she might be sure to make it firm and buoyant, she cemented it with a pitchy, glutinous substance that was found floating in the marshes on the banks of the river; and spread the same substance all over it, filling up every crevice so as to keep out the

water.

In this little basket-boat, thus carefully prepared, the child, unconscious of what it all means, is gently laid. A weeping group surround it. It is about to leave them, perhaps for ever. It is to be carried away and left by the brink of the neighboring stream, there to wait the issues of that Providence, in whose hands its parents, (for this is now their only resource,) would submissively leave it. The father, and sister and brother, give it the last embrace; and its innocent smile, happy yet and fearless while seeing its wonted protectors around it, but aggravates their anguish. The mother's farewell is deferred a little; but ah! it will come too soon.

She hurries herself from them with her treasure in her arms. She hastens to the banks of the Nile. She commends the child to God, in earnest and importunate supplication. Her faith sustains her. She impresses a trembling kiss upon its lips, and, giving it her parting blessing, lays it down among the tall, green flags that skirt the margin of the river. One long, lingering look of deep and anxious love, and the mother tears herself away from the child of her bosom, and leaves it in its lonely solitude.

Returning to her home, who can tell the anguish she endures; as the sad scene through which she has just passed, begins to assume in her mind its fearful reality, and she finds, as she enters the dwelling, that the babe, the young and the lovely one, is not there!

But God was with the mother to comfort her, and with the child to protect it. The breeze was to breathe gently through the flags that surrounded it. The flowing Nile was to roll harmlessly along ; and no ravenous animal from the deep waters, or the sedgy banks, was to molest the helpless infant. There it reposed in its ark of bulrushes, as safely and calmly as if it had been in its mother's arms. For God had put it there. All that happened was brought about by the wonderful workings of his Providence. He was preparing to fulfil the promise which, through the dying lips of Joseph, he had made to the children of Israel. He was coming to visit them in mercy, and to rescue them from the oppression of the Egyptians. Some more years must, indeed, roll away before his designs would all be ripe for execution. The helpless babe that its mother had thus cast upon God in her extremity, he had already chosen as the favorite instrument of his purposes. Its life was sacred; and before that life should close, this infant in the ark of bulrushes would become the deliverer of its own kindred and people.

How safe it is, to be in the hands of God. There we should submissively and calmly leave ourselves and all who are dear to us. When we have done our duty;-when we have used all the means that God has placed within our reach, to extricate ourselves or friends from any impending evil, looking to him for his blessing, and yet no relief is found; and the chill of hopelessness comes over us; still, like the Israelitish mother, we should not sink down in despondency. Faith has its resources in this hour of extremity. We should trust the wisdom and justice, the goodness and mercy, of that Being who orders all things right, and peacefully and cheerfully give ourselves up, and all that affects or interests us, to his disposal; saying from the heart, let him do with me and mine as seemeth good in his sight.

CHAPTER III.

Moses is found by the daughter of Pharaoh, and afterwards, as her adopted son, educated at the court of Pharaoh.

MIRIAM, the young and tender-hearted sister, had watched, at a distance, the steps of her mother, as she was carrying the ark of bulrushes, and her

beloved brother whom it contained, to the banks of the river. She marked the spot where it was laid, and was now anxiously and steadily gazing upon it, to see what might happen to the child. What hopes and fears must have agitated her breast! What joy would burst upon her soul, should any way of deliverance and protection be opened! There is reason to think, that the faith of the mother had led her to anticipate this. She

might have chosen the very spot, from some previous knowledge of its being occasionally visited by those whose feelings of compassion, she hoped, would be moved by the sight of so lovely an infant in such affecting circumstances

A group is approaching the banks of the Nile. They are women. One is a female of distinction— no less a personage than the daughter of the king. She comes down to wash at the river. It may be as a religious ceremony, to apply its waters, held sacred and purifying in the estimation of the Egyptians, to her person. The others are her attendants. They walk along the side of the river. The princess comes near to the spot where the child reposes. Her eye meets the ark among the flags. She orders one of the maidens to bring it to her. It discloses to her view a blooming, beautiful infant. The child, startling from its slumber, and opening its eyes upon so many strange faces, is disturbed and weeps. Its loveliness wins the affec

tions of the king's daughter. Its helplessness and tears move her compassion. Its exposure under such circumstances betrays its condition. "This is one of the Hebrews' children," she exclaims; while the discovery, so far from checking the kindly feelings of her heart, but serves to increase them.

These movements have been closely watched by Miriam. She sees that there is hope of protection for her brother. She runs joyously to the spot, and in the overflowing of her gladness, having caught the words of the princess, eagerly inquires, if she shall go and call a nurse from among the Hebrew women, to take care of the child. Go;"-says the daughter of the king, never suspecting that the errand is intrusted to one who is the sister of the child, and already intends to bring its own mo; ther to perform this interesting service.

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Who can describe the grateful joy which thrills through the breast of Jochebed, as the delightful intelligence of all that has happened breaks upon her ear from the lips of the exulting Miriam! Her plan has succeeded. Her prayers have been answered. The child is saved. Full of thankfulness and cheerful confidence in God, she hastens to the well-known spot on the banks of the river, and presents herself with Miriam before the daughter of Pharaoh.

"Take this child away," says the princess," and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages."