to the Legislature; and, if we succeeded, that I should superintend the execution of the plan."
"Still, dear Edward, I see any thing but offence in all this."
"Because your eye-sight is a little dimmed by your partiality. Do you believe, Jane, that any man would be willing to transfer to another all the merit and praise of a scheme, which, if it succeeds, will be a most important benefit to the community; will be felt, and noticed, and applauded by every body? No—there is some design lurking under this specious garb of disinterestedness—disinterestedness! it only exists in the visions of poets, or the Utopian dreams of youth; or, perhaps, embodied in the fine person of a hero of romance."
"Oh! my dear Edward, it does exist; it is the principle, the spirit of the Christian!"
"Par exemple—of your aunt Wilson, and of sundry other stanch professors I could mention, who,
"If self the wavering balance shake,
It's never right adjusted."
"Is it fair," replied Jane, "to condemn a whole class because some of its members are faithless and disloyal? A commander does but decimate a mutinous corps; and you exclude the whole from your confidence, because a few are treacherous. I allow," continued Jane, "there are few, very few, who are perfectly disinterested; but every Christian, in proportion to his fidelity to the teachings
