who used to live in detached houses on the high-road, and elsewhere, gladly removed to the village for the sake of the many advantages it offered; but when more than half the inhabitants left it, the shopkeepers and mechanics found their business decrease so much, that one after another left the place; each new departure seeming to produce several more. So long as we had a resident clergyman, many of the well disposed people submitted both to loss and inconvenience for the sake of being here; but when Mr. Wingrave left us, they had no longer any reason for remaining.'

'But why has Mr. Wingrave gone away?'

'Before Mrs. Selwyn came to the hall, there had not been a resident clergyman here for many years: our Rector resides at another living about ten miles off; and while Mrs. Selwyn was here, he allowed her to appoint a Curate for this place, as she paid him, and gave him a house. But now that she believes there is no true church but the little meeting in L, she thinks it wrong to support a minister of the church of England; so poor dear Mr. Wingrave, who has no fortune of his own, was obliged to leave this about a year and a half since.'

And who officiates in the church now?' ·

'Mr. Y.'s curate rides over every Sunday morning, to read the service, and then a little discourse that occupies him about ten minutes; when this is over, he mounts his horse, to get back in time for afternoon service at A. and we neither see nor hear anything more of him till next Sunday.'

'But how unlike Mrs. Selwyn's former consideration and benevolence, to turn so many people adrift on the wide world!'

Why poor, dear lady, she did everything she could to make the stroke fall as lightly as possible; she settled a pension for life on the old butler and house-keeper; got good situations for most of the other servants; gave all the labourers she used to employ three months' wages, and Mr. Wingrave a year's salary; but though all this prevented immediate distress, it could not prevent the dispersion of the people, and the breaking up of the village.'

'It is indeed very, very distressing: Is there no hope of matters getting better?'

'Ah! madam, it cuts me to the heart when I hear the people that are left, (who, I told you, are none of the best,) speak on that subject. They say the only thing that can recover the place, is Mrs. Selwyn's death, when her husband's nephew, a gay young man, will succeed to the estate.'

'Did no one remonstrate with her before she took this fatal step?'

'Oh yes, Mr. Wingrave had many conversations with her on the subject; and was very faithful to her. He told her that if she were conscious she in any way spent more money on herself than she ought, or that any part of her establishment was merely for show, or in conformity to this world's customs, he would advise her immediately to give up all such things; but I believe Mrs. Selwyn could not charge herself with any thing of the kind; as she had long been very conscientious in the mode of applying her money.'

'She certainly did not expend much on herself in the way of food; for I could not help observing, when I visited at the hall, that she seldom partook of more than one dish, and that always the plainest at

table. I do not think, even in her lodging in L, she can spend less on herself in that way. Perhaps in the article of clothing she may save a few pounds a-year.'

‘But then, madam, where is the good of such a saving? Poor Mrs. Cox will tell you it is just so much money taken from the annual income of herself and her ten fatherless children.'

"Who is Mrs. Cox?'

'She is a very respectable widow in B. who, by the advice and assistance of Mrs. Selwyn, continued her husband's business as a draper, after his death. Mrs. Selwyn gave her all her custom; and never got any thing from London, except now and then a bonnet or gown, in order that Sally Jenkins, (an orphan she set up as a milliner and dress-maker, in B.) might have new patterns for her other customers.'

'It appears, then, that here, as well as in Lher substance was spent on others; and it is merely a change in the objects of her bounty that she has effected by leaving Selwyn Hall.'

'That is just what Mr. Wingrave told her; he said that God in his providence had placed the people of the parish peculiarly under her care; and that she ought to be very sure indeed, that it was His call to forsake the labourers here, for the mechanics in L

I took leave of the dejected teacher, and left the village with a heavy heart.

MARTHA Markwell.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CHRISTIAN
LADY'S MAGAZINE.

MADAM,

THE duty of the congregation to join with an audible voice in the responses of our incomparable Liturgy, seems to be generally acknowledged in the present day, though not so universally practised as could be wished. But I would beg leave to bring under the consideration of your readers, a part of our morning and evening service, the impressive effect of which is much diminished, from want of due attention to the directions given. Immediately after the confession of faith, the minister pronounces these words, "The Lord be with you," when the congregation are required to respond, " And with thy spirit." These comprehensive mutual supplications are to be ejaculated before "all devoutly kneel," as a suitable prelude to the prayers which follow. Now I have observed it is a common practice to hurry over these sentences while in the act of kneeling. How very different would be the effect produced, did the whole assembly stand still, while the minister solemnly entreats, "The Lord be with you," his flock with equal solemnity replying, "And with thy spirit;" then, on hearing the exhortation, "Let us pray," all with one accord devoutly kneel, faithfully relying on the promised presence of Him, who heareth and answereth prayer, where two or three are gathered

together in His name! Would that the precious privilege of public as well as private supplication were more fully appreciated! Would that each

member of our matchless church would praise the Lord for the rich blessing of such forms of prayer as we possess !

What Christian has not felt a thrill of holy delight in the consideration that beloved friends, at a distance, and countless multitudes of unknown fellowtravellers in the narrow path, far and widely spread over the surface of this wondrous world, unite together with him, on the sabbath-day, in the same mode of making their requests known unto God; thus realizing, in one sense at least, that communion of saints, which begun on earth, is yet to be perfected in eternity!

Yours, &c.

E. L.