and compassionate. Should they discover your secret, I am convinced they would not betray you. Nevertheless, I would advise you scrupulously to conceal your real circumstances, and to change your own and Miss Ada's names. But let us continue our journey that we may reach this hospitable roof before the cold night breeze comes on."

Jacob now conducted his charge over the ledge of rocks which intervened between the Valley of Gloom and the Alpine cottage.

After they had spent a toilsome hour in clambering up its steep sides, and down again into the valley beyond, they wandered pleasantly on, over a smiling plain, dotted over with here and there a peaceful little dwelling with cheerful looking flowers. Jacob introduced his two companions by the names of Matilda and Agnes to the good cottagers, by whom they were received with simple hospitality. The old shepherd was still living, and soon recognized Jacob, as a hunter who some years ago having been surprised in a storm and benighted in the valley had taken shelter in his hut, and spent some days and nights there. The two old men clasped each other's hands with a mixture of joy and sadness. It was as lusty young men full of strength and vigour that they had first made each other's acquaintance, and they renewed it as grey-headed men, suffering the gradual decay of all their powers. In the interim, the old shepherd had buried his wife, and had given up his herds and his cottage to his son George, who now with a pretty wife by his side comforted the old man, by his filial love and tenderness.

Whilst the two men talked over old times, Margaret-that was the young wife's name, fetched bread from her store and placed it before the strangers, with sweet milk, fresh butter, and the most fragrant honey. She then went into the kitchen

to prepare some slices of goat's flesh, and soon reappeared to cover the table with a coarse but beautifully white linen cloth of her own weaving. It was still scented with the Alpine herbs, which Margaret always scattered over the linen in her chest. The wooden trencher looked equally inviting, white as snow, from constant scouring. A little iron lamp, filled with oil, shed a cheerful light over the room. The whole of the interior of the hut, although built simply of wood, and without ornament shewed, by the delicate whiteness of its walls, floor, and ceilings, as well as the other more minute arrangements, traces of the care of an orderly and diligent housewife. With natural grace she invited her guests to seat themselves at the table. The venerable shepherd reverently invoked a blessing upon their simple meal, and placed himself by the side of Matilda, as we must now call the countess, to whom he did the honours of his house, by a series of respectful attentions, while his daughter-in-law attended to the little Agnes, who seemed mightily to relish the honey which the good woman spread upon her bread and butter.

The fugitives rose from the table much refreshed by their simple repast, and felt heartily grateful to God above, and to the honest rustics, who had so hospitably entertained them. Then Margaret led the countess and her daughter into the adjoining chamber, where a couch of dried weeds and grass had been prepared for them. Wearied with the day's exertions, they gladly stretched their tired limbs upon the fragrant bed, and soon sank into a sound slumber. They continued to sleep until the rosy light of morning found its way into their room. Then Matilda rose, and having dressed herself opened the window. As she did so the fresh breeze of morn

ing played upon her cheek, with that peculiarly balmy fragrance which Alpine meads alone seem able to impart.

Without, all was life and harmony. The birds sang, the crickets chirped, the flocks and herds frisked about, disporting themselves on the green pastures. A gentle splashing sound of running and falling water was heard from the fountain hard by, whose glittering streams could be seen here and there in the interstices between thick masses of dark green foliage as they fell into the beck, which wound its course down the rocks below. Rising and falling on the breeze could be discerned, from time to time, the fitful, melodious trinkling of the shepherd's bell.

Little Agnes soon rose and joined her mother at the window. Her little heart had always been alive to perceptions of the beautiful, and her fond mother smiled at the enthusiasm with which she exclaimed, "Oh dearest mother, what a heavenly morning!" "And look! look yonder, mother dear!' she continued, pointing to the dewy grass-"those blades shine more grandly than the jewels in that beautiful necklace of your's, which the naughty, noisy men took away from you! And there-there-mother dear, further on, much more beautiful than precious stones are those crystal gems which glitter on yonder spray of leaves!"

"Beautiful as they are, my darling," replied her mother, they are only drops of water. They glitter so beautiful only because they receive and reflect the bright rays of the glorious sun which is shining down upon them. There is a lesson te be learned from these little drops of water?"

"Hark to the herd-bell! how melodiously it sounds here ?" interrupted the child again, "louder and clearer than I have ever heard it on our own mountains!"

H 5

"You are right, my love. The sound is different, they are larger and of better metal than ours."

"But there are some bells not loud at all, dear mother, but very gentle, soft, and low. How is that?" continued the little prattler.

"That is the echo," replied Matilda, "The sound of the bell falls on these high rocks, and playing upon their naked surface, is thrown back again upon our ears."

During this conversation, old Jacob entered the room, and told his mistress that he was now going to the Valley of Gloom to commence his task of building a hut there, with the kindly proffered assistance of the active George. " In four or five days, I hope to see it completed," said he, “Imust make all possible haste about it, that we may not put these good people to too great inconvenience, by filling their little cottage. You must not, however, expect to see anything more than a poor block-house. I have neither the means nor the skill to construct anything more ornamental, although my noble mistress will readily believe I do not want the inclination—and I will take good care that you shall be well defended against wind and weather."

Jacob was as good as his word. On the evening of the fourth day the hut was finished. It was built against knotted trunks of the old oak, which constituted a stout support, while it spread its protecting arms above and around.

Constructed of roughly hewn logs, and covered with pinebark, the exterior was certainly not very inviting—it looked indeed dreary and poverty stricken enough, but Matilda found the interior more comfortable and convenient than under the circumstances, she could possibly have expected. The sittingroom was tolerably spacious, and its walls, lined with white birch-bark, had a clean and cheerful appearance.

The architect had covered the floor with fine dry mountain sand, provided the entrance with a door of planks, and carefully stopped up all interstices with moss, so as to allow no wind to enter. The room adjoining could be used either as a store or bed-room. The kitchen and goat-house were hardly outside the cottage, under an over-hanging rock; and Jacob had taken care to sink a basin in the neighbourhood of a bubbling fountain.-To be continued. M.A. J.

LITURGICAL LESSONS.-No. XI.

VENITE, EXULTEMUS DOMINO.

THE ninety-fifth psalm, called also the Invitatory Psalm," is found at the commencement of ancient services, and is said to have been "sung to hasten those people into the Church who were in the cemetery or church-yard, or any other part adjacent, waiting for the beginning of prayers." It is supposed by some to have been designed for the public service of the Temple on the Feast of Tabernacles; by others for use on the Sabbath day; and St. Paul mentioned it as being suitable for any day, Heb. iii. 7, 15; it is therefore very appropriately placed here before the Psalms and Lessons. It consists of three exhortations and a caution.

To employ

I. An exhortation to praise God, (v. 1-5). our voices in His honour, for He hath opened our lips, and our mouths ought to shew forth His praise. He is worthy to receive glory and blessing (Rev. v. 12) for His infinite greatness (v. 3), for His power declared by His providence over all (v. 4), and for the creation of all things (v. 5). "The majestic pride and strength of the Hills, which tower