CHAPTER LII.

THE BAPTISM.

EXT Sunday came, and the sun shone just as brightly as it had done a week before on the two young girls, who met in the same place where they had then parted, at the garden gate of John Morton's cottage. But they were not alone now. Esther was there too, dressed in the same neat dress which she had worn at her wedding a year ago, with fresh white ribbons on the wedding bonnet, and a yet happier smile upon her simple, truthful face than it had worn even then. Master Seymour, and John Morton, and Neighbour Simmons were there also; the latter holding in her arms the tiny baby whose baptism was to be this day. A discussion had arisen as to who should hold this tiny baby at the font. Nellie Morton declared that this happiness and honour belonged to Miss Stancombe, who must be considered, if only in right of her rank, in all propriety the child's chief godmother. Ellen Stancombe boldly asserted that Nellie's near relationship gave her a claim beyond all rank, especially on such an occasion as this, and in the presence of Him who is the

Maker of all who meet together, and with whom there is certainly no respect of persons.

Ellen, having the stronger will, and also the better cause, gained the day. It was from Nellie's fond though somewhat trembling hands that Mr. Stancombe shortly afterwards received the little one, and giving it the name of Patty Seymour, signed the sign of the cross upon its fair white forehead, and admitted it publicly into the body of Christ's Church.

Nellie and Ellen were no careless sponsors, although such young ones. Their previous training in the Church Catechism, which had been made in such a remarkable manner a subject of practical instruction to them both, their delight in it from their childhood, the preparation of mind, and heart, and life, through which they had passed previous to their Confirmation, and whilst preparing for their first Communion; all these things had so deeply taught them to understand the right nature of that holy Baptismal Service, that we doubt whether any sponsor, however advanced, both in age and experience, ever entered upon the solemn duties of sponsorship with clearer understanding of the mind, and more thorough devotion of the spirit, than did those two young girls.

The particular address made to them as sponsors, carried back their thoughts many a long day. Both remembered the early days, when the same dear motherly heart instructed each in the faith. which they had now publicly to avow, showing them the dangers of those spiritual enemies which

they had since so solemnly renounced for themselves, and now sought as solemnly to renounce for another.

Ellen remembered the early struggles she had had with her own heart, before she could entirely cease from coveting the pomp and vanity of this world. Her thoughts travelled back to the days when Audley Park and its occupants were a sore subject of envy to her untrained and untamed mind. She had only seen the beginning of those things then, their present appearance, and fair outside show, and they had seemed very desirable. Yet even then, her parents' instructions, and the teaching of God's Spirit in her soul, had made her believe in the insecurity and in the ensnarements of all earthly pomp and show, and had led her to fight against all covetous desires of the same, and pray that she might not follow nor be led by them. And later days had shown her a very sad end to much that in the beginning had looked so promising. Mrs. Audley's death very soon after the loss of her little son, seemed to have removed the only restraint that had hitherto kept the squire from the full indulgence of all those carnal desires of the flesh, by which he had long been so much led. After his wife's death he gave himself up to gambling, and racing, and the pleasures of the table, and took no care whatever of his only child.

Left to the sole superintendence of her French governess, Miss Audley had professedly adopted the same religion as Mademoiselle held, but to all

And

outward appearance knew but one worship, the vain following of her own pleasure. For many years things at Audley Park had gone from bad to worse, till some short time since the estate had been sold to satisfy the creditors, and Mr. Audley had gone to live abroad, where his daughter and her governess, or, as she was now called, her companion, had already spent several years. All this had been cause of much grief to Mr. Stancombe, who had watched with heavy sorrow the sad end of one who had once been his friend and companion. But the good are never left by their God without some consolation, the seed sown is never allowed to be all lost. Mr. Stancombe's mind could always return from dwelling mournfully on the blight that had fallen on Mr. Audley's character and fortune to the thankful remembrance of Mrs. Audley's peaceful death-bed, and the words of quiet, happy assurance in the pardon of a crucified Saviour with which she had closed her eyes from the trials that were thickening before her in this life, to open them in a world from which sin and sorrow are for ever excluded. Often had the troubles at Audley Park been the subject of sorrowful and solemn conversation at Oldfield Rectory, and never without recalling to Ellen's mind her early envy of Miss Audley's wealth and rank. Remembering now what it had once cost her to fight against "covetous and carnal desires," and feeling deeply thankful to have struggled and overcome, there was a peculiar emphasis of feeling-an emphasis which her father remarked and understood in the tone with which she answered,

with regard to these earthly pomps and vanities, "I renounce them all." Perhaps this was the part of the Baptismal Service which moved her most, whilst Nellie's heart was full of remembrances of the other dear Patty, safely sheltered from the rough waves and winds of this life, on which her little namesake was now about to enter. And as she confidently declared her faith in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in the glorious resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus, in the communion of saints, in the remission of sins, and in the life everlasting, her thoughts dwelt as much on the beloved one of that name who had gone before to heaven as on the precious little one whom she was now promising to lead and help to follow after her.

On their way home the two young sponsors lingered behind and talked together of that day's solemn service, and all the responsibility that now rested upon them.

"You do not know who your sponsors are, Nellie," said Ellen, "but I know two of mine, and what it is in the power of sponsors to be when they really seek to do their duty. I believe we shall both of us try to do ours."

"If we can only remember all that we have ourselves been taught just on those three things specially recommended to us," said Nellie, "the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, we shall be able to teach her a good deal."

"I am so glad there is that mention of the Church Catechism in the exhortation to the god