sims, I think I must begin afresh, and let the two years

"Now, now, Mr. Keydale, you have been an honorary member from the first; and as Stephen, poor fellow, has said to me, Mary, we will keep the line of succession unbroken which connects us with the Local Preachers' Mutual Aid Association,' by paying our subscription year by year.' "I should certainly like to do the same; but I really don't know if I can afford it."

"Don't say so, Mr. Keydale."

And the pertinacious collector cast her eyes around the room at the rich papering, elegant window curtains, splendid chandelier, &c. &c., which was as much as if she had said, "Don't say you can't afford it, with all these expensive and splendid things around you." Mr. Keydale evidently felt the appeal, and retired, and very shortly returned with the three guineas.

"There, Mrs. Sims, we will keep up the line of succession."

"Thank you, Mr. Keydale; and the Lord will never suffer you to lose anything for what you give to the old local preachers, For he that giveth to the poor, lendeth to the Lord.

Mrs. Sims's tact and perseverance conquered, and Mr. Keydale himself felt much happier after he had paid up the full amount than he would have done had he only paid one year's subscription.

After leaving Mr. Keydale's, Mrs. Sims proceeded to the next house of call. She found, to her regret, that Mr. Hare and his wife were both from home; just, however, as she was about to leave, the lady was driven up to the door. "I have called for Mr. Hare's subscription, ma'am," said Mrs. Sims. "O," said the lady, briskly, "I never pay his subscriptions: " but checking herself, she inquired, "Is it for the Mutual-Aid?" "Yes, ma'am." "O, certainly, we will pay that; " and turning to the cashier, she said, "Pay Mrs. Sims' a guinea; O certainly we will pay that." And bidding Mrs. Sims good day, she disappeared.

This was all done in a few minutes; and Mrs. Sims, when she left, blessed the lady who, although she did not pay her husband's subscriptions, as a rule, made an exception in this case.

Ꮓ

Mrs. Sims had not proceeded far in her path towards the next place of call, before she met Mr. C. Blunt, the brother of him by whom she had been repelled in the morning. He had been for some time an honorary member. His brother, it will be recollected, had said in the morning that this gentleman intended to withdraw his subscription also. Mrs. Sims thought no time like the time present; so, crossing the road, she said, "The very gentleman I wanted to see: " and observing a little confusion and hesitancy in his countenance, she followed up her first remark with, "I want a guinea from you; yes, and I shall get it too. I know the kind heart and the liberal spirit of my old friend C. Blunt, that he would place among the last objects from which he would withdraw his contributions the poor worn-out local preachers."

This was rather a long speech for Mrs. Sims, and a bold attack to make: but it was entirely successful; and there was really no flattery in it either; for this gentleman was, and still is, one of the most liberal of men. If there had been any intention before, as his brother had intimated, to withdraw his subscription, this overwhelming attack by Mrs. Sims had completely swept it away.

"Yes, Mrs. Sims, you are quite right; I should not think of giving up my subscription to the old local preachers. I have not the money by me, but I will send my clerk with it; he knows where you live."

So far so good. Several more subscribers were called on, with diverse receptions and varying success. With some, the money was paid rather grudgingly, with the ungracious remark," I have so many calls." With others, the money was given cheerfully, and Mrs. Sims was thanked for the trouble she had taken in calling for it.

On the whole, Mrs. Sims had been pretty successful in her day's collecting, and had much to tell when she joined Susan at the tea table, rather later than usual: for the faithful maid had on this occasion put aside the general rule, not to wait; but had waited an hour beyond the time; for she loved her mistress, and took a deep interest in all that interested her.

"Yes, Susan, before you get married, make an arrangement with your future husband, that you shall never be prevented from giving to the Lord's cause and the Lord's poor."

"I am sure I shall not get married while you are alive and want me, maʼam; and from what I have learned here of you, and my dear master, and Miss Mary, I will never marry at all if I can't marry a good charitable That I won't."

man.

Well done, Susan! stick to that; better remain single than be linked to a Nabal. As far as our observation has extended, there is not a more noble-minded, generous-hearted class of persons than the female servants who are not fond of dress. The Christian female servants are, according to their means, among the most liberal supporters of the cause of God.

The tea despatched, the mistress made up her collecting book, and

resumed her needle. The two simple devoted souls closed that day by chanting,

"With us no melancholy void,
No period lingers unemployed,
Or unimproved below :
Our weariness of life is gone,

Who live to serve our God alone,

And only thee to know."

END OF PART II.

[The remaining portion of this narrative will be continued in the first six numbers of the next volume, and will be completed in June.]