We shall be always happy there. There will be no pain nor sickness there. There will be no night there. I should like to see you again, but if we don't meet on earth, I hope we shall in heaven. I am prepared to go to heaven, and am only waiting for Jesus to come and take me to his bosom."

During the last four months of his life, the writer frequently visited him; and, though he suffered much, and was extremely weak, his mind was generally composed and happy. He took great delight in the exercises of religion, particularly in reading the Sacred Scriptures and Prayer. When unable to read himself, he would thankfully and devoutly listen, while his dear mother or any other person read. The words of his blessed Saviour, recorded in the latter part of the Gospel by St. John, were a source of great comfort to him. One night, when he was so ill, as to induce his friends to think it would probably be his last night, he reclined on his mother's arms, while his sister Caroline read a portion of God's Word. Then he desired his sister and one of his brothers to engage in prayer. At the close of their prayers, he, with all his remaining strength, began to implore the blessing of the Almighty upon his sisters and brothers, calling out the name of each, and entreated God to convert them, and save them from falling into hell. After that, he prayed for himself, pleading the encouraging words of the Saviour, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." With much fervour he exclaimed, "Lord, I am a little child, thou canst, thou wilt bless me, and make me holy now." He then prayed the Lord to bless and preserve the life of his dear mother; in a most earnest manner implored God's blessing upon the ministers of the Gospel; and, when nearly exhausted, concluded by praying for the world. "Thus ended (says his mother) one of the most affecting scenes I ever witnessed."

He retained a devotional and believing state of heart, and consequently, enjoyed a good hope of heaven to the last moment of his life. One day, when a little depressed in spirit, his mother, to cheer him, recited the following beautiful

verse

"Arise, my soul, arise,
Shake off thy guilty fears;
The Bleeding Sacrifice,

In my behalf appears;

Before the throne my Surety stands,

My name is written on his hands."

When his mother had finished, he remarked, "Jesus was nailed to the cross for me;" this thought evidently gave him comfort. When it became evident to all that his end was near, his brother John (then at school in the country) was sent for, to take his farewell of his dying brother. Upon reaching home, and seeing the great change which had taken place in Bernard, John was affected to tears. The dying youth seeing this, very cheerfully exclaimed, "What is Johnny crying for? Don't cry, Johnny, don't cry, I shall soon be in heaven!" A few days before his eyes closed in death, his brother William being in the room, he took his Bible in his hand, and addressed his brother to the following effect." William, I make you a present of this Bible, and beg that you will read a portion of it every day with prayer." Thus showing that he possessed Scriptural religion, which, when really enjoyed, not only secures personal happiness, but also produces an earnest desire for the salvation of others. The pious act just referred to, was soon followed by his last struggle for life. He expired Decem ber 23, 1849, being a little more than twelve years old. His end was peaceful and happy.

All who read this brief account, should keep in mind, that they will have to follow this interesting youth to the grave. And if they seek, love, and obey the Saviour, as he did, they will join him in heaven. Christ has said, "I love them that love me, and they that seek me early shall find

me."

B.

ANECDOTES OF CHARLES XII.

THE following anecdotes strongly illustrate the character of this great king and warrior:-At the siege of Stralsund, while he was dictating a letter to a secretary, a bomb fell through the roof into the upper room. The secretary, terrified, let the pen drop from his hand. "What is the matter?" said the king, calmly. The secretary could only answer, "O! sir, the bomb!" "The bomb," replied Charles, "what has the bomb to do with what I am dictating? Go on." Some of his actions evinced humanity. In the middle of a battle, finding a young officer wounded, and unable to march, he mounted him on his own horse, and fought on foot along with the infantry. The Princess Lubomirski, who was greatly attached to Augustus, being taken prisoner, he ordered her to be set at liberty, saying, that "he did not make war upon women." Near Leipsic, a peasant complained against a grenadier, for robbing him of some provisions. "Is it true," said Charles, sternly," that you have robbed this man?" "Sir," answered the soldier, "I have not done so much injury to this man, as your Majesty has done to his master. I have only taken a dinner from him; you have deprived Augustus of a kingdom.” Charles reimbursed the peasant, and pardoned the soldier for his firmness; desiring the latter, however, to recollect, that, although he had deprived Augustus of his kingdom, yet he had kept nothing to himself. In his unfortunate march into the Ukraine, a soldier presented him with a piece of black and mouldy bread, which was the only kind of food the troops had to eat. Charles took the bread, and, calmly eating it, said, "Indeed it is not good, but it may be eaten."

MARTYRDOM OF ATHANASIUS.

THIS martyrdom was so remarkable an event, as illustrative of the discipline of the Greek Church, that the author took much pains to ascertain the facts of the case. He had, with this view, many conversations on the subject with the

late Rev. Mr. Williamson, who was then British Chaplain at Smyrna. This gentleman furnished a narrative of the martyrdom, which is here copied from the Missionary Register.

Athanasius, a fine young man, about four-and-twenty years of age, was the son of a boatman, who carried on a small trade in the Archipelago. The business of the father being insufficient to require the assistance of his son, he was obliged, like thousands of his countrymen, to leave the land of his birth in search of a livelihood. Athanasius fell at length into the service of a Turk, in decent circumstances, and something above the common rank. The master, pleased with the conduct of his servant, and in reward of his fidelity, often proposed, with great offers, to elevate him from the degrading bondage of a Greek, to the privileges of a Turk. Every temptation was manfully resisted; till, on one fatal festival night, he was overcome. When the words of abjuration are once spoken, the deed is done. The next morning made the man a Turk.

He remained with his master about a year, suffering many pangs of conscience, and having no alternative but to die, (since he could not live,) a Christian. Thus circumstanced, and, no doubt, urged by his own people, whose practice it is not to receive back to their communion any one who has apostatised, Athanasius resolved to give up life as an atonement for his crime.

With this intention he quitted his master, and went on a pilgrimage to Mount Athos. At this place, sacred among the Greeks, he remained some months, receiving instruction, and preparing for death. On the expiration of his pilgrimage, he quitted Mount Athos, with the congratulations of all the Greek monks who reside there, on the prospect of becoming a distinguished saint. He arrived at Smyrna in the habit of a monk, and went immediately, with the approbation of the Greeks, to the Turkish judge, declaring his resolution to die a Christian, rather than to live an apostate. The judge wished to save his life, by persuading the Turks that he was mad; but he persisted in publicly abjuring Mahomedanism, and asserting his readiness to die. He was confined, therefore, in a dungeon, and tor

tured, which he endured with the greatest firmness and patience.

The Greeks were afraid that, during his confinement, the tortures and the extravagant promises and allurements of the Turks would shake his resolution, and they therefore sent a priest to strengthen him to suffer death.

On the day of his execution, Athanasius was led out of prison with his hands tied behind. He walked firmly to the square, a very public place before the large mosque. There he was again offered his life, with riches, women, lands, and houses, if he would remain a Turk; but nothing could dissuade him from his purpose. At length a Turkish blacksmith was ordered, by the captain of the Guard, to strike off his head: but as a last attempt to induce him to live a Turk, the executioner was desired to cut a little of the skin of his neck, that he might feel the edge of the sword. This last attempt having failed, and Athanasius, on his knees, declaring, with a calm and resigned countenance, that he was born with Jesus, and would die with Jesus, his head was struck off at a single blow. The Turkish guard instantly threw buckets of water on the neck of the corpse and the dissevered head, to prevent the multitude of expecting Greeks from dipping their handkerchiefs in his blood, to be kept as memorials of the great event. The body lay guarded and exposed for three days. It was afterwards given up to the Greeks, and buried in the principal church-yard. Happy Britain! where every one can safely worship God according to the dictates of his conscience.

CRITO.

A BLIND AND DEAF GIRL AND HER BIBLE. A YOUNG person, completely blind and deaf, was brought before a number of eminent surgeons to see if anything could be done for her. Her sad condition had been suddenly produced by a violent pain in the head. The only method of communicating with her was by tapping her hand, which signified, No; and by squeezing her hand, which signified, Yes.