"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," with the words she had heard read to her on that occasion, never left her mind. She had learned she was a lost and ruined sinner without Christ, and now her only desire was to know Him better, love Him better, and serve Him better.

The Reader urged on her the duty and privilege of attending the means of grace, and especially the public ministry of God's word, and she has from that time carefully attended the house of God, is a regular communicant, and all who know her are compelled to take knowledge of her, as of one who has been with Jesus. Her husband is, we trust, being won by the chaste conversation of his wife; for, instead of frequenting the public-house on Sunday, as heretofore, he generally attends divine service with her, and willingly listens to her, as she reads the Bible, and engages in prayer, when their day's work is done. He has since said to the Reader, "That wife of mine puzzles me; she is always in one temper, and that is a good one, for, if things run cross, she never puts herself out of the way, and all I wish is that I may be like her one day." Some time since he bought her a large Bible, and, as a reward for his gift, she reads it to him daily.

On the 1st of June last, the Reader who left the tract, having heard, from his fellow-labourer, of the grace of God bestowed on this family, paid them a friendly visit. He found the husband alone, and could not help contrasting his former visits with the cordial greeting he now received. He said that his wife would be home in half-an-hour, and that he could not think of permitting him to leave till he had seen her. In the meantime they spoke together of the great things which belong to their everlasting peace, and the Reader was surprised to find in him so willing and attentive a listener. He does not profess to be a converted man, but says "He is well assured the life of a Christian is the best after all, and the happiest, too, for he never could have believed, if he had not seen it, that religion would make such a change in any person as it had made in his wife; and when she reads to him and he goes to church with her, he feels himself a better man. In about half-an-hour Mrs. C. came home. She expressed great joy at seeing her old friend; and in the course of conversation made the following statement:- "Dear Sir, you see a great change in me since the time you used to visit here; although I never wished to offend you, yet when you commenced to speak to us about Jesus Christ, or read in your Bible, I often found it difficult to restrain myself, for I felt your presence and your occupation a torment to me, and I heartily wished you to go away; but the last visit you made was at a time when I was very wretched. My hus

band was going on bad, and everything seemed against me, and when you came into the room I felt glad to see you. I had been having a very bad night's rest; I suppose I was dreaming. I thought I saw in my sleep a great lake of fire, and I was being drawn nearer and nearer to it by some hand, which I appeared to have no power to resist. I awoke very much frightened, and could sleep no more. There was a reality about the whole thing; I could not shake it off. The more I thought of it the more I felt agitated, and I began to feel that I was a wicked sinner, being very far from God, and that, if I was to die, my body and soul would assuredly be in that lake of fire, of which I had been dreaming. When I arose in the morning, the same scene kept still before my mind, and when you came in I was thinking of it. The words you spoke to me, and the Scripture you read, greatly impressed me, although I said nothing. They seemed to have a new meaning in them, and a new light about them, and when you had gone away, I saw you had left a tract on one of the chairs. I took it up, and the first words that caught my eye were, 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' They were printed in large letters, and I read the tract several times over, but I felt no happier, for I thought I was too bad to come, being such a despiser of good, and I did not quite understand what it was to come. I tried to pray that night, but when I kneeled down, I did not know how, and all the words I could use were, 'God be merciful to me a sinner.' I was very miserable, and for three or four weeks had but little sleep. Often in the night I felt forced to get out of my bed, and cry to God for mercy. My husband and some of the neighbours thought I was becoming insane, but I well knew it was not so. The only religious book we had in the house was a Church of England Prayer-book, and the tract you left me, and I spent all my leisure time in reading them. I now began to understand something of the love of God to poor sinners, that 'Christ died for the ungodly;' and that 'the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin.' I now began to be happier. I had no Bible, I had not possessed one for many years; and, if I had had one, I would not have read it, for I was too fond of reading the newspapers and novels. Since we began to attend church, my mind has been enlightened very much, and we have a fine Bible with big print, which my husband gave me. We read it every night before we go to bed. I can understand a great deal of it, and I pray for God's Holy Spirit to teach me more and more. I consider this a gift to me from God, for which I cannot be half thankful enough. All I ask now is, that my poor husband may soon feel as I do, for, though I am a poor

sinner in myself, weak, and helpless, I am a sinner saved by sovereign grace, and I never knew before what it was to be really happy or composed in my mind, thanks be to God for Jesus Christ! I am looking forward, dear sir. This world is a poor world, after all. I crave nothing of its goods-only enough to support life. There is a brighter one coming, and its joys shall never end. I hope to inherit it from the merits of my Redeemer." This statement was made to the Reader in the presence of her husband, and is taken from notes made by him immediately afterwards.

SPECIAL WORK; OR, NOTES BY A SCRIPTURE READER. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."-ECCLES. ix. 10. BOUT six months after I entered on my labours in the district, it pleased God to send a new Incumbent to take charge of it, whose attention was at once called to the fact that an Infidel Hall existed within its boundaries, the various agencies of which had for years past exerted a After some

most pernicious influence in the neighbourhood. thought and consultation he determined, in the name of the Lord, to do all he possibly could to counteract and withstand so deadly an evil. One among many of the means adopted was to form a Working Men's Institute, to be carried on in the National School Rooms, and to which, for a mere nominal payment and under strict rules, young persons of both sexes were to be admitted as members. Ample means were provided for improvement, recreation, and amusement on every evening in the week. In the formation and working of this Institute, during the first winter, it was my privilege to contribute much of my spare time, and, thank God, the effort was so signally owned and blessed from on high, to the good end for which it was established, as far to surpass the highest expectations of all who took part in its formation. During this session, however, there was one constantly recurring drawback to our success; for, according to the existing rules of the institute, youths under eighteen years of age were almost daily refused admission. This was a great mistake, for, as a rule, lads leaving the day-school at about twelve years of age also withdrew from the Sunday-school, and in this way were entirely cut off from all means of further improvement, and from religious influence and example at an age when they were most needed. Seeing all this, the conviction that something ought to

be done became so deep and painful that I offered my services gratuitously to my incumbent, to conduct, on three evenings in each week, classes suitable for youths between the ages of twelve and eighteen years. This offer he most readily accepted, and gave me every possible encouragement to go forward in the work.

In October, 1862, this class was opened in the infant-school room, and for the first week we had an attendance of three youths; the number, however, soon increased, until we had on the books fifty-three, many of whom were the genuine rough street boys, who were at first so hard to manage, that the effort to do good was truly "sowing in tears." I laboured the whole of this winter almost alone, and, thank God, not without encouragement.

Second Session, 1863-64.-When about to recommence my class in October, one lady presented us with a valuable book-case, and another gave two guineas towards providing books to form a Lending Library, while at the same time four gentlemen offered to assist in the work by taking classes, so that we were able to occupy the infant-school and classroom four evenings each week. We now took the title of the Preparatory Institute, and during this session 119 members were admitted, many of whom made satisfactory progress in the classes.

Third Session, 1864-5.-We had the efficient assistance of eleven teachers, including the incumbent and curate of the parish, during the whole of this winter; and the school committee, with the kindest consideration for the work, gave the use of the boys' school and classroom, at a nominal charge for fires, gas, and the attendance of the porter. These rooms we opened six evenings each week, and had the heartfelt satisfaction of admitting over 300 youths as members during this session.

Fourth Session, 1865-66.—The number of teachers who offered themselves this year to assist in the work of the classes was fourteen, including two clergymen, six Sunday-school teachers, two City Missionaries, and two Scripture Readers. By the help of other kind friends, we were also enabled to provide for our members interesting lectures, readings, &c. The number admitted into membership during this session was 287. The small payment of 2s. per quarter by the members, together with a few sympathising friends, secured the following advantages, viz. a Lending Library of more than 500 volumes of select books, a constant supply on the reading tables of daily and weekly newspapers, monthly magazines, and periodicals, reading, writing, and ciphering books, slates, &c.; and, on the recreation tables, chess and draughts, with various other games and puzzles. Tea and coffee were supplied at two guineas less than cost price during each session,

while the advantage of interest was secured to the members, up to twopence on each shilling deposited in the Penny Savings Bank, at the end of the session. During summer, pecuniary assistance was given in the formation of a cricket club; and, in addition to all the advantages that have been recited, we had well-lighted, warm, clean, and comfortable rooms in which to spend three hours of social Christian intercourse each evening.

The subjects taught in the classes were the Holy Scriptures, reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, composition, history, geography, book-keeping, short-hand, elocution, French, drum and fife, and singing. The business of the evening was commenced by reading and remarking on a chapter from the Bible, with prayer for the Divine presence and blessing. I was generally present each evening from six till half-past ten o'clock, my constant effort being to keep each in order, and in as good temper as possible, and always to have seed in readiness to sow beside all waters, in season and out of season, aiming at one object only, viz. to lead these dear youths to seek a high, spiritual, holy life in Christ, as the chief end of their being.

In conclusion, to give a few of the more prominent results of these united voluntary labours and prayers, I may state-(1) These youths have been kept from bad company and the London streets during four winters; (2) Most, if not all of them, have learned much in the various classes, and acquired a taste for reading and knowledge; (3) They have learned to be respectful, social, and friendly towards each other; (4) Many of them have remained in, and others have returned to, the Bible-class, and other classes in our Sunday-schoools; (5) Several whose infidel parents neglected to have them baptized in infancy, have chosen to be baptized, and are now regular attendants and consistent communicants in our Church.

OUR YOUNG CITY ROUGHS; OR, DARKNESS THAT MAY BE FELT.

"Alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them."EPH. iv. 18.

HOSE who have not explored for themselves the back streets and court-ways of London have little idea of the amount of heathenish ignorance which surrounds them. It is true, generally speaking, schools are within reach of the rising generation, and means of instruction afforded, and even

pressed on them to an extent hitherto unparalleled, and with a