prevent it if she could by telling Mr. Carisbrooke that it was only a sudden whim of Lilla's which would be forgotten in a few days, and its gratification might injure the dear child's health.

But for once Nurse was not listened to. Lilla had not given way to foolish whims lately, and the gentleman believed that he saw in this request the token of a change that was going on in her, though what that change could be and how it had come about he was at a loss to discover. At all events, he determined that this wish should be gratified if possible, and he went himself that day and asked as a favour that Miss Hains would undertake this duty, at the same time offering her a very handsome remuneration that another might be engaged to teach her sisters.

The news that Miss Hains would come three hours every day and teach her gave Lilla intense joy, and in her gladness of heart she threw her arms about her papa's neck and kissed him again and again as she poured out her thanks. The gentleman was touched and greatly surprised at this exhibition of feeling, and he began to think that he must have misunderstood his little daughter all these years, and that in spite of her still, quiet behaviour she must possess a depth of affection he had never supposed existed in her.

"Oh, Miss Hains, I have found out another verse about righteousness," said Lilla, as she sat in her governess's lap and opened the little Bible to read. "It's nearly at the end of the chapter where the other comes. See! it says,Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.' Now, I think that's true as well as the other, because it's coming true to me," she added, in a voice of deep happiness. "Tell me how that is; what do you mean?" said the lady. "I don't know whether I can," said Lilla, "but I'll try. It's this, I think you told me I must ask God every day to give me His love, and that I must ask the Lord Jesus, who is our righteousness, to take me for His own little girl and love me, and help me to believe in His love. Well, I did, for I wanted Him to love me, and I wanted to love Him so much, and it's coming, I think, a little more every day, and thinking about this made me feel so glad that I forgot to be cross and disagreeable when papa came to see me and forgot to kiss me, or, if it did come, I tried to put it away again, for I thought I ought not to be unhappy if the Lord Jesus loved me, and now it seems the 'other things' the verse tells of are just coming too. Papa kissed me the other day, such a long, great kiss it was. I seemed to feel it all day long, and yesterday when he came he took me on his knee and kissed me again. What a wonderful book the Bible is to know so much about everything that we want! added Lilla.

Miss Hains kissed the little face that was flushed with a glow of happiness. "God has been very good to you, my darling," she said.

Lilla nodded. "Oh, yes, I know He is our Father now," she said; "and it seems so nice to think that He is giving me all I want even papa's love; and I think by-and-bye He will give me Reggy's too, if I am patient and wait for it. I can afford to wait, can't I, Miss Hains? for the other love comes every day, the

first love, and the best of all, the love of the Lord Jesus. You see I must love Him best," she added, half apologetically, "because I think He was loving me before I knew it-before even you did."

"Yes, my dear, He was loving you when you were craving so for an earthly love, and He was longing for you to love Him."

"And that was how it was you came to see me that day. He sent you to tell me about it," said Lilla.

The little girl may have thought that all her trials were over now, that no earthly wish would be left unsatisfied; but it was not so. Her thirst for knowledge increased as she went on learning; but this Miss Hains told her would be sure to go on, and each new difficulty conquered would but lead to another; but this, far from discouraging her, seemed to give her new zest in pursuing her studies.

But these were not the only difficulties that lay in her way. Nurse did not like the " new notions the young lady had taken up, and did all she could to hinder her progress. She would insist upon Lilla going out just as she had settled herself to master some difficulty in grammar or arithmetic, and took it into her head that it did her harm to kneel down by her little bed to say her prayers. So poor Lilla had to put up her hands and whisper her petitions lying down; but it was a sore trial to her until Miss Hains told her that she need not mind it very much; God would know how it was she did not kneel, and it was very different from lying in bed to pray from choice or laziness.

But a more grievous trial than this was in store for poor Lilla. She loved her brother very, very dearly, and Reginald, if he had been allowed to see more of his helpless little sister, would have loved her in return; but Mr. Carisbrooke's heart was bound up in his boy, the heir to his house and of all his wealth; and he was so anxious to see him grow up a clever man that all his time was passed in study and exercise or the companionship of boys of his own age that were invited to visit him, that there was little or no time to be spared for Lilla.

Again, there were three or four visitors in the house, the sons of gentlemen at a distance, and they were sharing Reginald's studies and amusements. Riding was just now the favourite exercise, and Reginald was not a little proud of his horsemanship and the leaps which his pony could take, and to guard against the young gentleman's running into danger the groom had received orders never to let his young master go out alone. This restriction annoyed Reginald, especially after the groom had stopped one or two of his projected leaps, and he determined to go out without him for once at least. So he contrived to have the pony saddled when he knew he was out, and, with two of his companions, cantered off to leap a ditch at some little distance. In vain they tried to persuade the wilful boy not to attempt it; he urged his pony on, and at last it was cleared, but Reginald lay at the bottom of the ditch when the pony alighted on the opposite side.

After some delay he was carried home, but still quite insensible, and the doctor pronounced his life to be in danger. This was a terrible blow to poor Lilla. She was sitting with

Miss Hains at her lessons when the news came, and her first request was that she might be taken to her brother.

"Go to him!" repeated Nurse. "Why, you would be in the way, child. The doctor and your papa are with him, that is quite enough."

"Then let me see papa as soon as he comes out," pleaded Lilla, earnestly.

But Nurse did not think the request worth noticing, and either could not or would not give any satisfactory answer to the child's frequent questions as to her brother's state.

It was a day of torture to poor Lilla, and Miss Hains knew it had been, when she came the next day, and saw the wan, white face, and heard that she knew nothing of Reginald's condition beyond the fact that he had been thrown from his horse, and the house must be kept very quiet on his account.

"Then you will be quiet, and not tease to see your papa if he does not come to you to-day; will you not, Lilla ?" said Miss Hains. The little girl nodded, but her eyes were full of tears.

"I'll try not to want to go to him," she said, softly. "I'll ask Jesus to make me quiet and patient now."

And Lilla was very quiet during the next few days, while Reginald lay in danger-so quiet and patient that Mr. Carisbrooke quite forgot his little daughter, and never went near her through all those long, terrible days, when she was suffering an anxiety as deep as his own, but without the alleviation of knowing anything concerning the beloved patient.

At length, however, he was pronounced to be out of danger, and then for the first time Mr. Carisbrooke relaxed his unremitting watch by the bedside, and thought of his little daughter. He was startled by the change these few days had made in her. She had appeared to be getting stronger before, but now she lay on her pillow like a crushed and broken flower. She was asleep when he went into the room, and as he sat down beside her he anxiously inquired of Nurse what had ailed her.

"Nothing," replied the woman, "unless it is that the lessons don't agree with her, sir."

Mr. Carisbrooke did not believe this, however, for Lilla had seemed to improve rapidly in physical health as well as mental culture since Miss Hains had become her governess. So he shook his head meditatively as he sat down to watch his little girl. Presently he saw her lips move, and bent his head to catch the whispered words, "Lord Jesus, make me patient and quiet about dear Reggy," was all that he could understand; but in a minute or two the blue eyes slowly unclosed, and Lilla gave a little scream of surprise and delight to see her father sitting by her side.

"Oh, papa, tell me about Reggy; I want to know so badly," said Lilla, stretching out her arms.

Her papa took her on his knee, and kissed the sweet, pale face. "Shall I take you to him?" he said, lifting her in his arms and carrying her from the room.

Reginald seemed almost as glad to see his sister as she was to see him, and he did not fail to notice the change in her appearance.

His father afterwards told him the cause of this-the anxiety Lilla had suffered on his account, and the efforts she had made to subdue her natural impatience lest it should cause additional trouble.

"I think we may learn a lesson of poor little Lilla," said Mr. Carisbrooke, seriously. "I think she has gone to the highest source of happiness and got her wants supplied, and that has given her patience to wait so long for news of your recovery. I never thought anything of religion until I heard that simple prayer from her lips, but now I am convinced of its reality; that there is more in it than I have ever thought of before."

During Reginald's long and tedious convalescence Lilla became his constant companion, and he soon learned to love her as deeply as even she could wish to be loved. But what gave her the greatest joy of all was to see her brother earnestly seeking to know and love the Lord Jesus as she herself did.

The Carisbrooke household became a changed one from this time. Lilla became the cherished darling of father and brother, and both began to seek those enduring riches that earth cannot supply, and that happiness which no wealth can purchase. Lilla had an abundant fulfilment of the promise, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled."

A WINTER RHYME.

THE heavy clouds had veiled the sky since morn,
A chilly stillness brooded in the air,
And the grey light, like face of man forlorn,
Looked blankly forth on Nature everywhere.
The day grew up to noon, beamless and dull,

And turned again as dull and beamless still;
Though once, methought, a radiance clear and full
Gleamed for a moment on a distant hill.

Alas, I fear 'twas but a fancy ray;

Life could as soon have issued from the grave
As light from those dark clouds that winter day,—
And yet I loved it for the thoughts it gave.

Ye ask what were they? But the soul doth hold
Her sweetest music from our human ears;

The purest joys she feels are all untold,

As all unwept her saddest, bitterest tears.
Yet ye may know them by the fruit they bear
My heart is lightened of its heavy gloom,
The chilly air is gone, and Nature wears
A kindly face as in her summer bloom.
Oh, we are deafened by the world's loud din,
And blinded by its vanity and care,
Or we should hear sweet voices speak within,
And see Heaven's light reflected everywhere.
Comfort awaits us in the feeblest things-

Knowledge, if we would only understand;
And silent are life's noblest, sweetest strings,
Because we strike them with a doubting hand.

LUCINDA Bowser.

956

THE EDITOR TO HER READERS.

As the fourth year of the Christian World Magazine draws to a conclusion, the Editor feels that some expression of thanks is certainly due to those faithful friends and subscribers who have helped in the work of circulation ever since the first issue of the Magazine in January, 1866. They are assured that their kindly co-operation is appreciated to the full, and it is earnestly hoped that during the coming year they will not only continue their personal aid, but endeavour to interest others who are not familiar with the their own favourite serial.

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If one half of the friends of the Magazine would secure a single fresh subscriber, and the other half two additional subscribers, the usefulness of the periodical, which has from the first taken so important a position, would be widely extended, and its interests promoted.

Arrangements are being made for providing the very best, as well as the most attractive literary matter for the new volume commencing with January, 1870, when Two New Stories by Eminent Authors will be begun. It is also intended that from time to time articles on the great and stirring religious questions of the day, as well as miscellaneous papers on subjects of current interest, should be furnished by competent and well-known writers.

Not only will the valuable services of those ladies and gentlemen already on the staff be continued, but the contributions of other able and deservedly popular authors will be among the leading features of the Magazine during the ensuing year.

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The Editor of the CHRISTIAN WORLD MAGAZINE begs respectfully to intimate to voluntary contributors that she will not hold herself responsible for MSS. sent on approval. Unaccepted MSS. of any great length will be returned, pro. vided the name and address of the owner is written on the first or last page, and provided also that the necessary stamps are enclosed for transmission through the post. Authors are recommended to keep copies of verses, short essays, and minor articles generally, since they cannot, under any circumstances, be returned. Miscellaneous contributions are not requested.