of pleasure are there, and flowers that never fade. Myriads of happy spirits are there, and surround the throne of God with a perpetual hymn. The, angels with their golden harps sing praises continually, and the cherubim fly on wings of fire!-That country is heaven: it is the country of those that are good; and nothing that is wicked must inhabit there. The toad must not spit its venom amongst turtle doves; nor the poisonous henbane grow amongst sweet flowers. Neither must any one that does ill, enter into that good land.

The earth is pleasant, for it is God's earth; and it is filled with many delightful things. But that country is far better: there we shall not grieve any more, nor be sick any more, nor do wrong any more; there the cold of winter shall not wither us, nor the heats of summer scorch us. In that country, there are no wars nor quarrels, but all dearly love one another.

When our parents and friends die, and are laid in the cold ground, we see them here no more; but there we shall embrace them again, and live with them, and be separated no more. There we shall meet all good men, whom we read of in holy books. They loved God on earth; they praised him on earth; but in that country they will praise him better, and love him more.

There we shall see. Jesus, who is gone be

fore us to that happy place : and there we shall behold the glory of the high God, We cannot see him here, but we will love him here. We must be now on earth, but we will often think on heaven. That happy land is our home; we are to be here but for a little while; and there for ever, even for eternal ages.

-000

The Father redeemed from Slavery by his Son.

A Young man, named Robert; was sitting alone in his boat, in the harbour of Marseilles. A stranger stepped in, and took his seat near him, but quickly rose again; observing, that since the master was not present, he would take another boat. "This, sir, is mine," said Robert: "would you sail without the harbour?"-" I meant only to move about in the basin, and enjoy the coolness of this fine evening. But I cannot believe you are a sailor."-" Nor am I yet on sundays and holy-. days, I act the bargeman, with a view to make "What! covetous, at your age! up a sum."your looks had almost prepossessed me in your favour."-" Alas! sir, did you know my situation, you would not blame me."—" Well; perhaps I am mistaken. Let us take our little cruise of pleasure; and acquaint me with your history."

The stranger having resumed his seat, the dialogue, after a short pause, proceeded thus.

"I perceive, young man, you are sad. What grieves you thus?"-" My father, sir, groans in fetters, and I cannot ransom him. He earned a livelihood by petty brokerage; but in an evil hour embarked for Smyrna, in Asia, to superintend in person the delivery of a cargo, in which he had a concern. The vessel was captured by a Barbary corsair; and my father was conducted to Tetuan, where he is now a slave. They refused to release him for less than two thousand crowns, a sum which far exceeds our scanty means. However, we do our best. My mother and sisters work day and night. I ply hard at my stated occupation of a journeyman jeweller; and, as you perceive, make the most I can, of sundays and holydays. I had resolved to put myself in my father's stead; but my mother, apprized of my design, and dreading the double privation of a husband and an only son, requested the Levant captains to refuse me a passage."- Pray do you ever hear from your father? Under what name does he pass? or what is his master's address ?"— "His master is overseer of the royal gardens at Fez; and my Father's name is Robert, at Tetuan, as at Marseilles."-" Robert, overseer of the royal gardens?"- "Yes, sir."-" I am touched with your misfortunes; and venture to predict their termination."

Night drew on apace. The stranger, upon landing, thrust into young Robert's hand a purse, containing sixteen guineas with

ten crowns in silver, and instantly, disappeared.

Six weeks passed after this adventure; and each returning sun bore witness to the unremitting exertions of the good family. As they sat one day at their unsavory meal of bread and dried almonds, old Robert entered the apartment, in a garb little suited to a fugitive prisoner; tenderly embraced his wife and children, and thanked them, with tears of gratitude for the fifty guineas they had caused to be remitted to him on his sailing from Tetuan, for his free passage, and a comfortable supply of wearing apparel. His astonished relatives eyed one another in silence. At length, the mother, suspecting that her son had secretly concerted the whole plan, recounted the various instances of his zeal and affection. "Two hundred and fifty pounds," continued she, “ is the sum we wanted; and we had already procured somewhat more than the half, owing chiefly to his industry. Some friends, no doubt, have assisted him upon an emergency like the present."

A gloomy suggestion crossed the father's mind, Turning suddenly to his son, and eyeing him with the sternness of distraction, "Unfortunate boy," exclaimed he, "what have you done? How can I be indebted to you for my freedom, and not regret it? How could you effect my ransom, without your mother's

knowledge, unless at the expense of virtue ? I tremble at the thought of filial affection having betrayed you into guilt. Tell the truth at once, whatever may be the consequence."- Calm your apprehensions, my dearest father," cried the son, embracing him. "No, I am not unworthy of such a parent, though fortune has denied me the satisfaction of proving the full strength of my attachment. I am not your deliverer; but I know who is. Recollect, mother, the unknown gentleman. who gave me the purse. He was particular in his inquiries. Should I pass my life in the pursuit, I must endeavour to meet with him, and invite him to contemplate the fruits of his beneficence.". He then related to his father all that passed in the pleasure-boat, and removed every distressing suspicion,

Restored to the bosom of his family, the father again partook of their joys, prospered in his dealings, and saw his children comfortably established. Some time afterwards, on a Sunday morning, as the son was walking on the quay, he discovered his benefactor, clasped his knees, and entreated him, as his guardian angel, as the preserver of a father and a family, to share the happiness he had been the means of producing. The stranger again disappeared in the crowd-but, reader, this stranger was Montesquieu.