with a request that the person into whose hands it might fall, would send a surgeon to their aid: this done, she tied something heavy to a corner of the paper, and then threw it below.

The house in which they lived, was in a lane little frequented. It might, therefore, be an hour or two ere any person passed; still the poor woman was resolved, if possible, to sit and watch. She did so for some considerable time; at length, a footstep was heard: the next moment a man appeared, but he passed the paper either without seeing it, or without curiosity to peruse its contents. Sarah's heart sickened within ber. Being, by this time, so much exhausted that she could with difficulty retain her seat, she was about to leave her pathetic appeal to its fate, when another step caught her eager ear. A boy with a basket approached; he picked up the paper, and opening it, read its contents as he went on. In less than an hour, they were visited by a benevolent medical man, who not only afforded them medical aid, but sent a woman to wait on them.

We are happy to say that Brownlow's convictions of sin did not pass away-as is not unfrequent'y the case—like the morning cloud, or the early dew. He rose from his sick bed with a determination to lead a reformed life. His resolutions were not, however, grounded on his own strength, for that he had already found to be perfect weakness. He sought aid from above, by earnest and persevering prayer. He is now a sober, industrious, and respectable man, doing his utmost to further the cause of temperance, morality, and religion, in the little circle in which he moves. The last time the writer heard of him, he was a tract distributor, an occasional preacher, and, just then, deeply interested in establishing an infant school in the district in which he resides. The above facts were related by himself; for he is free to confess the sins of his earlier days, always tracing his first convictions of sin to the question put to him by that little child, and looking upon her as the human instrument used by God in accomplishing his reformation.

Societies may receive 24 Sirpenny Packets of Tracts and Hand Bills. in any part of London, by a post-office order for 10s. 6d., or 50 packets for 21s., being sent to hichard Dykes Alexander, Ipswich. All country Booksellers may obtain Tracts through Simpkin, Marshall, and Co., London.

J. M. Lurton and Co., Stereotypcra and Printers, Ipswich.

IPSWICH TEMPERANCE TRACTS, No. 154.

A SCENE FROM

LIFE.

One summer's evening, a gentleman, who had come up to London for a few weeks on business, had occasion to call upon an artisan to enquire about some work. The man belonged to a class of individuals common in large manufacturing towns, who are certainly masters, though one room perhaps is made to serve for workshop, sitting room, and bedroom. These people often manufacture such nondescript articles as would not come within the range of any particular trade, and exercise their ingenuity upon the refuse of their more monied neighbours, and many follow this way of living, from a foolish and erroneous notion of independence.

The house the gentleman was seeking, was situated in the neighbourhood of Holborn, in a row of large old fashioned houses, once the abode of wealthy citizens, but now let out in single rooms. He had no occasion to use the knocker, for the door was open and fastened back; and as he trod along the dirty bare passage, the old worm-eaten boards creaked beneath his feet. The staircase to the first floor was in tolerable repair, excepting the walls, which it would have been difficult to decide upon the original colour of, so smeared were they with grease and filth. The second and third flights had been more roughly used, and the banisters of the upper were entirely gone, and a piece of rough deal was placed in their stead. On reaching the third floor, the visitor halted for a moment, not knowing which of the five doors before him to enquire at; he knocked at one, and immediately three were opened, and three miserable looking women (two of them with infants in their arms) appeared. In answer to his question, one of them said: "Mr. T's is the fifth door on

the floor above,” and he accordingly proceeded there. His tap at this door was answered by a woman whose dirty, bloated look too plainly showed that she was the victim of intemperance. This horrible vice had robbed her of all

that was pleasing or woman-like in appearance; but she was not quite lost to feeling, for a deep blush of shame rose to her cheeks, at being seen by a stranger in her present position; and her visitor thought that he could see some traces of truthfulness and kindness in her manner. She was obliged to own that her husband was at home; but it was with evident reluctance she asked the gentleman into the room. It was a scene that might well call up a blush of shame.

The chamber was small, but it was obvious that the family, consisting of eight persons, were living, working, and sleeping in it. A stove stood out in the room, about a yard from the grate, the funnel of which was let into the wall over the chimney piece; near it was an old lathe, and under the window was placed a carpenter's bench, which, together with a long board, used for holding their work, made up the principal furniture of the chamber. There was no bedstead to be seen, but a filthy bundle which lay in one corner, was evidently used for a bed; and beside this, on the ground under the board, there were a number of shavings, which appeared to be put there for a similar purpose, for they were covered with a tattered blanket.

But the occupants of this miserable abode were in a state still more deplorable, for vice, as well as poverty and filth, was stamped upon them. It was the vice of intemperance which had brought them to this condition. At the time that the visitor entered, the father (who was too much in liquor to attend to his business) was leaning against the stove, filling his pipe. His only dress was a dirty shirt, a pair of old canvass trowsers, and slippers made from worn

out boots. The eldest son was similarly dressed, and equally dirty in person; but he was then sober, and busily employed turning the lathe. A daughter of nineteen or twenty was sitting at the board, putting labels on boxes with leaf gold. No words could describe her appearance. Brought up in poverty and drunkenness, she had evidently no desire for anything better; she had lost all self-respect -all the delicacy of feeling natural to her sex and found in every grade of society, except where long habits of vice has destroyed it. She was dressed in a few filthy rags, covered with a torn coat; and as the stranger gazed upon her, compassion was even stronger than disgust, for his heart bled to think of the hopeless future that was before her, for time and eternity. The four younger members of the family were in the room, two more children were engaged in the business, an infant slept upon the shavings before mentioned, and an interesting looking girl, about six years old the only one who was fit to appear in the streets-was then coming in with a bottle of gin concealed beneath her pinafore. The mother tried to take the bottle from her, without being noticed, and to hide it in the cupboard; but the father, who was too much intoxicated to feel ashamed, shouted out for it, saying, with an oath :— "That she need not sham modesty, for she was as fond of gin as anybody." The woman received the necessary instructions, and promised that the order should be sent in the next day; and their visitor retraced his steps down the crazy stairs, with the most painful reflection on the moral as well as physical evils he had witnessed.

This picture, so far from being overdrawn, gives but a faint description of their miserable abode; and there are thousands of similar cases in London alone, calling loudly on Christian sympathy and exertion.

The writer wishes that some account could be added of

"ONE THING IS NEEDFUL."-LUKE X. 42.

THIS is the declaration which the Lord Jesus Christ made to Martha, and with strict propriety may be applied to every human being, who, though favoured with ever so large a portion of this world's treasure, neglects the interests of the soul, and is unconcerned about this one thing needful, upon the possession of which depends his present and eternal happiness. For though a man enjoyed the whole creation, and were destitute of this one thing, he would be like the church of Laodicea, wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. In CHRIST are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, Col. ii. 3; in him we have present and eternal good; for he is all, and in all, to the believer. Oh, reader, whatever else thou lackest, be careful thou art a possessor of this one thing needful: thy eternal all depends upon it. If thou art sensible of thy need of this blessing, and hast a fervent desire to enjoy it, go to Jesus; he invites such to come to him; and he will freely give himself unto thee, without money, and without price; for he has been pleased graciously to promise, “HIM THAT COMETH TO ME I WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUT," John vi. 37.

Here, then, is encouragement to those who appear to have been lost, even beyond hope; but such need not doubt the willingness of God to receive them, if they themselves are but willing to come to CHRIST for healing and salvation. They will not be rejected nor turned away; for in the house of Mercy there is abundant room for ALL who repent and believe.