ment, as calculated to please those who differ from it. He also talks much of the necessity of guarding the gospel; by which he means more than a guarded mode of expression in the preacher; for he is of opinion that the doctrines of grace should never be the prominent feature in a discourse. Could I gain admission to his house I should entertain a greater hope of effecting a change of opinion in him than the learned doctor; but that is shut against me, because my mode and manner resembles those religionists he disapproves. This gentleman's influence in the cirele in which he moves is equal to that of the physician's, and nearly divides the whole of my congregation, with the exception of a few stray hearers, from a neighbouring village, whose presence augments my disgrace, for I am accused of decoying them away from their legal pastor. The first time I ascended the pulpit I looked anxiously round for the decent poverty which graces the aisles of your humble church; but that, alas! is all enclosed within the walls of a methodist chapel, and the task of visiting their dwellings too, which I had anticipated with delight, devolves on their chosen instructor. When the season for bathing returns, I shall probably be surrounded by fashionable hearers accustomed to the pulpit eloquence of the metropolis, and who will exercise their critical talents in the work of comparison. But enough of my apprehensions, real and imaginary. From what I have said you will infer that I sigh for a village residence and a simple-hearted congregation; yet, my dear Sir, do not suppose that I harbour the unscriptural opinion, that unattended by divine influence, powers of argument would convince my learned opponents, or calm inves

tigation silence the murmurs of prejudice,—that simple truth would turn the rustic from the error of his way, or the pious visitant to the cottage always obtain the object of his visit. All I mean to imply isthat the almighty donor of graces and abilities adapts them also to peculiar stations, which it is the duty of his rational creatures to discover and apply them to. I add no more, but my request for your opinion and counsel, ever valuable to your dutiful and affection

ate son,

"H. NICHOLS."

66

The doctor listened attentively to the above epistle, and before Mr. Nichols could wipe the parental tear from his cheek, and clear his glasses from the mist it had occasioned, he exclaimed-" Mistaken physician! who, dazzled by the glare of mere human learning, cannot discern the 'true light of the world.' I should like to be introduced to his acquaintance ;"" and," added Mr. Nichols, "to preach before him." " I should have no objection," replied the doctor. "Then," resumed Mr. N. "I will frankly declare the opinion my young counsellor and myself had formed as you entered my parlour-that an exchange of livings between you and my son might be attended with mutual advantage." "The proposition is feasible," replied the doctor," and if, after mature deliberation, I am disposed to acquiesce, I will consult further with you on the subject." He soon took leave; nor did Mr. Nichols urge him to prolong his visit, knowing that persons of close reflection usually wished for retirement when any interesting subject engaged their attention.

As the doctor pursued his solitary way home, busy fancy, with unusual rapidity, placed his well chosen library, his own unfinished manuscripts, his invaluable memorandum book before him, and they seemed to his sanguine imagination to need only a judicious arrangement to become the subordinate means of engrafting christian faith on the moral habits of the learned physician. The more he pondered the subject, the more was he inclined to attend to Mr. Nichols's proposal, and in the course of a few days he consented for that gentleman to consult the inclination of his son upon the occasion.

CHAP. VII.

THE attentive observers of human manners must be sensible of the existence of what may be termed the innovating principle. Could the vices or follies attached to particular individuals or stations in life be confined within their proper boundaries, the evil would be greatly lessened; but the talent of influence will never cease its operation, while the lower orders of society are stimulated by vanity to imitate the higher.

"The town has tinged the country,"

And we look almost in vain for the simplicity of living adopted by our fore-fathers in rural scenes. Little more than the picturesque afforded by nature remains to realise the poetical descriptions which delight

the imagination. This was particularly the case with the inhabitants of the spot we are describing.

The readers have already heard of high card-playing, and parties of full-dressed ladies; but they must prepare to hear of more wonders yet, no less thanthe village masquerade. From the first hour the idea of this entertainment entered the heads of the Misses Jones, it had never ceased to engage their contrivance how it might be accomplished. The difficulty was great, as respected their father's consent. He first treated the subject as a mere joke, then as a request indicative of insanity, and finding he could neither rally nor reason his daughters from their purpose, applied to the Justice to know if such an amusement was not illegal. Assured by Mr. Nichols that he could interpose no authority but the parental, the farmer submitted to the evil, having long yielded up the reins of parental sway, as a sacrifice to domestic peace. The matter, indeed, would not have appeared so great an evil in his view, had it not been so expensive a one; for the interest of morality and propriety of station in life, had no weight in the argument. The next difficulty which presented, was the want of a proper room in the farm-house to accommodate a very numerous assembly of guests. At first it was proposed to fit up the large cheese-loft, which extended over the greatest part of the house. But a skilful carpenter consulted, gaye it as his opinion a considerable risk would be incurred by the removal of its present quiet inhabitants, in exchange for the party intended. At length it was resolved that a temporary room should be erected, as the safest, and, on the whole, the cheapest plan. In the mean while, mas

querade dresses were ordered, and eards of invitation dispatched to all the respectable families within ten miles, in the neighbourhood. The invitation dispatched to Miss Nichols met with a polite refusal, accompanied with some serious remonstrances on the inutility of the proposed entertainment, which were wholly disregarded by her young acquaintance. Miss Wilson, too, thought her rather severe in her animadversions, and, for the first time since her friendship commenced, acted in opposition to the advice of her friend, by accepting an invitation to countenance, by her presence, so vain and expensive an amusement. Had her parents seconded her friend's objections, Miss Wilson's inclinations would have yielded, but they consented, because they did not consider the nature of the entertainment; and her uncle declared he would not be absent from it, or go unaccompanied by his dear Patty. He evinced on the present occasion more consideration than usual, for he reflected on the probability that amidst such a scene of confusion, something might occur to wound the delicacy of his young charge, and therefore when she announced her intentions to appear in the habit of a shepherdess, he signified he would take that of a shepherd, and not absent himself from her side a moment. Mr. Gregory sometimes thought well, but seldom pursued a good thought through all its just bearings and connections; if he had on this subject, the result must have been the entire absence of himself and niece from a scene confessedly hostile to female purity.

Miss Jones's masquerade, and the choice of characters, engaged no small degree of attention, few contenting themselves with appearing in dominos. At