and sister. It is really delightful to witness the conduct of affectionate children. The Lord loveth such children. The holy Scriptures say, "Behold how good a thing it is for children to dwell together in unity." Never was there a more united, or a more affectionate family; and, their happiness would have been as perfect as earthly felicity can be, but for the melancholy state of their mother's health. But though sorrowing, they were not cast down, for they trusted that their prayers in her behalf would in God's own time be heard; they trusted in his mercy, and were comforted; for they knew that afflictions are often sent for our good, and that the infliction of pain is often the cure of a distemper. "Now that you have made choice of a profession," said Agnes, addressing her brother, "I suppose your studies must all tend to give you some insight into its nature and uses. We find, Willy, by reading the holy Scriptures, that the cultivation of the soil was the first art practised by man, and as it is the most ancient calling, so is it the most useful of all others. It is the earth which gives us every thing. It is, therefore, the interest of man to study well her cultivation. You have then, my dear brother, much to study, which it is not in my power to teach you; for instance, to understand farming well, you ought to know something of chemistry, mineralogy, botany, and natural history." "The farmer we saw the other day, I am very sure, does not understand any one of these things, and yet he gets on in the world very well." 'But, if he were to know these things, he would get on better. An ignorant farmer may make a bare subsistence by a farm, that an experienced man could make a fortune by." "But, sister, I must try to make up in industry what I want in experience: for you know that my father cannot afford to have me taught all those sciences." "Industry, dear Willy, will do much, certainly, though not every thing. However, we can do more for you than mere industry; for I will this very day buy books on Agriculture, which you can study by yourself: and I think, that with the aid of these books, your own industry, and the practical lessons of the farmer, it will be your own fault if you do not rise above mediocrity." "Dear sister, I am so much obliged to you; and pray what books will you buy for me?" "You shall have Dickson on Agriculture,' and the Farmer's Kalendar,' by Arthur Young; by studying these, you may gain a vast deal of information on the subject of farming." CHAPTER VIII. "With glory clad, with might array'd, A SISTER'S ADVICE. "My dear little sisters," said Agnes, after Willy had read his first lesson, 66 your brother has taken up so large a portion of my time to-day, that I shall have very little to bestow upon you: but I am sure you will willingly part with every thing and any thing to your dear brother." "Oh! certainly," said Jane and Hannah. "When you shall be occupied with the duties of your calling, Willy, I trust you will never forget that you have other duties to perform besides those of farming." "I am sure I never shall forget those I owe to my sister Agnes." "I do not allude to myself, dear Willy, nor to any of your earthly connexions, but to that great and good Being who made this beautiful world, and placed us in it; and who is so kind as to show us the difference between good and evil, and directs us how to find the one and avoid the other; so that we are not left in darkness, but walk as in the noonday." "Who made the world?" asked the youngest girl. "God made it, my dear." "How do you know that?" asked Willy. "First, my Bible tells me so, and secondly, my own work-box tells me the same." "Your work-box, sister! Why, how can it tell any thing about the world?" you "Bring my work-box here, and I will show you." Willy immediately rose, went and got his sister's work-box, and placing it on the table said, "Now, sister, show us if you please all about the world." 66 Open it, my dear. Now look here; does not the case fit into the box exactly?" "Yes, that it does, and because it was made to fit it." "Look here again," said Agnes, "Do you see that round hole ?" "To be sure I do, it was made to hold the thimble." "And what are these grooves intended for?" "One is made to hold a pen-knife, another to hold scissars, and the third for a bodkin." "You are right. And what are the uses of all those little narrow divisions ?" 66 They are for holding the thread bobbins." "And this long wooden case?" 66 Every body," said Willy, "must know that it is for holding needles." "Well then, can you tell me the use of the round soft cushion in the middle of the box?" asked Agnes. 66 Why, sister, every one must know that it is intended to hold pins. It is nothing more nor less than a pin-cushion, though it is stuck up in so fine a box." "True, Willy, you are right. But does not every part of the box fit exactly into its appropriate place?" “To be sure they do; and that is, because they were all made to fit." "Count how many different compartments there are." "There are fifteen," replied Willy. And do all these fifteen different pieces fit into their own proper places in the box?" "Why, sister, what is surprising in that, when they were all made to fit ?" "You imagine, then, that all the fifteen different pieces were made to fit into the box?" "There can be no doubt of it," said Willy. 66 But, is it not possible for them to fit by chance?" asked Agnes. "Oh! certainly not; the thing is quite impossible! As well might we expect an elephant to dance a hornpipe on the back of a nut-shell, as for fifteen different pieces, of different forms and sizes, to fit into any box by chance." "I am exactly of your opinion, Willy," said Agnes, "and that is the very reason why I know |