almost unearthly beauty, her dignity and grace, her sweet simplicity, her reverence for age, her kindness to children and the poor, you might suspect that the spirit of romance was infused into my description. But, dear M., it was the image of our holy Redeemer which was so brightly reflected upon her character, and greatly do I desire for you the same spiritual beauty. How glad should I be to learn that you do earnestly hunger and thirst after righteousness,' that you are searching for divine knowledge as for 'hid treasures,' turning away from every unprofitable pursuit, and 'counting all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.' From your early childhood this is the blessing I have desired for you, even entire consecration to the service of the Most High.

"It is delightful, indeed, to acquire a knowledge of ancient and modern tongues, but can an acquaintance with them all be comparable to the blessedness of uniting with believers of all ages in crying, 'Abba, Father'? And would you not rather 'make melody in your heart to the Lord' than breathe forth notes of harmony, or tune an instrument of sweetest sound? The treasures of the earth and sea, and the wonders of the celestial world present so many attractions to the intellectual taste, that the student can scarcely tell from which of these he may derive the greatest enjoyment. But he knows also that a single science may be the unexhausted study of a lifetime, and that much learning will result in the conviction that he knows but little. Is it not wise then to 'seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,' and to cultivate the intellect with a prayerful desire to consecrate every acquirement?

"It is not because I suppose you unmindful of the highest interests of our existence that I write thus, my beloved cousin, but because I 'covet' for you 'the best gifts.' I am intensely anxious to learn that you have a deeply experimental knowledge of the truths of revelation, and would rejoice, indeed, if you were to tell me that the Holy Spirit had taught you something of the depravity of your nature, and the preciousness of the blood of the Lamb.

"Oh! M., it is a blessing to be placed in any position in which we can see more clearly the infinite love, the entire suitableness of our glorious Redeemer; and I am, therefore, truly thankful for the suffering and deprivation of my protracted illness. If bereavement and pain had not been my portion, I could never have known so much of the sympathy of our great High Priest. It is consoling, indeed, to experience that help is laid upon One that is mighty,' that we can take all our sins, negligences and ignorances' to the

foot of the Cross and lay them there, all our sorrows to a compassionate Friend in Heaven, and trust the untried future to His wise and gracious Providence.

"It is my increasing conviction that a correct appreciation of the simplicity of the Gospel, and its appropriateness to our personal necessities, is the only secret of happiness. An abstract theology does not meet the emergencies of such poor sinners as we. Our only refuge from the coldness of a speculative religion, the delusions of self-righteousness, and the varied superstitions with which man has endeavored to improve the plan of salvation, is a simple reception of Jesus Christ, 'who of God is made, to the believer, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.' With how bold a hand has Romanism drawn a curtain between the eye of faith and the Sun of Righteousness a curtain bestudded with lesser lights, which declare not the glory of God! Let us ever say to our blessed Saviour, 'With Thee is the fountain of life; in Thy light shall we see light.' May it be your privilege, my dear cousin, to win many immortal beings to the contemplation of his unclouded radiance.

"Whilst you delight to minister to the temporal requirements of those around you, let the bread of life and the robe of righteousness be most earnestly commended to their acceptance. That you may ever receive rich spiritual blessings, and become the medium through which many more shall be conveyed to the souls of your fellow-beings, shall be the ardent prayer of your very affectionate cousin."

To J. H. S.

"GREENWOOD, Sept. 17th, 1849. "Very, very often, dear Howard, has my heart prompted the letter which my pen could not execute. In my prayers I have remembered you and your parish with no ordinary interest; and earnest is my trust that rich spiritual blessings will be the result of your labors. How encouraging is the promise, 'My word shall not return unto me void.' My only solicitude for you is, that you should ever preach that word with simplicity, and be, in all your public and private life, 'a living epistle, known and read of all men,' This is not too much to ask of the kind Heavenly Father, whose arm of love has led my orphan cousin, through so many dangers and temptations, to the solemn office which so much increases his responsibility. 'His God doth guide him to discretion, and doth teach him,' is an assurance which the spiritual husbandman would gladly appropriate Oh, that your whole ministry may be its commentary! *

"I need not say that my warmest sympathies were given you both, when I learned that the parsonage had become a house of mourning. This was, indeed, an event upon which faith alone could look with any degree of composure. Dear E. speaks with gratitude of the many circumstances of mercy which were mingled with this bereavement, and I trust you will have still greater cause of rejoicing.

"I thank you for every petition you offer for me. The peace which passeth all understanding' is still the portion of your ever affectionate S. A."

To a Young Man.

"GREENWOOD, Oct. 24, 1849.

"Years have passed since a playful, affectionate boy ran so often from his grandpapa's house to assist in drawing the little carriage in which his invalid friend rode around our beautiful village; but he is not forgotten by that friend. Very often has she desired to give him an assurance of her continued interest, but she is not always well enough to attempt a letter, and can only then accomplish her purpose by writing very carelessly upon a slate, and requesting some one to copy her effusions.

"My carriage is no longer in requisition, dear M., since almost five years have passed since I have been carried down stairs; but I am happy, very happy in my pleasant room. The Consolation of Israel is my ever-present Friend. I therefore am not weary of suffering, nor do I desire to visit the green woods which were once my favorite resort.

"Dear M., my heart yearns over you with affectionate solicitude. Are you yet a partaker of the glorious hopes of the Gospel? Has the religious instruction you have received from early childhood been practically applied? Or has your responsibility alone, and not your safety and happiness, been increased by the 'line upon line, precept upon precept,' which have been given you? Oh! do not forget that 'the servant which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.'

"Have you ever deeply realized your sinfulness, my dear young friend? Have you ever come, just as you are, to the Fountain open for sin and for uncleanness? I do earnestly implore you to go to a place of retirement, and pray for grace to make an unreserved surrender of your heart to God. I do not doubt that you desire and intend to tread the narrow path, but how many young persons have entered eternity with purposes alone! Have they been admitted

into the company of those who have wholly followed the Lord? Alas! alas! since they never passed the line which divides the recipients of salvation from those who hesitated to accept the offers of mercy, their successful adversary draws down their fettered spirits still more closely within his grasp, and there they remain forever.

"It may be that the Holy Spirit is striving with your young heart. It may be that you are yielding to his monitions. If this be so, dear M., do give me the joyful tidings, that I may be very glad and pray for you with renewed importunity. And even if you cannot tell me this, will you not write me a long letter, and prove that you are willing to make the friend of your childhood the friend of your youth? I have thought of you with peculiar tenderness since I learned that your studies have been interrupted by physical indisposition, and that you are not permitted to enjoy unrestricted exercise. These are very great deprivations for one so youthful and buoyant as you, and I sympathize with you most sincerely; but, my beloved boy, I believe this trial is a voice of love from your Father in Heaven, and I trust you will listen to it with prayerful attention.

"Among the greatest advantages of sickness is the necessity it involves for the subjection of the will: first to Him who so wisely administers the discipline we need, and then to the directions of physicians and the precautions of kind friends. And this is a wholesome lesson; for self-indulgence is a powerful foe, against which we must urge continual warfare if we would be happy or useful. But how are we to relinquish favorite pursuits and cherished plans? how resist the temptation to irritability, induced by our unstrung nervous system? By looking unto Jesus,' the Almighty Saviour, who not only died for our sins, but sympathizes with all our sorrows. 'Such an High Priest became us,' dear M., and blessed are they who have gone to Him for succor. It is well to suffer, that we may be thus

comforted. But since union with the Lord Jesus Christ is essential to the communion which is so soul-sustaining, I pray that my dear young friend may be a branch of the 'true vine,' and bring forth those blessed fruits of the Spirit which fertilize the soul, and convince the thoughtless world that there is something better than the weeds of earthly pleasure. It may be your privilege to do much for the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom. Let your affections and energies be all laid upon the altar of the Lord, and the blood of the Lamb will purge the polluted sacrifice. Oh, that you may indeed be accepted in the Beloved!

"Bereavement has been the portion of your family during the past year, but I trust its absent members are present with the Lord, and that heavenly healing will be poured into every wounded heart. My love to I learn she is one of the avowed disciples of the Saviour, and desire that His image may be deeply impressed upon her character."

CHAPTER XX.

1849-1850.

Death of her Sister-Congeniality-Active Usefulness-SupportSanctified Grief- Letters descriptive of her Sister's Character-To Rev. Dr. Fowles-To Girls in the House of Refuge - To her Preceptor-To the Mother of an Afflicted Child.

ANOTHER bitter cup was now presented to Miss Allibone's lips; and it was drunk in the same spirit of cheerful, unmurmuring submission. The year 1849 bore away with it in its flight one whom she likened to a sunbeam in her darkened

room.

While the rude November blasts were stripping the groves of their rich summer garniture and withering the autumnal flowers, there suddenly faded and passed away from earth a sister to whom her heart clung with fondest love, for whose salvation some of her earliest prayers were offered, and in whose assumption of the hallowed burden of Jesus' cross she had so greatly rejoiced. From that time they had been indeed one in Christ. The same spirit of holiness and devotion, of love and of power and of a sound mind dwelt in both. In their views, feelings and aims, their hopes, consolations and joys, there was entire sympathy. Alike ardent and