kind expressions of affection and hopeful encourage- | half an inch thick. The pupils had some sort of ment from herself and her husband. No words can tell what comfort it afforded me. The furniture of my little room consisted of a short, narrow, iron bed, one solitary rush chair, a round washing-stand, the small, shallow basin standing in a circular frame at the top, and below that, what we should have called a good-sized milk jug, about half full of water, on the surface of which, a layer of dust and some dead flies floated; a small dressing table with a rickety drawer that refused to let itself be either pulled out or pushed in, except at one corner. Instead of a chest of drawers, there were some wooden pegs fixed in the wall, and a few rusty nails in the door, for hanging up dresses. The only thing I could do, was to empty my trunks out on the floor, select whatever I wanted most, and then put everything back again. This operation carried me on till past eight o'clock. What I imagined to be the breakfast-bell, had already rung, so I went down stairs on a voyage of discovery. In the court I met a dumpy little woman with a bunch of keys in her hand. She wore a dark woollen petticoat, and a white bed-gown and nightcap. In person, she was not unlike a small feather-bed tied in in the middle. Supposing her to be the housekeeper or the cook, I requested her to show me the way to the breakfast-room. She smiled, and asked me, in French, how I felt that morning. I could not mistake the voice, it was that of Madame de Beaumonde! As soon as I could recover from my surprise, I answered, in English, that I hoped she was quite well; to which she replied, "Me no spik Engliss Meess." By this time we had entered a long narrow room that smelled unpleasantly of departed dinners. Seated upon black wooden benches at each side of two long narrow black tables, on which dark oil-cloth did the duty of damask, sat about sixty or seventy girls of all ages, and several young women, apparently from eighteen to thirty years old. Sure enough, those young women were all dressed in black, so I took them for teachers. My hostess pointed to a vacant place amongst them, and gave me a coarse linen napkin, which she showed me how to thrust into a broad wooden ring, with 36 engraved upon it, the very number on my letter, and on the brazen heart attached to my bedroom key. Suddenly I recollected that I had left the key on my table when I shut my door before I came down stairs, which I contrived to do by sticking my finger into the keyhole. I explained my dilemma to Madame, as every one called her, and she was so obliging as to promise to have the door opened for me, in the course of the day. Upon this, two fair-haired, Englishlooking girls, who sat one on each side of me, looked at each other and began to laugh heartily. Some months later, I found that Madame could not have had any difficulty in causing my door to be opened, inasmuch as she had in her possession a second key to every room in the house! Nevertheless, I had to pay two francs for it. Before each grown-up person at breakfast, was placed a large slice of sour bread; coffee, mixed with boiled milk and sweetened with treacle, was served round in white bowls made of earthenware about soup, by no means tempting to look at. As I had a very good appetite, I ate everything that was offered to me, but I observed that nearly all my neighbours put their bread into their pockets, instead of eating it, and bestowed it, as we went out, upon some of the little pupils who stood watching for it with eager hungry eyes, too After breakfast, Madame said she would present me to my English class at ten o'clock, and, as I could not get into my room, she advised me to take a walk in the garden in the meantime. Miss Emily, as I shall call my right-hand neighbour, put on a demure face, and asked me to allow her to conduct me through the pleasure-grounds. What was called the garden, was nothing more nor less than a piece of dry, dusty ground, into which the stone-paved court opened. If grass had ever grown there, it had been pretty nearly trampled away by the pupils, for they had no other place for taking exercise and air. A few of the youngest pupils were there, sauntering up and down, and looking as dusty and dull as the ground itself. There were a few large trees planted in row at the end of this play-ground-garden, some poles, bars, and ladders for gymnastics, took up one side, and two or three wooden chairs and stone benches filled the other. Under the windows of Madame's private rooms, a small bed for flowers was parted off by a low green paling, but the only flowers it contained, were a few shabby hollyhocks, a thirsty hydrangea, and some chrysanthemums, all of which had seen their best days. What took my fancy the most in this uninteresting scene, was an enormous white Angora cat, that followed us about exactly like a little dog, and jumped up on Miss Emily's lap, when we sat down. His long fur almost swept the ground, his tail waved to and fro like an ostrich plume, feather-like tufts of soft downy hair grew out of his ears, and his large paws felt as soft as if they were made of cotton wool. His name was Lebeau. He and I soon became great friends. Sometimes he even did me the l honour of following me up stairs, and taking a nap on my carpet-bag. A little before ten, I asked Miss Emily to point out the way to Madame's room, as I wished to speak to her about some matters connected with the fitting up of my bedroom. She evidently could not avoid laughing, when she rendered me this service, which rather nettled me at the time, though before long I could understand her meaning but too well. I found Madame buried in a cosy arm-chair, reading the newspaper, by a bright wood fire, before which a handsome Persian carpet was spread. The room was furnished in citron wood and violet velvet. A large alcove, shaded by violet curtains, contained the bed, which was covered with a quilted silk counterpane of the same colour, trimmed with a broad lace flounce. On the white marble toilettable were ranged several Bohemian cut-glass essence bottles, which emitted just enough of perfume to render the air agreeable. In short, a more com plete picture of comfort I never beheld. Madame listened very patiently while I told her what was wanting to make my bedroom habitable, just as if she knew it all beforehand. She promised with out a demur, that I should have everything I wished for, and then added, "But at the present moment, the house is so full of pupils, and so many ladies desire to come as boarders, that we must wait a very little while." I at once saw that I was no match for Madame in adroitness, and I was seized with such an uncomfortable desire to get out of her presence, that I closed the interview by paying her the fifty francs for my first month. She took the money with an air of great satisfaction, and handed me a receipt which she had ready prepared in the drawer of her beautiful inlaid writing-table. After that we went into the class room where I was to give my first lesson. OF AUSTRIA. Muon that would be unpleasant to the ear might be said of the state of Austria, Hungary, and Bohemia, before the reign of this good Emperor. Stories are told of the cruel oppression of the des. potic aristocracy, and the tyranny of magistrates, that make one's hair stand on end. The following however, is too interesting to be passed over. lands of the Count. He wished to get possession ANECDOTE OF THE EMPEROR JOSEPH II. lifted the stick which was in my hand and felled it to the ground. Just then the Court rode up ; seeing what I had done he raised his riding-whip and struck me across the head. Immediately after the Count's servants came up and took me into custody, although I had never laid a finger on the hare.* I was taken to prison where I lay six months, at the end of which time the form of a trial was gone through, and I was condemned to be imprisoned for two years. My wife and children were turned out of their home and driven into wretched misery. This, please your honour, is my history!" But is it true?" said the Emperor sternly, shivering with horror at the recital, and anger glowing in his generous bosom. The old man looked at him sorrowfully and said, "What good could it possibly do me to make myself white in your eyes, if I were really black? No, no! it is too true, but ask any one round about, you will hear the same story everywhere-I and my sad history are well known." When the noble Joseph travelled through his dominions he wished to judge with his own eyes of the real state of his people; to accomplish this objects he was in the habit of dressing himself plainly generally as an officer, and going thus disguised here and there, looking about and asking questions; in this way he discovered many things which otherwise would have remained unknown to him, and he became acquainted with abuses which he could not have believed possible to exist. Travelling in this manner through Hungary, he, one morning, walked out through the streets of Presburg. No one, seeing the plain uniform of an officer, suspected they were looking upon their beloved Emperor, for it was still so early that every one believed him to be in bed. The streets were just being cleaned by the convicts and pri soners. The Emperor standing to look at them while they worked, remarked among them a handsome, stately looking, old man, whose hair and beard were white as silver, but whose figure was still unbent by age. His looks were at once noble and intelligent. He alone, of all the prisoners, had a chain fastened to his leg, to which was attached a heavy bullet. He seemed to work vigorously, but still the overseer was continually calling out to him, finding fault and rating him without any apparent cause, and as if for no reason but to give annoyance to the old man; he, on his part, appeared to bear all his sufferings with meekness and patience. "What can he have done that he should have to drag that heavy chain and bullet ?" thought the Emperor within himself, "I would not take him for a murderer, or desperate criminal of any kind!" Unobserved by the overseer, who had gone away, he went up to him and said, "What have you done, old man, that you are the only one who carries about a chain and bullet?" The sound of the voice was so gentle and full of pity that the old man leant on his broom, and looking smilingly at the officer, said, "I am a freeman, from the province of Comorn; round about my little property lie the "But how can this be possible? Why is your Emperor not informed of it?" asked Joseph. "Oh, he is far away! and travelling is difficult; besides, a poor man like me must be wrong when his opponent is a nobleman," said the prisoner with a deep sigh. 66 "What is the name of the governor of your prison?" asked the Emperor. Oh, sir! do me a favour," exclaimed the old man sadly; "pray do not try to interfere in my favour. Once before a nobleman endeavoured to befriend me, and procure justice for me, and all that came of it was fifty lashes and this chain and bullet, which I have wearily dragged ever since. No, no do not think of it, your trouble would be all in vain !" At this moment the overseer returned; he hurried up with his stick raised, exclaiming, "There you are again, you lazy fellow, chattering away your time instead of working! Have you found another soft-hearted fool willing to listen to your grievances and complaints? Perhaps you would like another fifty lashes, and a chain and bullet for the other leg?" The man was now boiling with rage and anger, and again raised his stick to strike the old man. The Emperor parried the stroke with his cane, and the stick of the overseer flew over his head. “Sirrah!" exclaimed he in a passion, "who gave you a right to interfere with an official in the discharge of his duty? I will arrest you, sir!" *The law in Germany is that no one can be punished for killing game, if they do not touch it. The Emperor slowly unbuttoned his overcoat, and showed to the enraged overseer a shining star, surmounted by the black double-headed eagle of Austria! The overseer, now recognising the Emperor, stood paralysed with terror, then exclaimed, Mercy, mercy!" and tried to fall on his knees. Away!" cried the Emperor; "lead me instantly to the governor." Hesitation could not avail the wretched man; leaving his stick lying on the street, he hurried on before the Emperor with unsteady limbs and palpitating heart. When they arrived at the jail, the Emperor stood still for a few moments in the great court, and looking wistfully around him, said half aloud: "How many a victim of a rude and inhuman cruelty may be groaning in chains within these walls! O God! help me to proc ire justice for all !" He then followed the overseer to the apartment of the governor, who was still in bed; but so soon as the word Emperor" struck upon his ear, he jumped up, and stood before his master as pale as the over seer. It may easily be imagined that the Emperor did not praise him too much for the late hours he kept. On this subject he gave him a short but severe lecture. He then asked the overseer the name of the old man, but this was unnecessary; the governor knew at once to whom he referred, and named him. Joseph then caused the papers connected with the prisoner's trial and condemnation to be laid before him. He then sat down and examined them carefully, and found all that the old man had told to be strictly true. Putting all the documents in his pocket, he rose, and said to the governor, "Answer me honestly this one question; it may moderate the severity of your punishment. Did any one interfere in behalf of this prisoner ?" "Yes, please your Majesty," answered the "Indeed! and who ordered the flogging, and chain and bullet ?" "The judge ordered them, may it please your Majesty." "For what reason?" demanded Joseph. "In order that the prisoner might give up telling his story to every one. "O my God! what villainy ! Villains every one, from the highest to the lowest,-a blackened, worthless chain, each link of which is worse than the other!" Without uttering another word, the Emperor left the room, but returned almost immediately, and said impressively, "Woe be to him who does aught to harm that old man!" Then going out, he hurried home to the castle, where with deep emotion he again read over the papers; this done, he summoned the judge to appear before him. We pass over the unpleasant interview between the sovereign and the judge: the result was made known to all men. The judge was put into prison, and obliged to clean the streets of Presburg in the stead of the old man; and for companions he had the governor and overseer, who, by the bye, never received his stick again, except at intervals, when it was laid across his shoulders. The judge also received the fifty lashes (with interest) which he had so unceremoniously ordered to be given to the old man; the chain and bullet too became his by right of inheritance. Joseph having set the old man at liberty, sent for him to the castle, and held a lengthened conversation with him, from which he concluded that he was a shrewd, well-educated person. He therefore said to him, "You can be of use to me; your house and property are sold. I cannot give them back to you, and even if I could, it would not be desirable, for the hatred of the nobleman would follow you, and render you unhappy. But this I will do: I will give you a sum of money equal to the value of your lost property, and I will make you the governor of the jail, hoping that you who have suffered the horrors of barbarous cruelty and injustice will treat all prisoners committed to your care with humanity, consideration, and mildness. See also that your subordinates practise the same virtues; and if any injustice emanates from those who are placed over you in authority, write immediately and let me know. Write every detail, but with the strictest regard to truth; in this case you shall certainly hear from me. Farewell! Gather your family around you, forget none of my words, and may God bless you!" The happy old man would have thanked the Emperor, but he, with a kindly nod, passed into an inner room. ASCENDING. M. H. A. THEY who from mountain peaks have gazed upon The blue vault deepens over them, and one Shoots down a feebler splendour overhead. When low beneath us flits the cloudy rack, We see Thee drawn within a widening sphere Of glory, from us further, further back,— 66 Yet is it then because we are more near. D*** GOOD WORDS FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. NOVEMBER 6. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."-Isa. xl. 31. If we would work for the Lord, we must wait upon the Lord; we have no strength in ourselves to serve Him; no power to mount up as eagles on the wings of faith and love; the strength and the grace must come from Him, and be sought continually from Him. It is not the grace of one day that will do for the next, nor the strength given on one sweet and refreshing Sabbath faint," to the end of our journey; we must wait upon Him for daily strength, "Give us this day our daily of the Lord that will enable us to "walk and not bread." Perhaps it is for ourselves one of the best effects of trying to do something in His service, that we are made to feel how entirely we depend on Him for strength to do it. And as we have no strength in ourselves to work for God, so neither have we strength to bear what He appoints for us unless we wait upon Him. Days, and months, and years of suffering are the appointed portion of many of God's dear children; and yet how often do we see them rejoicing and singing His praise, mounting up in holy meditation strong in the Lord, when the body is most weak, or the heart most afflicted! Let us, then, never despair of obtaining this strength; let us never be faint and weary for want of asking it! "Show me what I have to do, Every hour my strength renew; Let me die Thy people's death!" NOVEMBER 7. "Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."-GAL. iv. 6. A loving and tender father is willing to give of his best to his children; our Lord Himself speaks of this as a part of man's nature, even in his fallen state, "If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" What, then, is the gift which our Father, in the exercise of His fatherly love and His kingly power, will give to His favoured, happy children? Is it wealth, honour, proud distinction among men? Is it mental riches, power of mind exceeding their fellows; or is it freedom from sorrow, exemption from pain, a state of perfect bodily health, and the buoyant spirits of youth all through life's pilgrimage? No; these are not his best gifts, these would be but as the gift of a stone for bread. He will give thee something far better, O child of God! Because He hath loved thee and called thee His son, He will send forth the Spirit of His Son, His only' begotten and well-beloved Son, into thine heart, crying; Abba, Father! He will give thee Himself! He will manifest Himself to thee, and He has said, O listen to His voice, "Ask, and it shall be given unto you!" NOVEMBER 8. "Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty."— ISA. xxxiii. 17. "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God."-MATT. v. 8. Who are they that shall see the King in his beauty? Only those whose eyes have been opened to perceive that beauty, for, to the natural eye, he still "hath no form nor comeliness." Men would find it easy to admire one like themselves, or excelling themselves only in blindness to their sins, which they would call mercy. Not such is the beauty of our King; but we must learn the beauty of holiness if we would know wherein lies His glory; and it is only through the teaching of the Holy Spirit, that our sinful natures can be so changed as to enable us to admire it. This promise is not to be taken as wholly belonging to a future state; even now, with the eye of faith, the Christian beholds the King in his beauty; the pure in heart sees God. We may see Him in His Word, where He reveals to us His mind and will; we may trace Him in His works, where His power, and goodness, and wisdom are displayed; but if we would see our King in His highest glory, the beauty of His holiness, and the majesty of His love, we must_gaze with the eye of faith upon the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. "What object, Lord, my soul should move What beauty should command my love NOVEMBER 9. "Is there no balm in Gilead? is there no physician there?"-JER. viii. 22. How natural it is for the afflicted heart that knows not Christ to answer-"No, there is no balm for my grief, no sorrow like my sorrow. The iron has entered into my soul beyond the reach of any physician!" This may be nature's voice, but it is not the voice of grace. The Lord will not permit his children to speak thus in their hour of trial. When no earthly voice can comfort them He speaks to them: "I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her;" or, as in the margin, " speak to her heart."' He reveals and applies the balm of true healing. He comes as the Physician when none else can cure, and never is His power to comfort and heal known till then; for "they that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick!" Therefore, when the sufferings and sorrows of some of God's dear children rise before us, and make us marvel that it is so with them, and that "waters of a full cup are thus wrung out to them," let us not forget, that God knows and sees their sorrows, and let us remember that "God is love." If he wounds, there is a reason for it, a reason of love. And for those who are wounded, however deeply, there is balm in Gilead,— there is a Physician there. "See, in the Saviour's dying blood, Life, health, and bliss abundant flow; 'Tis only this blest sacred flood Can ease thy pain and heal thy woe." NOVEMBER 10. "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."-MATT. vi. 13. "Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation."-MATT. xxvi. 41. The Christian can never in this world get beyond the need of praying this prayer, for he can never here below the devil shows his cunning in nothing so much as in the get beyond the reach of temptation. But our adversary nature of the temptations he presents to us, and the believer, finding that those things which were snares to his youth, are no longer attractive to his mature years, may be deceived into fancying that he is past that stage of his journey wherein temptations abound, not perceiving that the real change is neither in himself nor in his enemy, but only in the mode of attack. The man who is no longer dazzled by youthful gaieties, may be misled quite as fatally by the engrossing cares of busy manhood; the girl who is no longer liable to be beguiled by admiration of her person, may be quite as much puffed up with vanity in more advanced years by the homage paid to her talents, influence, or position. When we hear of the failings or follies of others, let us be humbled with the thought that, but for God's grace, we, if tempted like them, might have even thus gone astray; and let us cleave all the closer to Him who is faithful, who will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able; but will, with the temptation, make a way to escape, that we may be able to bear it. NOVEMBER 11. "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance." EPH. i. 11. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light."-COL. i. 12. We cannot buy an "inheritance;" we cannot earn it by any doings of our own. The very word implies tha it cannot become ours by purchase, but only by the higher right revealed in the words, "if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." Our inheritance depends on our union with Christ. By Him we are adopted into the family of God, and re- He has promised to those who love Him and keep His stored to more than all that our first parent forfeited; words. We cannot by searching find out where heaven and through Him not only is our inheritance secured, lies; but we may have a heavenly foretaste within our but it is promised that we shall be made meet to be par-hearts, if the Lord deign, according to His Word, thus takers of it. Oh, it is wonderful that Christian men are to manifest Himself to us. It is vain to speculate on content to pass through this world with so few thoughts the future state; the intellect cannot discover it, but of the glory which Christ has set before them! How the heart may know something of it, by having even can they be meet for a home of which they seldom here its "conversation in heaven.” think? How can they become happy inhabitants of country whose language they have never learned, whose customs they love not? Let us think much of our inheritance if we would be prepared for it; and let us give thanks with the apostle, that the Father has Himself promised to give that meetness which we, of ourselves, can never attain. "Jesus left Judea, and departed again into Galilee. And he must needs go through Samaria." "The angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south, unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went."ACTS viii. 26. To save the soul of a poor sinner, and through her to bring all the men of her city to hear the gospel of the grace of God, Jesus "must needs" go through Samaria. To enlighten the inquiring Ethiopian of great authority in his own land, Philip was sent through the desert by the angel. Perhaps we have found sometimes that, in the providence of God, we must needs go through some Samaria where none knew of Jesus, or some desert where none could be expected to meet us. And we have found that it was there that God had some special work for us to do; some opportunity wholly unexpected occurred, and we were made to feel that the guiding hand of our God had led us there. Let us then take courage in committing our way and our work to Him. Let us ask Him to use us as His instruments, and to strengthen us for the work. Let us think, when we find ourselves in some unlooked for circumstances or place, "It may be that there is some one here for whose sake I have been brought hither." And let the blessed example of Him who, "wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well," and made it a well of life to His hearer, stimulate us (at the cost of our own ease if necessary) to improve opportunities, and make opportunities to do good. Let us "in all our ways acknowledge God, and He will direct our steps.' NOVEMBER 13. "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."-JOHN xiv. 23. "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them."-REV. xxi. 3. "The glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."-REV. xxi. 23. "His servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads."-REV. xxii. 3, 4. To dwell with Him is the joy of heaven; to have Him dwelling with us is the highest joy of earth. If, then, we would know wherein the happiness of heaven consists, we must seek to know more and more of that blessed communion with the Father and the Son, which "My knowledge of that life is small, The eye of faith is dim; But 'tis enough that Christ knows all, And I shall be with Him." NOVEMBER 14. "I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts. "Ps. cxix. 94. Ps. cxi Consider what it is to be able to say this: "I am Thine!" not the world's, not Satan's, not my own, but Thine, O my God, for Thou hast redeemed me. "Ye are not your own. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Cor. vi. 19, 20). The world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world" (John xvii. 14). "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath i. 13). Therefore we may say, "I am Thine!" And if translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Col. so, how great is our happiness, how high are our privi leges, how complete is our safety; and let us never forget how deep are our responsibilities to live as His own redeemed ones ought to live; for in this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother" (1 John iii. 10). "I am Thine" let this thought be our comfort in sorrow, our strength in weakness, and our warning when tempta tion assails us. "We are Thine!" and if so, He has said to us, Christ is God's!" "All are yours, and ye are Christ's, and "O tell me, Lord, That thou art mine; NOVEMBER 15. "I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."-Ps, xxxiv. 4. "I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live."-Ps. cxvi. 1, 2 It is a great thing to be enabled to say, "I love the Lord for he is good," it is still better to feel "he is good to me," "who forgiveth all thine iniquities;" but it is best of all when we can say, "He hath heard my voice What am I that He should hear me? What am I that He who dwelleth in the highest heaven should open for me this door of mercy, and incline me to pray and receive my feeble prayer, and "deliver me from all my fears." Surely when first the thought bursts upon a man, the Lord has heard me," he may well feel overwhelmed; he may well feel his heart burn as if with a new-born sense. And as we advance in our pilgrimage, and have occasion to say many a time this wonderful word, "the Lord has heard me," let us be on our guard against losing the freshness of the feeling, or forgetting, like the ungrateful nine cured lepers, return and give thanks. Rather let the resolution of the Psalmist be ours: "He has heard me; therefore will I call upon him as long as I live !" "Prayer makes the darkening cloud withdraw, |