CHAPTER III.

EMPLOYMENTS AND AMUSEMENTS AT SCHOOL.

WHEN the carriage which contained our old friend had disappeared from our view, Mrs. Bloomfield took each of us by the hand, and leading us up stairs, introduced us into a large room fitted up as a school-room, when she caused us to embrace our young companions, while, with the tear of benevolence trembling in her eye, she pronounced a blessing upon us, as we stood all grouped together. "And now, my Lucilla, and Amelia, and all of you, my dears," said she, " put on your bonnets, and take your work-baskets, and let us go to our favourite bower. Where are the books, cousin Agnes ?" she added, looking at the young lady, whom I had truly supposed to be a sort of teacher; "the evening is pleasant, and we will hope for another happy afternoon in the woods; I have directed the servant where to find us." A kind of thrill of delight seemed as it were to electrify every young frame as the excellent lady spoke; and as the young people hastened to prepare for the proposed expedition, I heard exclamations of joy on all sides, and was not a little surprised to see Rosa and Maria loading themselves each with a wooden doll of no small dimensions, in addition to their work-baskets. As soon as the bustle of preparation was over, the young party descended the stairs, headed by their governess, and proceeded very orderly through a beautiful shrubbery, which, however shadowy and embowered on each side, admitted at intervals inviting glimpses of hills still higher than that on which we then were, and shades still thicker and still more attractive; the air in the mean time being perfumed with the odour of many flowers, and rendered melodious by the song of many birds. At length, through a slight wicket, we passed from the shrubbery upon a grassy terrace, flanked on one side by woods rising above woods, and here and there opening into green lawns and glades, and on the others by a deep valley, whose various beauties I should

despair to describe. My sister, who held my hand, looked at me with amazement, and her lovely eyes shone with delight, but we had not yet acquired courage to speak in the company then present; our walk continued, it might be, for a quarter of a mile, till at length coming to a little spot of most rare beauty, a kind of verdant circle beneath a wide extended oak, where the trunks of two fallen trees formed several convenient seats, our governess directed us to sit down, while she took a central position, and every one immediately took her work from her bag.

"And now," said she, " Agnes, where are our books? but before you begin, let us all sit still a few moments to listen to the music-our new friends are now introduced into one of our withdrawing rooms, and I doubt not that they admire it in no ordinary degree: let them have the advantage of hearing the concert which is prepared for us, without interruption." A smile spread itself over each lively youthful face as Mrs. Bloomfield spoke, and Rosa lifted up her small finger, and looking archly at me, stood in an attitude of deep attention; I was really so stupid that I expected to hear a violin, or perhaps some notes of a flute; I was, therefore, thoroughly puzzled, when no such sounds having met my ear, little Rosa whispered, "Do you hear, Miss Ellendo you hear?"—"No," I replied, "No, I hear no music." "But I do," subjoined Sophia, “I do; I hear sweet music, and there are many musicians and many instruments."

I stared at my sister, and Mrs. Bloomfield, smiling, said, "and can you tell me what sort of musicians these are, dear?"

"Oh! they have many instruments, and various notes ma'am," she replied, "but they produce sweet melody and make no confusion-every creature has its notethe sweet birds in the trees, and the lambs on the opposite hill, express the higher notes; and the waters which fall from those stones, and the wind in the tops of the trees, express the lower notes; and I know the subject of their harmony, ma'am,"-and as she spoke, she blushed deeply, for all eyes were upon her, as well they might be.

"And what is the subject of their music?" said Mrs. Bloomfield.

"The heavens declare the glory of God, ma'am," she

said in reply," and the firmament showeth his handiworks."

I was astonished at the effect which this speech had on the whole company; tears started in the eyes of many present, and Amelia Bloomfield, who sat next Sophia, clasped her in her arms, and kissed her tenderly.

"And who, my little girl, taught you all this?" asked Mrs. Bloomfield. My sister seemed as much surprised as I had been at the effect of her speech, and answered, "I do not know, ma'am; but I remembered the verse, and thought it had something to do with the music you were talking about."

Nothing more was said; but I saw Miss Agnes look at Mrs. Bloomfield, and an indistinct feeling of envy at that moment took hold of my mind; for I had built myself up with the idea that my sister was far inferior to me, and that I was to make a much more brilliant figure among my young companions than she could possibly expect to do; and although Mrs. Bloomfield was too judicious to bestow many praises on her young people, yet it was evident that she had been greatly pleased and surprised by the aptness and elegance of what Sophia had said.

No further reference was however made to this subject at this time. Miss Agnes was now called upon to read, and a general composure stole over the whole company; I had hoped that the book which was to be read would prove to be some sort of story book; I was, therefore, not very well pleased when I heard the young lady give notice that she was about to read the twenty-third chapter of Leviticus; for I had been accustomed to hear my guardian's daughter read the Psalms and Lessons every morning, while I was employed with my needle; and as they always read through thick and thin, as the old saying is, without a word of explanation, and in that sort of drawling melancholy tone which is always used by some persons on such occasions, I had conceived such a disrelish for the Bible as was not easily to be overcome, being, in fact, utterly ignorant of its real meaning, and never having paid any other attention to the reading than to ascertain the length of the chapters by dint of peeping over the reader, inwardly rejoicing when the chapter did not appear to run to any length.

I had always been taught to consider that, of all the

books in the Bible, Leviticus was the one which, in general, was least to be understood by young people; its very name was, therefore, enough for me, and in consequence, while Miss Agnes was reading, I had made up my mind to think of something else, in which intent I succeeded so entirely, that I never once found my thoughts arrested in their wanderings till the chapter was finished, and our governess was making her remarks upon it, which she did in a manner which surprised me, dark and ignorant as I then was. "This whole book of Leviticus,” said she, “which is so often overlooked by the readers of Scripture, is perhaps, one of the most worthy of study of any volume throughout the Old Testament, because it contains, under types and symbols, not only the great scheme of man's salvation, but many prophetic views of things which are to come to pass in the latter days, when the chief shepherd shall descend on earth, and gather his flocks from all places in which they may have been scattered in the dark and cloudy day of man's ignorance; for my dear Ellen and Sophia," she added, turning directly to us, "the time shall come when our blessed Saviour will descend on earth and reign over his own people, and restore peace and joy throughout all nature; and then, my children, how happy will all those be who have loved their Saviour in this present state of being, and who have been united with him in death and are raised up with him in glory.

"And now to speak of the chapter of which we have been reading, it contains an account of sundry feasts of the Israelites, in all of which we may no doubt find predictions and pictures of glorious occasions of rejoicing, and triumphs of the saints in the last days; when the Lord shall have gathered his wheat into his garner, and his blessed children are set free from sin and sorrow for evermore. We will not, however, speak particularly of the former of these festivals, because we shall find more than enough for our consideration, but we will only refer to the last few verses.

"As in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the Lord seven days; on the first day shall be a sabbath.

"And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm-trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall

rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. And ye shall keep it a feast unto the Lord seven days in the year; it shall be a statute for ever in your generations; ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.

"Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born, shall dwell in booths."

She then, at the request of my sister, explained herself more largely on the subject of types and emblems. This reading and discussion employed us perhaps about an hour: but even to me the hour appeared short, at least the latter part of it, for the subject acquired new interest every moment: and this being completed, another book was brought forward, which we read by turns ; but had not proceeded in this reading long, when the servant appeared with a basket and a large pitcher.

And now we all hastened to put away our work, a cloth was spread on the grass, a little cup was given to each; the tea which had been made in the pitcher, was supplied with several slices of white bread and butter, thinly spread with a little honey for those who chose it. When all was ready for the repast, our governess called for a blessing, and all the young people with one voice sang these words :

"These are the joys he makes us know,

In fields and villages below;

Gives us a relish for his love,

But makes his noblest feast above.

After our repast we read a little longer, and then permission was given to play in the wood. Miss Agnes sat reading near at hand, but Mrs. Bloomfield went back to the house.

The game which was chosen was hide-and-seek, and we were to hide in pairs, Lucilla took me as her companion, and Amelia my sister.

I was quite amazed, and even frightened, at the curious dark corners and nooks through which Lucilla led me; she' crept among the underwood like a fox, putting her pursuers to fault every moment, and laughing most heartily when she had escaped to the goal from some imminent peril. I was by no means equal to my companions in these exploits, and being constantly caught I became sullen, and sitting down near Miss Agnes, said I was tired of playing; and indeed, I added, these plays are not what I have been used to, I think they are