"That is very true," said William, full of animation; for he was of an intrepid disposition, and fancied himself at the moment plunging into the water, and rushing into the fire.

"If I tell you," continued Mr. Railton, "of a boy who found a poor half-starved kitten, and carried it home and fed it, till it became one of the prettiest and happiest creatures in the world, you feel pity for the half-starved animal, love towards the kind-hearted boy, and then joy that the poor kitten should at last be so happy. Or if I were to tell you of two well-disposed boys who, seeing in the fields a poor dying goat, carried it to the

farm-house, in hope that its life might be preserved, would you not commend their tender care of the poor creature?"

"That we should ! That we should !" cried out Susan, who was very tender and compassionate.

Well, then," said Mr. Railton, “I must teach you to feel by calling forth good feelings, and repressing bad ones; and you must learn to feel by thinking and reasoning on what I say, and by applying it, as opportunity offers, to yourselves in the different occurrences that take place.

"We will begin to learn to feel directly, if you please, papa," said Mary.

"There is a great advantage in beginning any thing that is good," observed Mr. Railton; "for no sooner is a beginning made than a blessing follows. When, in the first Psalm, the man who delights 'in the law of the Lord' is spoken of, the very next verse says, 'He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper,' Psalm i. 2,3. When David once begins with acknowledging that the Lord is his Shepherd, a goodly train of desirable things directly follows: he is not to want, but to lie down in green pastures, and to be led beside the still waters; his soul is restored, he is led in paths of righteousness, he fears neither death nor any kind of evil, knowing that God will be with him to comfort him. A table is spread for him in the presence of his enemies, his

over.

head is anointed with oil, and his cup runneth So certain does he feel of God's continual care over him, that he breaks out into this strain of exultation: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my

:

life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever,' Psa. xxiii. 6."

рара,

"said

"We all want to learn to feel, William ; "and the sooner we begin the

better."

"I shall never willingly occasion delay in your beginning any thing that is good," rejoined Mr. Railton; "but a little consideration is necessary, on my part, to enable me to proceed in this affair successfully. Suppose, then, we fix upon next Wednesday, or the Wednesday after, as the day on which we will make a beginning; we shall then have time to turn the matter over in our thoughts, and be able to enter on our plan in right earnest."

To wait even till Wednesday seemed a long time to the children; while Wednesday week appeared altogether out of the question. After much urging on the one side, and a little apparent backwardness on the other, it was unanimously resolved that the young people should meet their papa and mamma, to begin to learn to feel, on the following Wednesday.

CHAPTER II.

INTRODUCTORY.

ON the following Wednesday afternoon, there was no backwardness on the part of the young people to assemble together; for the subject of Learning to Feel" had much occupied their thoughts, and they were full of pleasant anticipations respecting the promised interview with their papa. But if the young people had thought much about the matter, their parents had reflected on it still more, being anxious to turn it to the best possible account. With this end in view, Mr. and Mrs. Railton had conversed together several times.

How little do children think of the anxiety felt for them by their parents! and how little do they know of the conversations, the plans,

and contrivances, that take place in private for their advantage! While they are pursuing their childish amusements with light hearts, or, perhaps, enjoying the blessing of refreshing slumber, their fathers and mothers make them the objects and subjects of their thoughts and prayers: their good qualities are spoken of with joy; and their failings deplored, and sometimes wept over with bitterness and sorrow.

Mrs. Railton was, indeed, a kind-hearted, affectionate mother; dearly did she love her children, and dearly did they love her; but she was as prudent as she was kind-hearted, and often consulted with her husband how she ought to act in particular cases that arose. She relied much on the stronger judgment of Mr. Railton, and frequently related to him little incidents which occurred in his absence, that he might avail himself of her superior opportunities of observing the dispositions of the young people.

It was about half an hour after dinner when Mr. and Mrs. Railton seated themselves among their children, who had for some time been assembled. The sparkling eyes of the young people were all turned towards the head of the table, as their papa thus introduced the subject of their learning to feel.

"Well, children! at last this important afternoon has arrived, and here we are according to our appointment: I to instruct you, and you to make the best progress you can,