expressed a trust that the Lord would overrule both the
death of her sister and the personal acquaintance with me that resulted
from it, to a present and future good, as it respected herself and also
her parents, with whom she statedly lived, and to whom she expected to
return in a few days.

Finding that she was wanted in some household duty, I did not remain long
with her, but left her with an assurance that I proposed to visit her
parents very shortly.

"Sir," said she, "I take it very kind that you have condescended to leave
the company of the rich and converse with the poor. I wish I could have
said more to you respecting my own state of mind. Perhaps I shall be
better able another time. When you next visit me, instead of finding me
in these noble walls, you will see me in a poor cottage. But I am
happiest when there. Once more, sir, I thank you for your past kindness
to me and mine, and may God in many ways bless you for it."

I quitted the house with no small degree of satisfaction, in consequence
of the new acquaintance which I had formed. I discovered traces of a
cultivated as well as a spiritual mind. I felt that religious
intercourse with those of low estate may be rendered eminently useful to
others, whose outward station and advantages are far above their own.

How often does it appear that "God hath chosen the weak things of the
world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the
world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things
which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should
glory in his presence" (1 Cor. i. 27-29).

It was not unfrequently my custom, when my mind was filled with any
interesting subject for meditation, to seek some spot where the beauties
of natural prospect might help to form pleasing and useful associations.
I therefore ascended gradually to the very summit of the hill adjoining
the mansion where my visit had just been made. Here was placed an
elevated sea mark: it was in the form of a triangular pyramid, and built
of stone. I sat down on the ground near it, and looked at the
surrounding prospect, which was distinguished for beauty and
magnificence. It was a lofty station, which commanded a complete circle
of interesting objects to engage the spectator's attention.

Southward the view was terminated by a long range of hills, at about six
miles distance. They met, to the westward, another chain of hills, of