RED RIVER MISSION.

HOPEFUL DEATH OF A LITTLE SCHOLAR.

March 11.-I visited a little sick boy, one of our scholars. I found his mind in a calm state; and he felt deeply interested in the portions of Scripture which I read and explained to him. I drew his attention to the many diseases which our blessed Saviour cured when on earth, and the miracles which he wrought. While speaking to him about the power and compassion of the Saviour, and his willingness to help all who exercise faith in him, he looked at me very earnestly, and asked "Do you think, sir, that my Saviour will doctor me?" I said " He is both able and willing to help you." "Do you think he will make me well ?" "I am not able to say that he will restore your health; but I am certain that he will make your affliction work together for your good." He said "That is all I want I wish to be made fit for heaven." I read to him about Lazarus being carried by angels into Abraham's bosom. He said “I like to hear that. I would rather die, and be carried by angels into the bosom of Jesus, than live with mamma and papa, and Lewis and all my other brothers, though they are all so very good to me." I said "When any came to our Saviour, while on earth, asking favours from him, he would ask them-Believest thou that I can do this or that for thee ?' If they replied, 'Yea, Lord,' then the Saviour answered: According unto your faith be it unto

you.' Now the blessed Saviour asks: 'John, dost thou believe that I am both able and willing to pardon all thy sins, and to send my angels to carry thy soul to heaven ?"" He said, with much earnestness, "Oh, I believe! I believe!"

"What

March 12.-I again visited the sick boy, and found that he had spent a night of severe pain and restlessness. He was perfectly sensible, and felt conscious that he was in the agonies of death. He said, "You have often preached to me. When I am gone, do preach to Lewis: he is not a very good boy." I said, "You are better acquainted with Lewis's character than I am: you had better preach to him." must I say to him?" I said, "Whatever you think proper." He said, "Lewis, I have often been sorry when you were so disobedient to your father, and so very unwilling to go to school. You know I have often had to drag you to school; and sometimes you have tried me so, that I have had to go without you. Now you must obey your father, and go at once to feed the horse when you are told. And you must go to school, and learn to read the Bible; and go to church always, that you may learn to pray to God; and never play on the Lord's Day, or go with bad boys. Never go where they drink beer, and dance. Serve God, Lewis, and he will be good to you when you die. He will take away the fear of death from you, and make you pleased with the thought of going to heaven." He paused for a short time, and then said, "I want to say more to Lewis; but I cannot." He then looked at me, and said—" Help me." I

said "You have told him quite as much as he will remember." I then desired the little Lewis to repeat the things which his brother had told him to do; and when he had concluded, I said"All the good pay great attention to the last words of their departed friends; and if you, Lewis, are a good boy, you will remember all the days of your life the lesson which your brother has now taught you. You will perhaps never see him again till you meet before the udgment-seat of Christ; and should you lead an ungodly and wicked life, remember that your brother will be a witness against you on that awful day when the secrets of all hearts shall be made known. If you deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow the Saviour, and lead a sober, righteous, and pious life, you will then be acknowledged by the blessed Saviour as his, and be welcomed into the society of the blessed as a good and faithful servant. But if you indulge in the vicious practices of the heathen by whom you are surrounded, the Son of God will spurn you from his presence with, Depart ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." The little sick boy died in the evening.-Rev. W. Cockran's Journal.

1

the thunder storm.

"Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?"-JOB ii. 10.

Lucy sat at her mother's side,

And watched the waving trees, Whose bending branches sadly sighed, Touched by the stormy breeze.

She almost trembled as she heard
The thunder's distant roar,
And hardly dared to speak a word
As the clouds began to lower.

But when the lightning's dazzling flash,
Came on so fast and thick,

And when the nearer thunder's crash
Followed, so deep and quick,

She could not

not hide her secret fear,

But with a simple thought,

Drawing her mother's arms more near,
She there for shelter sought.

But soon the storm passed off; the sky
Assumed a brighter hue;

While the hoarse winds in cadence die,T
And zephyrs sing anew.

Then Lucy, like a happy bird,
Felt the returning light;

And showed, by thoughtless laugh and word,
Her innocent delight.

"How glad the little birds must be

To think the storm is done;

How joyfully from every tree
They greet the cheering sun."

"Their songs are sweet," her mother said; "But, Lucy, 'tis in praise

To Him who turned the storm aside,
That they their anthems raise.

"And should not they who deeper feel
The pleasure and the pain,
Their heartfelt gratitude reveal
For mercies sent again?

"Should you, who felt the greatest fear,

No grateful tribute bring?

Should you, whose joy is more sincere,
Refuse your offering?"

And Lucy owned that far too true
Were these mild, chiding words;

And willingly in future drew

A lesson from the birds;

She learned, like them, to fear no ill,
Sure of her Father's care;

But raise, with more devotion still,
Her grateful praise and prayer.

Foster, Printer, Kirkby Lonsdale.