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GEORGE COPELAND'S PROBATION.
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substitute for the whole at sea in a Scottish vessel or in the Bush in a Scottish family.

Copeland felt that night as if he needed prayer more than a set discourse. He was beginning a new life and he would fain have had some living devotional thoughts and feelings suggested to him. Jessie sat for a quarter of an hour after he conclusion of the sermon in silent thought, perhaps in silent prayer, and George resumed his letter and finished it. By that time the family were retiring to bed, for though Sunday was hailed as a day of rest, the limitation of employments—where there was no church to go to, no Sunday-school to teach or learn in, no neighbours to visit, and very few to see—made one and all of the household willing to abridge a little at both ends. Jessie was going with the others when George stopped her.

"I'd be glad if you would stay and see what I have been writing, Miss Lindsay, as it is according to your advice I am taking up the pen."

She accordingly stayed, and George put his letter into her hand. She was not much of a scholar; as she had said herself, she had taken care of a flock of sheep when she was eleven years old, and when she was relieved of that work there had been always a great deal of domestic and dairy work to occupy her hands and her