would secure his own object in a plentiful harvest, he cannot but choose to accomplish, passively and undesignedly, the bountiful designs and objects of the Creator of all. It is delightful to consider how even the very covetousness of man is made subservient to the bounty of God; how the sower is forced, by his own interest, to be lavish, to be profuse. Man must eat: in order to eat, he must reap; in order to reap, he must sow; in order to reap plentifully, he must sow plentifully, nay, he must sow profusely; for, as the Journal of Agriculture observes, "two-thirds of his seed is destroyed by an agency hitherto uncontrolled." It did not occur to this writer, what God was doing with the seedsman; and how the farmer, when he goes forth in the morning to his field to prepare for his harvest, to be saluted by the way, and congratulated that he was going forth to feed God's creatures liberally, though it is not in his heart to do it; but God causes it to be in his hand to do it. There is a noble overflowing largeness in the works and ways of God. What man calls waste abounds on every side. For example, amongst the millions of blossoms which are, every year, opening their beauteous bosoms, and emitting their fragrant odours in the thousand and ten thousand fields, and gardens, and orchards, how few will bear food for the use of man? But shall all be wasted therefore? Shall they turn to no other use? O, yes; even the very blight which ruins them for man's use, does itself produce unnumbered myriads of the creatures of God, who feed, and fatten, and enjoy their fleeting existence. And may there not be many important moral purposes answered by Sunday schools, even where the tuition fails to effect the conversion of the soul.

NOTICES OF A COLOURED SUNDAY SCHOLAR, LATELY

DECEASED.

IN no instance have I been more impressed with the value of Sunday school instruction than in a case which has lately come under my observation, and of which I propose to give a few particulars for your valuable

paper.

A young woman of colour, aged about twenty years, often attracted my notice by the punctuality of her attendance upon my preaching, and the lively interest which she seemed to take in divine worship. At a certain time I began to find her place vacant in the congregation, and on enquiry learned that she was dangerously ill, with what was supposed to be a rapid consumption. From the time of her first taking to her bed, she was under a fixed conviction that she should never recover, although in the beginning of her illness no such fears were entertained by those around her. This apprehension, however, was unaccompanied with any fear. Throughout many weeks of pain and gradual decay she never showed any desire of recovery, but on the contrary expressed a great wish to depart and be with Christ. And her hope of everlasting life appeared to be grounded on just and scriptural views of her own unworthiness, and of the way of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. there was any thing in her exercises which I could have wished to be otherwise, it was that she seemed impatient to be delivered from the body, and could not bear the thought of returning to the world.

If

During her season of health, this young woman had been of an eccentric turn, and on worldly subjects had even seemed below the ordinary mark as to capacity and judgment. But she had, during the three or four years of her Christian profession, taken uncommon interest in every thing that related to religion, and especially in the exercises of the Sabbath, and in the instructions of the Sunday school. She was devoted to the perusal of books from the library, provided they were not fictitious, and spent much time in committing to memory portions of Scripture, and sacred poetry.

From the first moment that I was called to her bedside I was struck with the remarkable store of psalms and hymns which she had treasured in her memory. These she was constantly repeating, either entire, or a few stanzas at a time. And those which she thus recalled were in almost every instance strikingly appropriate to her condition as a dying person; from which I was led to suppose, that, after all, these were but a small

C

selection from what she must have remembered. At my suggestion, the excellent lady in whose house she had her home, made a memorandum of the spiritual songs which from time to time she thus repeated; confining herself to those which she knew entirely, and likewise to those contained in her own hymn-book. I retain this memorandum, and the number of them is twenty-two. In many cases they were singularly applicable to her actual circumstances, and she seemed to use them as the most natural vehicle of her spiritual emotions. I confess that I learned from her dying lips to set a higher value on these sacred compositions. Much as I have been conversant with hymns, I have never before considered how invaluable they are to those whose religious literature is narrow, and who place the hymnbook next to the sacred Scriptures.

This young person was likewise familiar with the word of God. She recited many passages during her illness, as those which gave her comfort, and on which her soul reposed. Some of these were altogether out of the common routine, and I have reason to think that almost all of them were treasured up in the course of Sunday school instruction. She had a clear view of the gratuitous nature of salvation, through the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a remarkable sensitiveness as to the least approaches of sin. To a very near relative, who had been addicted to intoxication, she said with great earnestness, and in terms which could not be changed for others without loss,-"Oh, I would rather die twice oyer, than that you should love rum !” A stronger declaration of regard for a friend's soul has seldom been uttered. The last time I saw her, which was very shortly before her death, she asked me to sing the beautiful hymn,

"O, for an overcoming faith,

To cheer my dying hours," &c.

and as I proceeded, I could see her lips moving, and caught some faint notes of her almost inaudible voice. At the close she said, "Delightful!—it is like the songs of Zion's hill above."

The closing scene was equally calm and interesting.

I have seen many dying persons, but I never saw any whose departure was more signally peaceful.

This little record of an humble soul is made for the encouragement of Sunday school teachers, especially in reference to what is too often treated as an unimportant part of their office-I mean, the entrusting to the memory of their pupils the words of Scripture and of sacred songs.

From the American Sunday School Journal.

CHILDREN SAVING, INSTEAD OF SPENDING.

THE spending of half-pence, by children, so soon as they receive them, unless regulated by their parents, is not merely a waste of money, but tends to the formation of improvident habits. The articles purchased are generally toys or sweetmeats, which, instead of satisfying, create a desire for more; and when the means are wanting, they are led, not unfrequently, to disreputable, if not dishonest contrivances to gratify their wishes. The following instance of checking a disposition like this, may be useful to those who are entrusted with the care of children. Young Harry got twopence given him, and, as it is common, the other children came running to tell father how fortunate he had been. Fearing that the money would be mis-spent, orders were sent that Harry was to put the money into his box. "It is no use putting it by," replied Harry; "what good will it do there?" This answer was told to father, who, in a most decided manner, said, "Tell him to come here." Immediately Harry stood before his father. In a distinct tone, and yet with an inviting aspect, the discreet parent said, "Harry, what are on your feet?"-"Shoes, sir." "What covers your body?"-"Clothes, sir." "On what do you rest at night?""On the bed." "And what do you get in a morning?"-"We get our breakfast, sir."

Now,

Harry," he added, "listen to me," (his brothers and sisters standing by,) "if, when I draw money from my customers, I were to say it is of no use putting it by, and were to go immediately and spend it, you would have neither shoes, nor clothes, nor bed, nor breakfast, nor any thing. If you had spent that twopence, it would all have been disposed of before morning; but if you save

your money, you will soon get as much as will purchase the Sunday School Magazine, or some other useful article." After this there was a pause-when the father resumed: "Now, Harry, tell me, is it better to put this money by, or spend it?"-"To put it by," replied the boy instantly. The box was sent for; and Harry seemed quite pleased to put the money, a half-penny at a time, through a small aperture made in the lid of his moneybox. Such a method as this, and not violent threats or passionate blows, I conceive is the proper method of training children to know their duty.

Obituary.

GEORGE RATTLIFFE was a scholar in the Independent Sunday school, Leek. He had attended the school for several years. There was nothing in his conduct remarkable from other youths of his age, until a few months before his illness, which commenced in January last, when he appeared to be more thoughtful and attentive when spoken to about his soul and eternity; but he was naturally of a very reserved disposition, and was backward at conversing on spiritual topics until his illness had commenced, the nature of which was a consumption. He was often visited by the minister and some of the teachers of the school, as well as the scholars of his class; the writer often found some of the latter at his bedside, when he visited him. On one occasion, he asked him what advice he would give to them: "Oh!" said he, with emphasis, "fly to the Saviour now while you have health;" which affected them deeply. On another occasion, when alone, his mother overheard him in prayer, earnestly pleading on behalf of his teacher and his fellow-scholars. He continued gradually growing weaker until March 5th, when he expired in peace, in the nineteenth year of his age. During his illness, which he bore with great fortitude. his only hope seemed to be on the finished righteousness of his Saviour and Redeemer.