worldly cares. I struggled against them, in ardent prayer and supplication, that I might be delivered from the same, and that I might experience the blessedness of being "in the Spirit on the Lord's-day." I sat down in one of nature's rural bowers, which was beautifully decorated with wild roses and woodbines, and invited me to stay and "breathe the breath of flowers." I opened my Testament that I held in my hand. I thought the sixth chapter of the gospel of Matthew presented some useful reading, in connexion with my present state of mind, and the lovely scene by which I was surrounded. I began to read at the twenty-fourth verse, and continued to the end of the chapter. (Look at that chapter.)

I felt my mind greatly relieved, and sweetly abstracted from worldly cares and anxieties, while reading this precious portion of divine truth. I arose from my rural bower with joy and renewed faith and strength, and bent my footsteps homeward-not in the same way that I came, but took a circuit towards Mapperley Common. I had not proceeded far, when I perceived, at some distance, and near to the Common, a gipsy camp. Two females were hanging some clothes on the hedge to dry, which they had just been washing. When advancing very slowly towards the camp, these words, (2 Timothy, iv. 2,) "Be instant in season, out of season," came with great power to my mind. I felt some excitement. I pondered the words over, and wondered what season was alluded to. I was drawing near the camp, and the admonition was repeated. I drew near the gipsies, and concluded this to be the season-that I must speak to these people. I first addressed a few words to the elder, who appeared to bend beneath the load of seventy years, but I could not understand a word she said in reply. I then made some observations to the other, who seemed to be about seventeen, of very interesting and prepossessing appearance-very tidy, though a

little remarkable in her costume. She replied to me in the most modest and becoming manner; and yet accompanied with a searching and inquiring countenance and appeared to be much on her guard. I retired a step or two, and inclined to withdraw. The poor girl perceived this; and, finding my conversation correct and chaste, she assumed more confidence, and advanced towards me a few steps. I advanced also. I could not help looking at her very steadfastly, and I thought I could perceive the outlines of a consumptive habit, and a sinking constitution. I made some inquiries respecting her health; and her answers only served to confirm my suspicion. While making these inquiries, she was tastefully assorting and arranging a bunch of beautiful wild roses, which she held in her hand. I observed that these flowers were lively emblems of man-which brought out the following conversation :

GIPSY.-Do you think they are?

SUPERINTENDENT.-Yes, most certainly I do, for the book of God expressly declares of man, that "He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not."-Job xiv. 2. Again the book of God says, "As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more."-Psalm ciii. 15, 16. G.-Oh what full and great words! and how true. I never heard such words before.

S.-They are, indeed, great words!_and, my young friend, if I am not greatly mistaken, I fear your own health is sadly drooping; and will soon, very soon, like these flowers, wither and decay.

G.-Do you really think so?

S.-I do, indeed, think so. Permit me seriously to counsel you

"To set your heart on better things

Than those on earth that bloom;

The fairest earthly flower that springs,
Will find an earthly doom.

For let you wander where you will,
Believe me, while you live,

A something will be wanting still,
This world can never give."

G.-Oh what sweet words these are! How they suit my feelings and condition; and how true they are. S.-Well, as you admire them so much, I have the little book with me in which the lines are contained, and you shall have it. I have also some other little things which will afford you some instruction. Here they are accept them; you are welcome to them all. G.-Oh, thank you; you are very kind. I am sure I shall love these little books. I am so glad you spoke to me. I have been very unhappy a long time; but I have never said as much to any one before.

S.-Your present mode of life is not, I think, the best to make you happy.

G.-Nor any other. It is not because I am a gipsy that makes me unhappy. I feel as if no condition in the world could make me happy. I have no desires after the world; indeed, my heart and feelings are dead to the world. I have never before opened my heart to any one in this way.

S.-May I be allowed to ask what it is that makes you unhappy, and dead to the world?

G.-Oh, it will make me sorry and ashamed to tell you-but I will tell you. I am wicked. I feel very wrong. I am sure, were I to die, according to my feelings, I could not be with God, for God cannot be wicked. It is true that I am a very dark and ignorant girl, and know very little of what people call religion.

S. My dear young friend, take encouragement. God has taught you much, and is teaching you now; and I believe, and am persuaded, that he will, in a short time, reveal himself unto your soul, as a God of love and mercy, through Jesus Christ. Almost every body will confess that they are sinners, and wicked;

but I am afraid very few are unhappy, or have any godly sorrow in consequence thereof. You say you are dark, and know but little about religion. I rejoice that you know so much. Your heavenly Father has already caused the light to shine upon your understanding, which makes manifest your darkness, and leads you to lament and deplore your ignorance and your condition and, therefore, you should be encouraged. Your knowledge of heavenly things will increase, " as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." May I ask, do you ever feel a disposition to pray?

G.-I really do not know how to answer that question. If, at any moment, I feel a little happy, or anything like prayer in my heart, it is when I am all alone, and looking up at the blue sky, and thinking about the great God, that made me and all I see. I think I should like to know more about Him; and to love Him, and to be with Him, and to tell Him all I feel; but I cannot think this is prayer.

S. My dear young woman, I am happy to hear you say what you do, and to inform you that there is prayer in what you say. Our heavenly Father does not only listen to the cry of the needy, and regard the prayer of the destitute, but he understands our plaintive breathings and broken accents.

Prayer is the burden of a sigh,

The falling of a tear;

The upward glancing of an eye,
When none but God is near.

G.-That is very pretty. What you say does make me so very lightsome.

S.-You admire the streams, and they are sweet, but let me lead you to the fountain itself. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."-Romans viii. 26.

G.-That is very encouraging, and makes me feel

29

very lightsome and blithe. Oh, how surprising these things are to me! I am so glad you spoke to me.

S.-I am pleased also; and I hope our heavenly Father will impart to you the spirit of prayer, and the grace of supplication. I have found a very encouraging word here to every poor broken-hearted sinner. Permit me to read it to you." Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."-Matthew xi. 28. It is Jesus Christ, God's Son, that gives the invitation; and it is addressed to all such poor, heavy-laden, sin-burdened creatures as you feel yourself to be. Jesus encourages us to come to him, and to rest upon him, as our only refuge; and to confide on him, as on the rock of our salvation. Jesus Christ is the good Shepherd of the sheep, that goeth into the wilderness, seeking out and bringing back that which was lost.

G.-Oh, they are very sweet words, and full of comfort! I am so glad!

S.-Hear me read another precious word:-"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."-1 Timothy, i. 15.

G.-Oh, what words are those you have just read! They do go to my heart and make me blithe. Did you really read them out of the book?

S.-Most certainly. Look over me, and I will point out every word with my pencil.

G.-I am not a very good reader.

S.-Well, then, this Testament will just suit you; and you shall have it. Every syllable is divided, and every hard word is explained at the foot of the page. You will soon be able to read it well.

G.-You are very kind and good. I am so glad you spoke to me. I shall love this blessed book; there are so many kind things in it.

S.-Yes, there are, indeed, many kind things in it— it is a blessed book.