more fully to the Lord, begging Him to do with me what seemed good in his sight.

"It seems probable that I shall be engaged in tuition. If so, how much shall I need to be taught of God! I must cry to Him for heavenly wisdom. I feel it a solemn thought that, to some extent, I shall be responsible for the present and eternal welfare of the children who may be placed in my charge. Blessed Lord, help me that I may be faithful."

CHAPTER VII.

LEARNING TO TEACH.

"My blessed Master! it is sweet
To bring my burden, all complete
And lay it gently at thy feet.

O wondrous love! I thought to lay,
The galling burden of to-day
Just at thy feet, and come away.

But thou has whispered words of cheer,
And whispered in my heavy ear,

Oh, thou of little faith, draw near.

Thou giv'st me bread from heaven to eat,

And bid'st me tarry at thy feet,

And slak'st my thirst with cordials sweet."

WHILE Miss D. was in her seventeenth year she took a situation as governess. Until the close of her eighteenth year she was employed in this form of teaching, though not the whole of the time in the same family. As might be supposed she deeply felt her need of the special help of God at this time. Her mind was sensitively acquainted with the solemn responsibility of her position, and with her own inexperience.

Every young person, in such a situation, is in need of all the sympathy and aid which can be rendered to them by the senior members of the family. Happy is

it if they are thus favoured, and if they have such fellowship with God as ensures Divine strength and direction. Whilst a governess is yet in her teens her position in the family is somewhat peculiar. She must be entrusted with considerable authority, yet she can scarcely be expected to be prepared to employ that authority at all times so wisely as she would after a few years experience. The pupils entrusted to her care must be made to understand that they are to yield obedience to her, yet it may be difficult at all times to ensure this obedience when it would be unhesitatingly yielded to a parent, though the direction given was precisely the same. The position of a young person employed as governess must be one of mingled authority and subordination, and is neither easy to define nor maintain. All concerned must use whatever good sense they have, in order to gain all the advantage from the relationship which may be derived and is exceedingly desirable.

Miss Sophia found need for all the grace, and sense, and watchfulness, and patience which she could command. Often was her mind greatly depressed. She felt painfully that she was not effecting all the good she desired to effect, and which she had hoped to accomplish. Her very conscientiousness was, at times, in danger of becoming morbid, and the occasion. of needless distress. Whilst those concerned were, in their own minds, commending her fidelity, and admiring her tact, and pleased with her success, she was mourning over weaknesses and failures, and not unfrequently weeping in secret before her God. One circumstance of somewhat ordinary kind, with which Miss Sophia was acquainted, may be mentioned

under assumed names, as illustrating the sort of difficulties with which she had to contend, and which formed part of the gracious discipline employed for her instruction and benefit.

The scene is a farm-house. The mistress of the house a woman of good-sense, and kindly intentions, and earnestly desiring the welfare of her children, but not of vigorous health, and wanting in the firmness, and wisdom which are essential to the training of children. She does, however, on most occasions, sustain the authority of a youthful governess whom she has engaged to instruct her children. The master of the house is chiefly engaged in his own pursuits and pleasures, and quite disposed to gratify his children. when they happen to be near him unless their gratification would interfere with his own. The discipline exercised by the parents is, by them, supposed to be what is best for the children. Rewards and punishments succeed each other. Indulgence and sternness are blended in what may be regarded as moderate quantity. But the discipline, really, is far from judicious. The conduct of the children is reckoned good or evil chiefly as it happens to be pleasant or otherwise to the parents. Falsehood, wilful and deliberate, has been rebuked only, and that with no great amount of severity. The offence of making a noise, at a time when such noise was specially annoying to the father, has been punished by stripes with a riding whip. Poor Mr. and Mrs. X., chiefly the former, are sadly blundering over the training of their children, but expect great things to be effected by the girl in her teens whom they have engaged as governess.

This young lady is engaged one forenoon in the

instruction of her pupils. Among these is a boy whom we will call Fred. It has been arranged by Mr. and Mrs. X. that Fred shall go to school when he is twelve years old. But he will not attain that mature age for a long time to come. So for the present he is to receive instruction with his sisters. Perhaps daily intercourse with the girls, and the constant supervision of an educated and gentle young lady may tend to soften his manners. On the morning in question Master Fred has read his lesson in a manner which has given entire satisfaction to himself; and, although it is only half-past ten, he demands, as a reward for his performance, an immediate release from the school room, and an exemption from all farther tasks for the present. He urged as an additional plea that he had been accustomed to do so during the time of a previous governess.

Miss A however did not see the force of this reasoning. The other children were about to form a little class as usual for mental arithmetic, and Freddy was desired to take his place among them. He replied: "I'm going down stairs." "No, Freddy, you must "Then," said the young

come and join the others." hero, "I shall sit on the desk." In a moment he had sprang to the position mentioned, planting himself on the lid with a defiant air, and adding, "Now, go on with the arithmetic, for I want to be off."

"No, Freddy," was the reply, "we shall not proceed with the lesson whilst you are there. Come down, and sit at the table like a good boy."

"I shant." This was said in a low tone, but with a determined manner.

"Now, Freddy dear, you do not wish to displease