"It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

"The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.

No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls; for the price of wisdom is above rubies.

"The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

"Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?"

To the momentous question, commencing and terminating the above sublime passage of Scripture, which many worldly persons, and possibly Mr. and Mrs. Sandford among the number, are inclined to propound, and in the same spirit that actuated Pilate when he asked our blessed Lord, "What is truth?" To this momentous question, I repeat, is the answer given in the concluding part of the same chapter, in thoughts and words of equal beauty and magnificence.

"God understandeth the way thereof, and He knoweth the place thereof. . .

"When He made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:

"Then did He see it, and declare it; He prepared it, yea, and searched it out.

"And unto man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." *

But alas! such divine wisdom, in its deeply spiritual character, as here described, had not yet been attained unto by the thoughtless Mrs. Sandford, and her too sympathizing husband.

It may naturally be inquired, why the lady's parents, who are represented to have been pious people, permitted their

* Job xxviii. 12-28.

daughter to contract so worldly an engagement; and the answer may be returned, that the very best of parents, with their most zealous endeavours, cannot always prevent it. Besides, a whispering rumour had been current, at the time of their marriage, that the first celebration of it had been effected at a certain notorious village on the borders of Scotland.

The result of this union had been one son and two daughters; of which latter, Clara, the eldest, had just entered her nineteenth year.

As an intimacy had subsisted between the families for so long a period, especially during the lifetime of the father and mother of Mrs. Sandford, it had not been considered desirable, by the worthy owners of Derwent Cottage, to break off the aequaintance. It is true, that their tastes and feelings, their modes of thinking and acting, did not harmonize together; and had there been no other principle in operation to prevent it, the connexion would have been given up, as regarded the family in question. But Mrs. Gracelove considered that she had a duty to perform to society, as well as towards the daughter of her departed pious friends, irrespective altogether of her mere individual feelings. As a Christian, she conceived there was an obligation imposed upon her, to exert her best endeavours for the reformation of those friends and acquaintance around her who were less favoured with spiritual knowledge than herself. Having "freely received," she felt the force of the divine injunction, "freely give." She was sensible that to "hide her candle under a bushel" was not the way to disperse the moral darkness; and that it was her imperative duty to "let her light so shine before men that they might see her good works, and glorify her Father which is in heaven." * To effect this, our benevolent friend was aware required * Matt. v. 16.

much of self-denial, and christian love and patience. To refuse all intercourse with persons because their tastes and principles might be dissimilar to her own, would have been to divest herself altogether of the power of being useful to them, as well by the advice to be given as the example to be set. Besides, in proportion to the self-denying charity of the deed, is its acceptableness with God, and value in the sight of men, to be estimated. " Charity suffereth long and is kind :-seeketh

not her own."

These considerations induced her to accept the invitation she had received; and while she suppressed a latent disinclination to go, arising from uncongeniality of pursuits with those of Mrs. Sandford, she gave full scope to the benevolence and generosity of the christian character.

On the second morning following the arrival of the letter, Mrs. Gracelove ordered the carriage to the door, and immediately took her departure for Patterdale. Not very far from this interesting village, on the south-western shore of Ullswater, was situated the picturesque villa of the lady whom she was on the point of visiting. The distance from Keswick is twentyone miles, and the road leading to it is diversified by every variety of beautiful and romantic scenery that nature, in her happiest combinations, can display. Winding valleys, skirted by lofty mountains, with an occasional vista opening out to a distant horizon; streams of transparent water gleaming by the pathway side;-luxuriantly swelling hills, precipices, wooded cliffs, cascades, and verdant slopes, exhibited their various enchantments to the never-tiring eye. The charms of Switzerland and the Tyrol may, indeed, surpass those of Cumberland and Westmoreland in magnitude of outline, but they do not exceed them in the richness, beauty, and romance of their splendid scenic attractions.

On arriving at the villa, Mrs. Sandford received her guest

with all that amiable address, and kindness of manner, which was natural to her. She expressed her thanks for Mrs. Gracelove's ready acquiescence with her request, in a tone of voice and feeling which evinced that she had something on her mind of more than ordinary interest.

The first hour after their meeting passed in the usual preliminary inquiries consequent on an interview after the lapse of so many months since the last had taken place,—personal health, family, friends, and acquaintance. At length, the important subject in reserve was opened by Mrs. Sandford, with somewhat of hesitation, in the following manner.

"My dear Mrs. Gracelove," she commenced, "I have greatly desired to see you, and obtain your friendly advice on a question which deeply interests the happiness of my eldest daughter, Clara; and, indeed, the welfare of all the family. A gentleman, of the name of Merton, has recently made her an offer of marriage. Possessed of large property, and most respectably connected, he presents, in every point of view, a very eligible match, with one slight exception,-that of his being a Roman Catholic.

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"I should not have hesitated for a moment," she continued, had he been a Protestant; and even as it is, such are the advantages of the proposed union, that I am almost inclined to believe, in accordance with my husband and daughter, that I am a little too fastidious in entertaining the objection. I have every reason to suppose that Mr. Merton is a man of good moral character; that he is a regular attendant at chapel; and the world speaks very highly of him as a generous landlord. It is true, my dear Mrs. Gracelove, we were brought up to the Church, and therefore I am bound to esteem it the best and should be very sorry to leave it, or for any of my children to do so. But yet I am not quite sure that a really good Roman Catholic may not be as estimable a man, and as

good a member of society, as a Protestant. However, be that as it may, Mr. Merton is liberal enough to assure my daughter that he should by no means expect her to accompany him to the chapel; so that she would still continue to enjoy the ministrations of her own place of worship, after her marriage, as she did before. Nevertheless, I am anxious to consult your better judgment; and for this purpose I solicited the act of friendship, which you have so kindly responded to, in paying me this opportune visit."

"It is, indeed, a most grave and important question that you have referred to my consideration,” replied the lady of Derwent Cottage," and can alone be answered by an appeal to that one infallible standard which the word of God supplies. By that great and only test of the propriety of human actions, and the soundness of human principles, I feel not the smallest doubt in at once declaring that your present scheme, my dear Mrs. Sandford, is utterly condemned.

"There is nothing, in the whole compass of the sacred Scriptures," she observed, "more severely denounced, and more awfully punished, than the sin of idolatry,-which is so foul a blot on the escutcheon of the Church of Rome. On this special account, as well as for the general depravity of those nations, were the children of Israel commanded to drive out and destroy the idolatrous inhabitants of Canaan, and to possess their country. A very large portion of the Old Testament is taken up with the narrative, condemnation, and punishment of these crimes among the Canaanitish people. It is full of reiterated and most impressive warnings, given to the Israelites, not to offend in a similar manner; and of the fearful desolations, and mournful captivities, which they had to endure when, seduced by their heathen wives and husbands, and despising these warnings, they bowed themselves down before the false gods of the land.