and time and money were both sorely tasked to discharge the demands of sickness. The circumstance fell out thus

"You should put Blent's wife into that furnished house on the Cliff," said the leading medical man one day to the houseagent; "she's the woman to let it."

This was a new idea to the agent. He thought it over, and made the proposition. It was gladly accepted; and the first time I ever saw Susan Blent was when installed as care-taker of this very handsome marine villa.

Her neatness, the obliging way she had of speaking, justified the doctor's recommendation. No one was ever more success

ful in letting than she was. It was a rather unsettled harassing sort of life, migrating from one empty house to another, and getting them ready for new occupants; but it was a thing she could do, and without leaving her children-her cripple boy in particular-she could thus add to their slender means.

woman,

The Scripture tells us of the virtuous "that her husband is known in the gate." And this was George Blent's case. He would have been rather neglectful in his dress; and sometimes, industrious as he was, he lacked promptitude and punctuality. His wife was so exquisitely orderly in her house and clothes, that without any fuss or words she led him into her plans. As an old fisherman's wife said, "She's so smartened him up that he's quite transmogrified, and gets to be railly personable."

I do not know that ever Mrs. Blent had thought much of the word "help-meet," or that it involved the duty of overcoming her husband's defects-helping him in moral and spiritual growth as well as in worldly prosperity. But she certainly

acted on that principle, and all the more sweetly perhaps because she never seemed to take any credit to herself.

By almost imperceptible degrees, as the tide rises, the Blents were now making their way. From letting the houses of others, they got on to rent and furnish a house of their own. Mrs. Blent's neatness was an

evidence of good taste, and people did not grudge to pay her good terms. By the same quiet process of keeping steadily at his employment, Blent was more and more recognised as a man to be relied on, solid and valuable. His harsh voice and rugged manner were no longer quoted against him. And Susie, who, under the rough exterior, had always known and loved the true worth, was happy to have his merit acknowledged.

When I saw them last, now some few years ago, the lame son was restored to tolerable health. He was developing a very marked taste for architectural drawing, and his parents were able to obtain instruction for him. The younger daughter, Susan, with as sweet a temper as her mother, was the home helper. Blent himself was unfit to be an auctioneer; but there was no better house-agent in that part of the country. When people said, as they often did, "He has had one of the best of wives," Susan's blush was as sweet as her smile, as she disclaimed all merit. "Oh what am I compared to the women I have read of? Just nothing and nobody. I'm ashamed to hear any one say a word about our success, unless it is that I've had a good husband, and tried in my small way to be a good wife, which was only my duty. And God has blessed us; ah, that He has, beyond measure!"

TRUE RELIGION.

"To turn my back to sin, my face to Christ,

ANSWERS TO PRAYER.

"God's very kindest answers to our prayers

Church of England, whether they are prepared to deny the doctrine laid down in these documents? They seem to forget the command: "I exhort, therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." "This command is not for the king or queen individually; it is for the head of the nation as such, and in her official capacity. The command has no meaning otherwise.

I have heard those who are opposed to us, say, "It is not for us to ask or inquire what is the religion of king or queen.' That is frank, and is consistent with their own views; but it is not consistent with the teaching of Scripture.

Are our opponents prepared to deny the doctrine that it is by the Lord kings reign and princes decree justice? "By Me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth."+ "He is the Lord of lords and King of kings." Hence the beauty, depth, and force of the words in our Communion Service,

which call upon the people duly considering whose authority she (the Queen) hath, faithfully to serve, honour, and humbly obey her, in Thee and for Thee, according to Thy blessed Word and ordinance, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end." These are great truths which cannot be shaken. But if it be held that there ought to be no connection between Church and State, all such truths are virtually denied.

And, if this be so, then we see not on what ground the civil magistrate can ask the Mormon to relinquish his views on the subject of polygamy, and conform to the laws of a Christian State; or ask the Jew to abstain from his business on the first day of the week, as the Christian Sabbath; or resist the Ultramontane claims of Papal supremacy; or the atheist in regard to an oath in a court of justice; or oppose the blasphemer or the idolater; or in short, assert the claims of the whole moral law, as summarily comprehended in the Decalogue.

T Coleford, when about ten years of age, Samuel Budgett, the successful merchant, began to lay the foundation of his habits and his fortune. His own account of his first essay in merchandise, and his first possession of money, is very straightforward:

"The first money I ever recollect possessing was gained in the following way. I went to Mr. Milks, of Kilmersdon, to school, a distance of three miles. One day, on my way, I picked up a horse-shoe, and carried it about three miles, and sold it to a blacksmith for a penny. That was the first penny I ever recollect possessing; and I kept it for some time. A few weeks after, the same man called my attention to a boy who was carrying off

some dirt opposite his door, and offered, if I would beat the boy, who was a bigger boy than myself, to give me a penny. I did so; he made a mark upon it, and promised if I would bring it to him that day fortnight he would give me another. I took it to him at the appointed time, when he fulfilled his promise, and I thus became possessed of threepence; since which I have never been without, except when I gave it all away."

One would not have imagined, on seeing the little school-boy stop and look at the old horse-shoe, that the turning point of his life had come. But so it was. He converts that horse-shoe into his first penny, and never more wants a penny. Had he not picked it up; had he "never thought," as people so