enter his chamber; but being personally acquainted with him, I called at his house and endeavored to convince him of the great mental error under which he labored, as detrimental to his peace here, as it was to his hopes hereafter. He still insisted upon the truths of his doctrines, and his mode of reasoning was both cunning and ingenious, but I could discover beneath his flimsy veil a doubt, a staggering doubt which pal'd, as it were, before the divine truths I uttered; before leaving him I prayed, and desired that he would reflect upon what I had said and his own precarious situation. I repeated my visit—but was denied admittanceagain I called, and again was refused. But the work of the Lord was going on, the arrow of truth had entered deep into his bosom-it was festering there-he could not rest-he was continually speaking of my visit to him-at last he sent for me, and desired that I would freely converse with him; he seized my hand-apologised for his treatment-tears stood in his eyes-infidelity was melting away from the altar it had erected around his heart, and the cross-the simple cross was reared in its place. I visited him twice a day, and when there I could scarcely tear myself from him, and although far gone in a consumption, he would clasp me in his arms and praise the Lord aloud!—he took his sister by the hand and exhorted her to meet him in heaven-kissed his children and bid them farewell, embraced his wife, pointed upwards, and when he could no longer speak he gave a sign that the mercy of the Lord had been extended to him at the eleventh hour, and without a sigh he breathed his last.

Another case I will mention, of a Mr. I- who had been one of the most notorious gamblers of the day-an inveterate swearer and Sabbath breaker-he was taken sick -I visited him, and found him ignorant of the Bible, and

of the means by which a sinner must come to Christ-his wife (who is a Christian) informed me that he had never read the Bible, nor listened to a sermon in ten years-I conversed with him, and found him ready to be instructed— I prayed for him, and found he repeated my prayer-I continued to visit him for several weeks, and as his mind became enlightened, he would burst forth in a flood of tears, and ask if the Lord would have mercy on such a sinner as he was. He would hold me by the hand and promise me if the Lord spared his life, to serve him the remnant of his days; and lamented that his time had been spent so unprofitably. He lingered in great agony for several days, and there was an evident change in his feelings, for the betterhe said he had no doubt but the Lord had accepted him through Jesus Christ—and after exhorting those around him not to spend their days as he had, but to give themselves to Christ he died clinging to the promises of God for salvation, and I have no doubt but he found a home in the arms of Jesus.

I might mention many more cases which have come under my notice; and also many that have come under the notice of my assistant, Rev. Wm. Boate, but I find this report is already longer than I had intended it to be. I have relieved many cases of distress, of persons who have been reduced by sickness. The amount thus distributed, in the past three months, is $223 44, of which a full report has been handed to your Treasurer.

Permit me, in conclusion, to return thanks to those who have contributed to the support of the Missionary fund, and also in behalf of the many thousands who have been aided during the past winter. These good works of the charitable, on the day of eternity, will rise up and call them. blessed.

As

my field of labor comprises the entire city and county, I have necessarily been called to visit hundreds of sick and dying.

In the month of June, I attended nineteen funerals in twenty successive days. These, with other duties, have occupied all my time. The appointment at the Home Missionary Room, in Front street, has been regularly attended to. The congregation is large and very attentive, and no doubt much good has been effected at their prayer meetings. A great number of inquiring souls have found peace, and the glad tidings of salvation cheered their hearts in the moment of darkness, and of doubt.

"Salvation! oh salvation!

The joyful sound proclaim,
Till each remotest nation

Has learned Messiah's name!"

LEAF THIRTY-NINTH.

THE BOY WITHOUT FRIENDS.

"Tis bliss to feel, in life's young day,
Whilst bowed beneath misfortune's smart,
That wheresoe'er we wend our way;
To cheer us, we've a friendly heart."

CHAPTER I.

THE POOR HOUSE.

AMONG the many poor wretches whom crime and misfortune compelled to seek the comforts of a country poor house, was the mother of our hero. Misfortune, not crime, placed her there, and the same cause kept her its inmate for six years, then she died, then she was buried, and but one living creature mourned that poor woman's fate. Her loss was a gain to the establishment, and the matron was heard to exclaim in the fulness of her christian heart:-"Thank God, Crank is dead; she had as many lives as a cat,—and that son of her's

"Must quit the house," exclaimed a rough voice.

"Yes, Mr. Tough, you say right-he must leave; our expenses are already too heavy.”

Mr. Tough was one of the overseers, and he entered the room just as Mrs. Comfort was rejoicing over the demise of poor Mrs. Crank.

"I observed, Mr. Tough, that the deceased has been a burden on the house for six years, it is true she was a good washer, but what is that! twelve hours labor is no

thing to a healthy person, and you know she was not healthy. The boy-"

"Yes, madam," interrupted Tough, "he must be off; he is now fourteen years of age, and as our anniversary dinner comes off shortly, we must get rid of all the useless ones." "Ah, Mr. Tough, you are a tender soul."

66

"Talking of tender, dear Mrs. Comfort, do not neglect the ducks-"

"Leave that to me. Turkeys, ducks and geese, shall be of the real poor-house stamp ;-fat, plump and tender." "Like yourself, Mrs. Comfort. Ah! what a blessing it What have you done, Mrs. C., with that pale sickly girl who came here last Saturday? She looked wretched."

is to have such a matron!

"Very low. I placed here in the wash house. She will die in a month."

"Considerate woman! In the wash house?"

"Yes. I did think of putting her in the carding room, but she is too far gone. She will wash herself to death, I am fearful; she will work—”

"Must work, Mrs. C. The poor house must be sustained."

"Indeed it must. So much idleness will never do, Mr. Tough."

66

Well, Mrs. C., I must leave you now; before I go, however, I think I will take some of that port wine which was bequeathed to us by that good man, Mr. Jones. Ah! what a heart! And then to act so foolish as to leave it expressly for the sick. Indeed, Mrs. C., I have not been well since he died.”

"Nor I, Mr. Tough.

That wine is a sacred trust, and

the idea of giving it to the dirty filthy poor is ridiculous. Poor man, he had no notion of the world."