were soon reconciled to his company. But though he behaved so well at home, he was not gentle to my neighbour's fowls; and I was often obliged to say that I would pay for the damage he did. Notwithstanding this assurance, my poor Buzzard was often fired at and wounded, though he escaped without material injury.

At length, early one morning, while he was hovering over a forest, he was so bold as to attack a fox; and a man, who saw him on its shoulders, fired two shots at him. The fox was killed, and the poor Buzzard had his wing broken; yet he contrived to escape, and was lost for seven days. The man, hearing the sound of the bell, knew to whom the bird belonged, and came to tell me what had happened. I sent people to look for hiun, but in vain; and every evening I called him myself with a whistle, but no answer was returned. At last, on the seventh day, I heard a feeble cry at a distance. I whistled a second time, and again heard the same cry. I went to the place whence the sound proceeded, and there found my poor Buzzard with his wing broken. Not being able to fly, he was endeavouring to walk back to his home. Though he was very weak, yet he seemed quite delighted to see me. It was six weeks before his wounds were healed; but he quite recovered, and

began to fly as he used to do, following his old habits for about a year. At the end of that time I lost him again, and he never returned; but as he was too much attached to me to have staid away from choice, I had every reason to believe that my poor Buzzard had been killed by some unfortunate accident.

GEORGE STANLEY. "In due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

It has been my practice, since I first undertook the charge of my present parish, to catechise the children of the Sunday School, immediately after the second lesson in the afternoon service; and to those of my clerical brethren, who have not yet adopted this plan, I can recommend it, as one which I have found to be attended with great benefit, not to the children only, but to the whole congregation. Many who were careless and and insensible to their best interest, have been excited by it to inquiry ; and several who are now ornaments to their pro. fession, look back with gratitude to the time when they were first convinced of their ignorance and danger, by listening to the children, while they were thus examined. It was indeed the means of grace which God blessed to their instruction, and ulti,

mately led to their establishment in the faith.

But to proceed with my little narrative: Alore than a year and half ago, -I believe it was in the month of August, that ques. tion in the Church Catechism, What dost thou chiefly learn ?? &c. fell to the lot of a boy about fourteen years of age, and one of our oldest scholars. He answered it cor. rectly, until he came to the words, 'sancti. fieth me;' his voice then faltered, and he stopped. In a little time he proceeded, but his tone was low and full of anxiety. I was much struck by this circumstance, for, hitherto, George Stanley had seemed utterly devoid of all interest in any thing relating to his eternal salvation ; and though I had scarcely had occasion to reprove him, during the many years he had attended at school, yet I have been grieved to find all my remarks and personal addresses to him so entirely without effect. He listened to me with indifference, and evidently thonght, if he was perfect in his tasks, he need not concern himself about any thing further. He appeared to belong to that class of beings who possess no feelings upon which you can work; there was such a degree of hardness, and almost stupidity, observable in his character, that, although there was nothing to object to in his general conduct, no inclination for any kind of vice, nothing in short to condemn, yet, at the same time there was nothing to admire, nothing to love, scarcely anything to hope for, from a mind so formed, so apparently impene. trable.

On my return homewards, I was not sorry to see this lad before me. His parents lived more than three miles from the churcli, and were two of my most valued parishion. ers, humble, sincere, steady Christians; and who certainly spared no pains to train up their child for heaven. When I joined him, I inquired after their health, and heard that his father was suffering under a severe attack of the rheumatic fever, which ren. dered his mother's constant attention neces. sary. After a little further conversation, I said, "How was it, George, you hesitated this afternoon: had you forgotten the an. swer to the question ?' 'Ono, Sir,' he replied, “I shall never forget that answer.” • Why did you stop, then ?' •Because, Sir, I did not think it quite right for me to say it.' •Not right! how could it be wrong, George ?'. “Why, Şir,' he replied, and his colour deepened, “I am not sure that the Holy Ghost has sanctified me, and I was afraid to say it.' Why, what makes you doubt it ? can you tell me the ineaning of the word sanctify?' " I believe it is to make holy, Sir; and I am sure I am not holy. ‘Are all God's people made holy, Sir; quite holy?''In this life, George, no one ever attains to perfect sanctification; that is only to be enjoyed in heaven: but all who are renewed in the spirit of their minds by the Holy Ghost ardently desire this complete holiness, and pray for it daily, hourly; they hate sin, even in the smallest degree, and do every thing in their power to glorify their Redeemer. Can you not find any of these marks in yourself?' As I spoke, George's countenance became increasingly agitated, but be gave me no answer, and I

felt at a loss in what way to continue the - conversation. His character appeared en.

tirely changed, and from having been ex. tremely insensible, he seemed now to have become intensely alive to every word which I uttered; but he had said nothing from which I could judge of the extent of the work which, I began to hope, was really taking place in his soul, and I was fearful of building up any confidence in his mind, until I had proved, as far as in my power, the strength of the foundation. While I was considering how I should proceed, we reached my cottage, and I parted from him, desiring him to pray earnestly that he might indeed obtain this great blessing, which was above all value. I thought it better not to