"Oh! tell me something, then, about her," said Jane, "I long to hear of her; but how was it you never told me that you knew her before?"

"Because," said Margaret, "I found you knew nothing of her, and I was afraid to tell you, lest you might mention it again, and then I might lose my place and the means of doing you good."

"Now, then, tell me about them, and how you know they were really pious," said Jane. "Of your father I knew comparatively but little," said Margaret; "I have heard him sometimes preach, but it was only occasionally, as he resided in and only came

once now and then to this city; but when he did preach I used to hear him, and I felt the greatest pleasure in listening to him."

"And was my own dear father, then, a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ?" said Jane, as she convulsively sobbed with mingled emotions of surprise, and sorrow, and delight.

"Yes, he was indeed a faithful, diligent, and laborious minister of the gospel : every body loved him, and many precious souls were by his labours brought home to God; his people loved him very dearly, and were almost incon

solable for his loss. I could tell you much if we had time. Oh! if he had lived, you would never have been hindered from reading the Bible. He would have instructed you in it, and have prayed with and for you often."

"Oh! how delightful to think I have a dear father in heaven, and a minister of the Saviour too," said Jane; "I long to see him. Oh! how delighted will he be to see his Jane, if she should go to heaven. Now I shall pray more earnestly than ever; I shall be more anxious to serve God than ever; I shall think he is always seeing me. But what of my dear mamma, Margaret ?" said she, and she kissed her tenderly.

Margaret wept exceedingly; but as soon as she could compose her feelings, she resumed"Before your mamma was married she was a teacher in Sunday-school: she had the first class in that school. When I was about nine years old, my mother took me there one Sunday afternoon, and got me admitted into the school. I had learned to read before, but my mother thought I should get great benefit by learning in that school. Well, I was placed in your mamma's class, and I got on very fast in my catechism. The class was so large, that

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two other young ladies used to assist your mamma; but she always took care to talk with each of her scholars separately, at least once a fortnight; and she used to explain to us the things we learned, and to talk to us sc kindly and affectionately about our souls and the love of Christ, that we all loved her. Seldom did she talk to us when we could help weeping; and sometimes she would shed tears too. I almost think I see her now, she was so anxious for our salvation."

Here Margaret paused; her tears and her sobs prevented her from going on at length she proceeded-"One Sabbath I had been guilty of a great fault, and your mamma thought it was her duty to reprove me: so, while the others were attending to their lessons, she called me to her, and pointed out to me the sinfulness of my conduct; she begged me to ask of God in prayer for forgiveness; warned me of my danger, and persuaded me so earnestly to cry to God for a new heart and a right spirit, that I was quite overcome, and shed many tears.

"Often had I felt convictions, and I loved to listen to your mamma's instructions; but my convictions soon wore off again. But I then

felt as I never did before; my mind was bowed down and humbled under sense of my guilt; I could scarcely sleep all the night. Often did I cry to God for mercy: my distress was great indeed.

"In a few days afterward I felt more ease of mind, and thought then a change was wrought in my heart. Then again I was afraid that my convictions would wear off, and that I should become wicked again; but I prayed constantly and earnestly, and God preserved me from falling.

"Soon after, your mamma discovered a change in my conduct; and so kindly did she talk to me and encourage me, that though at first I trembled and was afraid to speak, yet she drew all my mind out of me. Then she sometimes called at my mother's to see me; she lent me good books; she taught me how to improve my mind. Oh! I owe all my happiness now and hereafter to your dear mamma, as the means in the hand of God.

"She continued two years in the school after this, till she was married; and when she left us, we felt as if we had lost a mother. There were three others besides myself then who were in her class, who had chosen God for

our portion, and had been awakened by her instruction; and we used to talk to each other about her whenever we met, and often with tears and if it had not been for another lady who was her intimate friend, and who used to encourage us and counsel us after she had removed, I do not know what we should have done."

This narrative was so grateful to Jane, that she wept aloud for joy; and when Margaret told her that the Bible which she had read was the very book which Jane's mamma gave, and the name Margaret Simmons was written by her own hand, Jane kissed the book again and again with transport, and it was a considerable time before her feelings could become tranquil and composed.

It is impossible to describe the various and conflicting emotions of which Jane Banner was the subject that evening. The delight she felt at learning that her parents were eminently pious, and both of them now saints in heaventhe gratitude she felt to that kind Providence which so wonderfully had led Margaret, who had been brought by her mamma to a knowledge of the truth, to be in turn the instrument of making known to her the Divine revelation;