corresponds with that of the apostle when he exclaimed, "When I would do good, evil is present with me." This was the last conversation of a religious nature which her parents had with her, and they regard it as kindly afforded by Providence to alleviate the agony of her sudden removal.

The next morning, September 21st, she left home for the last time to go to her grandfather's at Barnard Castle, that she might enjoy the advantages of a ladies' school. She had had a slight cold previously, but was better, and left home in good spirits, alas! little expecting what a few days would bring forth. She was seized with a sore throat and cough on the Friday following, which yielded to medical treatment. On Saturday she was a good deal better, and on Sunday her medical attendant declared her to be "without fever and better." On the afternoon of this day the first tidings of her illness reached her parents, but it was represented in 80 mild a form that they felt no alarm. In fact, her grandfather assured them that she would soon be quite well. Alas! how shortsighted is man! That night she became worse, her cough increased, and she breathed with great difficulty. She spent the afternoon in reading the Scriptures and repeating her sweet hymns, and retired to bed early, but did not slumber for more than five minutes at a time. The wakefulness, the extreme restlessness, difficult breathing, and weariness, continued all night, but never forced from her a fretful expression or a murmur.

The servant was with her all night, and says she often asked if it was not morning, and frequently said how much she would like to see her father, and mother, and sister, but never expressed fretfulness at their absence. About midnight she asked Mary, the servant, to get up, dress herself, and nurse her awhile. She at once complied. While on her knee, she said, "Mary, do you think I shall get better?" The reply was, "Oh, yes, I hope

so," She then said, "No, I shall never be better here." She twice repeated this remark, and with great feeling repeated these touching lines:

"I am young, but I must die;
In my grave I soon shall lie.
Am I ready now to go,
If the will of God be so?
"Lord, prepare me for mine end,
To mine heart thy Spirit send;
Help me, Jesus, thee to love,
Then take my soul to dwell above."

While reclining on Mary's knee, she slumbered, and in this state began to smile. While still slumbering, she laid both hands upon her breast, as if to sustain her emotion, and continued to laugh for some time, as if enjoying a scene of great delight, and said, "I hope to come soon." When she awoke, Mary said, "You have been laughing; what have you been laughing at? "Oh, Mary," she said, " have been dreaming about heaven, and have seen beautiful angels." Doubtless she was now favoured with a vision of that blessed world into which she was soon to enter.

The rest of her wakeful, painful hours was spent in prayer, reading the Scriptures, and repeating her favourite hymns, such as this:

"We sing of the realms of the blest,

That country so bright and so fair, And oft are its glories confest,

But what must it be to be there?" Then she repeated the one beginning,

"Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me, Bless thy little lamb to-night."

Then she said,

"There is a happy land,
Far, far away,

Where saints in glory stand,
Bright, bright as day."

Two or three times she prayed for her father, her mother, her brother, and sisters, that God would bless them, and bring them safe to heaven, and then she gave expression to her feelings in these hymns:

"Around the throne of God in heaven, Thousands of children stand;

Children whose sins are all forgiven, A holy, happy band,

and

66

Singing, Glory, glory, glory!" "I'm but a stranger here, Heaven is my home; Earth is a desert drear, Heaven is my home!"

I think when I read that sweet story of old;"

and others of a similar character. These show how entirely her mind was absorbed in spiritual meditations, and heavenly and pure were her thoughts. She had not her kind and affectionate parents near her to prompt her in the repetition of these beautiful sentiments; her grandfather's servant, comparatively a stranger to her, was all the company she had through that long and wakeful night. Yet, in these circumstances, when death was near, and she was conscious of it, her mind was calm, peaceful, yea, happy. How much the want of earthly friends and comforts was compensated by the gracious and loving presence of her Saviour! He took this dear lamb of his flock in her last struggles into his own bosom.

The long-looked-for dawn of the last and fatal day appeared. She arose weak, greatly oppressed, and unable to speak above a whisper. Her strength was failing, and with little apparent change in her outward appearance she continued until four o'clock in the afternoon, when the first alarming announcement was made by her medical attendant that she was sinking, and the only chance to prolong her life was an operation. In the effort to perform it, she almost imperceptibly expired, without a pang or a struggle; it might be said, she gently fell asleep.

She sleeps in Jesus, and is blessed;
How sweet her slumbers are!
From sufferings and from sins re-
leased,

And freed from every snare."

What an encouragement to Christian mothers to impart early religious instruction to their children! Staindrop, Nov. 5.

A HEATHEN MOTHER. A MISSIONARY in the Teloogoo country (says Mrs. Porter) was one hot day going to a house where a printing-press was kept, and where he went almost every day to look over the printing of some books. In the verandah of this house he saw two little girls sitting, one about twelve, the other between three and four years old. He saw that they were looking very tired and sad; and, as he was always grieved to see little children in trouble, he stopped, and asked the little girls why they sat there. The elder one replied, "Mother is gone away, but she said she would come soon. The missionary asked them to come into the press-room and wait; but the only reply was, "Mother said she would come soon." They were looking faint and hungry, so he ordered them a little rice-water and rice.

The next day, when he again went, he found them still sitting in the same place, but looking more sad and miserable than before. He felt very sorry for them, and offered to take them to a house that was near; but the elder girl said, "No, she did not mind, only the chinna pilla (little girl) cried so;" but, stroking the poor little thing's head, she soothed her by saying, "Mother said she would come soon.' They were again fed, but persisted in still waiting for their mother.

On the third day the missionary found them still sitting and crying for their mother, and at last he persuaded them that it would be better to let him take care of them. They were removed to the female orphan school, close to the missionary's house; there they were washed, and fed, and clothed. Dear children they cried very much for some time, frequently saying, "Mother said she would come soon." The little girls in the school had been taught that, now they were no longer heathen, they must be kind to everybody, particularly to those who are in distress;

The

and they were all very sorry for these poor little girls. The elder ones tried to comfort the larger girl by telling her, "Master and ma'am are like father and mother; you will never starve nor want clothes in this school, and you will be taught many good things." The little children, too, did their part by trying to amuse them, and showing them how they played and sang. As time passed on, by degrees they forgot their sorrows. eldest was named Emily, and the younger Lucy Cook. Inquiry was made for their: cruel mother; but no account was ever heard of her, except that she had been seen walking away with a very wicked man. Little Lucy was going on very nicely, and all loved her very much; but, from having been long nearly starved, she was very weak, and when the measles entered the school, she took them, and, her feeble frame being unable to combat with any disease, she died in a few days. Poor Emily cried very much, for she dearly loved her little sister, and was like a mother to her. The missionary's wife and the schoolmistress tried to comfort her by telling her that they hoped little Lucy's spirit was happy with Jesus and holy angels. Emily became an industrious girl, cooked, spun cotton, and engaged in other useful works, and is now married.

TRY..

THERE was once upon a time a good little dwarf named Try, who was so powerful that he overcame almost everything he attempted; and yet he was so small and ill-favoured, that people laughed when they were told of his wondrous powers. But the tiny man was so kind at heart, and loved so much to serve his unfortunate and desponding brethren, that he would go and beg of those who knew him better to intercede for him, so that he might be allowed to help them out of their troubles : and when once he had made them happy by his noble deeds, they no longer despised him or drove him

from them with sneers, but loved him as their nearest friend. Yet the only return this good dwarf sought for all his services was, that when they heard of any one who wanted a helping hand, they would say a good word in his favour, and recommend them to-TRY.

A TRUE COMPLIMENT. WASHINGTON had been visiting a lady in his neighbourhood, and when leaving, a little girl was directed to open the door for him. He turned to her and said, "I am sorry, my little dear, to make you so much trouble." "I wish, sir," she replied, "it was to let you in."

A BEAUTIFUL REPLY. A LITTLE girl, about seven years of age, was asked by an atheist how large she supposed her God to be; to which she, with admirable readiness, replied: "He is so great, the heavens cannot contain him; and yet so kindly condescending, as to dwell in my little heart."

TO JULIA.

(WRITTEN FOR HER ALBUM.) YOUR Maker sees your every thought, When or where'er you are; And you, for each of them at last,

Your own account must bear.
God keep thy soul in purity,

Imbued with holy love;
For ever looking up to him,
Who dwells in heaven above..
Beside thee let there constantly
A guardian spirit stay,
To warn thee from the evil path,
And show the blissful way.

A CHILD'S PRAYER.
THROUGH the pleasures of the day,
When I read, and when I pray,
Let me ever keep in view
God is seeing all I do.

When the sun withdraws his light,
And I go to rest at night,
Let me never lay my head
On my soft and easy bed,.
Till I lift my heart in prayer,
For my Heavenly Father's care;
Thanking him for all his love,
Sent me from his home above;
Praying him to kindly make
Me his child, for Jesus' sake.

SAYINGS OF MARTIN
LUTHER.

Luther, taking up a caterpillar, said: ""Tis an emblem of the devil in its crawling walk, and bears his colours in its shining hues."- Luther was one day being shaved and having his hair cut in the presence of Jonas, when he said to the latter, "Original sin is in us like beard. We are shaved to-day, and look clean, and have a smooth chin; to-morrow our beard is grown again, nor does it cease growing whilst we remain on earth. In like manner, original sin cannot be extirpated from us; it springs up in us as long as we exist; nevertheless, we are bound to resist it to the utmost of our strength, and to cut it down unceasingly.-When I am assailed with heavy tribulations, I rush out among my pigs, rather than remain alone by myself. The human heart is like a mill-stone in a mill; when you put wheat under it, it turns and grinds and bruises the wheat to flour. If you put no wheat in, it still grinds on; but then 'tis itself it grinds and wears away."

THE GLORY OF GOD. In our narrow, limited views (says Bonnet), we see but the present moment; Christ, in his dispensation towards us, sees

our

eternal destinies. We see but the wants which press upon us, the deliverance for which we sigh and weep; Christ sees an eternal destination, which he would make us reach by ways unknown to ourselves. We see but our earthly and mortal body; Christ sees our immortal soul. We see but time; Christ sees eternity, and above all things, and in all things, "the glory of God." Whoever we are, whatever be our condition, our rank in the world, we, as well as the whole of the immense creation, can have but one destination, for which alone we have been called into ex

istence," the glory of God," the glory of the Son of God,

THE LORD'S PRAYER. The spirit of the Lord's prayer is beautiful. The form of petition breathes a filial spirit-" Father."

A catholic spirit-"Our Father." A reverential spirit-" Hallowed be thy name."

A missionary spirit-"Thy kingdom come."

An obedient spirit-" Thy will be done on earth.'

A dependent spirit-"Give us this day our daily bread.”

A forgiving spirit-" And forgive our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.'

A cautious 'spirit-" Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

A confidential and adoring spirit -"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."

LIFE.

The mere lapse of years is not life. To eat, drink, and sleep; to be exposed to darkness and light; to pace around in the mill of habits and turn the mill of wealth; to make reason our book-keeper, and thought an implement of trade,— this is not life. In all this but a poor fraction of the unconsciousness of humanity is awakened, and the sanctities still slumber which make it worth while to be. Knowledge, truth, beauty, love, goodness, faith, alone can give vitality to the mechanism of existence,-the laugh of mirth which vibrates through the heart, the tear which freshens the dry wastes within, the music that brings childhood back, the prayer that calls the future near, the death which startles us with mystery, the hardship which forces us to struggle, the anxiety that ends in being.Chalmers.

CLEANSING THE HEART.

I have somewhere read a story of one who complained to an aged holy man that he was much discouraged from reading the Scriptures, because he could fasten nothing upon his memory which he had read. The old hermit-for so I remember he was described-bade him take an earthen pitcher and fill it with water. When he had done it, he bade him empty it again and. wipe it clean, that nothing should remain in it; which when the other had done, and wondered to what this tended, "Now," said he, "though there is nothing of the water remaining in it, yet the pitcher is cleaner than it was before; so though thy memory retain nothing of the word thou readest, yet thy heart is the cleaner for its very passage through.”

DYING WORDS OF MELANC

CHINESE AMAZONS.

Among the camp followers of the insurgent chief who has been disturbing the heart of the empire, it was computed, in 1853, that there were, in the city of Nanking only, about half a million of women, collected from various parts of the country. These females were formed into brigades of 13,000, under female officers. Of these 10,000 were picked women, drilled and garrisoned in the citadel. The rest had the hard drudgery assigned them of digging moats, making earthworks, erecting batteries, &c.-Milne.

NOT DOING.

The guilt of many things is clearly

discernible. Nobody questions the character of Sabbath-breaking, profanity, or drunkenness. Avarice, ill-temper, evil-speaking, though less obvious, are evident enough to be weighed by the standard of public opinion, and are readily acknowledged to be sins. Vanity, trifling, and procrastination cannot easily elude a reckoning, and are pronounced inconsistent with any great measure of excellence. But there is a sin cleaving to the Lord's people subtle in its nature, so humble in its guise, so frank in its excuses, that exposure is difficult, and rebuke is often disarmed. What is it? The sin of NOT DOING. Neglected opportunities, unused talents, undone good, these are to be arraigned in the great day, in the same catalogue with others of a bolder and darker dye. "Inasmuch as ye did it not," is the verdict of the Judge.

SOW THY SEED.

About the year 1840 an Egyptian mummy was brought to Philadelphia, and submitted to the inspection of some scientific men in that city. On removing the envelope, they found the mummy in a good state of preservation, and in the hand was enclosed a quantity of Egyptian wheat, indicating the person to have been an agriculturist. This mummy was about 2,500 years old, and hence we might reasonably suppose the wheat had lost its vitality. A part of it, however, was sent to a person in New York, who planted it, and had the satisfaction of seeing it spring up and produce fine, vigorous plants, each of which contained at least one hundred grains of wheat.

Had this seed been planted, instead of being shut up in the hand of a mummy, in 2,500 seasons, by multiplying in geometric progression, it would have covered the earth with wheat. Just so with the seed of Divine truth, if faithfully scattered about, instead of being secluded and shut up, it would soon cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea.