thou wilt not be much longer in possession of terrestrial riches."

The following little circulars, in allusion to the sixteenth question, addressed at different times by Oberlin to his parishioners, prove how constantly he endeavored to instil into their minds the necessity of bringing up their children in habits of subordination, and under their own inspection.

"Waldbach, Feb. 27, 1801.

"Dear Friends, Fathers and Mothers!

"I have a request to make to you. You give shepherds to your sheep, to lead them into green pastures, to feed, tend, and preserve them from danger, and you do well.

"But have you no fears for your children? Does not Satan go about to tempt them to do wrong? Then give them shepherds likewise, and never allow them to be left to their own devices. Let them work and amuse themselves under proper inspection and superintendence, but let this superintendence be wise, prudent, gentle, kind, and engaging, and whilst it leads you to take part in their amusements, and to direct, animate, and enliven them, let it also restrain them within due bounds. Whatever it costs you, God will restore it a thousand fold."

"May 29, 1803.

"And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not; Am I my brother's keeper?' Gen. 4: 9. The Lord said to Cain, 'Where is Abel thy brother?" Oh, may these words resound continually in the ears of every parent, Father, where is thy son?"

Fathers of Belmont! Fathers of Bellefosse, of Waldbach, of Foudai, and of Zolbach! Father, where is thy son? In what village; in what house; in what company? How is he employed? It behooves you to be able to answer these inquiries by night and by day; on Sundays and on working-days; wherever you are, and whatever you are doing. You are the guardians of your children; and whether they are employed in work or in relaxation and amusement, it is your duty to superintend and direct their amusements and pursuits.

"Do it; do it, henceforth, with faithfulness, vigilance, and zeal; with earnest and secret prayer that God may pardon you for past unfaithfulness, and deliver your sons from the sin and danger into which your carelessness, and want of parental watchfulness, may have driven them. This is the desire of

CHAPTER IX.

Oberlin's pastoral visits-Interview between Dr. and Mrs. Steinkopff and the Conductrice of BellefosseTheir visit to the cottage of Madeleine Krüger; also to that of Sophia Bernard-Letter written by Mrs. C. during a visit to the Ban de la Roche in the summer of 1820-Letter from Mrs. Rauscher to the Paris Bible Society, containing an account of the death of Sophia Bernard, &c.-Amount of the sums raised at different times in Waldbach, in support of various charitable institutions.

Ir was not in the pulpit alone that Oberlin sought to make known the truths of the gospel; he was in the habit of paying pastoral visits to all the cottages in his parish; of conversing with their inhabitants on the subjects connected with their eternal welfare, and upon the various plans adopted by benevolent individuals in different parts of the world for the dissemination of religious knowledge.

In the hope of advancing their moral and spiritual welfare, he kept a book in which he made private memoranda respecting their various states, a task for which the insight he obtained in their respective characters, during his frequent visits, peculiarly qualified him. Amongst other heads in the book were " Idlers" and "Bad Managers." The Ten Commandments also furnished him with many distinct heads, under which he made remarks upon the state of his congregation, particularizing the conduct of such persons as he deemed reprehensible, that he might be the better able to adapt his discourses to their edification.

The affectionate manner in which he entered into familiar conversation with them upon such subjects as the diffusion of religious knowledge, the conversion of the heathen, and the exertions of God's devoted servants in bearing to others the "unsearchable riches of Christ," seldom failed to gain their attention, and to awaken in their hearts the warmest interest, whilst it had, at the same time, a most happy effect upon their manners, inducing, in some of the poor women particularly, a refinement and softness not often met with in persons of the same class, entirely free from pride, awkwardness, forwardness, or coarseness. The following anecdote is a pleasing illustration of these remarks.

During Dr. and Mrs. Steinkopff's visit to the Ban de la Roche, in 1820, they one day took a walk up the side of the mountain with Mr. Graff. The little path they were following, led to Bellefosse, whither they were going, to pay a visit to Madeleine Krüger, one of the exemplary poor women of that village. Many peasants had bowed to them as they passed, with an air of courtesy, and the women had addressed them with, "I have the honor of saluting you, Madame," making at the same time a curtsy that would not have disgraced an English drawing. room. In the middle of a wood, through which the road led, they met a peasant, simply attired, with a pleasing open countenance, and a basket at her back. "Madame," said she, addressing Mrs. Steinkopff, "I have the honor to salute you," and a most profound curtsy accompanied her words.

"Good morning! I am rejoiced to have met

you, my dear Priscilla," said Mr. Graff, returning the salutation; "I have the pleasure of introducing you to this lady and gentleman, from England. You are well acquainted with the name of the gentleman. He is Dr. Steinkopff, one of the Secretaries of the Bible Society which has supplied us with so many Bibles." “Oh, God be praised for it, my dear Sir!" replied the peasant. "Yes, I am well acquainted with your name! I have read the reports which make mention of you. Is it possible," and she joined her hands together, " that I have the honor of seeing you here on earth! Often, yes, often, I think of the people of whom I read, and who have been brought to our dear Savior, through the means, through the generosity, of that noble Society. Ah, what reason have we to rejoice, who live in the abundance of spiritual blessings; and how much should we wish to procure the same advantages for those who are destitute of them! Yes; we are very rich here, in this Ban de la Roche. Oh, that we may never be unfaithful to that light which God has been pleased to grant to us! I am truly delighted with all that I hear, and especially that I have the pleasure of seeing you. I recollect what our good pastor one day said at a funeral, when he saw a poor child weeping bitterly over its grandmother, whom they were going to bury: 'My dear child, instead of weeping for your grandmamma, who is now no more, endeavor to live in a manner conformable to the will of God; believe, dear, in your Savior, and then, in his good time, you will meet her again in heaven, never more to be separated.' I also pray, Sir, that it may please God to grant