POETRY.

are." Then raising his voice, he cried, "Harro, are you ready? The wind will reach us soon. Ay, ay, sir," was the response.

66

In a few minutes the sails began to fill, and the vessel moved slowly through the water.

"How much water do you suppose we have here?" asked Homans, turning to the man at the wheel.

Fifty fathoms at least," was the reply.

"That will do," the slaver muttered, and he walked forward, and examined carefully the "chain gang," as he brutally termed his diabolical invention.

The negroes sent up piteous groans. For many hours they had bent over in this unnatural position, by which they were suffering the keenest torture.

The breeze strengthened, and the Brilliante dashed like a racer over the deep. Homans hailed from the quarter-deck, while his men, collected in groups, saw unmoved the consummation of the plan.

"Are you ready, Harro?"-" Ay, ay, sir."

Homans looked round, and into the darkness, which was giving way to the morn. Then he thundered out, "Strike!"

There was the sound of a single blow, a heavy plunge, and as the cable fell off the side, a crash, above which arose one terrible shriek-it was the last cry of the murdered Africans. One moment more, and all was still. Six hundred human beings had gone down with that anchor and chain into the depths of the ocean.

Two hours after daybreak the Brilliante was, overhauled. There was no evidence that she was a slaver, and her captors were obliged to let her pass. The instructions to cruisers at that time did not allow a vessel to be captured unless negroes were found on board.

ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

Anecdotes and Selections.

COME! COME!! COME!!!

The Spirit and the Bride say, Come; and let him that heareth say, Come.-Revelations xxii. 17.

Come to the Word of Truth, the scriptures of divine inspiration. That blessed book reveals a Saviour, and will direct you in the right way to happiness for this life, and that which is to come.

Come to the House of God.-You are abundantly welcome. You will hear the glorious gospel: join in the praises of your God and Saviour, and may obtain the best instructions and the greatest. of blessings.

Come to the Throne of Grace.-God has said, (Is. i. 18). "Come now, and let us reason together;" and promises full forgiveness. Jesus says, "Ask and ye shall receive;" and an apostle counsels thus, "Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help." The Holy Spirit will help your infirmities, and God will hear all your petitions, for the sake of his dear, Son.

Come to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Son of God, and the Saviour of mankind, the only, all-sufficient, and almighty Saviour. Hearken to his voice, "Come, and I will give you rest."-" If a man thirst, let him Come unto me and drink;" and, "Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out."

HEAR! HEAR!! HEAR!!!

HEAR-What? Good news! Glad tidings of salvation for the greatest of sinners, through the blood of the Lamb, and by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. "Take heed what ye hear." Hear the truth as it is in Jesus Christ.

HEAR-Whom? Hear Moses and the Prophets, Christ and the Apostles, and such as bring the same doctrine. But should any man, or even an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel, let him be utterly rejected and condemned. See Matt. vii. 16. and

Gal. i. 8, 9.

HEAR-Where? Anywhere: church, chapel, barn, room, cottage, or in the open air. The place is of no importance-the TRUTH is of infinite consequence. Let neither prejudice nor bigotry,indolence, fear, or favour, prevent your hearing the gospel of Christ wherever it is proclaimed. Hear it anywhere,

HEAR-How? Take heed how ye hear." Listen to the truth of God, seriously, attentively, constantly, with self-application, perseverance, and practice. James i. 21.

ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

HEAR-When? Without delay. "To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." The sabbath-day is an especially appropriate season; but a warm heart-an anxious and earnest soul, will gladly improve every opportunity of hearing the word of God.

HEAR-Who? Who should listen to the joyful sound-the tidings of salvation? All. It is worthy of all acceptation-therefore the young, the poor, the distressed, and all who are desirous of instruction, direction, forgiveness, consolation, and salvation, should listen to a preached gospel. "He that hath an ear, let him hear."

HEAR-Why? It is a great and distinguishing privilege to hear the gospel. "Blessed are your ears for they hear." Besides, God has commanded it, and promised life to those who hear rightly, saying, "Hear, and your soul shall live;" and "Faith cometh by hearing." But most awful threatenings are denounced against all who refuse to hear the word of God. Read Prov. i. 24. Heb. xii. 25.

STRIKING ANSWERS TO PRAYER.-In a certain town in New England, about forty years ago, there were ten females, all members of the same church, most of whose husbands were infidels, and far off from God. Some were moral; and all, I believe, above the lower classes of society in intellect and influence. These ten females entered into a private agreement with each other to meet once a week, and pray for the conversion of their husbands. After a little while one entirely neglected the meeting, another attended but did not pray; the remaining eight mingled their supplications for the salvation of their beloved companions. Two years had passed when the writer of this article visited the place. Then all the husbands of those eight whose united supplications went up for the blessing, were members of the same church. He whose companion went to the place of prayer but did not pray had been impressed, but gave no evidence of conversion. The tenth, whose wife neglected the place and duty of prayer, was the same man of the world he had always been. This account the writer had from one of the members, whom he had before known as a bold blaspheming infidel. It was given in the presence of his wife (one of the eight who prayed), and abundantly confirmed by others. In the meantime a powerful revival of religion had occurred-one of the favoured eight was one of the first converts, if not the first, and a leading instrument in the glorious work; the church prospered and the general face of society was changed. Followers of the Lamb, O pray; pray without ceasing, pray with agonizing earnestness. The world will be converted in answer to prayer. Prayer will fill heaven with triumph, and add many bright jewels to the Saviour's crown. God himself says, "Pray without ceasing."

H. P. A.

ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

JOHN and SUSAN MAY are very particular about the Lord's-day. They get every thing ready on Saturday night, so as to have nothing to disturb their minds on the sabbath. John often says, "To my mind, it seems we have no right to use this day as we choose; is it not called the Lord's-day, and shall I dare to call it my own, or to spend it in my own pleasure? Surely, God who gave me all my days and every blessing, has a right to claim one day for himself, and I will cheerfully give it up to him. Oh, what do I owe to Him whose day this is; it reminds me of my risen Saviour, and of his death on the cross to save me, a poor sinner; and I must be a wicked wretch indeed not to love his day and his service. Blessed sabbath!

'Tis like a little heaven below.

COMFORT IN SORROW.-Miss Jewsbury thus wrote to Mrs. Hemans:-"I feel that you are sad, and I know that you are lonely, and by the time this reaches you

'Wishes, vain as mine, may be,

All that is left to comfort thee!'

But my hopes are stronger for the future. So cheer up, or rather believe that you will cheer up. Heaviness may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. At eventide there shall be light! There was ONE, and in him the hope of the world was centred, who said in an extreme of anguish, My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death!'-emphasize that my, and see what force it gives; and then, as an old poet says

'Hang all your hopes upon his arm.'"

RASH LANGUAGE.-When Sarai, the wife of Abraham, had done wrong, she nevertheless said to her husband," The Lord judge between me and thee." Who would not conclude from an appeal so solemn that she had the better cause? And yet she was appealing to God in a case where she was clearly in the wrong. I like not hasty reference to heaven. A truly serious spirit will reflect twice before it interposes the name of God on any occasion, and will shudder at the thought of employing it upon a false or frivolous one. An angry spirit sticks at nothing. For this reason I would sooner believe a plain, unprofessing man, on his simple word, than a thousand common swearers under the sanction of ten thousand oaths.

CONTENTMENT HUNTING.-A man who had a number of houses would go from one to another because he could be contented but a little while in a place. A person asked him, "Why he moved so often ? "I am hunting after contentment," was his answer. "Well then," said his friend, "stay where you are, for if contentment cannot be found where you are, you will never get it by seeking it elsewhere."