"My heart has often been cheered when I looked round the communion rail, as they presented themselves to receive the emblems of Christ's dying love, and observed a silent tear steal over the cheeks of one and the other of these once stoical and apparently unfeeling people. What a striking change is the word of God able to bring about, when it is mixed with faith in them that hear it! The words which the great Apostle addressed to his converts at Ephesus may be applied to them with much truth, Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ'.'

"Members of the various tribes of Indians, who in their natural state are filled with contempt towards each other, are there seen to meet around the table of their common Saviour, showing forth their Lord's death till He come. The collections made at the Holy Communion amount on the average to five dollars, which are given to sick and needy members, or applied towards the purchase of medicines and little comforts required by them.

"Observing that some of the people came too late to church, I inquired into the reason of it, when they said that they were both sorry and ashamed, but as the heavens were dark they did not know what time it was.' 'Well, then,' said I, we must have a bell to tell you when it is time to come to worship.' How much will it cost?' they inquired. I think about 77.' They made up the stated sum, and they have now a bell; and I must say, that they are as punctual as they are regular in their attendance.

"It has been one great object with me to awaken a missionary spirit among that interesting people; and in this, also, I have not been disappointed. Whenever any

3 Eph. ii. 11-13.

have felt the value of their own souls, and fled for refuge from the wrath to come, to lay hold on the hope set before us; whenever any have tasted that the Lord is gracious, such happy souls must and do feel themselves constrained by the love of Christ to bring others also to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. Of those who themselves are strangers to Christ, this would be expecting too much, although every individual nominal Christian is called to be a fellow-worker together with God. I have been anxious to inculcate this upon the converted Indians, as their duty as well as privilege; and as a means of accomplishing so desirable an end, I established monthly missionary prayer meetings, to be held on every first Monday after the communion. On these occasions I read them the reports of missions, and in going along made use of such remarks and illustrations as might both profit and instruct them. To excite a lively interest in the countries and the inhabitants, I have pointed them out on the map, explaining the different habits and customs to which they were strangers. They make quarterly collections, and being taught to act on the principle which the Apostle recommends, to lay by every Sabbath as God has prospered them,' there is no need of looking here and there for a mite, whenever the time for giving comes round, for they are prepared to return unto the Lord what first He gave them. I bear them witness that their liberality abounds in their poverty, for I am by their means enabled to place to the credit of the Church Missionary Society from twenty to thirty pounds yearly. The day of reckoning is coming, when it will appear to all the world, that what they did, they did from a sense of duty to their God and Saviour; and because they felt constrained by His love."-From Missionary Labours in British Guiana."

A MINISTER'S VISITS TO HIS CHURCHYARD. No. II.

WHO has not noticed how the graves in a country churchyard lie in little clusters; kinsfolk sleeping side by side; families gathered into little groups. There is a solemn yet cheering feeling in seeing a family returning together to their dust, while their souls have returned to

God who gave them. They lie in one cluster, O shall they rise hereafter in one party, and in one party be caught up on high to meet the Lord, and dwell for ever with Him? How dreadful if they rise in one party, only to be cast in one party into everlasting burnings! How heart-rending if, when they rise together from one spot, they are separated for ever and ever into two parties: one to go to peace and endless joy, and the others who have dwelt with them around the same table and the same hearth in this life, shall hear the Judge say, and feel that it is only just" Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."

Yonder is a cluster of graves, some of them almost sunk to nothing: five of their inmates I knew.

The first who died (J. M.) was the hoary-headed grandfather: he loved his God and lived for Him; never missed coming to His Church as often as its doors were open, and died in peace with his Saviour's name on his lips.

The next grave is that of his grand-daughter Mary, a fine young woman of twenty-three; an active and intelligent servant; trusting to youth and health, she neglected a cold, and died of tedious consumption thirteen years ago. I seldom saw her, for she was generally away from home in service; but during her last illness I visited her; she lingered long, and suffered much: but her heart was simple and patient, humbly seeking pardon, and resting on her Saviour. She passed away in peace, with quiet, cheerful, lowly hope of mercy, through Jesus Christ.

The new sod on Mary's grave had not begun to grow, when her brother Thomas, a fine boy of thirteen, was laid by her side. His mother often used to speak of him with delight for his dutifulness: his dying sister often spoke with anxiety for his eternal welfare. A quick boy at school, diligent, docile, and kindly disposed, he loved his Sunday-school, loved to read his Bible at home, and learn his hymns and collects. He would talk with his mother and sick sister of the Word of God, and the sermons he heard, and loved to speak of neighbours who had died, and of godly children who had gone from this

world. He had his faults like other boys; but his conscience was tender, his repentance earnest when he had done wrong; and his desire seemed to be to walk in good ways and go to God. His mother often said he was unlike other boys, and she feared he would not live to grow up. He died of water in the head, having been apparently only two days ill. But he had wept bitterly at his sister's grave, and was keenly distressed by his loss; and perhaps the shock of her recent death had produced the disease, though probably it had not been suspected, until its last and hopeless stage came on and made him insensible.

When

Two years after, the mother's grave was added to the family cluster. She had always been a weakly woman, and the neighbours said her faults and failings had not been few. She seemed latterly to be full of deep anxiety about her soul, and often shed tears over the thought of her sins, and appeared to be living a new life. health allowed, she attended church regularly and attentively, and wished, but shrunk, in mistaken fear, from attending the communion. She would say, "O, if I was but prepared ! O that I was sure of mercy hereafter !" Her mind was oppressed with a hungry drooping tone of religion, which arose partly from her keeping her eye too constantly on self, instead of upon her Saviour's perfect redemption, and free and faithful love; and partly because conscience told her that her religious walk was not hearty, decided, and simple-minded. I used to feel a cheerful hope of her, because she was evidently an altered woman, growing in vitality of religion. I should have felt less hope had I seen her exulting or excited, instead of lowly and penitent. A sudden paralytic stroke came and reduced her to insensibility, and after a few hours her spirit returned to its Maker.

In the newest grave rests the father's body. He was long an unsteady, unprincipled man; and although active, clever, and occupying a little field, his wandering, irregular habits and fondness for drink often made him badly off. His conduct was a sore trial to his wife and friends, and injurious to his children. He was a Dissenter, scarcely ever entering church, and leaving his

family on Sunday without a head, while he walked several miles to his meeting-house. The death of his wife and children made but a temporary change in his habits. But as years crept on him, and fits of sickness warned him of his approaching end, he grew somewhat less unsteady, and was even thoughtful. A fever came on him, which his own headstrong habits probably increased in spite of the efforts of friends and doctor. He showed considerable earnestness and alarm as his illness increased; and though he deceived himself almost to his last day, and thought we were overrating his danger, yet he showed sorrow for his sins and a trembling hope in his Saviour. But, like all death-bed repentances, his end was painful, and left one's mind unsatisfied and anxious about him. It added one more instance to the awful experience which ministers learn, that as a man lives, so in general does he die. His soul went to its Maker, and there our knowledge of his case must end, until the day when the secrets of all hearts shall be made known. V. P.

CRUELTY TO BIRDS.

I THINK We often observe more feeling for birds among the inhabitants of towns than in our villages. In the latter, the people are too much accustomed to the destruction of birds to feel much for their sufferings, and they seem to think they have too many of the beautiful little things which charm us with their sweet songs. But in the crowded and smoky town the sight of a bird is cheering and delightful, even to the busiest of its citizens; and they, at least, cannot say that they have too many of them. A friend of mine was pleased the other morning, as he passed down a street in the town near which I live, to observe an instance of feeling for birds in a poor woman, whose voice he heard very loudly reproving an idle boy, who had just been doing what we have so often seen reproved in the pages of the "Cottager's Monthly Visitor." The boy had been using his utmost efforts to rake down the nest of a poor little marten from under the eave of a house, and had just succeeded in cruelly destroying it; when, alas! too late to save the mischief