therefore, a human being devotes his whole intellect and energies to the advancement of good, he insures to himself that happiness which is to be found in the certainty that he is making the noblest use of the noble faculties given to him; whilst at the same time he is conveying its blessing to others of his kind. On the other hand the selfish man, concentrating his powers on himself, renders them useless to all besides, and fails to procure one real personal gratification, since from the indulgence of so vile a principle as selfishness no joy could spring; whilst from the fostering of his own ungovernable propensities, great misery must arise. There is, besides, a deeper meaning in the assertion I have made, that we can only attain to happiness in proportion as we advance the Good; for by this means only can we hasten our moral restoration to the Author of all good and all bliss, from Whom we are unlawfully severed by sin.

"When I had considered well these things, I felt a thrill of pleasure pass through my sad heart, as I looked round upon this beautiful world, so full of warmth and sunshine-of flowers, whose perfume is only to delight-and fair landscapes, whose loveliness is only to charm the eye-and felt that I should myself be rising nearer to its most beneficent Maker, in every effort I made to counteract the corruption which dwells in it, or to bestow one hour of happiness on the meanest of its inhabitants. From that moment my resolution was taken, I determined to devote myself entirely to my fellow-creatures, and not to live-no, not one hour for myself; but only to do good, and to make all happy within my reach. This was the aim and end of my existence, outwardly at least; in the depths of my own breast I may have hid a yet higher purpose.

"It is at all times easy to find, in all places, the means of benefiting mankind, and opposing vice. I have had no difficulty, even for a single day, in procuring materials for the work to which I devoted myself. As the sphere of one individual is necessarily limited, I allowed no detail, however petty, to escape, and sought as constantly to promote, the momentary comfort of those around me, as to advance their ulterior good. But I will not weary you by entering into particulars; you now understand what is the system I have pursued.

"I do not hope to make you to comprehend how thoroughly happy I have been. In the long vigils when I have watched by the sick-bed of those whose sufferings I have been permitted to relieve, or when surrounded by the hapless little children of poverty, whose innocent pleasures I have promoted, whilst I sowed at the same time in their young minds the seed of those virtues which should hereafter spare them, poor and in misery as they might be in this world, from that worst of ills, the consciousness of self-degradation. Wherever there has been a sorrow 1 could soothe, there has there been a joy for me; wherever there has been hardships and toil for

myself, in order that others might be spared and comforted, there have been pleasures such as this world cannot give; for every tear that I have wiped away, the smile of heaven has grown more bright; for every pain I have assuaged, my heart has beat more peacefully; no discomfort, no fatigue, no annoyance could move ine, because I never expected or sought for ease or comfort, or repose. O! bright and peaceful has been my life of labour, and penury and self-denial; precious, indeed, has been the treasure of my existence; and yet that death, which to most men is a terror and a curse, that death will be the friend who shall recompense me for it all."

The Beguine paused, and, turning to look on her listener, she perceived that he had buried his face in his hands, and was plunged in deep reflection; then, gently rising, she stole from the room that he might remain undisturbed in his meditations, and a glad smile brightened her face as she admitted the hope into her kindly heart, that even here also her work might have been blessed.

OUR COUNTRY TRIP.-No. II.

In recalling to mind the pleasant reminiscences of our country trip, and looking over the materials we have gathered together, we find that to do justice to our subject, we must next month devote a paper exclusively to the worthies of WringtonHannah More and Locke must have something more than a brief passing notice. Before, however, we bid adieu to the parsonage house and its happy inmates, we must mention the beautiful church, which has called forth the unqualified praise of Mr. E. A. Freeman in his History of Architecture. It certainly is a noble pile-one of those sweet and soothing spots in which the heart seems at rest, and the weary lay aside their grief. The reverent care that has restored the altar, and adorned in a measure the chancel, is such as those who know the present curate would expect from him. We cannot say much of the monuments-which, however, are carefully kept, one in the chancel cominemorating the author of the music of that worldwide song Auld Robin Gray. An improvement in this respect is desirable, and we believe we do not say too much, when we express our conviction, that some memorial of a Christian character will ere long be introduced.

And now having delayed thus long in our memories of Wrington, we must allude en passant, to the sweet, and lovely village of Brockley, which is some four miles distant from it. This is one of those quiet rural spots, which seem to have been unaffected by the wondrous developments of later days, and not

to have experienced the labours of those who are given to what are called improvements. Separated one from another you see many

"a cottage home

With its pastoral grace, and its rustic air, And its clean white wall, and its garden fair, And the thin blue smoke on the upland breeze, Gracefully curl'd o'er the sheltering trees; And the door with trellissing woodbine creeps, And the lattice, where many a tall rose peeps Through its small bright panes that the sunset gilds Beneath the eaves, where the swallow builds." And these seem chiefly inhabited by men of simple tastes, and peaceful minds, as, the parish comprehending about ninety souls, does not contain, we were informed, any who dissent from our branch of the Catholic Church. In our converse with the respected rector and his amiable family, we enjoyed such repose as we can inadequately describe, and gained no little encouragement from the sacred and sober views they hold upon the many important subjects of the day. Nor shall we easily forget the impression created on our mind, by the devout service in which we were permitted to take a part in the afternoon. With the church itself, dedicated to S. Nicholas, we were delighted beyond measure. It is a plain simple edifice, with truly ecclesiastical arrangements. The altar furniture is superb in the extreme. The surpliced choristers sang with such taste and judgment, as one seldom hears in country churches, and in a way which proves that the most careful attention is paid to the music of the sanctuary. To one thing only would we object. With the musical voice which the rector possesses, it is certainly a pity that he does not chant his part of the service, as the effect of the choir giving the responses in harmony, whilst the priest reads, is anything but agreeable.

The church was crowded by a deeply reverent congregation, who seemed to feel that they were in the presence of GOD, Whom they had come to worship, and were anxious to learn those things which make for their eternal welfare. One blot in this fair scene we cannot pass by. Had we not seen it ourselves we could scarcely have credited that in these days such a thing could have existed. We imagine it must be as repugnant to the feelings of the rector, as it is to our own. We allude to what has been already noticed in the Ecclesiologist, vol. iii. p. 91, as an instance of church desecration, viz. a south chapel fitted up as a pew, with a fire-place, drawing-room chairs, carpet, &c. To make this atrocious thing still more atrocious, there is a mural tablet, with a Latin and Greek inscription to the following effect:-"Who that when dead he might not

be troublesome to the living, commanded his body to be burnt, after the manner of the ancients. O cares of men! O how great emptiness is in all things. All is dust-laughter-nothing."

Although we look upon epitaphs as out of place which express more than a simple hope of mercy through JESUS, we should much prefer to anything of this kind, some doggrel verses we met with a little while ago on the tomb of one who had departed this life suddenly. They are as follows:"I little thought on just before My time had been so near;

But sudden death did strike me sore,
As plainly doth appear.

You readers all that view this tomb,

I would have you prepare

For this same death may strike you dumb,

You know not when nor where."

However, spite of these little draw-backs, we know not when we spent a Sunday more congenial to our feelings, and when at eventide we bade farewell to the rector, it was with an earnest prayer, that he might long be spared

"Peace to extend, and bid contention cease;

To teach the words of life; to lead mankind
Back from the world of guilt, and brink of woe
To Virtue's house and family; faith, hope,
And joy to inspire; to warm the soul
With love to GOD and man; to cheer the sad,
To fix the doubting, rouse the languid heart
The wandering to restore; to spread with down
The thorny bed of death; console the poor
Departing mind, and aid its lingering wing."

On our return to Wrington, our valued friend, anxious for our gratification, made a proposition for a walking tour, to what in the country they call a neighbouring parish, though many miles distant. And know, gentle reader, we hesitated. It seemed a Herculean task. There was a time when we rejoiced in what is well known to collegians as a constitutional-a long walk against time, "to shake the cobwebs from the brain," and take in a certain quantum of fresh air, as a preparative to increased studies. But in those days we were young and healthy. Our step had not lost its lightness. Years of illness weaken and enfeeble the frame, so as to make what was once a pleasure an actual toil. However, the prospect of a lift by the way, a few miles' ride behind a locomotive-a view of Clevedon Court, the scene of one of the prettiest ballads in the lovely book of Ballads, which our publisher issued last year (and which by the way those who have it not, ought to possess,) and above all, a chat with an old college friend, whom we had not seen for many

years these were inducements not to be withstood, arguments against which we could produce no sufficient answer. So early next morning, after our friend had adjusted his knapsack, we commenced our tour-with its details we will not weary the reader. Suffice it to say that whiling the way with much pleasant and interesting conversation, and ever and anon hoarding up in our mind the wise remarks, theological and otherwise, of our boon companion, we passed through many

"a scene

Worthy the magic of the painter's skill,"

until we reached the beautiful village of Portishead at some distance from Bristol. Here we were welcomed by the rector, of whom all who know him would be ready to say

"A merrier man

Within the limit of becoming mirth,
I never spent an hour's talk withal."

Yet is he at the same time one of those active indefatigable parish priests, whose whole thoughts are devoted to the souls committed to their charge. We will say nothing of the present state of the high-pewed church, as we know that his feelings upon this matter are the same as our own. But of his school (a mixed one) we may speak. We have seen many educational establishments in England. This is amongst the best we ever saw. It happened to be the time for the annual inspection when we arrived, so that we had the best possible opportunity of seeing its merits fully brought out, under the best circumstances. The intelligent answers given by the several children, showed that no parrot system has place here, but that the great work of education is being legitimately carried on on sound and catholic principles. The religious ethos that pervades the whole is really striking in the extreme. And the daily unwearied labours of the rector are bearing rich and abundant fruits. This more especially is the case with the pupil teachers, and if any want able instructors, with a due knowledge of the faith, they may obtain assistance from this quarter. The extensive knowledge of the continent, and continental systems possessed by our reverend friend, gives him an advantage over many of his compeers. The discipline is admirable, and the singing superior to anything we ever heard. One tune struck us as a magnificent one to march to, and the kindness of the rector will enable us to lay it before our readers next month, with appropriate words. One feature in this school as calculated to produce the habit of thought must not be omitted. It is the practice of theme-writing. Some of these we obtained, and present one to our readers just as it is, and we think they will consider it most creditable to the girl who penned it.