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Joe's heart smote him, when he remembered the money he had spent that week alone, in gratifying his selfish propensity; and now he had not a copper left to pay for a bit of plaster for Grace.

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Haven't you any, Grace?" he asked, after a few minutes' silence.

"Enough for bread for to-morrow, Joe," she replied. cheerfully; "and then the next day is Saturday, when you will have some for me, perhaps."

Joe took a draught of his tea; but it seemed to choke him, for he felt as if there was a great lump in his throat, making it hard for him to swallow. He never had experienced such a queer sensation before, or at least not since he was a child. He could not make it out; so he sat watching Grace for some minutes in silence, pondering over the mighty change in her ways and temper during the past year.

"Grace!" cried he, suddenly, when he could bear his thoughts no longer, "what is it, woman?"

"What, Joe?"

"What makes you so much better tempered, lass?”

A smile so radiant beamed upon Grace Atwood's face, that her husband marvelled at it, as she answered:

"The love of God, Joe, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, helping me.'

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Joe was fairly overcome, and asked, in a voice tremulous with emotion,

"Grace, woman! d'ye think the Lord would help me?" "Do I think, Joe? Don't I know that he will? For he says, 'Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” "Them's Bible words," said Joe: "I heard them years and years agone, when I wasn't the sinner I be now.'

They've got just the same meaning, Joe, though. Mr. White told me Scripture said, 'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever;' and therefore he always means the same to us."

"Does he, though ?"

"Yes: and Mr. White said that was why we were not cut off in our sins, but let live on to have time to repent. And he said, that every saved sinner was a living witness to those words; for if God hadn't always been love, and always would be love, he never would have given his only Son to die for us."

"But, Grace, you never was the sinner I be."

"Yes, Joe, in the sight of God I was. All sinners are alike; for the Bible says somewhere, The soul that sinneth, it shall die.' And Mr. White said, t'was sin, not the number of our sins, that separated us from God. Oh, Joe! I wish you would read the Bible to me; 'twould do me such a power of good, for I can't read it myself."

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Well, then I will, Grace. Hast got one?"

'Yes; I bought it nigh a twelvemonth ago, when I was out at work for Mrs. Dyson. I paid sixpence a week to a Bible woman for it; and she comes every now and then and reads a chapter out of it to me. "Tis a real beauty. I'll show it to you, Joe; I ain't afraid to to-night, 'cause you're like you was when you courted me. Them was happy days, Joe; but if you find the Lord, we'll be happier than then."

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And Grace went to the chest of drawers, and, from beneath some articles of clothing, drew out a large bundle. What, have you got it in that there bundle, Grace?" "Yes," replied Grace, a flush passing over her pallid cheeks; "I was afraid, Joe, and hid it among the rags."

Joe groaned aloud: he well knew why his wife had hidden her precious book; for many and many a time he had rummaged the drawers when she was out, and carried off anything worth a few pence to the pawn-shop, spending the money he had thus obtained at the ale-house.

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"Don't fret, Joe," said Grace, putting one hand upon his shoulder, and holding her treasure in the other. hadn't ought perhaps to have said that. I'll keep it on the top of the chest of drawers for the future, where we can both see it. I never had a secret afore, Joe, from you."

"Oh Grace! woman, don't talk like that. I've often wondered, when I've been in my sober senses, how 'twas that you've bided with me all these years, and I going from bad to worse every year."

"Never mind now, Joe; please God, we'll each of us try to go from better to better, the rest of our lives. Come, look at my beautiful Bible!" and Grace laid her Bible upon the table and began clearing away the tea-things.

"It must have cost you a lot of sixpences, Grace," said Joe, as he cautiously turned over the pages.

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"Yes," replied Grace, stopping to take a grateful look at Joe, admiring her Bible. Yes, it cost me twenty-six sixpences, for it was thirteen shillings. I would have a good large one."

"Not no more than that! and a real family Bible too." "No, the Bible woman said she got them from a Society for helping people to get Bibles. They didn't give them, because people thought more of what they bought with their own hard-earned pence; but they let poor folks have them cheaper, and took the money for them as they could afford to pay it. I was nigh upon five months paying for it."

The evening wore on happily-so happily to Grace; for Joe kept dipping here and there into the Bible, occasionally reading a verse aloud to her. Perhaps that desultory mode of reading was the best that Joe could have adopted that night. Though constantly startled by soul-arousing texts, to the necessity of immediate repentance, and fleeing from the wrath to come; yet, he was equally encouraged by the blessed offers of mercy and the certain assurance of acceptance and forgiveness, if with all his heart he turned to his Lord and Saviour.

"And I will turn from the evil of my ways, the Lord helping me," thought Joe, closing the Bible preparatory to going to bed; I will not perish in them, if so be Grace's God will be my God, and have mercy on me."

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Mrs.

WITH Some little difficulty George Walton had made up his mind to tell his mother what he intended to do. Walton was a widow, and George was her only child. Her means were slender; for though Lor husband had been an energetic man, he had died in his prime. She had sufficient, however, for her maintenance and that of her boy; and, besides, her husband had left a sum of money to be paid to George a year after his coming of age, for the purpose of setting him up in business.

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Mrs. Walton had enjoyed great comfort in her son. bad been affectionate and dutiful; both at school and during OCTOBER, 1865.

his apprenticeship he had been very diligent; and about two years before the time of which we are speaking he had commenced business under favourable auspices. Better than all, he had displayed considerable strength of character, and he was a true Christian.

What he had to tell his mother was that he had seen a young lady whom he greatly admired, and whom he intended to ask to be his wife.

Let no one accuse Mrs. Walton of selfishness when we say that she heard this with something like a pang. Her boy had been all her own for so many years, and now she was to have only a share in his affections it might be even the smaller share. Her house, too, would be lonely and dull without him; for he had always paid great attention to his mother, and he had spent most of his spare time at home. But her great solicitude was for him; and when she heard the object of his choice she was somewhat afraid.

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"You know, mother dear," he added, we don't need to be separated. I am sure Ellen will be as glad as I shall be to have you to live with us—that is, if she takes me."

"No, no, George," replied his mother, "that would scarcely do. Married people are always best by themselves; and, besides, I have been so long accustomed to be mistress in my own house, that I should get on badly if I had not everything just my own way. But," she added, hesitatingly, "I hardly know whether I should say it or not, now that things have gone so far, yet I think I ought to say it: I have heard Ellen Chapman well spoken of, and the little I have seen of her has pleased me much; but I hardly like the connection. They are not a pious family, and Ellen's mother has the reputation of being both imprudent and extravagant. Besides, one of her brothers, I know, has turned out ill."

"I am afraid, mother," said George, "that there is some truth in what you say about Ellen's family, but she is really a good girl. Besides, she has not been much at home for the last five years. During all that time she has been with the Bennings, at Sunnyside, and you know what an excellent woman Mrs. Benning is. You can't think how highly she speaks of her, and how dearly the children love her. And is it not rather hard to condemn her for the sake of her family?"

It was a delicate matter to say any more; and Mrs.

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