or evil, 'what a day may bring forth !' I entered the city a stranger to its inhabitants; but I left it possessed of the affections of several, of whose kindness to me I shall always cherish a grateful recollection. I allude to Mr. and Mrs. B-, who entertained papa during the whole of his stay at Norwich; but I was not introduced to them until the second day, when they were so earnest in pressing me to remain at their house for a few days, that I was quite unable to resist, and accordingly suffered papa to return without me. Mr. B is the most amiable and benevolent

man you can imagine. It would be almost impossible to be unhappy in his presence; so playful! so musical!

"One of my first employinents after reaching home was to read your letter, which afforded me great pleasure. How can I help being delighted, when you tell me that you are anxious to make a public avowal of your faith in Christ? Most sincerely do I desire and pray, that you may be encouraged in every holy resolution, and be enabled to endure the test which your principles will shortly have to encounter. If you 'lack wisdom,' dear W- -, you know where to apply for it, and the promise is, that it shall be 'given liberally.'"

The next letter to the same correspondent, adverts to a subject on which Mary's heart was ever full and overflowing. She was all attuned for friendship, and the knowledge that one she loved, possessed that

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blessing which constituted her greatest earthly enjoyment, woke up in consenting harmony every string of her inmost soul.

You grieve at not being able to spend more time in writing to me, but you so well employ what little you have, by saying exactly what pleases me, that I have no cause to join in your complaints. And so you have at last met with one who can supply to you the place of our lamented Mr. L -. You have my warmest congratulations, for indeed I do most sincerely rejoice with you, and hope that on obtaining a more intimate knowledge of your new acquaintance, you will find him possessed of every quality requisite in one who would bear the sacred appellation of friend. I cannot help reflecting on this circumstance with peculiar feelings of gratitude, as it is not many days since I was thinking of the loss you had sustained in the death of your dearest associate; and this led me to supplicate, upon my knees, that another might be raised equally worthy of your affections, and in whose society you could enjoy all the delights of a warm attachment. It was your very next letter that informed me that such a one had been found; and when I read that part of it which conveyed the happy tidings, I was so struck with such a remarkable instance of the goodness of Divine Providence in answering prayer, that, although

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I was at the dinner table, I was obliged to leave it, in order to give vent to my emotions of joy, in rendering praise to Him who had displayed his love and tender indulgence in so signal a manner. I am so happy to think that you can again taste the sweets of friendship, of which you have been long deprived; and am especially delighted to know, that in your friend resides that true piety, which, Cowper says, should be the principal ingredient' in the character of one. May yours prove a friendship that shall not cease with time, but shall continue throughout eternity. * Indeed, W- -, I cannot bear the thought of giving you up entirely. Not catch a glimpse of you once in twelve months. The very idea is cruel; you must plead hard with Mr. Bfor a short emancipation. I remember he once promised us that he would spare you from Saturday night till Monday morning, and even this would be far better than total deprivation. I am obliged to say this, although it is a forbidden subject. 'Tis very hard and so it is' to be treated thus, and I have a great mind to be angry. Mamma has made me a present of that pretty little portrait taken of you when you were a babe. I value it very much, though I do not remember its beloved original at that tender age. When I was at Mr. R's, I saw an engraving of Mr. Leifchild, and the sight of it revived all that ardour in the Missionary cause, which the dear man had stirred up within me. It produced a thrilling sensation of pleasure within me, and a kind of tingling at

my fingers' ends, at the recollection of the joys his language was so capable of inspiring. I feel more interested in the cause of Missions than ever."

Το say that your letters please me is not sufficient; they are really delightful, and I would not relinquish the gratification of corresponding with you for all the riches of Croesus. How very kind of you to indulge me with so much as was contained in your last! and how rich a return for the poor scrawls which you receive from me! for I am sure it is only to the partial eye of an affectionate pear to possess any value. tercourse afforded by an could we bear the long separations which the dearest friends are obliged to endure? And is it not sweetly consoling to think that, although absent from each other, we can yet have access by one Spirit unto the Father,' who has promised to be rich unto all that call upon him?' enjoy! Let us not gratitude and praise. staying with us a week, but we are to lose her to-day; and I cannot think of her departure without regret, as it is not probable we shall see each other again for many

brother, that they can apWithout the pleasing ininterchange of letters, how

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How many are the mercies we forget to offer the incense of has been

My friend

months. Surely, among the highest of our occasional enjoyments, may be classed the pleasure of meeting with those who are dear to us, and of renewing those social delights which absence had for a while suspended. We wanted you on Thursday to complete a very happy party. It was a kind of 'fête champêtre,' held in the meadow adjoining the house of our dear Mrs. C. You remember, I dare say, a pretty shaded spot which we call the shrubbery, and it was in this cool retreat that we were to take tea. This repast must certainly be considered to possess some eminent virtue, or such importance could never, in this reforming age, be attached to it. E and I had fixed an Eolian harp in one of the trees, in hopes that some of its sweet tones would be drawn forth by the breezes; but either Eolus was unfavourable to our wishes, or we were too much engaged in merriment and tête-à-tête to be able to listen to its strains. We had however the songs of the feathered choristers, and this was music delightful enough. * * I thank you for the beautiful verses you sent me. 'Hour of Prayer' I like particularly; nor must I forget to acknowledge the very kind and judicious advice with which you conclude your letter, which I assure you I value, as coming from one who is in every respect my superior, in talent, in knowledge, and in wisdom; and who has within himself a fountain of lore, from whose streams I would gladly drink my fill of intellectual pleasures."

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