the family, but you know it is not so with our mother; her disease was brought on solely by drinking spirits."

'True, and how humiliating it is to think that so near a relative as a mother should with her own hands rob herself of that which alone raises her above the cattle of the field and beasts of prey. It is reason alone which raises man above them; how dreadful then, how debasing to our nature, to think that any human being should be found so lost to common sense, as to forfeit that superiority for the sake of a few bottles of gin!"

"When one comes to think of it, it certainly appears incredible. But you know, Willy, our poor mother was ignorant, and perhaps did not know she did wrong. And who knows but that her punishment may be her cure. Gold is not purified until it passes through the fire, neither has the diamond its polish until it is purified from its dross. Man also, is often made perfect through suffering. Let us hope, then, that our afflicted mother may yet recover, and, like the phoenix, rise from her ashes, repent of the past, and live to bless us."

"Heaven grant it!" sighed Willy, "but let me advise you, my dear sister, not to be too sanguine, lest you should be disappointed. We must continue to bear our misfortunes patiently, and to remember that we are often afflicted for our good." "True, dear brother, and on that very account I hope for a happy termination to our sufferings:

for we have borne them with fortitude, nay, we have in some degree (like the royal Psalmist,) rejoiced in our affliction; for, perhaps the malady she has been visited with, has been sent to cure her of the horrid propensity of dram-drinking; a propensity which is calculated to ruin our every comfort here, and to debar us from happiness hereafter: for we read in the sixth chapter of First Corinthians, that no drunkards, nor thieves, nor liars, nor any thing that is unholy can enter the kingdom of heaven. Our taste for heaven and holy things, must be acquired here upon earth. We read also in Scripture, that as the tree falleth, there it lieth; for there is no repentance in the grave; therefore, if we die with all our imperfections rife about us, they must ever stick And these are the enemies that keep us out of heaven. God Almighty punishes no man; it is man that punishes himself by not seeking after that purity of life which would enable him to be happy in the company of God and of his holy angels. Were it possible for a bad man to be admitted into heaven, he could not be happy there, because his ideas are too gross to relish holy things. To prove this assertion, let us suppose we take half a dozen tipsy and noisy mechanics from a gin-shop, or an ale-house, and suddenly transplant them to church during divine service; we think we may venture to say, that every one of the six would feel happier in the ale-house than in church. How then could people with such feelings be happy in heaven?

to us.

Again, let us suppose, that we invite all the first people of the kingdom to a great feast; that they all come dressed in their most costly attire, except one, or two, who present themselves in nearly a state of nature; let our wish to make those naked wretches be ever so great, still we could not possibly admit them into the company of well dressed, and well bred people; and even if they were admitted, they would not feel at their ease with those who were so much their superiors. To gain admittance into heaven then, we must all seek to clothe ourselves with the Wedding Garment."

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CHAPTER LVI.

Pray! for her, Britons, for your youthful queen,
Pray! for this scion of a royal line,
Exposed to all which we temptation deem;
Implore for Her protection, grace divine.
A child in years,-oh! aid her to sustain

The sceptre's weight, and as this blossom blows,
Shield her, O God! from sin, from strife, from pain,
Granting long life to England's thornless rose.'

"

THE CORONATION.

THE day after our young queen was crowned at Westminster, Agnes said to her youthful scholars

"Well, young people, did you see the grand procession yesterday?"

"Yes, ma'am, we had a fine view of it, and we never before saw any thing so grand in all our lives. The queen looked so pretty and so noble, when she returned from the Abbey with the crown on her head; and the beautiful coach her majesty rode in was all over gold, and there were so many fine carriages, that we thought ourselves for the moment enchanted."

"And translated, I suppose, to some fairy land," added Agnes.

"Yes, indeed, ma'am, we never shall forget the fine sight so long as we live; and the dear sweet young queen looked so pleased, and condescendingly bowed to every one as she passed."

"Yes, I understand her majesty is very amiable; her condescension to old Lord Rolle, in stepping forward and giving him her hand when he fell, was a pretty trait in her majesty's character. And I most sincerely hope that her majesty will have the strength of mind, and good sense, not to be spoiled by adulation for the greatest person in the state should ever be the most condescending. And I most sincerely hope, that Queen Victoria, when she was anointed queen over the united kingdoms, had the good sense to ask what a great king did on a similar occasion."

:

"Who was he, ma'am, and what did he ask?”

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Solomon, my dear girls. And when he was

made king of Israel, he wisely asked for wisdom to enable him to do what was right.

Look into the

first chapter of the second book of Chronicles, and you will find it written

"And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead. Now, O Lord God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me a king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? And God said unto Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked for long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king. Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like."

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King Solomon," said the girls, "was well rewarded for his wise choice. And I hope Queen Victoria made the same request to God that the wise Solomon did: and we think she did-for we are very sure we shall never again see so grand a procession."

"Not in your present state of existence, I trust.