But

perplexing, and her foot was not as light, nor her "manner" as fully formed as that of a London servant. then her habits were very inoffensive. She was ever cheerful-willing to assist in every one's work. No matter how late or how early her services were needed, she was always ready. By degrees she blundered less, and absolutely dusted both corners and skirtings without "following.' Then she was so humble when reproved, so happy when praised. By slow and sure degrees Catherine established herself in her mistress's good opinion. She resolved to master the difficulties with which she was surrounded, and to keep her place: gradually her good humour and good nature became appreciated. Mrs. L.'s two little ones caught the scarlet fever, and when the nurse declared she was afraid to remain with her charge, Kitty volunteered to take her place. "I am not afraid," she said, "and sure God can keep me from the sickness by their bedside as well as by my own, and if I was to go, His will be done; but I am not afraid." Night and day this girl watched with their mother over the children; at her request, no stranger smoothed their pillows, or aided her exertions: what she lacked in skill, she made up in actual tenderness, and her quickness and attention never wearied; in time the children recovered, but they had become so attached to their Irish nurse, that they entreated their mamma to let her remain with them, and the former nurse took Kitty's place. During a period of five years she continued in her place, unspoiled by much kindness. Love now somewhat interfered with her duties; a master carpenter paid his addresses to the kind Hibernian. Her mistress was too just to prevent her settling respectably, and as her intended husband had formed an engagement to go to New York the following spring, Kitty decided on remaining with her darlings till within a week of his departure.

Hitherto Mr. and Mrs. L. had enjoyed in life uninterrupted sunshine; every thing prospered which the merchant undertook: but a few eventful months made a terrible change in their circumstances; loss followed loss with fearful rapidity, until at last their house was advertized to be sold, and Mrs. L., firm and patient in adversity

as she had been cheerful and considerate in prosperity, placed Kitty's quarters' wages in her hand, and told her that, for the future, she must herself attend to the children; her voice faltered as she thanked the poor Irish girl for the care and tenderness she had bestowed upon them, and she added a wish that as the time had arrived when Kitty was to be married, she would inform her of her prospects after she and her husband had been some time in New York, and rely upon Mr. L. to remember her faithfulness, if ever he had the power to serve them. We quote Mrs. L.'s own words. "Catherine," she said, "stood without replying until I had done speaking. I was more agitated at parting with her than with all my other servants, though they were all excellent in their way; yet she had evinced more affection towards me and mine in an hour, than the others had shown in a year." "Is it to leave you, Ma'am, you want me, and to leave my young master and miss? Ah, then, what have I done to make you think I've no heart in my bosom? I'll be no burden to you, but I'll never leave you-leave you in your trouble? sure it's neither peace nor rest I'd have by day or night to think it's my two hands you'd be wanting, and they not in it. And as to Robert Miller, it will be better for him to be by himself for the first two or three years, and so I told him this morning when we parted. I'll never leave the Mistress in her trouble, Robert,' I said, and if it's any bar, why I'll give you back your promise,' and he would not hear of that, but took on a good deal at first; only it's all over-time and distance are nothing to true hearts, and if he does forget me, why I'm doing my duty still. I'll never leave you in your trouble." "Her devotion, so simple, so unaffected," added Mrs. L., "drew more tears from my eyes than my own sorrows. I had nerved myself for them, but this overpowered me; the children became wild with joy when they found Kitty was to remain with them, and she certainly was the good spirit of comfort in our humble cottage. But this was not all, she had saved in my service about fifteen pounds, and every farthing of this money she spent in buying in at the auction which finished the desolation of our once happy home, such small things as she believed me most attached

to; these she had conveyed to our dwelling secretly, and then she entreated me to forgive the liberty she had taken, and endeavoured to persuade us she had but returned to us our own."

This is no romance; it is simple and unvarnished truth; both the mistress and the servant are intimately known to us; we have not added an iota to the story as the former told it to us. Kitty's generosity of character did not effervesce; during a period of three years she remained firm to her purpose, because Mrs. L. needed her services. At length a distant relative of Mr. L. died, and as next of kin, Mr. L. inherited a comfortable property; then, indeed, Mrs. L. found Kitty more than once weeping over the letters she could not read, but which, nevertheless, she knew by heart. It was not, however, until she had succeeded in training "a cousin of her own" whom her mistress not only consented, but was happy to receive, that Kitty performed her promise, and rewarded her lover for, his constancy.

From "IRELAND," by Mr. and Mrs. J. C. HALL.

EXTRACTS FROM ORIGINAL SERMONS.

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you."-St. James iv. 8. IF men can live without prayer, it is either because they believe God to be very far from them, or that they are unwilling He should be near.

The blessing of God's grace and presence is a real one, felt and known and enjoyed, as truly, as evidently, as assuredly, as any other perception is impressed upon the mind of man. God is nigh to those that are of an upright heart. He does fulfil to them the holy promises of his word, "If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." He does reveal Himself to the pure in heart, and dwell in them that are of a contrite and humble spirit; let the ungodly and unbelieving world deny it and cavil as they may! The gifts of God are not confined within the shallow judgment of man: his mercies are not restrained, nor are they to be comprehended by it.

...

The natural heart is ignorant of God's immediate pre

sence; but by faith we are made to comprehend it, to believe it, and to think of this great truth. What is this but God's drawing nigh to us? Of ourselves we are past feeling such a mysterious truth; but by the power of the Holy Spirit we are made to feel it, to be glad of it, to trust to it continually, and to find it an unfailing support. . .

If you would have God with you, and be with Him; if you desire Him to draw near you, and to pour into your heart the gracious influences of his comforting Spirit; if you would have Him abiding with you continually as a Father, and Friend, and Saviour, to bless you in life, and to support you in death, hearken diligently to his words, "Draw nigh to God." Hear the voice of the Gospel, as the command of your Creator and your Lord; obey it instantly without hesitation, relying firmly on the truth of the divine promise, that him that cometh unto Him Christ will in no wise cast out. Although you are indeed a polluted sinner, yet draw nigh to Him who came to save sinners, who lived with them, and died with them. Although you are indeed unable to do or think the least thing that can be called good, although you are weak and powerless, yet draw nigh to Him; and as He enabled the blind, the maimed, the paralytic to draw near enough for the cure of all their maladies, so will strength be given to every penitent with which to approach their Deliverer.

When the Lord Jesus Christ says, "Come unto me, and I will give you rest," let no pretended humility prevent you; let no unbelieving doubts make you hesitate to obey. Awake and arise in your misery and guilt, bring all your burdens and sorrows to the Saviour, and supplicate Him till you discover and enjoy that inestimable rest which He has bought for you with his blood. When God commands you in his unspeakable love to "draw nigh to Him," be not bold enough to doubt Him, be not hardy enough to disobey Him, but at once, unhesitatingly, without gainsaying or procrastination, do his gracious bidding.

When a man sets God before him every day; when he meets Him in the morning with prayer that He may serve Him through the day; when he goes forth with thoughts

of God to his labour; when he looks up to heaven often with sighings for his sinfulness, and longing to be made more holy and pure in heart; when he searches the Scriptures daily to learn God's will, and to find his grace; when he strives as well as he may to influence his neighbour to seek the Lord with him; and when he at night commends himself, his family, his friends and enemies, to God's care and mercy, and lies down to rest, feeling who it is that alone causes him to dwell in safety, and thankful for his mercies; this man is he that draws nigh to God. He who lives a life of prayer, a life of faith, and of growth in grace, answers the description here given. Let us follow such an example, and the promise will be ours. The nearer we approach, the more will He reveal Himself to us: the longer we are with Him in our thoughts, the more abundantly shall we know his love to ourselves, and enjoy the fruits of it in our lives and deaths.

E.

THE DYING CHILD.

"COME closer, closer, dear Mamma,
My heart is filled with fears;
My eyes are dark,—I hear your sobs,
But cannot see your tears.

"I feel your warm breath on my lips
That are so icy cold;

Come closer, closer, dear Mamma,
Give me your hand to hold.

"I quite forget my little hymn,
How doth the busy Bee,'
Which every day I used to say
When sitting on your knee.

"Nor can I recollect my prayers,

And, dear Mamma, you know
That the great God will angry be
If I forget them too.

"And dear Papa when he comes home,
Oh! will he not be vexed?
'Give us this day our daily bread.'
What is it that comes next?

"Hush, darling! you are going to
The bright and blessed sky,
Where all God's holy children go
To live with Him on high."