cessary for her health. In her disposition she was retiring, so that her character and capabilities were only known to those most intimately connected with her. Before her last illness she had given no decided evidence of piety, but her conduct had always been marked by perfect truthfulness, and she had often taken much pleasure in listening to religious instruction.

About three weeks before her death, she was attacked by influenza. She then began to manifest an acquaintance with divine truth beyond what we had expected from one so young. She spoke with much freedom respecting the Redeemer, and the life to come. She was greatly pleased when any one would talk to her on such subjects; and she asked her beloved father to talk to her

about them.

A few days before her death, she was seized with inflammation in the lungs. She now appeared to take leave of the world, and, with one exception, she seemed to think she had nothing more to do with the affairs of this life; that exception was an expression of affection for her infant sister. From the day of its birth she had resolved to knit a pair of socks for her little sister. She begged that the materials might be procured; and when brought to her, she laid them on her pillow, and repeatedly spoke about it as a duty she had still to perform. The threads of her own brief life were, however, too soon to terminate.

On the Monday before her death, she expressed some doubt respecting her state in the sight of God, and

said she could die happy if she knew that Jesus died for her. When encouraged and urged to believe in him, light immediately broke in upon her mind, and she answered, "I do; he died for sinners, and I know I am a sinner, so he must have died for me." Soon after she said, “ All my doubts are gone now," and she began to repeat that beautiful hymn

"When I can read my title clear
To mansions in the skies;
I bid farewell to every fear,

And wipe my weeping eyes."

This hymn she often repeated during the remaining part of her illness. Now her knowledge of the Bible came more fully out. Passages which we should not have thought would find their way into the memory, and engage the attention of so young a child, were repeated and dwelt upon by her, in a way that surprised all who heard her. Thus addressing her grandmamma, after a period of silence, she said, "I have been thinking, grandma, of that passage, 'Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.'" From the nature of her disease, her pain was often most intense; yet it was only necessary to approach her bed, and begin to repeat some portion of the word of God, and though racked with pain she would at once become perfectly still, her moaning was instantly hushed, and she would lie drinking in all that was said, with the utmost eagerness, or remarking upon it in the most appropriate terms.

On one

her the hymn

"I think, when I read that sweet story of old," &c.

When he came to the words"Yet still to his footstool in prayer I may go,

And ask for a share of his love,"

she remarked, "Oh yes, I do that, pa." Her father replied, "You do pray, then, Lizzey?" With a look of surprise, she said, "Oh dear, yes!" And indeed she did pray, as one who knew not what it was to doubt the prevalence of prayer.

When her father prayed with her, on the Tuesday before her death, as usual, her moaning ceased; his voice alone was heard, except at the close of each petition, when she said, "Yes, yes; oh yes;" and at the conclusion she said, "Amen, amen;" then turning to her father, she exclaimed, "Thank you, pa; oh thank you for praying." This she repeated half-a-dozen times. Before she fell asleep, she called her father to her, and seizing his hands, said, "O dear papa, how I love you! how I do love you!" He said, "And yet you can leave me?" "Oh, yes," she replied, adding, "Good night, pa; I am going to try to get to sleep, and I hope I shall never wake again till I wake in heaven." Awake, however, she did, to pain and tossing on earth for a little longer. During Wednesday, her sufferings increased; yet through

ginning to the end, not one word of fretfulness or complaint was heard by any one. The only approach to it occurred on this day, when she said to her mamma, "O ma, what a long time I am in dying! I am almost tired." Alluding to the Pilgrim's Progress, she said, "I am going through the valley, but Mr. Greatheart is with me."

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To nearly all the members of the family who could understand her she manifested her regard, and gave a parting word. To her eldest brother, to whom she was most tenderly attached, she said, Be sure you attend the Sunday school, and learn the way to heaven." The last words she uttered that were intelligible were to her mamma, in reference to her infant sister; "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." At four o'clock next morning her sufferings terminated, in her gentle dismission to that better world she had so much longed for.

How simple and childlike the faith of this dear child, and yet how well did it support her through her sufferings? Reader! have you like precious faith? Is Christ your Saviour? Have you entered the refuge? Are you trusting to him, and looking for the mercy of God through our Lord Jesus Christ? If so, death to you will be gain; the gate to endless life; the introduction to glory. Liverpool.

I. O. J.

AGAIN, my young friends, has Old Alan Gray taken up his pen, and he stands in the attitude of an archer, bending his bow, and about to send a friendly arrow home to your hearts.

Among the many methods of arousing the moral and spiritual energies of mankind, that of asking striking and important questions is not the least effectual. Often is this mode of awakening our slumbering qualities, when resorted to with zeal and affection, attended with a blessing from on high. If it be true that we are not our own, but bought with a price, and that "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above," James i. 17, then it follows, without contradiction, that we are bound to use God's gifts to God's glory. What, then, are your gifts? If, reader, the question has never been asked you before, let it not now be asked you in vain.

Has God given you the prospect of possessing riches on some future day? then remember that the earth

is the Lord's, the silver, the gold, and the cattle on a thousand hills; and if for a season he should commit a part of these to your keeping, be assured the treasure will not be unaccompanied with responsibility. Fall not into the error of the servant who uselessly laid up his talent in a napkin instead of applying it to a useful purpose, lest you share his condem

nation. When a rich man is not more liberal and generous with his money than a poor man, it is a reproach to his head and to his heart. Were a hard-hearted rich man compelled to speak the truth, when about to enter an eternal world, he might say, "Lord, thou dealedst very kindly with me in prospering the work of my hands, so that I amassed wealth; yet for all this I have despised thy commandment. Thou toldest me when riches increased, not to set my heart upon them, but I did set my heart upon them. Thou toldest me to consider the poor, but I considered myself only, and helped not him who was in need. Thou toldest me to visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction, but I visited them not. Thou toldest me to do good, but good I have not done, and now it is too late! I have greedily heaped up wealth to my own hurt. Here am I and the gold that thou gavest me." What wonder that such a one should be treated as an unprofitable servant!

"In giving God the utmost of our store, We give but what his goodness gave before."

Has God given you mental endowments? The appeal made by Dr. Doddridge to the possessor of learning and genius is well worthy of regard. "Hath God given you genius and learning? It was not that you might amuse or deck yourself with

whom to know is life eternal? This is indeed a priceless gift, and one that you are bound to acknowledge all the days of your life. You cannot be too attentive to this point. What gratitude to God ought to fill your heart! What love to the Redeemer, what affectionate anxiety for the eternal welfare of others ought to follow the saving knowledge that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life," John iii. 16. Truly this gift ought to awaken in your mind the inquiry, How can I in the best way manifest my thankfulness, and express my praise?

From him who reads his title to the skies, [rise.

A sweeter, longer, louder song should

Whither your gifts may be riches, mental endowments, youth, health, strength, influence, a knowledge of God's truth, or other things, remember that you will not possess them long. Your using them aright will be a source of satisfaction and peace; your abuse of them will bring upon you bitterness and remorse. Up, then, and be doing, with all the faculties of your body, soul, and spirit! Fling life and energy into your thoughts, your words, and your deeds! Let those around you be benefited, your own heart be gladdened, and God be glorified.