self; "and screamed out, 'Oh, she is gone!' but I told her that noise would do no good; and put a tea spoonful of the wine and water you sent me into baby's mouth. It made such a rattle in the throat, I was afraid to give it any more, though it brought her back for awhile."

"And when did it die ?"

"Just as the bells were going the last chime for church. It gave one little sigh, and then it was gone."

The poor grandmother wept again, and was very, very sad.

A week ago the little child we were speaking of was as strong and well as any little boy or girl who will read this page. She was two years and three-quarters old, and her name was Annie Lewis. She was playing about in her mother's kitchen with Mary her elder sister. She was a merry little thing; she had bright eyes, as you have; she ran, and laughed, and jumped as you do; her arm was plump as yours; she was strong, and well, and happy. But on the floor was a large tub of boiling water that the mother had ready for washing, and in their play the elder sister pushed Annie into the tub! Can you not fancy how they both screamed, and how the poor mother ran to pick her out? But it was too late; the little girl was scalded almost all over her legs and body; and I will not make you sad by saying how shocking a sight she soon was, or how much pain she had to bear. In four days she died as I have told you.

And how much Mary must have grieved when she saw her little sister lie on the bed, unable to play about, and heard her groan, and saw her put away everything that was brought to her to eat. And how sorry she will be to night, when she looks towards the covered cot and hears no sound, and sees no stir, but marks her father crying, and her mother crying, and the old grandmother crying. Do you not think she will cry too? Yes, I am sure she will, and perhaps for many and many a day afterwards when she misses her playfellow, and in years to come, when grown a woman, she sees little children dancing and running.

Then I want every boy and girl that reads about Annie to be careful in their plays, and not to be too rude and rough. It is a true joy to most people to see children happy at play; to see them run,

and leap, and shout. But if your parents check you, or tell you not to throw stones, or touch the fire, or play with knives, it is because they know how easy it is for you to hurt one another with these things. I saw a little girl buried, whose brother threw a lighted stick at her, that caught her frock on fire, and burnt her so that she died; and I know a man who is blind in oue eye, because his sister, when both were young, threw a pair of scissars at him, and hit him in the eye; and Mary, as you have read, in their play pushed Annie into the boiling water. Little boys and girls, then, should not be rude or rough in their games.

And I want every boy and girl that reads this to say, "Thank God I am not sick or dying." How many thousand children in England were well and happy this morning while Annie Lewis was" weak and full of pain. How many thousand ran along the streets to be in time for school, while she lay in her poor cot hardly able to turn or move her little hand; and, perhaps, just when school was over, and you were reaching down your cap to go to chapel, or putting away your books, poor Annie gave that last sigh, and died.

You might have been in her place, and she in yours! God might have sent you pain and sorrow instead of health and comfort. If he has kept it from you be thankful to Him. Yet in one view little Annie was

better off even than you. While you

hastened to a house made with hands, Annie hastened faster to a house in the heavens, to the place Jesus is preparing for those who love him; while you were singing a hymn below, she was singing, perhaps, that hymn the Apostle John heard above, and which your mamma (if you ask her) will find out for you. How happy she must be; what a change from her poor cottage to the glorious palace of God,from her sick bed to the breast of Jesus, where there is no pain, nor tears, nor sickness, nor death.

Dear little boy, or girl, who reads this, it may be God is speaking to some angel now about you. He may let you live to be oldbut he may take you away from earth very soon. Oh, then, make haste to be ready. Learn about him. Learn about Jesus who died for you. Ask him to forgive your sins, to make you better, and to take you to heaven in his own good time and way.

A GOOD DEED IN SEASON.

"Get away with you, you dirty old beggar boy. I'd like to know what right you have to look over the fence at our flowers?" The speaker was a little boy not over eleven years old, and though people sometimes called it handsome, his face looked very harsh and disagreeable just then.

He stood in a beautiful garden in the suburbs of the city; and it was in June time, and the tulips were opening themselves to the sunshine. Oh, it was a great joy to look at them, as they bowed gracefully to the light, with carnations. The buds flanked either side of the path that curled around a small arbour, where the young grape clusters that lay hidden among the large leaves wrote a beautiful prophecy for the Autumn.

A white paling ran in front of the garden and over this the little beggar boy, 30 rudely addressed, stood leaning. He was very lean, very dirty, and very ragged. I am afraid, dear children, that you would have turned away in disgust from so repulsive a spectacle, and yet God and the angels loved him.

He was looking with all his soul in his eyes on the beautiful flowers as they rocked to and fro in the summer wind, and his heart softened as he leaned his arm on the railing, and forgot everything in that long, absorbing gaze. Ah, it was seldom the beggar boy saw anything very good or beautiful, and it was sad his dream should have such a rude awakening.

The blood rushed to his face, and a glance full of evil and defiance flashed into his eyes. But before the boy could retort, a little girl sprung out from the arbour and looked eagerly from one child to the other. She was very fair, with soft hazel eyes, over which drooped long shining lashes. Rich curls hung over her white shoulders, and her lips were of the colour of crimson tulip blossoms.

"How could you speak so cross to the boy, Hinton ?" she asked, with a tone of sad reproach quivering through the sweetness of her voice. "I'm sure it doesn't do us any harm to let him look at the flowers if he Mikes."

"Well, Helen," urged the brother, a little mollified and ashamed, "I don't like to have beggars gaping over the fence; it looks So low."

"Now that's a notion of yours, Hinton. I'm sure if the flowers can do anybody any

good, we ought to be very glad. Little boy," and the child turned to the boy and addressed him as courteously as if he were a prince, "I'll pick you some of the tulips, if you'll wait a moment."

"Helen, I do believe you are the funniest girl that I ever saw," said her brother as he turned away, and with a low whistle sauntered down the path, feeling very uncomfortable, for her conduct was a stronger reproof to him than any words could have been.

Helen plucked one of each specimen of the tulips, which made quite a variety, and gave them to the child. His face brightened as he received them and thanked her. Oh, the little girl had dropped a "pearl of great price," into the black turbid billows of the boy's life, and after years would bring them up, beautiful and fair again.

Twelve years passed. The little blue-eyed girl had grown into a tall, graceful woman. One bright June afternoon, she walked with her husband through the garden, for she was on a visit to her parents. The place was little changed, and the tulips had opened their lips of purple and gold to the sunshine, just as they had done twelve years before. Suddenly they observed a young man in a workman's overalls, leaning over the fence, his eyes wandering eagerly from the beautiful flowers to herself. He had a frank, pleasant countenance, and there was something in his manner that interested the gentleman and lady.

"Look here, Edward," she said, "I'll pluck some of the flowers. It always does me good to see people admiring them." And releasing her husband's arm, she approached the paling, saying, "Are you fond of flowers, Sir? It will give me great pleasure to gather you some."

The young man looked a moment very earnestly into the smooth, sweet face.

"Twelve years ago this very month," said he, in a voice deep and tremulous with feeling, "I stood here, leaning on this railing a dirty, ragged, little beggar boy, and you asked me this very question. Twelve years ago you placed the bright flowers in my hand, and they made a new boy,-aye, and they made a man of me. Your face has been a light all along the dark hours of my life, and this day that little beggar boy can stand on the place, and say to you, though he is a humble, hardworking man, yet, thank God, he is an honest one, too."

Tear drops trembled like morning dew on the shining lashes of the lady, as she turned to her husband, who had joined her and listened in astonishment to the workman's words, "God," she said, "put it into my child-heart to do that little deed of kindness, and now see how very great is the reward which he has given me!"

And the setting sun poured a flood of rich purple light over the group that stood there,-over the humble workman, over the beautiful lady, and over the proud looking gentleman by her side. Although it was a picture for a painter, the angels who looked on it from heaven saw something more than a picture there.

1

ON ELECTION.-"I remember disputing with a Dissenting minister (in a friendly way) about the doctrine of Election. could not receive the doctrine of Election, not being able to separate it from that of reprobation; but I was not violent against it, being convinced, as much as I was of my own existence, that, whatever others might do, I myself should no more have loved God if he had not first loved me, or turned to God if he had not by his free and sovereign grace turned me, than a cannon ball would of itself return to the orifice from whence it had been shot out. But I soon learned that I must take the Scriptures with the simplicity of a little child, and be content to receive on God's testimony what he has revealed, whether I can unravel all the difficulties that may attend it or not; and from that day to this I have never had a doubt respecting the truth of that doctrine, nor a wish (as far as I know) to be wise above what is written. I feel that I cannot even explain how it is that I move my finger, and therefore I am content to be ignorant of innumerable things which exceed, not only my wisdom, but the wisdom of the most learned men in the universe. For this disposition of mind I have unbounded reason to be thankful to God; for I have not only avoided many perplexities by means of it, but actually learned much, which I should otherwise have never learned. I was not then aware that this simple exercise of faith is the only way of attaining divine knowledge; but I now see it is so; and, in fact, it is the true way in which we attain human knowledge also; for the child receives everything first upon the authority of his teacher, and thus learns the very first rudiments of language: he does not say, 'How do I know that a b, spells ab? or, that this is the nominative case, and that is the verb, and that is the accusative case that is governed by it?' No; he calls things as he is taught to call them, and then in due time he sees that these things are not the arbitrary dictates of his master, but that they of necessity appertain to language, and exist in the very Bature of things; and thus in time he comes to see a beauty and propriety in things which were at first no better to him than senseless jargon. This, I am persuaded, is the way in which we should receive instruction from God; and if we will do so, I verily believe that we shall in due time

see a beauty and harmony in many things, which the pertinacious advocates of human systems can never understand."-Extracted from the Life of Simeon.

LOVE TO CHRIST.-Not only the flowers unfold their petals to receive the light; the heart of man also has a power of expansion. It is love which opens it and expands it, so that the rays of the spiritual sun may penetrate and illume it. The christian, in the work of self-examination, need not direct his attention to many points, all is included in the daily question: How is it with my love to Christ? That love to him is of great importance, we must conclude, since he, in truth, requires of us an affection for his own person such as no one else ever claimed. Oh, thou must be more than father and mother, than brother, and sister, else how couldst thou, the lowliest among the children of men, lay claim to such superabundant love? Since I have believed in thy word, all my desire has been to love thee. I will not cease to love thee, until thou art dearer to me than father, mother, and brother! If they deny thee, if they revile thee; what is so dreadful as to see one's father and mother reviled at our side; but more than when they reproach father and mother, shall thy reproaches, thy wrongs go to my heart.-Tholuck.

Go

ENEMIES. Have you enemies? straight on, and mind them not. If they block up your path, walk around them, and do your duty regardless of spite. A man who has no enemies is seldom good for anything, he is made of that kind of material which is so easily worked that it resists nothing, while every one who thinks for himself, and speaks what he thinks, is always sure to have enemies. They are as necessary to him as fresh air; they keep him alive, active. A celebrated character who was surrounded by enemies used to remark, They are sparks which, if you do not blow, will go out of themselves." Let this be your feeling, while endeavouring to live down the scandal of those who are bitter against you. If you stop to dispute with them, you do but as they desire, and open the way for more abuse. Let them talk, there will be a reaction if you perform your duty; and hundreds who were once alienated from you, will flock to you and acknowledge their error. Follow this advice, and you will never have cause to regret it.

NOTES OF THE MONTH.

POLITICAL.

The New Parliament has now met, and the Queen's speech delivered, and the senators of England are at work again. Everything thus far seems to intimate that this session will be of the slightest political importance, no measures of great public interest being likely to be introduced: but a pledge has been given by the Premier that the great question of Parliamentary Reform shall be introduced by him next session, and till then the great body of Reformers are content to wait. The subject of Ministers' Simony in Ireland has, however, been introduced by Mr. Fagan, who is this time, by the help of Government, likely to succeed in abolishing the obnoxious tax. The Church Rates' question also has been introduced by Sir John Trelawney, but with scarcely equal prospect of success. A Bill for the abolition of the oath which prevents a Jew from entering the House of Commons, has been introduced by Lord Palmerston, and is expected to be carried.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester, aunt of the Queen, expired without suffering, on Friday morning the 1st ult. She was the last surviving daughter of George the Third. She was born April 25th, 1776, and had consequently just attained her 81st year.

The Manchester Exhibition of Art Treasures was opened on the 5th ult, by Prince Albert. As was to be expected, the day was one of great excitement. All Manchester was "out." The success of this great enterprise seems likely to be equal to its deserts.

The betrothal of the Princess Royal to Prince Frederic of Prussia, has been formally announced by the Queen to the Houses of Parliament. The princess is, of course, to have a large sum as dowry.

The Grand Duke Constantine has been to Paris, on a visit to, the Emperor. He is expected soon to visit the Queen.

The Persian war is over. The treaty of peace signed at Paris between Lord Cowley and Feruk Khan arrived at Teheran on the 4th of April, and was formally ratified on the 14th.

ECCLESIASTICAL.

They

The May Meetings are over. have been well attended, and unusually interesting.

One of the most significant facts of the day is the continued success of Mr. Spurgeon. His services at Surrey Hall continue, and the attendance, instead of diminishing, increases. On one Sunday during the last month, thousands were turned away, unable to gain admittance. Every Sunday, there are present large numbers of the aristocracy, and many members of the House of Commons. More than all, GOD is with him! His preaching has all along been eminently blessed!

REGENT'S-PARK CHAPEL, LONDON.

On Tuesday evening, May 5th, the annual soirée of the congregation assembling in this beautiful chapel, under the pastoral care of the Rev. W. Landels, took place. Nearly 700 persons took tea in the schoolrooms underneath the chapel. Afterwards they assembled in the chapel, where Sir S. M. Peto, Bart., took the chair, and expressed his great gratification at the success which had in every respect attended the experiment of opening this place of worship. At the end of this, the second year of the existence of the cause, the congregation had been able to meet all the current expenses, and to show that they were able to go alone. He saw no reason, therefore, why he should any longer delay to put the chapel in trust on the terms that he had originally indicated,-namely, that a moiety of the cost of erection should remain on mortgage. The alterations of the building had, indeed, cost much more than he had at first anticipated; but this extra expense Lady Peto and himself would bear, and the congregation should only be burdened with a moiety of the aum first named. He was, indeed, thankful to find that the preaching of Mr. Landels had been so useful; and, if they continued to do what they could, in a spirit of simple dependence upon God, he had no doubt the cause would continue to prosper greatly. From the financial statement afterwards read, it appeared that the pew-rents of the two years had left a deficiency in the current expenditure of some £500, but this had been more than raised by special collections. Mr. Landels supplemented this statement by saying, that within little more than a year, the congregation had raised £1,939; and he fully expected that next year they would do much more for general objects. The church had only been formed a year ago, and now numbered 230 members, 111 having been added during the year, 85 of whom had been received on profession. They did not insist on baptism as a prerequisite to church membership. He had endeavoured to preach the Gospel fully and simply, and he believed he never did that without good resulting. Mr. Baynes, the superintendent of the Sunday schools, next gave a very encouraging account of the progress of the work in that department; and the meeting was afterwards addressed by Mr. Robert Lush, Mr. Thompson, Dr. Angus, and other gentlemen, all of whom expressed the highest admiration of Mr. Landels's preaching, and heartily thanked Sir Morton Peto for providing so tasteful a place of worship, and offering to place it in the bands of the congregation on such liberal terms.

NEW-COURT CHAPEL, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.

On Wednesday, April 22nd, about 350 persons met together for tea, in the schoolrooms of Bewick-street chapel, to celebrate

the settlement of the Rev. J. W. Lance as pastor of the church and congregation meeting in the above place of worship. At the public meeting which followed, John Fenwick, Esq., the senior deacon of the church, who occupied the chair, having, in an able and interesting address, referred to the origin and increase of the Baptist denomination in Newcastle, and to the circumstances which had led to Mr. Lance's coming amongst them, expressed the pleasure he now felt in introducing him to the present meeting as the minister of Newcourt chapel. Mr. Lance expressed his earnest desire that this union might result in great and lasting good. He wished to preach the Gospel of the grace of God in all faith, sincerity, and earnestness, and he trusted that the "wisdom that cometh from above" would be his "prudence." Addresses were delivered by the Revs. T. Binney, of London, J. Cardwell, F. Stephens, and Messrs. J. L. Angus, Falconar, Sanderson, and Frost. The devotional services were conducted by the Revs. W. Carrick, J. Reid, and the pastor, who concluded with the benediction.

CORNWALL-STREET CHAPEL, CIRENCESTER.

In

This ancient place of worship having been taken down and rebuilt, was re-opened on Tuesday, April 7th. The services of the opening commenced with a prayermeeting at six o'clock, a.m., at which the Rev. Joseph Stratford, pastor of the Independent church, delivered an address. the forenoon, the Rev. J. P. Mursell, of Leicester, preached. In the evening,_a sermon was preached by the Rev. D. Katterns, of Hackney. On the following Lord's day, two sermons were preached by the Rev. T. F. Newman, of Shortwood. The collections at these several services amounted to upwards of £50. The cost of this re-erection will be about £2,000, towards which there is already paid or promised £1,300. The congregation, who have done to their utmost ability, earnestly solicit help from the numerous friends of the cause throughout the country toward the raising of the remaining £700. Communications may be addressed to the present minister, the Rev. J. M. Stephens, Brighton-villas, Cirencester.

DEVONPORT.

On Tuesday evening, May 12th, the Baptist church and congregation at Morice Square, in this town, held a tea-meeting in the large hall of the Mechanics' Institute, for the purpose of introducing their new minister, the Rev. J. Stock. The hall was well filled, and presented an animated appearance. After tea, Peter Adams, Esq., of Plymouth, was called to the chair. The choir then sang an anthem, and the Rev. Mr. Cloke, of Calstock, prayed. Mr. Stock gave a most interesting account of his history, especially dwelling on his connection with the christian churches over which he had presided, and the providence which had brought him to this town; he desired to be friendly with the ministers and christian people of the various denominations in the

three towns; he would always be ready to assist in any good cause. Addresses were then given by the Rev. Messrs. Slater, of Stonehouse, and Short, of Plymouth; and prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Brown.

CHATHAM.

On Thursday, April 23rd, the Rev. James Coutts (formerly of Regent's-park College) was publicly recognised as pastor of the church and congregation assembling in Zion chapel, Clover-street, Chatham. The proceedings commenced with a social tea meeting, at which at least 200 persons were present. This was immediately followed by a public meeting. The Rev. J. S. Hall, of Ebenezer chapel, Chatham (Independent), commenced the service with reading and prayer. Mr. W. Ashby, one of the

deacons, then stated the reasons which had induced the church to invite the Rev. J. Coutts to become their pastor, after which the Rev. Dr. Angus (President of Regent's park College), delivered a deeply impressive address to the minister. He was followed by the Rev. W. G. Lewis, of London, who addressed the church and congregation. The concluding prayer was then offered by the Rev. T. Rose (formerly of Smarden). ABERDARE, GLAMORGANShire.

The old chapel, used for many years by the Welsh congregation in this town, was lately given to the English members, who have taken down the old building and erected a new chapel on the site. It is pronounced by ali, one of the handsomest chapels in the kingdom. The total cost has been £617. 10s., of which sum £300 has been paid by the members and their friends, leaving a debt of £317. 10s. remaining. Services in connection with the opening of the chapel were held on Lord's day and Monday, April 19 and 20, when sermons were preached in English by the Revs. T. Davies, President of Haverfordwest College; C. Veysey, of Neath; and Thomas Thomas, D.D., President of Pontypool College; and in Welsh, by the Revs. D. Morgan, of Pontypool; E. Thomas, of Tredegar; and E. Evans, of Dowlais. All the services were of a most interesting character.

MELTHAM, YORKSHIRE.

On Friday evening, April 10th, the members and friends of the Baptist church and congregation at Meltham took tea together in the schoolroom, to the number of about 230, to commemorate the twenty-eighth anniversary of Mr. Thomas's ministry at that place. After tea, a public meeting was held, presided over by Mr. J. Broadbent, who, in a very feeling and affectionate manner, presented Mr. Thomas with a purse containing £87. 19s., contributed by the church and congregation, and other friends in the district. This, with £5., the profits from the tea, was afterwards made into £92. 10s. The meeting, which was a very interesting one, was subsequently addressed by the Revs. T. Thomas, J. Hanson, H. Albrecht, J. Eustace, J. Barker, and other friends.