hand on his trusty staff, and with the other
on the arm of a younger man, well known to me, who appeared to be much
gratified in meeting with such a companion by the way.

My station was on the top of one of the banks which formed the hollow
road beneath. They passed a few yards below me. I was concealed from
their sight by a projecting tree. They were talking of the mercies of
God, and the unsearchable riches of his grace. The Dairyman was telling
his companion what a blessing the Lord had given him in his daughter. His
countenance brightened as he named her, and called her his precious
Betsy.

I met them at a stile not many yards beyond, and accompanied them to the
church, which was hard by.

"Sir," said the old man, "I have brought a letter from my daughter, I
hope I am in time for divine service. Seven miles has now become a long
walk for me: I grow old and weak. I am very glad to see you, sir."

"How is your daughter?"

"Very poorly indeed, sir,--very poorly. The doctors say it is a decline.
I sometimes hope she will get the better of it; but then again I have
many fears. You know, sir, that I have cause to love and prize her. Oh,
it would be such a trial! but the Lord knows what is best. Excuse my
weakness, sir."

He put a letter into my hand, the perusal of which I reserved till
afterwards, as the time was nigh for going into church.

The presence of this aged pilgrim, the peculiar reverence and affection
with which he joined in the different parts of the service, excited many
gratifying thoughts in my mind, such as rather furthered than interrupted
devotion.

The train of reflection in which I had been engaged when I first
discovered him on the road, at intervals recurred powerfully to my
feelings, as I viewed that very congregation assembled together in the
house of God, whose steps, in their approach towards it, I had watched
with prayerful emotions.

"Here the rich and poor meet together in mutual acknowledgment that the
Lord is the maker of them all; and that all are alike dependent
creatures, looking up to one common Father to supply their wants, both
temporal and spiritual.

"Again, likewise, will they meet together in the grave, that
undistinguished receptacle of the opulent and the needy.

"And once more, at the judgment-seat of Christ shall the rich and the
poor meet together, that 'every one may receive the things done in his
body, according to that he hath done, whether it be