RECOLLECTIONS OF AN ONLY SON.

THE following simple narrative is not obtruded on the public eye for the sake of notoriety, but simply with the hope that it may be useful. It affords encouragement to Christian parents to persevere in their endeavours to train their beloved children in the ways of holiness, believing that they will not be unattended with the Divine blessing. "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand, knowing not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether both shall be alike good." And it especially reminds the young to "remember their Creator in the days of their youth."

I. A. H. was born December 27th, 1832. From infancy he was constitutionally delicate. When about four years of age he was, visited with so severe an illness that his friends despaired of his life; but he was mercifully raised up, though he could scarcely be said to have overcome its effects. He showed in early life a deep reverence for sacred subjects, being accustomed to converse privately with his mother on the religious books and hymns adapted to his capacity which she read to him. On such occasions he would sometimes express his anxiety to know and feel more of the influence of religion on his heart. One of the first books that engaged his attention was Jane Taylor's "Hymns for Infant Minds:" he was also very much interested with Newton's "Letters to a Niece at School," the style and manner of which are very simple, and suited to the minds of children. On retiring to rest he would frequently detain his mother to converse on the subjects about which they had been reading, and he would then give free expression to his thoughts and feelings. Such were his modesty and diffidence that he could never be induced to open his mind to any other person. At an early age he sometimes mentioned the difficulty he felt in praying, because "his

heart was so bad.” He did not consider the prayer he had been taught to repeat as praying, though he still continued its use, and afterwards prayed for those things "which he felt he wanted." He expressed great pleasure once when his mother replied in the affirmative to the question, "Did his parents pray for him before he could pray for himself?" He manifested in very early life a peculiarly quick moral perception of evil, and his heart was wounded by witnessing any unsuitable expressions of anger amongst his schoolfellows, and he would frequently be unable to sleep at night afterwards. On one well-remembered occasion, speaking of his companions, he observed to his mother that he could only pray for them. He could not cordially join in youthful amusements with those in whose conduct he had observed any profanity, although in the company of those whose minds and pursuits were more congenial he often displayed remarkable vivacity and cheerfulness. He evinced great attachment to the public ordinances of religion and to those who took part in them; and on a sabbath evening, after attending public worship, &c., he would often appear unusually happy, his countenance beaming with pleasure as he took his place amongst the family. On such occasions some suitable book was frequently read aloud, to which he would attend with great eagerness. His friends well recollect the intensity of interest with which he listened to the Pilgrim's Progress at such seasons. He would sometimes remark, that he wished rather to be a good man than a great man, and would express his pleasure in the anticipation of union with a Christian church when he should be older. The contributions of Q. Q. interested him exceedingly, though he did not find much amusement in reading works of fiction, and, when quite a child, would frequently inquire concerning what he heard read, if it were true. During the last few months of

his life he perused with great satisfaction, and, doubtless, much benefit, the Memoirs of W. Knibb (son of the missionary) and J. H. Hinton. These little books, especially the latter, seem at this period to have been his constant companions. His parents recollect with peculiar pleasure those seasons when conversing with his mother he would express his delight and joy that he was early taught the ways of God, and his deep concern for the god of others. His view of the way of salvation through Christ was correct and even matured for his years.

In the winter of 1845 he was for a short time removed from home; and in his letters to his parents at this time, (though he yet exhibited no symptoms of disease,) he more than once mentions his belief that he should not live very long, and expresses a wish to converse with them "about better things." The severity of the weather in the early part of the spring of 1845 affected his health, and repeated colds brought on pulmonary disease, which proved fatal. For some time previous to his death, before his friends had begun to fear the result, he appears to have had a conviction in his own mind that he should not recover; yet he never betrayed the least anxiety or alarm, but evinced an increasing submission to the will of God. As his sister was watching him one night, he gently called her to his bedside, and, addressing her by name, said, "I shall not live; but I have no wish to live in this world-it is a wicked world-I cannot do with it." He disposed of several little articles which he valued, distributing them judiciously, and with the most delicate care not to wound the feelings of his friends. This is merely mentioned as showing his firm belief of the fatal termination of his illness, and the calmness with which he viewed the approach of death. On awaking on the morning of the last sabbath he spent on earth he inquired what day it was; and on being told, he exclaimed,

"This is the day that Jesus rose So early from the dead!"

and, shortly after, repeated

"Here we suffer grief and pain; Here we meet to part again: In heaven we part no more;" and, after a pause,

"Little children will be there,

Who have sought the Lord by prayer." He asked for Watts's Children's Hymns; and finding that his eyesight failed so that he could not read, he returned the book, remarking that he knew all the hymns. Throughout the day he appeared to enjoy the presence of his gracious Saviour; and on his mother inquiring if she should read to him, he replied, as he had several times before, "Leave me to my own thoughts." When asked what those thoughts were, he said, “About God and heaven; there is nothing else worth thinking about."

One day he observed to his mother that he did not feel so happy as he had done at other times; but Christ was the same, and the truth was the same. Another time he remarked, that none would on their death-bed repent having lived too near to God. He spoke in the most solemn and affectionate manner to a sister about his own age, exhorting her to seek salvation through the blood and righteousness of Christ, as there was no other way. At another time he hoped his mother would do all she could to make those about her love God. He was removed from this sinful world to that heavenly state for which he was prepared by the rich mercy of God on April 17, 1845, aged twelve years and four months. May the impression made on his bereaved friends be the means of inducing them to follow him so far as he followed Christ; and may those who read this short memoir, especially the young, reflect on the shortness and uncertainty of life, and seek to give up themselves unreservedly to the service of Christ, saying, "From this time, thou art my Father and the guide of my youth." Leicester, May, 1846.

ENCOURAGEMENT TO SABBATHSCHOOL TEACHERS. THE other day Jesus Christ came down into our little inclosure, and, without any intimation of his design, gathered a beautiful flower, which was admired

by all, and transplanted it from the Eden of grace into the garden of glory, where the lovely lily appears in the perfection of beauty near to Sharon's fragrant rose. This beautiful flower was an orphan boy residing with his grandparents, who looked upon him with more than maternal affection, and fondly hoped he would be the staff of their support amid the infirmities of age, and their choicest earthly comforter till they went down to the grave. The boy became a scholar in our sabbath-school and in the Bible-class, and the benefit of the instructions he received soon became manifest in the docility of his mind, his attachment to the means, and his uniformly good conduct. The Bible became his constant companion, the house of God his home, and the ministrations of the sanctuary his delight. When he ceased to be a regular scholar he attended to teach when his service was needed, or to be taught when it was not required; ever willing to be placed in any situation which might contribute to his own good and that of others combining the affection of the child, the activity of the youth, and the understanding of the man. For some time he had been an out-door servant to an excellent clergyman, who never expects to meet with his like again: to his earthly master's work he gave a willing hand; | and to his heavenly Master's command, "Son, give me thy heart,” he yielded with delight. But this lamb of the flock was not permitted to remain here: too innocent and lovely for earth, Jesus gathered it with his arm and pressed it to his bosom in that state where mortality is unknown on Tuesday, the 17th of March. When in his usual health, and amusing his master's children near the house, he laid himself down on some straw, as they thought in amusement, but when approached he was found to be dead: not the slightest indication of pain or alarm was given by him; his countenance was not in the least distorted, but placid and serene as if he had sunk into a peaceful slumber, which no doubt he had-—“ he slept in Jesus." On the previous sabbath morning, before service commenced in the chapel, he

"Weep not, dear friends, that here I lie, Prepare yourselves to lie hereby,

That when death comes we then may have

A joyful rising from the grave."

This interesting orphan boy, Robert Graham, died in the sixteenth year of his age, esteemed by the wise and the good, and respected by all that knew him; and "being dead, yet speaketh” in the language of encouragement to sabbath-school teachers, " In the morning sow thy seed;" and by example to sabbath-school children, "That from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures;" and by the suddenness of his removal, to all, “Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the

Son of man cometh."
May, 1846.

C. L.

DEATH HAS MANY DOORS. ON a sabbath afternoon the teacher of a class of boys in a Sunday-school, finding them restless and inattentive, related to them the following circumstance, in hope of fixing their attention on the concerns of the soul.

"Some boys in a Sunday-school in the village of were not satisfied with merely treating the admonitions of their teacher with indifference, but made a mock at his instructions. He solemnly warned them on the folly of their conduct, more especially one boy, who had been the leader of the others, urging on them the importance of attending to instruction at once, not knowing how soon their privileges would be taken from them. His remarks, however, appeared to produce no effect, and the class separated; but when they met on the following sabbath one of their number was absent. On the Tuesday during the week the