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Yet, like a ray of sunlight,

The Word shines through the gloom,
As, after winter's darkness,

Comes spring in fresher bloom;
And after vainly searching,

We find a resting meet;
For rest, and hope, and glory
Are found at Jesus' feet.

God never sends a sorrow
Without the healing balm;
And bids us fight no battles
But for the victor's palm.
Yet we, by earth's mist blinded,
Knew not His holy will,
Till o'er the troubled waters

His voice said, "Peace, be still."

We will go forth and conquer,
Depending on His grace:
The lowliest station near Him
Must be an honoured place.
And after battle, victory,
And after victory, rest-
Like the beloved apostle

Upon the Master's breast.

M. S.

Nurse Manser's Happy New Year.

HAPPY new year to you, nurse," said Fanny Hargreaves, as she entered the cottage in which Mrs. Manser lived-Nurse Manser she was called by

some of her neighbours; but more often she was known by the name of "Grumbling Nanny," and not altogether without cause, for she was one of those much-to-bepitied creatures who always find the dark side of everything; and are continually finding fault with their lot.

"Ah, Miss Fanny, it is easy enough to say 'a happy new year,' but I don't expect to have it for all that; however, if my wishes will do you any good, I wish you the same, and many more to follow."

"Why, what's the matter now, nurse?" said Miss Hargreaves, with a bright smile; "I don't see why you shouldn't have a happy year if you like, but-"

"If I like, Miss Fanny, well that is good! You don't think I don't want to be happy, do you? I'm sure it's time I did have a turn, for my luck has been bad enough lately."

"So it has ever since I have known you, nurse, ever since you were with me through that bad fever; and I shall never forget how good you were to me then; yes, you have always complained of your luck since then, and I don't know how long before."

“It always has been bad, Miss Fanny; ever since I can remember. If anything went wrong when I was a girl, mother always used to lay it down to Nanny. Then, when I went to service, I always got the hardest places that ever anyone knew, and always had to bear the blame that belonged by rights to others. It was Nanny here, Nanny there, till I got sick of hearing my own name. Ah, I did have some hard mistresses, if anyone ever did—but there, what's the good of talking to you about my places; a young lady like you doesn't know what servants have to put up with." "Well, but, nurse, you were not always a servant; didn't your luck change when you left service ?"

"Not unless it changed for the worse, Miss Fanny. When I got a husband, and everybody said how lucky I was, though I never could see that I was more lucky than any other girl, he turned out a poor sickly creature; of course, he couldn't help that, but I had to slave and grind to keep the wolf from the door, and hardly dared to spend a penny, instead of being able to take it a little easy, as I thought I should but there, it's no good looking back."

"No, it is no use to look back, nurse, but you may look forward; and if you only go the right way to work I think you may find there is a happy year in store for you, supposing you live through it."

"Live through it, miss, and why shouldn't I? I'm not so old yet but that I may live another year, I hope.”

"No, no, nurse, I didn't say that; but you know none of us can tell how long we may be spared; you know that sometimes even the youngest are called away."

"Well, then, if I am spared, Miss Fanny, if I live through it, as you say, how do you think I can make this year a happy one?"

"You have asked me a plain question, nurse, and I must give a plain answer, which I hope will not offend you. You must give up thinking and talking of your luck; you must look on the bright side of things, and not on the dark, and you must remember that many, very many, are worse off than yourself, and instead of complaining of your own trials try and find out how you can help others who have harder ones to bear. Wait a minute; you must let me finish," continued Miss Hargreaves, for she saw that Mrs. Manser was about to interrupt her; "the most important thing is this, you must, if you really want happiness, go to Him who alone can give contentment and happiness; you know that the Bible says, 'a contented mind is a continual feast.' Ask God to give you a taste of that feast, and then you may hope for happiness."

"Ah, Miss Fanny, it is all very well to talk of being contented, but if you knew how weary I am sometimes, you wouldn't think it so easy. I have to work hard for a living, and I have my troubles that you little know of, and they are hard to be borne."

"Then why do you try to bear them? Why do you not take them to Jesus? You know He has said, 'Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' Have you really and truly ever tried His love ?"

"Well, Miss Fanny, I think it is too hard of you to doubt my religion; you know I am as regular at church as anyone; you never see my seat empty on a Sunday."

"Being regular at church is not enough, nurse," replied Miss Hargreaves; "that is only a means to an end; the object of church-going is to worship God, and to learn how

to serve Him; and if you never attain that end the mere being regular is no good."

Poor Mrs. Manser did not seem to relish the turn the conversation had taken. Generally she managed to do the greater part of the talking herself when anyone came to see her, and she liked to grumble about her trials and troubles without let or hindrance; she liked to

"Fill her fellow creature's ear With the sad tale of all her care,"

not knowing or feeling that

"Were half the time thus vainly spent

To heaven in supplication sent,

Her cheerful song would oftener be,
'See what the Lord hath done for me.'"

But this time Miss Hargreaves had done the talking, and Mrs. Manser was half inclined to resent her plain speaking, but feared offending her.

After speaking a little more of the uselessness and sinfulness of continually complaining, and trying to point out the only source of true happiness to Mrs. Manser, Miss Hargreaves rose to take her leave, but before going she took from her reticule a warm knitted shawl and laid it on the table. "There, nurse," she said, "I have been trying hard to finish this for you by New Year's Day for a little present. I hope you will like it and find much comfort from it."

Mrs. Manser was profuse in her thanks, and, indeed, was very grateful for the gift, for, although fond of complaining, she was not incapable of gratitude.

"It is indeed a beauty, Miss Fanny," she said, "and I thank you very kindly for it; and I'm sure you deserve a happy new year, miss, and hope you may have it."

“Thank you, nurse. And now I want you to do me a favour. Will you carry this little parcel-it is another shawl like yours to old Mrs. Bean's? I meant to take it myself, but shall not have time now; if you will leave it for me, and tell her I will call in a day or two, I shall be glad."

Mrs. Manser readily undertook to fulfil this commission, and as soon as her visitor had departed she walked across the meadows that separated Mrs. Bean's cottage from her own, carrying the parcel with her.

"You can't guess what I have got for you here," she said when inside Mrs. Bean's room, and she looked quite pleased, and, for her, very cheerful. Perhaps Miss Hargreaves' visit and present had put her into a good temper, or perhaps the walk in the bracing January air had done her good, but, whatever the cause, Mrs. Manser did look quite cheerful and kindly.

"No, I can't, indeed," Mrs. Bean answered; "but sit down, nurse. How well you look to-day."

“Oh, I am very well, but almost tired out with work. Oh, dear, but this is a hard world to live in, it's nothing but work, work, work, all day long."

"I know you work hard, nurse; but what a blessing it is to be able to get about as you do ; but I mustn't complain, for I have been able to use my hands a little better this last few days, thanks be to God for His mercies."

Mrs. Bean had long been bedridden; for years she had had no use in her legs, and sometimes could hardly use her hands; but when she was well enough she employed her time in making pillow-lace; and in this way, with a little help from her richer neighbours, she contrived to earn enough to keep her. It was a poor enough living she made, but she was thankful for what she had; and no one ever heard her make a complaint, although sometimes she must have sadly wanted a meal.

"Well," said Mrs. Manser, "you haven't guessed what is in the parcel. Look here," she continued, as she took the paper wrapper off the shawl, "this is a present from Miss Fanny; isn't it beautiful?"

"Miss Fanny! God bless her for her kindness to an old body like me! Ah, and He will too, for He has promised His blessing to those who help the poor. It is beautiful indeed! Oh, what a comfort it will be to me, now the

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