serving have the strongest claim, are often found the most ungrateful; yet I can scarce conceive the being that could be so ill-disposed as deliberately to injure Charles Plunket, in whose composition, from a very child, no malignant quality infused its baleful influence to interrupt the divine harmony of his noble nature. How many instances could I recount of the dear boy's generous disposition, since he came a suppliant, at eight years old, to solicit your parents' protection!"

"Was Charles so young when he lostboth his parents?"

"Just eight years old-no more; the time and circumstance I remember as correctly as what happened but yesterday. It was about two months before your birth; your mother was somewhat indisposed, and I was employed at the time in attendance on her in the drawing-room in the town-house, where she and sir Richard were seated by the fire, on a cold night towards the end of October.

VOL. I.

E

"I should

"I should like," said Geraldine, "to hear an account of my cousin's first introduction into the family."

"And there is no person can give you a more circumstantial one than I,” replied Fanny. "I was standing at the back of my lady's chair, when, after a thundering knock on the door, we heard with surprise (for she had ordered herself to be denied to every one) light feet on the stairs ascending. The door opened, when a slight young man of delicate features, and middling size, timidly entered; he was habited as a clergyman, and his mild countenance, which beamed evangelical charity and universal goodwill, was truly expressive of his divine mission. As he advanced with a modest and timid air, it was easy to account for the servant's deviation from the general order and his admission; for a holy zeal towards God, with goodwill to man, preceded his steps, and pure affection, and profound reverence from all, gave him meeting."

"As

"As this gentleman approached, he was immediately recognized by sir Richard and lady Courteney for a Mr. Selby, the only son of a gentleman ranking high in the law courts, but still more distinguished for the benevolence of his heart, and his pure love of justice, than his professional talents.

He intended his son for the bar, but the young man, carrying his views beyond the dignities of this world, was solicitous to become an interpreter of divine, not human laws-a counsellor desirous to advise and instruct in God's holy word, and an advocate for penitent hearts. Instead, therefore, of the lawyer's gown, he assumed the parson's cassoc, without hope of preferment in the church, or any other object in view than the exaltation of God's holy name, and the edification of God's sinful creatures. Carefully avoiding the example of those indolent pastors, who for a good living had insinuated themselves into the church, he did not confine himself to the mere duties of his pastoral office,

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office, but constantly undertook works of supererogation; and not limiting his zeal to the narrow boundaries of a parish (where it sometimes happens that the pastor fleeces, not feeds the flock), he took a wider range, and, after the example of the apostles, became an organ of his divine master's holy word to others on a more extended scale...

"Nor was it spiritual aid alone this charitable man supplied; for the poor became an altar on which he continually sacrificed to God, not only the superfluities of his state, but what might be said to take from that which his necessities required. Neither was he, in the performance of these benevolent deeds, guided, as many pious zealots are, by party spirit, nor impelled, like the present lady Courteney, by a love of proselyting: when necessity urged the claim, he inquired not into their religious creed; it was enough to know they were his fellow-creatures in distress, and required his assistance.

"I have

"I have been thus minute, my dear child, in my delineation of Mr. Selby's character, as well out of regard to the man who first introduced Charles to the notice of your parents, as to prove to you the imperfection of human nature, since this truly good man, taking private judgment for guide, is become a sectary!

'I am come, lady Courteney,' said Mr. Selby, as he softly advanced, and led by the hand a lovely boy, about eight years old, all drowned in tears-I am come, strange as it may seem, a suppliant to your favour for a saint in heaven. This sweet boy's mother has just paid the debt of nature, and such, madam, was the pious resignation with which she yielded her last breath, that I feel fully justified in affirming she is now a saint in heaven. She required not my spiritual aid; for another clergyman, summoned to her support, had preceded me in that holy office: it was one of those accidental occurrences which the world calls chance, but which an over