and sometimes both the aunts, would visit her every hour, in order to inquire into the state of her mind, endeavouring by every argument which could be devised, to persuade her to submit to her duty. All this produced no humiliating effect upon Constantia: there was nothing in this kind of treatment tending to lower self, or to subdue the pride of an unregenerate heart. When the child had persevered in her obstinacy longer than usual, she would sometimes see her aunts in tears, and Iwould be told that she had made her parent really ill. But Constantia loved herself more than any other creature, neither could she understand why they were to be ill on her account: for not knowing the dreadful nature and tendency of sin, she saw no reason for their being so excessively afflicted at her undutiful carriage. She, therefore, unbiassed by any other motive than her own capricious fancies, often used to carry on these fits of stubbornness for many days together; giving up at last merely because it suited her so to do, without any feeling of sorrow for the trouble she had given.

These contests were continued, at intervals, for several years, and proved a dreadful hinderance to Constantia's improvement in every branch of education: fatiguing, and almost exhausting, the patience of her friends, who more than once were on the point of resolving to send her from them. But Constantia was not without the art which is always more or less attendant on a selfish character. As she advanced in years, she learned when to make concessions; so that when she thought herself in danger of losing the affections of her friends, she would shed tears, confess such of her faults as she thought her friends were already acquainted with, would hang upon the necks of her relations, and for á few days appear all that was amiable.

At these times she could even feign a regard for religion; and if she had occasion to write letters to any of her friends, she would express so strong and penitential a sense of her faults as appeared quite surprising for a child.

It would be hard to say that Constantia never felt any affection for her friends, nor had any sense whatever of the religion which she professed. But it is said

in Scripture, Even a child is known by its ways; and Constantia's ways on such occasions were certainly not in unison with her profession.

As she advanced in years, her unsubdued will began to produce increasing symptoms of an evil nature. Self, from early infancy, had been the object of Constantia's regard, and in no way was she accustomed to exercise self-control. And this appeared through the whole of her conduct: for whenever she had found herself from under the eye of her aunts, she was in the habit of giving unbounded license to all her feelings, and indulging, as much as a state of childhood would permit, every sinful desire of unrenewed nature. If, for instance, she was invited out for a day to any little party among other children, she would romp and riot in a manner which would draw upon her the disapprobation of every one about her: in fact, she never thought of laying upon herself the least restraint. She destroyed and tore her clothes, talked at random, and was insolent to her inferiors. If by any means her grandmother or aunts were made acquainted with these improprieties, recourse was again had to the old punishments. She was catechised without end; perhaps she suffered corporeal chastisement, or was locked up in her room. But she knew how by tears and professions to bring herself again into favour with her friends: so that the axe never being laid to the root of the evil, which was the love of self, those branches of outward sin which were occasionally lopped off, soon sprouted forth again with greater luxuriance.

In the mean time, as she advanced in years, her more childish faults gradually gave way to others, or rather they imperceptibly assumed a more deadly form. She now began to please herself, when left alone, with vain and sinful imaginations, forming in her own mind a succession of delusive scenes in which the idol self was gratified with every indulgence which the most unsanctified fancy could devise. Thus she perverted that fine faculty, the imagination, to the worst of purposes: while by comparing these visionary views of what she conceived to be happiness, with her actual state, she became thoroughly discontented with every thing about her, con

ceiving that she was cruelly injured by every little necessary restraint imposed upon her. She perceived, too, so great a difference between her own female relatives and the heroines of romance, that to use a strong expression, she almost loathed the homely manners of her old grandmother, her grave aunts, and her indulgent mother. Such was the extravagant turn of her thoughts; and thus by passing from one diseased state of the mind to another, she, who was really surrounded with every earthly comfort, became one of the most discontented persons on the face of the earth.

At this time she entirely lost the gayety of youth, and her conscience became partially troubled: for although dead to all spiritual concerns, her natural sense of right and wrong convinced her that she was living in sin. Religion therefore became a terror to her. Her mental improvements of every kind were now at an end, while her outward conduct and appearance were visibly influenced by the inward disorder of her mind.

We will here pause for a moment, and consider whether the state of Constantia, as I have described it, is a common one among young people. I cannot but fear that this state is very common among such as have been reared in indolence and self-indulgence: and hence the restlessness observable in many young persons, their incapacity of enjoying the present scene, their eager desire of novelty, the weariness they express in the society of parents and near connexions-symptoms which all must have noticed who have had much to do with young people, but which can only be understood by those, who using the light which Scripture affords, are by it enabled to investigate the dark and foul recesses of the human heart. To such, however, it would perhaps be needless to say, "If you are parents, beware how you indulge that love of self in your offspring, which may hereafter reduce them to the condition of the miserable Constantia. It is true, you cannot change their hearts, you cannot renew their fallen nature; but you may accustom them to hear themselves spoken of as partakers of an evil nature, and as individuals of a condemned race. You may accustom them to hear, that he who takes honour to himself, is guilty of self-idolatry; and that he who seeks his own

indulgences, must needs be deficient in that love to his neighbour, which is the only satisfactory evidence that can be given of our love towards God. But since no earthly effort is sufficient to subdue and mortify sin, children should be early taught where to apply for help in time of need; even to that Holy Spirit who is ever willing to assist us."

But, to return to Constantia. She had attained her fourteenth year in the unhappy state which I have described; while her friends, not understanding the errors of their own management, were almost ready to suppose that there was a certain something in her natural disposition more depraved than was common to children in general. On this subject the grandmother and aunts would converse in the bitterness of their hearts, frequently saying, with tears, “Have we not done every thing for our child which the most careful parents could do? have we spared punishment? have we not endeavoured to season her mind with religious principles? have we not as much as possible preserved her from evil company? Whence then has proceeded so extraordinary a degree of malignity and perverseness? Do we not see numbers of children who have been utterly neglected; who have been left with servants, with strangers, in large schools; nay, almost in the very streets; who in every respect are more promising than our poor Constantia ?"

But in this calculation, they did not consider that the Almighty often carries on a process of education under trials, afflictions, and adversity, by which the selfish passions of a child may be more effectually subdued, and his mind better prepared for the reception of right principles, than can be effected by the best directed education, when the outward circumstances of the pupil are easy and prosperous. What then can be expected, when self has been set up as the idol from childhood; and when that individual of a family, who ought to be made of the least consequence, is allowed to feel himself a person of the greatest importance? But the minds of the poor grandmother and aunts not being well instructed on this subject, their discussions generally ended as they had begun, in sorrow and confusion.

While things were in this state, an uncle of Constantia's by the father's side, a man of sense and principle, came to visit his niece, whom he had not seen for many years, during which interval he had been abroad. After a few days' acquaintance, it was agreed that he should be informed of the feelings of the elders of the family with regard to Constantia, and his advice solicited. The af fair was accordingly stated to him according to their own ideas, to wit, that every thing had been done for his niece that it was possible for love or duty to dictate; but that the perverseness of her disposition had baffled all their efforts to render her in any degree what they wished.

Constantia's uncle could not deny what was asserted, although from the general result of his experience he imagined that there must have been some great error in an education which seemed to have so entirely failed. He did not doubt the good intentions of Constantia's friends, but he suspected some failure in their judgment. He requested to be allowed some hours for consideration upon the subject, before he gave his opinion; at the end of which time, he gave the result of his reflections. "I have a friend,” he said, “a widow lady, a Mrs. Garston, residing near town, of whom I have the highest opinion -not merely as a good woman, but as a woman of talents and experience, both of which have been exercised particularly in the management of young ladies. She is the mother of a large, well-ordered family, most of whom are married and settled well in the world. If this lady could be prevailed upon to take charge of Constantia for a few years, I think it would be the best thing we could do for her; and, indeed, if this plan is not adopted, I know not what else to propose."

"What," said Mrs. Kitty, "and send her quite from us ?"

"My dear," said the grandmother, "if it is for her good to leave us, you surely would not refuse to part with her, from any selfish motive."

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"But might not a governess in the house," added Mrs Kitty, answer better than an entire separation? There are many clever young persons who would be glad of such a situation."