place, which some months ago they had hardly allowed themselves to hope they should ever again inhabit. Not even in the smiling days of youth did any spring appear to them so delightful as the present; nor in their eyes did the sloping primrose bank, that faced their cottage window, ever look so gay, or smell so sweet before.

They mourn not that their spring of life will not, like the leaves and flowers, be renewed. Here religion gilds their declining years with her cheering consolations; they love the church into which they had been baptized, and show their respect and reverence for its rites, by being steady and constant in their attendance there on the sabbath; their faith is sincere and unaffected;

"Not that which cheats the wavering, wandering mind,
For ever seeking what it ne'er can find;
But faith composed, and silent, and sincere,
Warming the heart, illumining the tear,

And cheering unfelt age from year to year."

They learn from their Bible and their minister, that CHRIST died for the sins of the whole world; and therefore go on in their Christian path with a meek hope that through his merits, they shall, when this fleeting life is ended, dwell with him in mansions of eternal glory.

THE

COTTAGE ON THE HEATH.

IN

In my various rambles amidst the dwellings of the poor, I had often passed a desolate house standing upon a common of some extent; and in answer to my enquiries respecting the inhabitants, an air of mystery always seemed to hang about their concerns. The miserable hovel they inhabited barely sheltered them from the weather; and the long narrow slip of ground adjoining it was suffered to lie uncultivated, and rank weeds of all descriptions were the only produce. For this miserable abode the strangers (for so they were called, though they had been known to reside there some years) paid a small rent; and, as they did not become troublesome to any one in the parish, they soon ceased to be objects of attention. I confess I felt an unusual anxiety to know what could be the motive for such close concealment in their wretched dwelling; and determined, if it were possible, to discover the cause.

for

It was a beautiful spring morning, when I prepared my walk of enquiry; the air was soft, but cheering; all nature seemed to be rejoicing in the sunshine. My walk to this forlorn dwelling was beautifully diversified by hill and dale; clusters of primroses covered the sunny banks, and the birds were carolling, whilst the distant note of the cuckoo brought a hundred pleasing associations to my mind: it told me, that winter, with all its storms and its cares, had

again passed away; again I beheld the opening buds; and the first beautiful and tender green appeared in the hedges; whilst the air was perfumed with violets that covered the banks. As I walked along, my heart was naturally lifted from "nature up to nature's God." How wonderful are thy works, oh, Lord! in wisdom hast thou made them all! These fair scenes thou hast given for the use of thy creatures; but with what coldness and indifference are thy great and glorious gifts received! How many look upon the revolving seasons without amusement, instruction, or delight and yet the smallest of God's works, if attentively observed, will teach us the purest lessons of morality. A mind turned to the contemplation of the works of nature will never want amusement, but will find "books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in every thing." With these reflections passing in my mind as I walked slowly along, I soon found myself in view of the desolate mansion: even the long and dreary common on which it stood, lighted up now by the morning sun, looked gay and cheerful, with it tufts of yellow broom sprinkled over it.

When I came nearly opposite the cottage, and not till then, I began to consider in what way I should introduce myself to its poor inmates. I had heard that they were cold and suspicious in their manner whenever accosted; and at the approach of footsteps always closed their door to avoid observation. With these obstacles before me, I stood for some moments considering in what manner I should proceed, when I observed the cottage door slowly opened; and an elderly female, leading a child, came out; she stood quite still, with her head turned in an opposite direction to where I was, apparently watching for the approach of some one, with great earnestness. the mean time the little girl bounded towards the wicket, and ran out upon the common, appearing delighted at having got away from her aged nurse

In

who stood in the same spot, unconscious of the flight of her young companion.

"Where are you going so fast, my little dear?" said I, advancing towards her; she suddenly stopped, and looking up in my face, I was struck with her infantine beauty. She appeared to be about six years old; her hair was light, and curling over her head; and from under these thick locks peeped out eyes of the softest blue, shaded with eye-lashes so dark and long, that they gave a beautiful expression to the countenance, mantling with the glow of health. Her dress was of the poorest description, and seemed quite appropriate to the desolate hovel from which she issued. Upon my repeating my question, she told me she was watching for her father; "Granny said he would come this way, but I don't see him:" and she was bounding back, when I thought I would lead her to the cottage; and then I could make my observations upon the inhabitants without its appearing that any thing but chance had directed my steps towards them. I therefore tried to engage my little companion's attention, by asking questions as she walked by my side in her way back to the cottage, "Does your father always live with you?" said I., "Oh no; he only comes now and then. My name is Jane," said the little innocent, fixing her pretty eyes upon me, and taking hold of my offered hand; "I have no brothers nor sisters to play with; only grandfather and granny live with me. But father says he will take me away to a fine place when he comes next, and that I shall ride in a coach with him. I wish he was come; and so does granny; for grandfather does nothing but scold all day long."

I now had reached the house with my little charge, who ran before to open the wicket, and I entered the garden of weeds and advanced towards the cottagedoor; that was closed, but I pulled the latch and entered, leading my young companion by the hand. I had taken the inhabitants by surprise; they started