the children. A hymn is read or sung, and the oftrepeated prayer offered up, that God would water with the dew of his blessing the seed sown in this small por tion of his vineyard, so that it may yield in its appointed season a rich and an abundant increase.

On departing, the children receive the gift of a tract, and, with a smiling courtesy, bid a kind "good night" to their happy Teacher.

I have been led to believe that a short sketch of the way in which the Children's Reading Meetings are conducted at St. B's would be no unacceptable offering to some Teachers. If so, dear friends, I rejoice to present you with the few simple words which I have written. Well-pleased, indeed, should I be, were they to become the means of shewing you how easily a work might be commenced and carried which would give so much pleasure, and be of so much use to your children, and which would, doubtless, increase your own happiness by giving you the experience of that feeling of peculiar blessedness which invariably attends the humblest endeavours to assist and benefit others.

MARY.

THE TRACT AND THE BISHOPS.

VERY Wonderful are the ways of God in his bringing to the saving knowledge of himself those whom he has promised to give to his dear Son for a people. Sometimes his most faithful servants seem to labour for a long time in vain; and sometimes an abundant blessing seems to rest upon their work; so that the careless in sin are awakened, and many a lost sheep through their instrumentality is brought safely back to the Redeemer's fold. There is a wise purpose, it is evident, in this variety of effect. For, if the blessing were always vouchsafed at once, such is the innate pride of the human heart, it would too frequently be taken as the natural result of talent and exertion; and he that planted and he that watered would forget that it is God in his sovereignty who alone gives the increase. It is needful that we be

shewn by experience that we have the treasure of the gospel in earthen vessels, so as to feel that the excellency of the power must be of God. We are thus brought more earnestly to seek his help, more simply to preach his gospel, more exclusively to desire his glory.

And not unfrequently a means apparently inadequate is found to have been employed by Jehovah; as if to convince us that without our instrumentality he could, did he choose it, as easily exalt his name. "A tract may catch him who a sermon flies;” and a little word, an accidental (so the world would call it) circumstance, is seen to leave an impression which laboured exhortations have failed to make.

An interesting narrative may be cited in proof of this. It has been with more or less accuracy already put before the public; but, as the writer heard some of the details from the lips of one of the parties concerned, he may, he thinks, assure his readers of the truth of what he relates. To many he has no doubt it will be new.

A faithful American clergyman was for a length of time chaplain to the military academy at West Point, in the United States. It was a most important post, as many cadets were therein being trained for the future service of their country. The chaplain delivered the pure gospel of Jesus: he was sedulous, he was prayerful; but long, long years passed away, and he seemed to be spending his strength for nought. Could it be that the sword of the Spirit had lost its keen edge? Could it be that God had forgotton his promise that his word should not return unto him void? The chaplain's mind was sorely tried; and he hardly knew what to think. It happened that the pious father of one of the young men died; and, anxious for the spiritual welfare of his child, he made it one of his last requests that he would go and converse with the chaplain. In compliance with this charge the cadet went. The chaplain talked with him, and prayed with him; but it was evident that his words fell upon a listless ear, and the youth departed, not at all, as it seemed, affected by the solemn truths which had been

urged upon him. Before he quitted the apartment, however, the clergyman drew from a drawer two tracts,

placed them in his hands, begged him to keep and read one himself, and to dispose somehow of the other. "Let it go," he said, "any where in the barracks: perhaps I shall hear something of it." About a week afterwards the chaplain was sitting in his solitary chamber, sadily musing over the failure of his hopes, astonished and humbled that, though he had so long been sowing, not a solitary seed had yet appeared above the ground, springing up with any promise of good fruit. While engaged with these mournful thoughts, he heard a tap at his door. "Come in," he cried; and a cadet entered, apparently in much distress, so as for a while to be unable to narrate the reason of his visit. When, however, his emotion permitted him to speak: "I am come," he exclaimed, "about my soul: pray tell me what I must do." It was the repetition of the memorable scene in the prison of Philippi, when the conscience-stricken gaoler enquired of the apostles, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

Thankful to God for this evidence of the working of his Spirit, granted at the very time when he was fearful he had laboured in vain, the chaplain enquired how thoughts such as these had come into the young man's mind. He had picked up a tract, he said, at the door of his room: he had read that tract: he had been struck with it, he had reflected upon it: and feelings and convictions heretofore unknown to him had sprung up within him. Nor could he rest till he had with troubled heart and anxious enquiry sought the good chaplain's counsel. But how came the tract at his chamber door? What hand had cast it there? It was the very identical tract which the clergyman had given the week before, as above related, to the other youth, and had told him to "let it go any where in the barracks." His hope that he should "hear something of it" was thus remarkably verified. "Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.' Gladly did he embrace the opportunity of instructing the cadet. He read the Scriptures to him: he prayed with him: he pointed him to Jesus Christ the compassionate friend of sinners, who is ready to pour healing balm

into the wounded heart. And gradually the young

man's mind was calmed. He was enabled to take comfort: he was enabled to look by faith to Christ. And from that time he consistently adorned the gospel. The other cadet was also brought to serious reflection, and eventually to a cordial dedication of himself to God. And these two were but the first-fruits of a plenteous harvest. The early and the latter rain seemed now to descend from heaven upon the seed which had so long lain dormant; and in that academy the zealous chaplain saw many, many, turned from darkness to light, from careless worldliness to the holy service of Christ their Saviour. O wondrous change! Truly it was a new creation. For "if any man,' says the apostle, "be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." The moral desert becomes a fruitful field: the "wilderness rejoices and blossoms as the rose."

But this is not all. chaplain of the military academy at West Point was removed to other scenes. He passed over into Europe, and became known and dear to the Church of England. He returned to his own country, and was appointed a bishop. Devotedly did he labour in the charge over which the Holy Ghost had now made him overseer; and worthily was he had in honour for his work's sake among his brethren. He was chosen once to preach

Years had rolled away. The

the consecration sermon of another servant of the Lord appointed likewise to the episcopate. That individual was the cadet who had picked up the tract, who with an altered destination in life had become a minister of the sanctuary. Let any one conceive, if he can, the feelings of the two, and the emotions with which they must have recollected, on that solemn day, the conversation in the chaplain's study at West Point. How deeply must their hearts have thrilled with gratitude to God, who works wondrously the counsel of his will! How ardent must have been their love to that Saviour who had so mightily wrought by his Spirit in them!

It only remains to name the brethren. The chaplain

is Charles P. M'Ilvaine, bishop of Ohio: the cadet is Leonidas Polk, bishop of Arkansas.

By this simple history we may learn an instructive lesson. God's time must be our time: we may not murmur or be impatient if he sees fit to try our faith. "The vision is yet for an appointed time.... though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come." And we may not disregard the feeblest instrument. God may choose to put honour upon it. Let us use then every means to convey the knowledge of his will and to extend the Redeemer's salvation.

U.

ON THE INFLUENCE OF A SUNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHER.

DEAR SIR,-If you will allow a few desultory remarks in your Visitor, the attention of some may be secured, upon whom personal observation would be unwelcome.

I wish to refer to the low estimate too often formed of the influence of a Sunday-school Teacher upon Sundayschool scholars, and the absolute necessity of being examples to them in all that is lovely and of good report. True it is, we may have to exercise self-denial, and run counter to the habits of many who call themselves Christians. But self-denial is one characteristic of vital Christianity; and those who take upon themselves to guide and instruct the younger members of the Christian church, should be prepared, nay, desirous, so to act, as may best promote the moral and religious training of those who look to them for practical proof of faith and love.

Too many, it is to be feared, are contented with the mechanical instruction of the Sabbath, and a mechanical enforcement of the great truths of the Bible, forgetting that every child has a character to be formed; that little things form the character; and what he is trained to in youth, that will he probably be in manhood. He is thus prepared or unprepared to do his duty in that state of life into which it has pleased God to call him, If there