vening, he usually
took a stroll over to his mills, or around his grounds, to mark out what
was necessary to be done on the coming week.

Agnes felt the importance of exerting in this ungodly family a strictly
religious influence; but, except with her own little pupils, she did not
attempt, at first, to do so in any other way than by her own quiet,
consistent example. Mr. Fairland was much surprised when Agnes requested
permission to take the children to church with her he readily granted
it, however, as he invariably did the wishes of Agnes; and from that
time, Mr. Fairland's pew had at least four or five occupants, on the
morning and evening of the Sabbath day. Though not required by her
engagement to do so, Agnes kept the children with her on Sunday, reading
to them, singing with them, or telling them beautiful Bible stories; and
those pleasant Sabbaths spent with her they never forgot, nor did they
ever lay aside the habits they acquired under her care.

"What a pleasant day Sunday is!" exclaimed little Rosa; "I never knew it
was such a pleasant day before."

"It's cousin Agnes makes it so pleasant," said blue-eyed Jessie.

"It is because you spend it as God directs, that it is a pleasant day to
you, dear children," said Agnes; "and I wish you to remember that it
will always be a happy day, if you spend it in His service, 'from the
beginning unto the end thereof.'"

Even if I were sufficiently acquainted with them to detail all the
plans of Agnes for the education and improvement in manners and habits
of her rude and ignorant little pupils, I should not do so here. They
required peculiar training and an unfailing stock of patience, and it
was long before any very perceptible change was wrought in their almost
confirmed habits of carelessness, or any improvement in their rude and
unformed manners; but at length a material change was apparent, and even
the Misses Fairland could not keep their eyes closed to the visible
improvement of the children. They were all much more gentle and quiet;
and even poor Tiney softened much, under Agnes' gentle influence, and
the light of intelligence began to beam in her heretofore dull eye. For
the first time in her life, she was gaining useful ideas; and the
consciousness that she was learning something as well as her sisters,
seemed to make her happier and more kindly in her feelings.

It was not long before the door would open gently, as the sound of their
evening hymn was he