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"To constrain

Her unbound spirit into bonds again;'

yet, if we live and die as she did, we shall go to her, though she will not return again to us."

"Shall we, indeed, papa?" said the dear little fellow, as the tears ran plentifully down his ruddy cheeks.

Mr. H. felt that they had been drawn to a subject which was too much for their feelings; and he directed the attention of Edwin to another subject, till they arrived at home, and the evening was closed with supplication and thanksgiving.

CHAP. II.

As year after year revolved, Mr. H. endeavoured to implant the best principles in the heart of his infant charge. He taught him the elements of the Latin language, knowing that a very large proportion of our own tongue is derived from it. He especially inculcated in his daily

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yet, if we live and die as she did, we shall to her, though she will not return again to us." "Shall we, indeed, papa?" said the dear little fellow, as the tears ran plentifully down his ruddy cheeks.

Mr. H. felt that they had been drawn to a subject which was too much for their feelings; and he directed the attention of Edwin to another subject, till they arrived at home, and the evening was closed with supplication and thanksgiving.

CHAP. II.

As year after year revolved, Mr. H. endeavoured to implant the best principles in the heart of his infant charge. He taught him the elements of the Latin language, knowing that a very large proportion of our own tongue is derived from it. He especially inculcated in his daily

labour, the great truths contained in the Holy Scriptures. Mr. H. wished to educate his little pupil not only for the present world, but for another.

The May morning which dawned on the eleventh birthday of Edwin, was peculiarly balmy and beautiful. Every object seemed to invite the admirer of the lovely scenes of nature abroad. Edwin's papa was delighted with the volume of creation: he often read it with enthusiasm. He was one of those characters mentioned by a fine poet, who could find

“Tongues in the trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in every thing."

When the tasks of the morning were ended, Edwin accompanied his papa on one of their usual excursions.

"This is my birthday, papa," said Edwin: "I am now eleven years old."

"I know it, my dear," said his father. "God has been very gracious to you, and to me also, in preserving you so long. If you had been taken away, I should have been indeed bereaved. But the good God does not lay on his servants more than they are able to bear."

"John Wallace was born, papa, the same day with myself."

"Yes, I believe he was. It was a reflection of one of the kings of France, Henry the Fourth, that, though many came into the world the same day with himself, he was, probably, the only one among them who was born to be a king. You, Edwin, cannot say this; but you may say, to the praise of God's great goodness, that, though many were born the same day with you, they have not been blessed with so many mercies, and are not at this moment in such comfortable circumstances. You have indeed reason to say, 'Bless the Lord, O my soul! and all that is within me, bless his holy name!'

'Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.'

You rose this morning surrounded with innumerable comforts and blessings: all nature seems to smile on you."

"Yes, papa, indeed it does; and I was thinking, whilst you were speaking, of the twentythird Psalm. I have heard you say, that you thought David wrote it when he was very young, as he was looking after his father's flocks. I too may say, God has been my shepherd; and his 'goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life.""

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