thousands of their fellow-men, not in the least fanatical, not led by impulse, or the cunning craftiness of watchers to deceive, but shrewd and sober-minded as themselves, find daily that prayer actually brings advantage, as they take it, for both worlds. It leads them nearer to the

Source of every good and perfect gift, shows them the tokens of a Heavenly Father's favourable care, sheds on their souls a calm which those who know the world best, best can prize (the peace which Jesus Christ bestows), and lights their onward track with bright assurance of all needful help, both in time and beyond. Join us, dear friends, and share-for that is all we seek-the joy of answered prayer.

One other word, and I have done. It is a word to Christians indeed, who follow in their blessed Master's track, and pray always and everywhere; but yet, alas! how doubtingly! how coldly! Perhaps this leaf out of another man's experience may cheer them, as one proof the more how great God's mercy in Christ Jesus is; how our infirmity does not shut off His answer to our poor requests! Perhaps it may encourage some one that goes burdened with the load of such perplexities as mine. Whatever be the case; distress through lack of means, or apprehended or befallen loss of valuable friends, bodily pain, or the agitations of a troubled soul, sweet consolation comes before us in this truth. We have a never-failing Intercessor in the heavens. Let us feel sure that, for the sake of Jesus Christ, God will fulfil to us His promise, both for this world and for that to come; and let us once again resolve, through grace, to trust Him truly to the end. May His Holy Spirit smile upon this feeble effort to show forth His praise who is the Hearer and Answerer of prayer.

CHAPTER I.

T was forty years ago that Miss
and came to live at the Hall.

Lucy was married,
Morton Hall, with

its park and gardens, is a fine old place. It was built in King Henry the Eighth's time; and, though it has been altered and altered, a good deal of the old build

G

ing remains, and is as strong, to look at, as when the stones were first put together.

The park is very beautiful. They tell me that it has more than a thousand acres of rich land, not level and uniform, but in pleasant hills and valleys and gentle slopes, with some of the finest prospects from different parts that are to be found in the whole county.. The trees in the park are, many of them, the grandest and noblest I have ever seen. They must be older than the old house. They have outlived one generation of men after another, through hundreds of years, and are likely to live and flourish, long after you and I have passed away from the world and are forgotten.

The family of the Mortons is an old family. There used to be a boast made that the first Morton known in England came in, as they say, with the Conqueror. I don't know whether it were so or not, nor whether, if it were so, the family was any the better for that. But it is certain that, long before the present Hall was built, there was a park and a castle owned by the Mortons, who were reckoned great and noble people in those old times. You may be sure that they were fighting folks then. There was one Morton who went to the Holy Land as a crusader, and never returned : he was either killed in battle, or taken prisoner. This was in the time of Richard the First. There was another Mortom who went to France, and fought at the battle of Cressy, and returned with great honour for his bravery. He must have been a strong and tall knight, for his armour, which now hangs up in the great hall, is so large and heavy that when it was taken down to be cleaned, a good many years ago, there was not one of the men-servants who could have worn it.

Then there were other Mortons, who fought in the wars of the Roses, as they were called. They were not always on the winning side, you may be sure; but they managed to keep the old estate in the family, which was not the case with all old families in those troublesome, fighting days.

You may suppose that when the civil war broke out be

tween King Charles and the parliament, and all people of any note took one side or the other, the Mortons were not idle. There were two of the family then that were for the king, and one who was for the parliament: and it was through him, as I have been told, that the old Hall was kept in the family in Cromwell's time; though, in one way or other, they lost a good deal of property, and were obliged to sell more of it, to keep up the old way of living.

As well as being much given to fighting, some of the old Mortons were sad persecutors. In the days of queen Mary, one of them was well known for his cruelty in hunting, out poor Protestants, and sending them to prison and death. There is a portrait of him in the gallery of the hall; a stern, dark-looking man, with a cunning eye. I believe he changed his religion-if ever he had any when queen Elizabeth came in; but he was no credit to the Mortons, I think; and the less we say of him the better.

There was one

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All the Mortons were not persecutors. who lived in the time of king Charles the Second, who befriended the ministers who were driven from their churches and homes, for conscience sake. Giles Morton was not of their way of thinking, but he had a kind feeling, and was very much opposed to persecution. It may be that his lady stirred him up and encouraged him to open his doors and give protection to these ministers when they were driven from place to place; for it is told of her that she was a godly, pious dame, and loved the preaching of the gospel." But let this be as it may, it is well known that there is a secret room in Morton Hall now, which goes by the name of the Preacher's Hide: and many were the good men who were in hiding there, for days and weeks at a time. More than once, Giles Morton was in trouble with the Government on their account; but he carried himself bravely through it all; and lived to see better days, when William and Mary came in, with more liberty of conscience. There is a story told of one old minister who sickened and died, after being a long time kept in safety at Morton

Hall from his enemies, who would have had him in prison if they could have discovered his retreat; and that, with his last breath, he prophesied that the Mortons should continue and flourish from one generation to another, and that there should always be found among them those that feared God and wrought righteousness. This may be true or not; but it is very true that from that day to this, while other old families have died out, the Mortons still stand their ground, and keep their old estate. And it is true also that, from that time, there have been many devout and humble Christians, both men and women, among the Mortons; though, as far as man can judge, religion never flourished much at the old Hall; it was mostly among the younger branches of the family, who went out in the world, and settled down in other parts, that God's grace seemed to take deep root, like good seed on good ground.

Well, Miss Lucy married into the family of the Mortons, as I was saying, forty years ago. She was a simple-hearted, sweet-tempered young lady. I had been brought up in her home; for my mother, before she died, was her nurse. When we were very young we were playfellows, and when we were older I was Miss Lucy's own maid. So it was agreed that I should be with her after she was married.

The wedding was a grand one; but it is not of this that I have to tell, so I shall only say that after the wedding was over we came to Morton Hall.

I need not say that my dear young mistress was pleased with her new home, with its fine rooms and large park, her carriage, and her own little pony-which she liked better still; with plenty of servants to wait upon her; and, what was best of all, a kind and loving husband.

The young squire, as Mr. Morton was called then-he is called the old squire now had not long been owner of Morton Hall. He was on his travels in foreign lands when the news reached him of his uncle's death; and Mr. Philip that is the squire's name was the heir. So he came home, and took possession of the estate.

He was