so I am picking barberries for my mother to buy me a new jacket with." A tear coursed down the cheek of the lady, who was not an inattentive spectator to the scene.

George, my son," said she, "it is not kind in you thus to address this poor boy, who is not, as you are, blest with an indulgent father to provide him with food and clothes." The kind hearted woman had touched a tender chord, for George was not destitute of tenderness and manly feelings. He burst into tears, and entreated his mother to give the poor boy some of his clothes. The barberries were immediately purchased of the little fellow, for which he received enough to buy him a jacket and trowsers. Nor did the kind hearted mother of George confine her liberality to the boy with his barberries. The poor boy's mother has since shared liberally of her munificence, which she ever receives with the utmost gratitude.

Utility of Sabbath Schools.

SOME time ago, while attending an eminent surgeon for the purpose of having an operation performed on one of my eyes, I met with the following case. One morning, a friend of mine led into the same room a fine looking young woman, who was completely blind, and completely deaf. This sad condition had been brought on suddenly by a violent pain in the head. Her case was examined by a number of surgeons then present, all of whom pronounced it incurable. She was led back to the house of my friend, when she eagerly inquired what the doctor said about her case, and whether he could afford her any relief. The only method by which her inquiries could be answered was, by tapping her hand which signified, no; and by squeezing it, which signified, yes; for she could not hear the loudest noise nor distinguish day from night. She had to receive for her answer on this occasion, the unwelcome tap, no. She burst into tears, and wept aloud in all the bitterness of despair. "What," said she, "shall I never again see the light of day, nor hear a human voice, must I remain incapable of all social intercourse-shut up in silence and darkness while I live?" Again she wept. The scene was truly affecting. Had

she been able to see, she might have been pointed to the Bible, as a source of comfort. Had she been able to hear words of consolation might have been spoken; but alas' these avenues to the mind were closed, to be opened no more in this world. Her friends could pity, but they could not relieve; and what made her case still more de plorable, she was an orphan; had no father or mother, or brother or sister, to pity and care for her. She was en tirely dependent upon a few pious friends for her support This she felt, and continued to weep, till my friend, with great presence of mind, took up the Bible and placed it to her breast. She felt it, and said, "is this the Bible?" She was answered that it was. She held it to her bosom, and said, "This is the only comfort I have left-though I shall never be able to read it any more;" and began to repeat some of its promises, such as, "cast thy burden on the Lord, and he will sustain thee." "As thy day is, so shall thy strength be." "Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee." "My grace is sufficient for thee." &c. In a moment she dried her tears, and became one of the happiest persons I ever saw. She never seemed to deplore her condition afterward. I have many times heard her tell of the strong consolations she felt. She appeared to enjoy uninterrupted communion with the Father of spirits.

Happily for this young woman, she had been taken, when a very little giri, to a Methodist Sabbath School, where she enjoyed the only opportunity she ever had of learning to read the Bible, and where she had committed. to memory those passages of Scripture, which now became her solace and the food of her spirit. With what gratitude she used to speak of her teachers, who, she said, not only taught her to read, but took pains to instruct her in the things that belonged to her eternal peace !--"What would have become of me had I not then been taught the way of salvation, for now I am deprived of all outward means;" was her constant language.

I never look into a Sabbath School, and notice the children repeating portions of God's holy word, but I think of the above case. How precious was that handful of seed, cast in by some pious teacher, who little thought nerhaps, at the time, that she was furnishing the only

means of salvation to an immortal spirit! What multi tudes will have to bless God in eternity for like instruc tion! Let not, then, our Sabbath School Teachers ever grow weary in well doing, for in due season they shall rear their reward.

Anecdote of a Soldier.

MR. CECIL, in his "Short hints to a Soldier," relates the following history:-There was not perhaps a more wicked fellow in all the service, than a soldier I well knew. But one day, while he was gone two or three miles from the troop, it rained so hard, that he was glad to take shelter in a farm house.

Now it happened, that a good man lived there, who soon began to talk of what lay very near his heart, as you know we are all apt to do; and what should this be, but Jesus Christ, the Savior? And he talked thus ;

"A friend in need is a friend indeed, and there are times, in which every man feels the need of such a friend. But vainly do we hope to find him among men. Yet I know such an one may be found. Indeed, all I have made out to any purpose is, that none but Jesus Christ can do me any good. Trouble was sent to preach my need of his help; but I was a good while before I knew what to do. At length, however, he that had long called to me by his word, gave me ears to hear, and a heart to follow him. Well, weary and heavy laden I came for help to him, and I have found it, and all I want in it; and now I cannot help telling others, that there is no disease of the soul, but there is a certain cure for it in Je3us Christ, nor any thing which we can want, but he is as willing as he is able to give it."

It still kept raining, and the soldier was kept hearing, while several parts of scripture were compared; and he saw that the grand design of all scripture, was to show the Savior to the sinner, and to bring the sinner to the Savior.

At length, the weather cleared, and the soldier went away; but not in the state of mind, in which he entered the house. He went, as he lately told me, with the far

He

mer on the next Sabbath to hear an eminent clergyman and then God brought the truth home to his heart. called at the house of a friend of his, who told me how surprised he was to hear him say, after he sat a few minutes, "Tom, I have been a bad man all my life, and am but just recovered:" and he then related what he had heard, and what he had felt.

For as a man wakes out of a dream, and recovers his right mind, after the wild fancies of the night are past, and tells the first person he meets of the disorder in which his spirits have been; so did this soldier talk to his friend. He plainly saw how dreadfully he had been fighting against God and his own soul, by a course of swearing, drunkenness, debauchery, and unbelief. He now felt what a bad example, yea, what a curse he had been to his fellow soldiers! what an awful evil sin is, with which he had sported! and what a depth of misery he must have fallen into, had he been cut off in such a course! He also felt, he never could thank God enough for the repentance he had given him; and for the lively hope afforded him in the gracious promises to returning sinners.

He did much more. Many talk of religion, who have none; but this man proved he was converted, by a new course of life; and he proved, that when a man has a heart to serve God, he may serve him in any station. If some, from ignorance, scorned that change in him, which he had before scorned in others, no man was so ready to forgive; for he felt that no man had so much to be forgiven. No man was more faithful to his trust, or obedient in his station: for he served his God, while he served his King. No man bore up more boldly under trials; for he knew they were all appointed of his God, and working together for his good. No man faced death with so firm a heart; for he knew that whether he stood or fell, he was secure of everlasting love, through the promise and grace of Jesus Christ. He had more courage than many, who can stand the push of a battle: for he calmly dared to confess Christ before men; and to declare upon every proper occasion, "I owe all that I am, and all that I hope to be, to the grace of our Lord Christ."

The Fireside.

THE fireside is a seminary of infinite importance. It is important, because it is universal, and because the education it bestows, being woven in with the woof of our childhood, gives form and color to the whole texture of life. There are few who can receive the honors of a college, but all are graduates of the hearth. The learning of the university may fade from the recollection; its classic lore may moulder in the halls of memory. But the simple lessons of home enamelled upon the heart of childhood, defy the rust of years, and outlive the more mature but less vivid pictures of after days. So deep, so lasting, indeed, are the impressions of early life, that you often see a man in the imbecility of old age holding fresh in his recollection the events of childhood, while all the wide space between that and the present hour is a blasted and forgotten waste. You have perchance seen an old and half-obliterated portrait, and in the attempt to have it cleaned and restored, you may have seen it fade away, while a brighter and more perfect picture, painted beneath is revealed to view. This portrait, first drawn on the canvass, is no inapt illustration of youth; and though it may be concealed by some after design, still the original traits will shine through the outward picture, giving it tone while fresh, and surviving it in decay.

Such is the fireside-the great institution furnished by Providence for the education of man. Having ordained that man should receive his character from education, it was also ordained that early instruction should exert a decisive influence on character, and that during this important period of existence, children should be subject to the charge of their parents. The sagacity and benevolence displayed in this design afford a striking manifestation of that wisdom and goodness, which we behold in all the works of God. It appears, that in every stage of society, parental education adjusts itself to the wants of children. In the savage state, where there is no division of property, no complicated system of laws and relations, no religion, save the naked idea of a God, who rewards the good and punishes the wicked, education has a narrow scope; but such as is needed is supplied. As society