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ness and faithfulness to his duties. His frank, cheerful, lovable nature, won all hearts in his parish; the attraction of his goodness was irresistible: and there was almost nothing his friends and parishioners would not have done for him.

On the death of Principal Macfarlane he was invited to occupy his place in the parish of St Mungo, and he embraced the invitation. He was settled in Glasgow in 1858. Here he entered into his work, with all the gentle enthusiasm, sound sense, and comprehensive views, characteristic of him. He speedily organized his parish in the most effective manner. His preaching rose to its highest power.

In 1862 he was married to a daughter of Dr Cook of St Andrews; and many happy years of useful and noble work yet seemed before him. the midst of all his usefulness

In

and labours he was called away. His health gave way in 1863, and he was compelled to desist from work during that summer. He resumed his duties partially during the following winter, but his health was never re-established. The return of spring saw him again compelled to desist altogether from public work; and he retired to the house of his fatherin-law. Here he employed himself in preparing a volume of "Pastoral Counsels," recently published; and on 9th January he entered into his rest. The memory of all his worth and goodness may sooth the sorrows of friendship, and mitigate even the deeper grief that mourns his departure; and we pray that God may repair the breaches He mysteriously makes, and that we may more diligently work while it is day, before the night cometh.

Spirit! leave thine house of clay!
Suffering dust, resign thy breath!
Spirit! cast thy chains away!

Dust, be thou dissolved in death!
Thus the Almighty Saviour speaks,

While the faithful Christian dies;

Thus the bond of life He breaks,

And the ransomed captive flies.

Prisoner, long detained below;

Prisoner, now with freedom blest:

Welcome from a world of woe!
Welcome to a land of rest!
Thus the choirs of Angels sing,

As they bear the soul on high,
While with hallelujahs ring

The bright regions of the sky.

Grave, the guardian of our dust!
Grave, the treasury of the skies!
Every atom of thy trust

Rests in hope again to rise,
Hark! the judgment-trumpet calls;
Soul, rebuild thy house again,

Incorruptible its walls,

Pure and bright and free from stain!

The Mission Field.

HOSPARA Mission, trict, did not spare the pro

perty of the Mission. The

OUR BOMBAY MISSION.

supported by St Stephen's Church, Mission-house, however, is Edinburgh, constill standing, though one tinues to prosper. The Miscorner of it has been injured, sionary, as the journals of his and the verandah and outwork amply testify, is zealous houses have been blown down. in the performance of his There was providentially no important duties. Along with loss of life; for which many his evangelical work in preach- thanks are due to the ing the Gospel, he superin- Almighty. tends the school for instruction of youth, which is under the charge of two teachers. The Rev. Mr Herdman visited Ghospara recently, and says, "I spent a day at Ghospara, thoroughly examining the school, and holding long conversation with the missionary. I inquired minutely into his arrangements for communicating Christian instruction to the youth; and, except to recommend a revision every Saturday, of the previous week's lessons, I had no alteration of plan to suggest."

The annual examination of the pupils of the General Assembly's Institution took place in the Mission House on 8th of March. The number of scholars is, 270 Hindoos, 29 Christians, 11 Jews, and 4 Mahomedans-total, 314.

The various classes had

been examined, in private, some days previously; and the reports of the examiners were very favourable.

After the examination, which lasted for two hours, Unfortunately, the late was concluded, prizes were dreadful hurricane. which distributed to the abler pupils. devastated the Calcutta dis--Bombay Gazette.

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The Dangers of Idleness.

I

OME, Flora, it is time for our morning lessons," said Miss Linden to her niece, a little girl of eleven years old. But Flora, who was comfortably seated on the sofa, with a story-book, only pouted, and exclaimed, "Tiresome lessons! How I hate them. I wish I was in India again. scarcely did any there." Her aunt looked grave; but, after moment's thought, said, kindly, Well, suppose I make a change in them this morning, and instead of reading English history, you tell me exactly how you used to spend your day in Calcutta. Then, if you still wish it, you shall have a whole holiday." Flora's face brightened, and she brought her low chair to her aunt's side. She was the only child of Miss Linden's brother, and had been born in India. Mrs Linden's health was very delicate, and her little girl had been chiefly left to the care of servants. Flora possessed a good disposition; but excessive indulgence, and total freedom from control had not been without effects; and when, owing to her pale looks and evident delicacy, Mrs Linden at last consented to send her darling to England for education, Miss Linden found that the charge she had undertaken was no easy one. Yet, there was good to

work upon, and she possessed unbounded patience and forbearance, as well as love for her little niece. "Now, my

dear, I am all attention," she said, cheerfully. "To begin with, I suppose you rose early."

"Yes," said Flora; "and I went for a drive with mamma, if she were well enough. We came home to breakfast, and then I went to my ayah, who played with me, or told me stories, until mamma's luncheon, and my dinner. After that, I went to sleep, until it was cool enough to go out with ayah in my palanquin. Then I had tea, went down to dessert, and papa played with me till bed-time. Sometimes I read to mamma a little; but it tired her, so I generally did nothing but amuse myself all day."

"Poor child, how I pity you!" exclaimed Miss Linden. "Ah! I thought you would, when you knew what a happy time I spent."

"But you mistake me, Flora; my pity arose from a different cause. Can you now think of any thing useful or kind which you did in the day? Of course you were always quiet when your mamma was unwell; and you were never cross or impatient with your ayah." Flora coloured, and hung her head, but did not answer; and Miss Linden continued, "I suppose, with so much indulgence, and

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anything? Can

you say that verse,

'Satan finds some mischief still

For idle hands to do."'"

Flora repeated the hymn, and her aunt went on. "There is some good which even a little girl like you may do. Does your conscience tell you that you have done all you could in your life?"

"I am afraid I have never done any," replied Flora, sorrowfully. "I am sure you would think I had been very naughty, as well as idle, Aunt Alice, if you knew all; and now, trying to be good and learning lessons, is very hard sometimes."

"Because idleness is your besetting sin. Whom should you ask to help you to overcome it, Flora ?"

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Almighty God," replied Flora, solemnly. "And have you asked Him?"

"I say my prayers always." "But have you asked Him especially to help you not to be idle, and to overcome your temper?"

"No, Aunt Alice; I never

thought it was wicked to be idle before; but I will ask Him, and try very hard. Let me do my lessons now, and you shall see how industrious I will be."

"I thought I could con

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What made the Difference?

HROUGH a forest in Prussia a stout little boy and a delicate little girl were going along the road toward their homes. They had both been to the same town, though on different errands, and the little girl, Agnes, carried a heavy basket. But she looked cheerful, and neither the gloom of the forest nor the dusk of approaching evening cast a shadow upon her face. It was not so with the boy. He started at every little noise, and once he began to run, saying, that he was certain that he heard a bear coming. Indeed, he had even began to whimper when a man came along who knew them both, He called out cheerily, saying:

"And how does it happen that you little folk are out so late this evening?"

"My mother sent me to town," said Agnes, "to take a jelly to my aunt, who is sick. And I took her my Bible, too, for she had none, and she was very much pleased to get it."

"And are you not afraid here in the woods?"

"Oh! no," said the child, with a smile. "My mother said that God would take care of me if I do what is right."

"And perhaps," said the man, " she repeated the text,

Who is he that shall harm you if ye be followers of that which is good?'"

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Yes, indeed, those were her very words."

"And you, Ernest," said he to the boy, "you do not look so cheerful. Do not these words comfort you too ?"

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"Oh! no," said he, sadly, but it was not like the · Oh! no," that Agnes had uttered. "And why not, pray?"

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