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'But I have another sche, only I did not like to mention it'

'Indeed! pray tell us what it is'

'I should like to be a governess'

My hed My sister dropped her work in astonishnes! What can you be drea so VERY extraordinary in it I do not pretend to be able to instruct great girls; but surely I could teach little ones: and I should like it so much: I am so fond of children Do let me, mamma!'

'But, my love, you have not learned to take care of YOURSELF yet: and young children require e than elder ones'

'But, hteen, and quite able to take care of myself, and others too You do not know half the wisdom and prudence I possess, because I have never been tried'

'Only think,' said Mary, 'ould you do in a house full of strangers, without me or mamma to speak and act for you--with a parcel of children, besides yourself, to attend to; and no one to look to for advice? You would not even knohat clothes to put on'

'You think, because I always do as you bid ment of my own: but only try me--that is all I ask--and you shall see what I can do'

At that moment my father entered and the subject of our discussion was explained to hioverness!' cried he, and, in spite of his dejection, he laughed at the idea

'Yes, papa, don't YOU say anything against it: I should like it so htfully'

'But, listened in his eye as he added--'No, no! afflicted as we are, surely we are not brought to that pass yet'

'Oh, no!' said my mother 'There is no necessity whatever for such a step; it is ue, you naughty girl; for, though you are so ready to leave us, you know very e cannot part with YOU'

I was silenced for that day, and forones; but still I did not wholly relinquishot s How delightful it would be to be a governess! To go out into the world; to enter upon a new life; to act for myself; to exercise my unused faculties; to tryto comfort and helpthe; to show papa what his little Agnes could do; to convince htless being they supposed And then, how char to be entrusted with the care and education of children! Whatever others said, I felt I was fully cohts in early childhood would be a surer guide than the instructions of the most mature adviser I had but to turn froe, and I should know, at once, hoin their confidence and affections: hoaken the contrition of the erring; how to embolden the timid and console the afflicted; how to ion lovely and comprehensible