last day He shall come to "judge the earth in righteousness and the people with equity," she will appear among the "ransomed ones," for "them that sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him."

Chapter Twenty-First.

EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE.

I APPEND a few extracts from such letters as have been preserved, or at least fallen into my hands, under the impression that their style may throw some light upon the character of the departed ; feeling convinced, also, that the original and private correspondence of one otherwise admirable, ever possesses a certain amount of interest and value. Had not this been felt to be the case, the letters now before me, from which I quote, and which were addressed to a dear, early friend and companion, had probably not now been in existence.

Without committing myself to the truthfulness of the graphiologists, I must yet confess that there is doubtless much of character revealed in the offhand, and unstudied correspondence of intimate

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friends; and I am greatly mistaken if the published letters of Cowper, Lamb, Southey, &c., will not outlive in the popular sympathy some of their more laboured and ostensible efforts. The turn of an expression, the felicitous employment of a particular adjective or adverb, the use of some natural simile, a delicate compliment, or a burst of natural feeling, often makes all the difference beween the gifted and the common-place, and reveals to us at a glance a world of character, and the distinction between that which is natural, and that which may be acquired. It is simply with this view that I subjoin the few following extracts from various letters lying before me, as illustrations of the early character of the writer of them.

The following was written at the age of fourteen. July 1836.

To Miss

"Whilst I am writing this I have in prospect green fields with herds of beasts, sheep and horses ; villages with their rural cottages; methinks (with you for a companion) I could live in one, and have more happiness than the greatest potentate that lies on a silken couch, and spends a life of idleness and folly. "We spend our days in pleasure and usefulness, and I have found it very agreeable; yet I want the

sweet society of my dearest and earliest friend." To the same on the loss of a linnet.

"I was sorry to hear of the death of 'stumpy,' but I expected little else, for he was such a gormandizer. I hope 'Charley' continues well and loses his timidity, and also that your feathered songsters are arriving at perfection."

To the same, about the same date :-

"I flatter myself that you frequently ask yourself the question, How are all my friends in health, &c. In answer to this question, I use the expressive motto, "All's well."

"I can assure you I often think of you, and ardently but, perhaps, selfishly, wish you were again within the precincts of that I might see you and enjoy the pleasure of your society; for you know we can enter into each other's pleasures and pursuits better than any other person, for we have been friends from childhood."

Again from school, aged about sixteen, to the same.

"We look forward to Christmas, when I hope we shall all meet again, with feelings of the most ardent nature, and our long absence will make our re-union the more delightful.

"We are as happy as I can imagine we could be at a boarding school. The young ladies are very