from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain." At this time, his soul seemed filled with the love of his Saviour, and he emphatically exclaimed, "Why do not all sinners come to Christ? Seeing those around him weep, he said, "I wish you to be comforted; don't cry at that which is the will of God: the Lord bless and reward you for all your kindness to me." He then took an affectionate leave of them, and gave directions respecting the distribution of his books, &c., particulary requesting that his clothes might be sent to his poor relations in Africa.

For some time, he continued to praise and magnify his God, and touchingly said, "I am thirsty here, but I shall soon drink of the river of life; I am going to that place where there will be no want. During the night he became considerably convulsed, but at intervals was quite sensible, and said that he had not much pain. Towards morning he was more quiet, and on the remark being made to him, that there was still occasion for continued patience, but that the struggle would soon be over, and an entrance granted him into eternal blessedness, where there would be no more pain or sorrow; he joyfully responded. Articulation had become difficult, and after this he spoke but little. About one o'clock in the afternoon, he requested to be raised up in bed, but almost immediately desired to be laid down again; for a few minutes his breathing, which had been very laborious, became more gentle; and shortly after, he passed quietly away, we can. not doubt, to join the ransomed of all nations, kindreds, people, and tongues, who have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

He died on the 9th of the 9th month (September), 1846, aged about seventeen years: and was interred in the burial ground belonging to the Society of Friends, in York, on the 13th of the same month.

THE MARTIN'S NEST.

In the summer of 1847, I had an opportunity of witnessing a most curious and interesting sight.-A pair of martins had their nest beneath the roof of an old farm-house, pleasantly situated on the banks of the river Lea; five eggs had been deposited in it, and in due time they had a little family of unfledged birds. It was a pretty sight to see the fond parents clinging to the nest, while they fed the young ones, who put their heads out of it to receive their food. But, sad to tell, their happiness was but of short duration; for, on a luckless day, the window beneath the nest was to be cleaned; a ladder was brought for that purpose, in placing which, the incautions swain clumsily struck the nest, it fell to the ground, and the poor little birds were all killed but one.

The good farmer's wife was very much grieved at this misfortune; but she soon set her wits to work to mend the matter in the best manner possible; so, getting a tiny basket, she made a comfortable bed of wool, and placing in it the young bird that survived, ordered it to be tied in the place where the nest was at first constructed.-Meanwhile, the distracted parents flew round and round the head of the man upon the ladder, as if they meant to peck him. I suppose they could not understand what he was doing; they soon, however, entered their new habitation, and evidently appeared comforted. But the basket being suspended by the handle, shook with every breeze. So, not approving of a swing-nest, they stuck it to the wall with clay, and then set about building a roof to it, leaving a small entrance on one side.

Well, the little bird grew, and became fledged; and when autumn arrived, they all forsook the old farm-house, and took their flight to a distant clime. Whether they spent their next spring in the myrtle and olive groves of Italy, or among the palms of Africa, I know not; but in the following year they returned, and, in the self-same basket, reared another family. The nest is still in being, but it has somewhat suffered during the storms of the past winter, and I believe it is going to be taken down.-Early Days.

MEMOIR OF MARY ANN HANSON, OF BURY.

MR. EDITOR, DEAR SIR,

If you should think the following account to be worthy of a place in the "Juvenile Companion," its early insertion will gratify many in our Sunday-school and congregation. The substance of the memoir was read to a numerous and deeply affected congregation, after a few remarks had been made from the 9th verse of the 119th Psalm.

Dear Sir, yours very respectfully,

JOHN LORD.

Mary Ann Hanson was the daughter of reputable, honest, and industrious parents. She was born in the town of Bury, Lancashire, on the 16th of February, 1834. She was blessed with a remarkably happy and cheerful temper. From her infancy she was remarkable for her strict adherence to truth, and uniform obedience to her parents.

She was very early the subject of serious impressions. When she was about nine or ten years of age, the late Mrs. Riley, then Miss Hacking, was in the habit of meeting a number of young females, for the purpose of praying with them, and giving them religious instruction. Mrs. Riley was succeeded by Mrs. Chatterton, in this good work. The labours of these pious females were, through the blessing of God, made very useful to many: Mary Ann was a diligent attendant at these meetings, and it is believed that they were made very useful to her.

About June, 1847, she began to feel most keenly, that she was a guilty sinner in the sight of God, and that unless she obtained the pardon of her sins she must perish. She earnestly sought the forgiveness of her sins, by praying to God for Christ's sake to grant her the joy of salvation. On two Sunday evenings, at the prayer-meeting after the public service, she broke through her usual reserve and timidity, and went to the penitent, form, in the character of a sinner seeking mercy. On the first of these occasions she felt some encouragement; on the second, she was relieved of her

burden, and felt a measure of consolation; she was for sometime occasionally beset with doubts and fears, but she continued to look to her Saviour, who always proved himself to be her deliverer.

She now felt that it was her duty to become a member of the church. She desired to receive spiritual instruction and to enjoy the benefits of Christian communion. She, therefore, began to meet in class-that is, to attend weekly meetings, held by members of the Methodist Churches for spiritual improvement. This was in July, 1847. Her age was then between thirteen and fourteen years. Her attendance at the class-meeting was very regular; perhaps, she never was missing, unless prevented by indisposition, or by imperative duties at home; or, very rarely, some interesting meeting of a religious or moral character might attract her attention. She gained the esteem and affection of the members of the class. In speaking her experience there was a beautiful mixture of humility, meekness, confidence, and gratitude. Her conduct was such as became her profession of religion. It was praiseworthy and exemplary. She had a strong attachment to the Sunday-school, and the chapel. It was always a cross to her to be absent, even when necessity required it. She could say, Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth."

66

She manifested an earnest desire for Scriptural knowledge. How blessed it is when, in the family circle, there is a freedom in speaking of spiritual and divine things. Mary Ann was in the habit of asking her kind and pious mother questions about divine things. Sometimes the subject would be too difficult for her mother to explain. In order to remedy this defect, she prevailed upon her parents to purchase a Bible with marginal references, that by means thereof she might obtain more perfect knowledge of the divine will. Having obtained this help, she diligently availed herself of opportu nities for searching the sacred oracles, till she became able to assist her mother in solving Scripture difficulties. We believe her great end in desiring an acquaintance with divine truth was, that she might be made wise unto salvation, and be useful in her day and generation.

Her class-leader thinks, that it was at the last meeting she was able to attend (it was little expected at the time that it would be her last) that he was led to remark, that “all true Christians enter into covenant engagement with God. That when they seek the Lord, and give themselves to him, they promise and intend to live to him whilst life should last.That God on his part has promised and covenanted, that he will be their God; and that they shall be the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty." Mary Ann was asked, "was not this your intention and engagement when you sought the Lord, and gave yourself to him ?" She answered, "it was." She was also asked, "Do not you still intend, by the grace of God, to live to Him whilst he spares you in this world? The answer was unhesitating and decisive, "I do!" The same questions were put to the other young members, and the same answers were given by them. It was a solemn time to all present; it was, I believe, on the 12th of September, a little more than five weeks before her death. The week following she was absent from her class through affliction; and the day after that, was Friday the 20th of September, when she became confined to her bed. On the Wednesday night following she was praying and praising God. Perceiving that her mother heard her, she called to her and said, "Mother, I am so happy, the Lord can bless on a sick bed," and made other remarks to the same effect. The following Wednesday she suffered severely; she sat up for some time, but was obliged to seek ease in her bed. When she was in bed she began to pray audibly and earnestly, and soon after exclaimed, “Glory! glory!" several times. A kind and pious neighbour, who was present, said to her, "Mary Ann, you are happy. "She answered "It is good for me to be in this bed: I could not have believed that any person could have been so happy as I am, and endure what I suffer." Her mother was dangerously ill at this time. She asked the friend before alluded to, whether she thought that her mother would recover; her friend answered, "I hope she will, but it will not do for you to repine." Mary Ann replied, "I will not."

About a fortnight before her decease, her father questioned her respecting the state of her mind, and her prospects as to