"Mr. Cole, in his sermon on Sunday morning, said that this evangelical religion is a spiritual epidemic; it spreads by the power of sympathy, and affects all alike. It is a prodigious evil." "That's true; we will have no more of it in _our_ family," said Miss Dorothy, "for our next servants shall engage not to go and hear our rector, and I will substitute the prayer-book for the Bible, for the servants to read." "Very proper," said Mrs. Denham, "that venerable book will do them no harm." "They may read that," said Miss Susan, "and welcome. It will never make them miserable, nor keep them up late at night." "Then, ladies, you are in want of two servants?" "Yes," said Miss Susan, "and two who like to read the prayer-book better than the Bible, and won't go to hear any of the evangelicals." "Shall we see you at church next Sunday; Mr. Cole is going to preach a charity sermon for our Sunday-school." "What, have you a Sunday-school?" "Yes, Mr. Cole felt compelled to set up one in self-defence, for he found the children all going off to a school kept by some of the evangelicals, and their parents followed them. We haven't many." "For a Sunday-school," said Miss Dorothy, "in self-defence, there is some excuse, otherwise I would not give it my sanction; I hope you are very careful what you teach the children, otherwise you will lift them up with pride, and they will not work as servants ought to do." "Mr. Cole won't have anything taught in the school but the Church catechism." "They may learn that," said Miss Susan, "and welcome; it won't do them any harm. Yes, you may expect us on Sunday, and perhaps then, Mrs. Denham, you may be able to tell us if you can help us to any servant who will comply with our terms--read the prayer-book, and not go near any of the evangelicals." THE RELIGIOUS PARTY. There was at Mr. Stevens's a select but not a large party. The conversation was of a desultory nature till after tea, when Miss Roscoe was requested to favour the company with a little music. She seated herself at the piano, and sung the following hymn with considerable effect: "O my Lord, I've often mused On thy wondrous love to me; How I have the same abused, Slighted, disregarded Thee! "To thy church and Thee a stranger; Pleas'd with what displeased Thee; Lost, yet could perceive no danger; Wounded, yet no wound could see. "But, unwearied, Thou pursu'dst me; Still thy calls repeated came, Till on Calvary's mount I view'd Thee, Bearing my reproach and blame. "Then o'erwhelmed with shame and sorrow, Whilst I view each pierced limb, Tears bedew the scourge's furrow, Mingling with the purple stream. "I no more at Mary wonder, Dropping tears upon the grave-- Earnest asking all around her, Where is he who died to save?