ment to the school appeared to be very strong, and she was a general favourite with her schoolmates. She was very punctual in attendance at the means of grace, and though she was not visibly identified with the Church, yet, some two or three months previous to her death, she professed to find peace through believing, one Sunday afternoon in the school. At times she gave evidence of deep and serious thought about her spiritual interests. In the domestic circle she was lively and attentive to household duties, evincing great love to her parents, and manifesting much respect to parental authority. Esther was the younger of two sisters, and, as her sister had been married for some years, Esther was the child of the parents' declining years, and they rested much hope upon her; but the bud, just breaking into flower, has been "Nipp'd by the wind's un kindly blast," and transplanted to a fairer clime, to bloom in immortal loveliness. Our sister had not for some time enjoyed good health, and at last she was hurried away by a dire disease. A few days before her death, the writer had a conversation with her touching the sudden death of a Wesleyan Sabbath scholar, which event made a deep impression upon her mind. The Sunday following, she was seized with sickness, which increased in intensity day by day, and on the 28th of August, her spirit winged its flight to the city of the ransomed, in the eighteenth year of her age, after one short week's sickness. Her sufferings were very keen, but her patience was exemplary; for not a murmur was heard to escape her lips; her great desire was to be ready when God called. Her body was comImitted to the tomb on the 30th of August, in the presence of a large number of sorrowing friends and schoolmates, who sang over her grave the beautiful hymn "Shall we gather at the river, Where light angel feet have trod; With its crystal tide for ever Flowing by the throne of God." A solemn feeling pervaded all present. Her death was subsequently improved to a large congregation by the Rev. J. Kennard, and it was a soul-quickening time. She is gone from our midst; there is her vacant seat at school and chapel, and the empty chair at home; but another crown has been possessed, another mansion occupied, another voice added to heaven's harmonious choir, and another spirit gathered home to God. May the solemn event rightly impress the minds of the young people in the Sabbath School, Runcorn. S. C. Varieties. THE WATER OF LIFE. DR. ADAM CLARKE was preaching to a large congregation in Ireland, and after dwelling in glowing terms upon the freeness of the Gospel, and telling them that the water of life could be had "without money and without price," at the conclusion of the sermon, a person announced that a collection would be made to support the Gospel in foreign parts. This announcement disconcerted the worthy doctor, who afterwards related the cir cumstances to the lady of the house where he was staying. 66 'Very true doctor,” replied the hostess, "the water of life is free, without money and without price,' but they must pay for pitchers to carry itin." This anecdote was told at a Juvenile Missionary Meeting, and at its conclusion was followed by cheerful smiles and a clapping of hands, and the children showed that they understood its import by the readiness with which they contributed to the collection. JESUS BIDS US SHINE. Fe-sus bids us shine With a pure clear light. Like a Kit-tle can-dle Burning in the night. In a world of darkness, So we must shine You in your small corner, And I in mine. Jesus bids us shine, First of all for him; You in your small corner, Jesus bids us shine, In the world abound: Poetry. CHARLIE AND THE ROBIN'S SONG. ONE summer morning early, when the dew was bright to see, Our dark-eyed little Charlie stood by his mother's knee, "Mamma, the robin's praying in the very tree-top there; Glory! glory! it is saying, and that is all its prayer. But God will surely hear him, and the angels standing by, For God is very near him, away up in the sky.” "My child! God is no nearer to robin on the tree, "Mamma, if you should hide me away down in the dark, And leave no lamp beside me, would God then have to hark? And if I whisper lowly, all covered in my bed, Do you think that Jesus holy would know what 'twas I said?" "My darling little lisper, God's light is never dim; The very lowest whisper is always close to Him." Now the robin's song was filling the child's soul full of bliss ; The very air was thrilling when his mamma told him this. And he wished in childish craving for the robin's wings to fly, To sing on tree-tops waving, so very near the sky. Child at Home. |