felt gratified by his being so regardful of their comfort even in such small things. No doubt many a clergyman, like Mr. Hope, has felt, that continual interruptions are to be met with, to conversation in a cottage. And if a grave rebuke or caution has to be given to the father or mother of a family, or some timely advice offered to either of the members, the cottage-hearth is not the most fitting place there is no privacy. Children listen to what is said, or a neighbour "just looks in," or the infant cries from its mother's arms. Thus, the thread of the discourse is often broken, and much difficulty sometimes arises in taking it up again. Consequently Mr. Hope accustomed himself to hold converse with his people, while they were engaged in labour out of doors. There was nothing unusual in seeing him walk by the side of the ploughman, and watch the plough turn furrow after furrow, he the while talking to the peasant, as he pursued his work; or stand with folded arms by the side of the shepherd, while he was shearing, or follow him from place to place, while he was tending his flock; or lean over the hatch of the barn door to talk to the thrasher, who was resting awhile after his mid-day meal. There was nothing unusual, I say, in meeting with the respected clergyman of Well

bourn, in such places, nor yet in seeing him stand by the cow-herd, while he was occupied in milking his cows; nor in seeing him in the dairy, watching the process of cheese or butter making; nor by the gardener's side; nor among hay-makers, or reapers, or busy gleaners; or by the side of the hedge-cutter on a bleak November day, or even in his meeting the labourer, on his way to work, in the twilight of a December morning, and enjoying with him, as he walked along, the clear stillness of the frosty air.

There are times and seasons when the heart of man seems to open itself with greater readiness than usual, and more willingly admits another into its confidence. Mr. Hope discovered that the best way of finding out the secret spring, which checked or opened the hearts of his people, was to encourage them to discuss with freedom any common subject that fell in their way; he listened attentively to their plain and homely talk; and took such opportunities of "making his eye," as Coleridge says, "the inmate of each bosom." And then from things of earth, he led their thoughts to things divine, and spoke of that spiritual kingdom, which though invisible to the natural man is still so very near him.

The Holy Scriptures, and the works of nature,

these were the books in which he directed their studies; and the chief object of their research, he taught them, should be to mark "God's hand in all things."

CHAP. II.

ONE day farmer Drew's shepherd, whose name was John Huntley, was so deeply engaged in thought while shearing some sheep, that he neither heard, nor saw, the approach of Mr. Hope; and when the clergyman addressed him with "Good day to you, John," he quite started with sudden surprise.

John. "I had no thought, Sir, that any one was near, it gave me quite a turn when you spoke so unexpectedly. I beg pardon, Sir, for seeming so startled at your coming."

Mr. Hope." You were thinking earnestly upon something, or you certainly would have heard me, for I did not come very stealthily. I hope you have no cause for anxiety about your master's flock, all still goes well with them, I trust."

John. " Yes, thank you, Sir, all still goes well, and I have no more care than usual with them; but my thoughts were not upon the flock just when you first spoke to me; I was thinking, Sir, of you, and so I suppose it startled me the more to find you close at hand.”

Mr. Hope. "It is wisely ordered, John, that one man cannot look into another's heart, and see the thoughts that dwell within it; we should, if it were otherwise, perhaps, be often startled

B

to find a friend's eye fixed upon us, at a time when we were thinking over his past faults, or present errors."

John. "Oh, Sir, indeed you have mistaken me, never a thought of faults or errors of yours crossed my mind; I was thinking, if you had been a poor man, what a good shepherd you would have made, how gentle and patient you would have been with the sheep, and what good thoughts would have always filled your mind while you were tending them. Do you remember, Sir, when last you came to me, how you told me that there was much in the daily work of a labouring man that would help to improve his mind, if he would think upon it, and that hour after hour should not succeed each other through the day, without being improved by those who must account for time as for a talent. And that men may work with their hands, and at the same time glorify God by marking His great goodness, and silently in their hearts praise Him for it; and that it is this that raises them so high above all the other works of the Creation,—the gift of reason, when it is used to train our souls for a glorious immortality."

Mr. Hope. "You have remembered well, my friend, the words I said to you, and that convinces me how much good there is in my power to do, as being here set over you, and yet how much I leave undone; and so you see, were I a poor man, I should not make so good a shepherd as you kindly give me credit for. As respects our previous conversation upon the waste of time in