scattered about her little garden in the summer, or drawn around the fire-side in the winter, beguiling the time with converse serious, though not dull.

Never shall we forget the sparkling eyes of one of her little grandsons, who lived for some time under her roof, when the Sunday returned. It was to him a day of perfect felicity; and, whether he sat with his book under a tree, when the weather suited, or explored, with his venerable grandmother, the beauties of the plants and flowers, his countenance shone with delight; and even in the winter, when these pleasures could no longer be recurred to, the day never seemed long enough for his pursuits or his enjoyments.

May the impression never be erased from his memory, nor from that of others, who partook with him in these pleasures! May they, to their latest day upon earth, retain their love and veneration for the Sabbath!

It is with pleasure we recall to remembrance another of her little grandsons, who, at a very early age, had imbibed a love and reverence for the Sabbath. Often has he been observed, on the evening preceding the Sunday, putting away his little childish toys, which nothing could induce him to play with on that sacred day; yet was there no regret in the action; he would have scorned to seek amusement unsuited to the season, and have been offended with the person who could have supposed him capable of it. But he also, like

his little cousin, enjoyed the rest as well as the comforts of the Sabbath; and looked forward to the day throughout the week as that which was to afford him the truest delight.

Another little boy and girl, when about nine and ten years old, who were allowed to choose their own employments of a Sunday, would, with an eagerness and delight as great as they could have felt at any amusement whatever, spend hour after hour over Stackhouse's Commentary on the Bible, in which there were a number of engravings from histories in the sacred volume. The delight they experienced was not merely from looking at the prints, for to them they had been accustomed from their infancy; but their chief pleasure consisted in searching in the Scriptures for the texts referred to at the bottom of the engraving. One child would find out the text, and dictate to the other, who wrote it down, and by this mean they occupied themselves in a manner at once proper for the day and edify. ing to themselves, and fixed on their memories the history and the expressions made use of by the sacred penman in the relation.

Another favourite occupation of the same children was the examination of illuminated maps of the Holy Land. They searched out the places to which the Patriarchs and Prophets travelled in old times, or the Apostles and our blessed Saviour in later days, and were not easily tired with the occupation. The industry exerted upon the occasion, gave a zest to

the pleasure; and the employment being of their own choosing, was never irksome.

The reader will doubtless be pleased with the following quotation, from the Meditations of Mrs. Trimmer, in which she expresses her sentiments upon the subject.

"What a blessing to sinful, sorrowing mortals, is the Sabbath! though I cannot, from the infirmity of my nature, always attain to the full enjoyment to it. My cares are suspended, my hopes are enlarged; I take a view, though imperfect, of the future world; I hold communion with the Father of Spirits, I feel the love of my Saviour, and the inward consolations of the Holy Spirit."

Again, in another place, she says: "How quickly do the Sabbaths return; those seasons of rest, and spiritual comfort! A seventh part of our time on earth is taken from the days of toil and care, and blessed and sanctified by the God of all goodness, for the recreation and benefit of our souls, and that we may have a foretaste of heavenly bliss. "To me the Sabbath is a welcome day, and I bless God for the institution of it; and yet I do not always enjoy its pleasures in the degree I might and ought to do."

In reckoning up the employments of the Sunday, the frequent participation of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper should not be omitted, though it may easily be supposed, that in the life of so pious and good a Christian as Mrs. Trimmer, this duty would not be neglected. What

her sentiments were of the nature of this holy institution, her opinion of its efficacy, the delight she took in approaching the table of the Lord, and the comfort and refreshment of soul it afforded her, will all be seen in her Journal, and in some letters written upon the subject.

Nor did the zeal of Mrs. Trimmer, for the observance of the Sabbath, rest with her own performance of her duty, or with taking care that her household and the children belonging to the schools should also observe it, she likewise endeavoured by every means in her power to persuade the adult poor of her neighbourhood to pass it in a religious and becoming manner. Amongst other means to effect this great purpose, she wrote to them a "Friendly Remonstrance," from which, as it is not much in circulation, one or two quotations may be inserted in this place. After telling them the reasons for hallowing the Sabbath, and the way in which it ought to be spent, she goes on: "You whose lot it is to labour for the maintenance of yourselves and families, have but little leisure in the week for what are called religious exercises; you should therefore rejoice that your CREATOR hath set apart one day in seven, in which you may lay a side your burdens, refresh your souls with heavenly comfort, and prepare for a state of everlasting rest and joy. Instead of saying, When will the Sabbath be gone? you have cause to long for its return: not to spend it in idleness and wickedness, but that you may renew your strength, learn your duty, and enjoy

the delight which God, who blessed as well as sanctified the SABBATH-DAY, has provided for his people. BLESSED, says the LORD, is the man who doeth this, and that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing evil. ISAIAH lvi. 2. If thou turn thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thine own pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shall honour him, not doing thine own ways, or finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words; then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. ISAIAH lviii. 13, 14. You may assure yourselves, that there is no pleasure to be found in this world, equal to what arises from the religious observance of the Sabbath-day; and if you once get into a habit of keeping it holy, you will never wish to pass it in a prophane, wicked manner; you will find, by the peace and comfort you will enjoy in it, that God hath really blessed

it.

"With what delight do sincere worshippers go to the house of God! with what humility do they bow down before Him! how fervently do they implore his favour and protection! how heartily do they bless and praise his holy name! with what attention do they hearken to the instruction of the preacher! what pious resolutions do they form! how cheerfully do they return to their houses, assured of receiving the blessings they have asked; because God has promised them in the Scriptures!