MAMMA. Yes, my dear little boy; and I will answer you to the best of my ability; for I doubt not the questions you have to ask are with the desire of obtaining information.

CHARLES. Yes, you are right. But will you, in the first place, tell me, if you have not any objection, what it is you have been doing just now?

MAMMA. There are two things I generally do every Sunday. One is, when I have been at Church, and happily I am not often prevented by illness or any other sufficient cause which I know that God will accept as an excuse for not attending His service, I endeavour to call to mind the chief parts of the sermon I have heard, and write them from memory.

CHARLES. But I thought in talking to Papa, as we were walking home

from Church, you seemed not quite to approve of Mr. I.'s sermon.

MAMMA. That is true. There were some parts of it not very clear, particularly for the uninformed persons amongst the congregation. This was however only a fault in his language and the arrangement of his sentences, not in the doctrine he preached. There were also some observations we thought rather injudicious; but it is perhaps rather presumptuous in us to criticise what we must suppose is the result of much study, on the part of a person, who should be considered as a fitter judge of such matters than ourselves. Were there however greater faults, still in every sermon there must be some reference to scriptural precepts, of which we cannot be too often reminded: and therefore this practice of writing

notes, as I may call it, tends to impress them on our recollection, and to keep our thoughts employed on such subjects.

CHARLES. I understand now your reason. But what is the other thing that you said you were doing?

Mamma. From some part of the Scriptures appointed to be read on that Sabbath, I select a text which I write on a card or a slip of paper that I may see frequently, and endeavour to make that the subject of my particular meditation during the following week.

CHARLES. What is the text that you have chosen for this week, Mamma ?

MAMMA. It is a verse from the portion of Scripture appointed for the epistle of this day; the fifth verse of the fifth chapter of Saint John's first

epistle; "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God." And I hope that as I read this again and again, I shall be more and more impressed with the necessity of casting all our care upon God, and trusting to Him to support and guide us in all our spiritual and temporal dangers and difficulties; and more and more strengthened in submission to His will, and resolution to resist the temptations the world may offer me to depart from His precepts.

CHARLES. Would you like me to do the same thing, Mamma?

MAMMA. I certainly think it a good habit, or I should not practise it; and good habits cannot be too soon begun: but as it would now be very difficult for you, and would take a long time for you to write much, I think it would

be sufficient to note down the text of every sermon you hear in a small blank book which I will give you for that purpose and in looking back at it occasionally, many parts of the sermons will no doubt be recalled to your recollection: as you grow older, and are able to write quicker and in a smaller hand, you will doubtless feel inclined to do more.

With regard to the other custom I have mentioned,-if you will choose a text, and tell it me on each Sabbath day, I will write it for you on a card, to which you may refer frequently.

CHARLES. Thank you, dear Mamma. I think I shall generally choose from the Psalms, I like them so very much. There are many verses I know by heart, and often repeat them to myself.