leaders who are enabled to do very much for the Saviour."

"Helen, I think He has made us to know each other."

"I think so too, dear, and I trust the blessing of the Highest may always bind us together as true friendssisters in Jesus."

The sisters Ada and Lizzie stood fast by the pledge given to their leader, and in their life and conversation adorned the Gospel of God their Saviour. It was Mr. Wilton who said the Misses Lancaster were "true missionaries," for by their efforts, principally, his house, had been saved.

There are thousands of Methodist girls who can do the same, who have ability, time, and position, that can, and ought, to be given to the service of the sanctuary. But whilst we rejoice that so many have put their hands to the plough and are bravely doing God's work, we see many daughters of Methodists who have not yet begun to work, have not done anything to help forward the time when all shall know God. The plea often is, "I can do nothing. If I could do as our Mrs. Allens, I would." Perhaps, my young sister, God does not want you to do exactly as others are doing. He does not require us all in the same corner of the vineyard, at the same time. There are many ways of doing good. Pray for the will, God will find the work. I read in the Gospel of a man who had one talent entrusted to him. I see that he did not use this one talent; he let it remain useless. When the Master came to reckon with him I read that he said, "Cast ye the UNPROFITABLE servant into outer darkness;-there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

H

Its loveliness increases; it will never

Pass into nothingness; but still will keep

A bower quiet for us, and a sleep

Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing."

KEATS.

ERE are the letters, papa. One for me, one for
Helen, and all the others for you."

Mabel took hers, to read "quietly in the garden," which was her habit if the letters bore the Oxford postmark; Helen's was also from Oxford; so was one Mr. Lancaster read with a rather amused face. When he had finished he asked Helen what Charlie said to her.

"" Why, papa, he says he wants us to go to see Herbert take his degree, all of us, if possible; Mabel, and you, and myself certainly. He says it would be a good opportunity of seeing the place, and ceremony of degreegiving. I really think I should like to go, papa."

"I believe you would," he said, laughing. "I wonder would Mabel care to go?"

"How can you ask, papa?" she said, joining in his hearty, good-natured laugh.

Going to the window, he called Mabel to him. She was made acquainted with the contents of Helen's letter. "Do you care to go?" her father asked.

"I should like it much," she answered, "very, very much, if you and Nelly come."

"Does Herbert wish it, do you think?" he asked. He only says that he would give a great deal to see me—us, of course, you know.”

"Oh, I daresay. Now Charlie, the impertinent fellow, says this, 'Now the time has come when the promised visit to Oxford is to be made, so please let me know how soon you can all come.""

"Who has been promising, I should like to know?" he asked.

"If any one has

your own dear self. "It looks like it,"

promised,". Helen said, "that one is Have you, papa ?"

he said.

"Then shall we all go, dear papa?" Mabel asked, her pretty face beaming.

"Not all, Mab," he said; "but you and Nelly can, if you like, go up for a few days, look at the old place, see Herbert take his B.A., and come back with your brother. I shall take a holiday further on, when Charlie will be more in need of company, after Herbert has left college; and I promise that, all well, I shall take Willie at the time Charlie takes his degree, so if either of you are going to write this evening, say you are going."

"Mary will take care of you all, papa, and we must see who will be so kind as to look to our Classes," Helen said. “Oh, I am so glad to be able to see Oxford; I have always wished to do so."

On the day appointed the girls were placed in a comfortable carriage by Mr. Lancaster.

The guard, touching his cap, said, "I go through to London, sir."

"That is right," said he. "You must please see my daughters change at the proper place for Oxford."

"I will, sir."

The visit itself Helen will describe in her letter home.

"MY DEAR PAPA,

"Oxford, 18-.

"We came along very comfortably; no one came in the carriage, neither did we change till we reached Bletchley. At this most uninteresting place we had to wait a long time for the Oxford train; at last it came, and again we were on our way, glad to be moving. It is rather dismal, I think, that last fifty miles. As the train drew up in the station we saw both Charles and Herbert. We were glad to see each other. They took us to some cosy rooms in the famous High-street, where tea and nice chops were ready for us to sit down to, though so early as four o'clock. It had been decided that we were, the first evening of our arrival, to be taken down the river. So Charlie said, 'Bring plenty of wraps, for you may find it chilly returning.' As we came from the station in a closed carriage we had seen little of Oxford, but on our going out afterwards 'the city of palaces' was before us. Our impressions of it will be lasting. Herbert said, 'We will go through Christ Church Quad, that you may see the "House," as the building is called.' So under the Tom Tower' we entered. Naturally we talked of Wolsey -his wealth, his ambition, his fall. We would most of anything have liked to have gone into the rooms where the brave young Christian men-the Wesleys, Clayton, Ingham, Whitefield, Henry, Broughton, and other kindred hearts-met to read and converse, as well as pray; this could not be. We were, however, on the ground where the name so many thousands glory in was invented,— "Methodist,"—once a term of reproach, now a praise in the earth. Soon we passed under a splendid arched gateway

เ

into the lovely walks of 'Christ Church Meadows.' The 'Broad,' was full of people. Many of the University men in their boating dresses, and wearing their college colours, chatted and laughed as if there were no such things as examinations, or such a dreadful possibility as being 'plucked.' Under the spreading trees we proceeded to the river, the 'classic Isis,' broad, bright, beautiful. The college barges were moored to the river's bank. Many students were on the decks, reading, lounging, or talking. A young man with a cardinal's hat embroidered in crimson silk on the 'dark blue' ribbon which he wore round his straw hat, and who knew Charlie, begged we would go on the Christ Church barge. This we did. It seems such a happy thought to make reading rooms in the barges, just in one of the loveliest spots in Oxford, under the shade of the green trees, on the bosom of the beautiful river. This is, I suppose, the place you would like best. The table is covered with books, pamphlets, paper, pens, ink, wax, and everything you could fancy for a quiet hour at the close of the day. Portraits of the eights' are framed and hung round the sides of this floating study! Herbert said if we lingered we should not do much in rowing, so we were about to bid Charlie's friend good-bye, when he said,-'Pray allow me to see you in your boat.' This he did; then, lifting his hat, returned to his book on the barge. We rowed pleasantly on to Kennington Island. The river was covered with. boats, men rowing, or ladies either, they did not seem at all particular. It was so pleasant, so very beautiful,'I was really sorry when it was time to return. We were very proud of our escort, and I saw that Mabel's dark beauty excited a good deal of admiration.

"The next day we saw some of the colleges, grand, cold, and grey. Some were of special interest to us, for we have