proposal shall be made to the Sister in question, and, secondly, whether it be His will that she accept it. And though it would seem that an affirmative answer to the first question might supersede the second, it is not precisely so, and for this reason there may be women discontented with their lot in this life, and fancying themselves overlooked, who, on receiving a call to be the wife of a missionary or some one else fulfilling some office they have no wish to join in, or whom they neither know nor desire to know, see at once the sinfulness of their discontent with a state of life so much pleasanter and more compatible with their views of comfort than that proposed to them; and such women are incited to pray to the Lord to know if it may not be His gracious will that they decline the proposal; and when the second question is asked, the answer in such a case would probably be "No."

By this, we see that they neither are, nor consider themselves, compelled to accept such a call: although, considering it to come from the Lord, they generally do so, and scarcely an unhappy marriage of the kind is on record. Sometimes a Brother wishes to marry, but does not know of any Sister he could choose, so he applies to the Elders,

I

and tells them he desires a wife of such and such a disposition and character. They propose such an one to him; and he either decides directly that he will have her, if she will accept the proposal made for him through the Elders, or he refers it to the lot, and says he will abide by the decision. The Moravian clergy are always destined to one or another of the community by lot. Their choice being of public importance, it is wholly referred to the Lord.

The ground is now perfectly white with snow; it fell so thickly all day that I could scarcely see across the road; a white, impenetrable veil seemed to hang between the forest and me. In consequence of the snow-storm, the bell rang at seven to announce that there would be no service this evening.

15th. I have written to papa-I hope he will soon answer my letter. The country-people have been conveying their goods in sledges to-day, instead of carts. The snow lies thick on the ground, but the day has been bright and fine. When I bought grapes in the hall, this morning, the woman said they would be the last this year.

16th. Sunday. Thanksgiving Festival for the harvest, which has been very good this year. A beautiful psalm was sung to-night.

PART III.

Nov. 17th. After service this evening, the Sisters met together in the Chor Saal for evening prayers, as the morning prayers there are discontinued for the winter. I have obtained leave to join the girls' room, and go too. We do not repeat a form of prayer, but verses containing prayer are sung-it is a musical service.

19th. It is still very cold. I saw a light pretty little sledge drive by this morning, when I was practising at the Inspector's; the bell tinkled so cheerily as it swiftly glided over the snow! The school sledges were taken out this afternoon. They are little wooden ones, just large enough to sit upon.

The Inspector announced, after the class to-day, that a third room is to be instituted, and that two new teachers, therefore, are coming. We began to-day to practise our Christmas piece.

At the beginning of the week, the bolts and bars inside the doors were thickly frozen over! Sister Z. went to Villengen in a sledge the other day. It is a drive of nearly two hours from hence, in a fly, but the sledge did it easily in an hour and a quarter.

23rd. There was a baptism to-day. It seems singular to me that the sign of the cross is not used; however, the pouring water on the heart is certainly a significant symbol of purification, for it is the heart that requires to be cleansed from sin. Another thing has struck me: the absence of the ring in the Moravian marriage-service; Sister Z. tells me, however, that the bride and bridegroom always exchange rings afterwards.

On Wednesday evenings, the Moravians pray for their church in its present critical circumstances, either in their own families or with their associates.

28th. Sister Z. and Sister R. took me with them at half-past eight this morning, to wish Eugene M. many happy returns of his birthday. He is six years old, but he looks eight. His little brother Rudolf, who is but three, wears a little frock-coat, and looks and acts like a boy of six. Sister Z. carried Eugene a New Testament and four sponge

cake lambs; and a five-franc piece and a gulden from his uncle. I took him a thaumatrope, and a cornucopia full of chocolate-drops and kisses. He likewise had a new great-coat, a pair of knitted braces, a slate and pencils, and a variety of cakes, small and great. It was likewise the birthday of Sister K., and of Rosina, the Black Forest girl, who drives the cows and feeds the pigs; so they both had birthday tables in the Economy-room.

Sister Z. called my attention to the fact, that there are no beggars among the Moravians. I replied that I had observed it; and asked her how it came to be the case. She said that the poorfunds, which are increased from time to time by legacies left by the richer Brethren, are sufficient to relieve all who need it.

The Moravians give presents to one another throughout Advent. These are supposed to be brought them by the Christkind, or child Christ; and are carried about, if portable, on waiters covered with gay papers and decked with waxlights and bonbons.

30th. Advent Sunday was announced at daybreak by the blowing of trumpets in different parts