those good feelings of our nature which God has given to us, and which require such occasions as these to afford them proper scope. If we suffer ourselves, then we should try to shew patience, and a cheerful submission to God's will; if on the contrary we see others suffer, we should endeavour as far as we can to alleviate their sufferings, or at least, if that is all that we can do, to give them our sympathy. The Apostle, you know, tells us that we should "bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfil the law of Christ."

The instance I am going to relate to you is of too extraordinary a kind to occur often, but it will shew you the spirit which should actuate us in our attempts to assist our suffering fellow creatures.

A heavy snow and a long frost, succeeded by a rapid thaw, had so swollen the river R-that it poured down its waters, covered now by immense masses of ice, in one wild, headlong, resistless torrent. The poor inhabitants of the dwellings upon its banks stood watching with white lips and sinking hearts the ruin and the danger that might so soon overtake them. But the chief point of interest was the bridge. This bridge, a noble and massive structure, had stood for centuries unmoved by the shocks of the wildest waves that had ever beaten against it, but it was too evident that it tottered now. Upon the highest point of the bridge stood a small house, and in this house lived the toll-collector with wife and children. The waters had already submerged or covered the ends of the bridge so as to cut off communication with the bank. The toll-collector saw his danger when too late; he clambered up to the roof of his house, and in a voice which out-screamed the howling of the winds and the roaring of the

waves cried out, "Help, help!" There were crowds of people on each side looking on, who would gladly have rendered the help he sought, but how ?-for the waters came down with ever-increasing violence, the huge masses of ice rolled and twisted and ground against each other like some fearful monsters of the deep in mortal combat, and then dashed with their united fury against the buttresses of the bridge. Did you hear that loud crack? Did you hear that wild-cry of horror sent up from the trembling multitude? The bridge has given way! The pillars supporting the arches have fallen in on both sides, where they abut upon the banks, and meanwhile the poor collector stands tossing his arms wildly upon the roof, and shrieking still louder in his desperation, "Help, help!" Another and another buttress gives way, and the central arches with the house upon them stand like an island in the midst of the crashing foaming waters. But see, there is a movement among the crowd; a man on horseback gallops himself through them up to the very verge of the river. It is young Lord N-, generous as noble; he gazes upon the fearful spectacle, and then turning to the assembled people, holds up a purse, almost bursting with the gold pieces which glitter through its silken meshes, and cried out, "This to the man who attempts a rescue!" There were anxious and eager looks, but there was no response. Alas! the danger was too frightful, the odds too great! Another crash, another buttress gone; and again Lord N—— lifts up the purse and calls out for some one more brave than his fellows to come forward, but in vain; and the poor collector, hopeless now of human aid, lifts his trembling hands on high, and shrieks forth, Merciful Heaven, help, help!"

And lo, when least hoped for, help was at hand! A man in a peasant's dress, of strong build and goodly presence, carrying a staff in his hand, was seen approaching with firm and rapid strides. He heard Lord N――'s words, and gazed for one moment upon the scene before him. It was but for one moment-uttering a brief "In God's Name," he sprang into the nearest fisher's boat, and spite of wind and torrent and whirlpool, forced his way to the house upon the bridge; but alas! the boat was too small to save the whole family at once. And three times, in spite of wind, and waves, and whirlpool, he steered his little skiff through the boiling waters, and three times, through God's grace, Whose Name he had invoked, he performed his hazardous voyage unhurt, until he had brought the whole family in safety to the shore. Lord N-, glowing with admiration, rode up and exclaimed: Here, my brave friend, come, take your reward!" peasant approached, removed his cap, and said: "My Lord, I did not venture my life for gold. I am poor, but I have enough. Give your purse to the poor man who has just lost his all." So saying, he turned and went his way.

The

My children, which would you have chosen,-the feeling which this brave man carried away in his breast, or the purse of Gold? H. E.

"No circumstances of life can hinder us from being examples of piety and goodness, and making our lives a lesson of instruction to all that are about us; and he that lives an exemplary life, though his state be ever so poor and mean, is largely contributing to the salvation of others, and proving himself the best follower of his Lord and Master."

THE LORD'S PRAYER PARAPHRASED.

Our Father which art in Heaven.

THE following having been kindly sent him for insertion, the Editor gladly avails himself of the privilege, and proposes to continue the several petitions in succeeding numbers :

"Oh Thou Almighty, Invisible, Everliving, Everpresent God, I kneel down on my knees to pour out my soul to Thee in Prayer.

"Thou art my Father although by nature born in sin a child of wrath, and an outcast, yet having been baptised into Thy Blessed Son, my Saviour Jesus Christ, I received the spirit of adoption. Therefore with confiding affection, not with the fear of a slave, but with the love of a child, knowing that Thou art wiser and more loving than any earthly Parent, I call Thee Abba, Heavenly Father.

"Thou art our Father I come to Thee not for myself, or by myself alone but united by Thy Holy Spirit to all who having been baptised into Christ are many members of one body; I address Thee not as my Father, but as our Father. May all Thy children love each other as brethren, and live not in rebellion and disobedience, but continually remember who and what Thou art. May we all adore Thy wisdom, trust to Thy Mercy, fear Thy Justice, confide in Thy Power, and lean on Thy Promises.

"Thou art in Heaven. Make my soul which is praying to Thee be there also whilst I am on my knees. Keep all wicked thoughts from me. May my affections lose the attraction of earth and ascend to Heaven with my ascended Saviour, and dwell with Him whilst I Pray, as I should wish to live with Him in my future home with Thee my Father for ever hereafter." PRESBYTER.

CONSOLATION.

The loved, but not the lost!

Oh no! they have not ceased to be,
Nor live alone in memory;

'Tis we who still are tossed

O'er life's wild sea, 'tis we who die;
They only live, whose life is immortality.

The loved, but not the lost!

Why should our ceaseless tears be shed
O'er the cold turf that wraps the dead,
As if their names were crossed

From out the book of life? Ah no!

'Tis we who scarcely live, that linger here below.

The loved, but not the lost!

In heaven's own panoply arrayed,
They met the conflict undismayed;
They counted well the cost

Of battle-now their crown is won;

[begun.

Our sword is scarce unsheathed, our warfare just

Have they not passed away?

From all that dims the tearful eye

From all that wakes the ceaseless sigh;

Nor all the pangs that prey

On the bereaved heart, and most

[lost?

When conscience dares not say, the loved, but not the

This is the use of woes!

The one o'er-mastering agony;

To watch the sleep of those who die,

And feel 'tis not repose;

But they who join the heavenly host,

[the lost?

Why should we mourn for them, the loved, but not