rently dying moments, she had sent them, and endeavoured to convince them of its important signification, there were many who wished they too could be prepared for death.

Yes, my dear young readers, however dull and tedious you may think religion now, you know that it is all-important on a dying-bed. You, perhaps, imagine you can live happily enough without the presence of the Saviour, but you could not bear the thought of passing out of the world comfortless and alone, without his gracious arm to sustain your fainting head, without his gentle hand to open for you the door of heaven, without his cheering voice, saying unto you, "Fear not." But death may come suddenly, and what hurry, what confusion, what distress will its approach cause you, if your soul be not already in the hands of the Good Shepherd yet there it will not be, if you neglect now to come to him that you may have life.

CHAPTER X.

THE vacation was now drawing near, and the day of its commencement was anticipated by the young people with feelings of delight and eagerness, into which none perhaps can fully enter who have never been placed in a similar situation. The last three days were full of bustle; packing books, and finishing drawings, with sundry et-ceteras, so completely filled every body's time, that none but the little girls thought of play. No one, however, seemed to regret her increased exertion, as all considered it to be the necessary prelude to the holidays, in looking forward to which, they were easily reconciled to the performance of things which at other times they would have considered troublesome and disagreeable.

Mary Ann, as usual, was now the gayest of the gay; and, much as she disliked confine

ment, she submitted to the increased restraint with cheerfulness, because she was "going home." She had one day just finished some work, which had been long in hand, and which she had the week before assured Miss Lindsay it would be impossible for her to complete; as soon as she had heard pronounced the delightful words, "It will do," she sprang from her seat, and amused herself with rolling it into a ball, and trying to make it touch the ceiling.

"Mary Ann," said Sophia," you had better run up stairs, and put away that work, for you have plenty more to do, I think."

"One throw more," said Mary Ann; and this throw lodged it on a high shelf which was over one of the closets.

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Dear, Mary Ann, what will you do now?"

Mary Ann did not know; but, after thinking a minute, she fetched her parasol, by the help of which, while standing on a high chair, she soon recovered her work, only as she came down, getting the key of the closet-door entangled in her frock, she tore a rent in it of no inconsiderable size.

"Dear, me," said she, "how vexatious!-now I shall have another long job, I suppose, to mend

this. Ah! well; tiresome things will happen; and I don't so much mind, for I shall soon be at home."

"I think, though, Mary Ann, you must allow that this tiresome thing would not have happened but for your own carelessness," remarked Miss Windermere.

"Yes, ma'am,” replied Mary Ann, “but I am so delighted that we are going home the day after to-morrow that I can hardly help doing a few odd things; and I always expect some accidents in the last two or three days."

"Well, my dear, I have no doubt you are pleased, as we all are, at the idea of seeing your friends again; but, are tearing your frock, and doing odd things, the way in which you think it necessary to show your delight?"

"Oh, no! Miss Windermere," said Mary Ann, laughing; "but I did not do it on purpose: I only mention my joy as a sort of excuse."

"Well, Mary Ann," said Miss Windermere, smiling, "you must moderate your feelings; in this changing world you must learn not to anticipate future pleasures too confidently."

Mary Ann. Dear! Miss Windermere; then ought I to make myself unhappy by thinking

that something will happen to prevent me from going home.

Miss W. Certainly not, my love; but it is well to remember that our enjoyments here are uncertain, because, then, if any disappointment should arise, we are more prepared to encounter

it.

Mary Ann. But you do hope we may not have any disappointment, do you not ma'am? I cannot bear the very idea of it.

Miss W. Yes, I do indeed, my dear; and I am glad we have no reason to expect any. But, come, you must make haste and mend your frock.

Mary Ann ran up stairs with her work, and in a few minutes returned and took her seat at the table by Miss Windermere. "Well," said she, "I am not so very sorry that I have torn my frock either, for the days now do seem so long and tedious, and this makes a kind of adventure to enliven them."

"Delightfully enlivening work, indeed!" observed Sophia, who was sitting near.

Miss Windermere smiled, but made no remark, thinking her thoughtless little pupil would soon feel this adventure rather an uninteresting affair;