UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 49 



My uncle good-humouredly gave them a few 

 shillings to get their " stout old beer," and they 

 hurried off to visit some other house. 



25th. We all rnet in health and cheerfulness 

 this good Christmas morning, and in our heart- 

 felt wishes for mutual happiness, yours, dear 

 Mamma, was included as ardently, as if you had 

 been present. 



To the usual old fashioned expressions of 

 kindness, my aunt added, in her impressive 

 manner, a tender wish that we might receive such 

 gracious aid from above, as would enable us to 

 rejoice indeed on this great day. 



After some general conversation, my uncle ex- 

 plained to us the 45th Psalm, which is appointed 

 for the service of Chrismas-day ; and which, he 

 says, like many of the other psalms, is constantly 

 read and but little understood. 



" It appears," said he, " to be a song of con- 

 gratulation upon the marriage of a great king ; 

 but, from a consideration of all the subjects on 

 which it touches, there is no doubt that it pro- 

 phetically alludes to the mystical wedding of 

 Christ with his church. This was the unani- 

 mous opinion of all the Jewish expositors for 

 though prejudice prevented them from disco- 

 vering the completion of the prophecies in our 

 Saviour, yet they well understood their meaning, 



F 



