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I breathed the first breath of life. Many events have happened to me during the lapse of that period, and the aspect of these has been greatly varied. There has been sunshine, and there has been shade. Some bright mornings have been followed by a clouded eventide, and some which broke in storm have closed in the soft radiance of a summer's eve.

And now, as I sit in the solemn silence of my own home, with the old year dying out, and the new beginning its yet unknown course, I think I can truly say in the review of all the past "days of the years of my pilgrimage" that nothing has ever happened to me so bright, so precious, so full of unspeakable comfort, as this crowning act of your loving-kindness.

I had indeed imagined that I had gauged the depth of your affection towards me, but this token of your confidence and friendship surpasses all I could have conceived. Words would altogether fail me, were I attempting to describe the joy and the rest, the gladness and the peace, which you have ministered unto me.

How can I sufficiently express my thankfulness to you for the "outward and visible signs" which bear such significant testimony to the reality and greatness of your love?

What can I say for the noble and generous gift conveyed in the beautiful and heavily laden purse? Truly, it tells its own story, a thousand times repeated, of the loving hearts of old and young in every rank and condition of life, full to overflowing.

And then, the splendid volumes which will take days and days of delightful study and ever recurring enjoyment, as again and again I open them.

With what intense pleasure shall I look on those charm

ing scenes which are ever hallowed in the memory of those who love the Word of God, and which Roberts has so beautifully sketched; and then as I turn over one after another of those exquisite engravings from the pictures of one who was second to none in his own department of art, I shall feel as if I were the possessor of the Turner Gallery itself!

And all these things you have lavishly bestowed on me! Oh that you knew the depth of emotion thus called forth, as I feel humbled under a consciousness of my own unworthiness, and yet am ready to break forth into singing when I think of such love as yours.

But I know you will not misunderstand me, when I say that the inscription in the books is, after all, the most precious to me. These outward tokens of friendship, costly and beautiful as they are, must from their very nature pass away, while that which you have expressed in writing will remain after the mere letters in the books and the books themselves are faded and gone for ever.

The inscription brings before me, in imagination, the blessed company of God's faithful ones, and my heart glows with the precious assurance that the relationship which has been begun between us in time, will be carried on and perfected in eternity. You speak lovingly and kindly of my ministry among you. You express the prayerful hope that I may be encouraged as long as I live, by seeing many of the flock, so unspeakably dear to me, walking steadfastly in the ways of the Lord; and that in the great harvest-day, when the Lord shall come again, I may have many crowns of rejoicing, so that you, and those who now sleep in Jesus, and I, may rejoice together.

Nothing in my estimation can transcend the priceless value of these wishes. The sweet and hallowed remem

brance of all that you have said will be carried by me with ever increasing joy to the end of my earthly journey. It will, I doubt not, be precious to me when I am crossing the river, and it will be realized in all its blessedness on that day when Christ makes up his jewels.

May I add that my thankfulness for the great kindness you have now shewn me is greatly enhanced by your gifts following two others, most beautiful and costly, from between forty and fifty members of my Bible-classes. Can my heavenly Father more graciously and tenderly deal with me at the close of my ministry than he has thus done, through the instrumentality of you all? I feel as if each of these gifts came with the Father's voice telling me of unbroken peace, holy joy, and heavenly hope.

And now, I must close, though I should gladly say much more. May the richest blessings from our covenant God in Christ ever rest upon you all,-in your own souls, -in the souls of those dear to you,-and on every work and labour of love to which God may call you. May you every day, every hour, and every moment be under the cleansing of the blood, and the sealing of the Spirit, and thus be in possession of a hope which, far from "making ashamed," shall become brighter and brighter, as "the shining light unto the perfect day."

Your faithful, loving, and grateful friend,

D. T. K. DRUMMOND.

Philippians iv. 1, 4-7, 18, 19; 1 Cor. xv. 58; 2 Cor. i. 12; iii. 2, 3; ix. 8-15; Phil. i. 19, 20, 27–30; Col. ii. 5, 6; iii. 12-17; 1 Thess. v; 2 Thess. ii. 13-17; iii. 5, 16; 2 Timothy ii. 19; iii. 16, 17; Titus ii. 11-14; Hebrews xiii. 20, 21; 1 Pet. v. 10, 11; Revelation i. 5, 6, 7; 2 Cor. xiii. II.

The gifts from his Bible-classes referred to in the foregoing, were a large despatch box and a silver inkstand. The following letter was sent by him :—

TO MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS ATTENDING
THE FRIDAY BIBLE-CLASS.

Philippians iv. 18, 19.

Montpelier, Christmas, 1875.

MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS,

How shall I find words in which to express my gratitude to you for your most beautiful gift. I wish it were possible for me to do what Isaac Taylor describes in one of his books, open a window in my breast, and let you all see, at a glance, how deep the emotion is which you have stirred in the inmost recesses of my heart.

Before I opened the parcel I read the accompanying paper, with its loving words so precious, and the names so dear to me. Will you let me say that my heart was thus filled to overflowing before I saw your gift? wondered at the goodness of the Lord in gathering such wealth of affection, as your names suggest, around his unworthy servant, and yet it was pleasant indeed for me to look down into my own consciousness, and to find there the true and full response to your loving-kindness, so that I can truly say "I have you in my heart."

But what shall I say when I uncovered your costly and most beautiful gift? I never saw any thing so thoroughly tasty and handsome. I only wish it had been possible to put into the division, where the words of presentation occur, all your names in full. However, the paper shall ever be, as far as I can secure it, within reach of the inkstand. Would it be asking too much of you, if I begged to have the signatures in the handwriting of

each, and, if you will not think me too greedy, your photographs?

The monogram is beautiful. I did not think it possible to get my too numerous initials into such a pretty form. And then how very nicely done are the two little pictures, so pleasantly suggestive! In the one, the Church with its spire, and the rising sun; in the other, the little vessel nearing its haven, with the setting sun.

Accept then my very warmest thanks, my dear young friends, for what is in itself so beautiful, and which as your present is so exceedingly precious to me. I shall ever prize it, as a gift of my heavenly Father's love, who has put it into your hearts to shew such kindness to me. It will never cease to call forth "Songs of Praise" from me whenever I look upon it, and it will be to those who come after me one of their most cherished treasures, ever recalling to their mind the brightness and the heart-cheer with which you have sent me on my way rejoicing. May every blessing in the blood-sealed covenant of grace and peace in Christ Jesus be yours for evermore.

So prays your most affectionate and grateful,
D. T. K. DRUMMOND.

The Trustees and Vestry of the Chapel also gave Mr. Drummond an annual retiring allowance of £200.

After Mr. Drummond's retirement from St. Thomas' his health improved, and he was able to offer assistance to his friend the Rev. T. K. Talon, Incumbent of St. Vincent's English Chapel, who, on account of his health, had to go to a warmer climate. On Mr. Talon's return, the congregation presented an address to Mr. Drummond expressing their thanks for his kindness, to which he replied

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