They laid the child on its mother's knees, and her tears poured like rain on its unconscious face. The father knelt beside it, sobbing aloud; and little Nelly clung to him helplessly. The minister again knelt, and prayed that God would give them His Holy Spirit to teach them themselves and the love of Jesus, and thus to fit them for His happy kingdom, where there is no more pain, and sorrow, and separation. Earnestly they then were led to seek to "know Christ," and continued so to seek; and God satisfied their hearts, and gave them the "garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness." * ** * * On the day of the following Martinmas fair, Mrs. Dickson again dressed herself neatly, and bade Ellen do the same. She then took the child by the hand, and led her quietly out. But she did not take the path to the town. They entered the pretty churchyard together, and made their way to a little mound, where spring flowers had bloomed, and which was kept carefully free from all nettles and ugly weeds. On the simple stone at the head of the grave was written "He took them up in His arms, Put His hands upon them, "Nelly, my child," said the mother, "a great affliction came upon us this day last year; but we have felt a great change since. It is no pain to them that love Jesus to stop away from fairs and such like places, for they only care to be where He goes with them. His love more than makes up for ever so great a loss, for He is always with us, caring for us, and helping us."-Treasury. The Little Gleaner. THE EDITOR'S ADDRESS TO HIS YOUNG FRIENDS. "That great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable. There go the ships."-Ps. civ. 25, 26. I AM sitting, dear young friends, by the side of " the great and wide sea," as I am staying a short time at New Brighton, Cheshire. And lovely indeed is the spot-sweet sea breezes fan one, and seem to waft upon their wings health and vigour; and scores of white sails and smoking chimneys from time to time dot the blue waters, this being the mouth of the Mersey, that noble river, whose shore near Liverpool contains miles of docks. Liverpool, you know, is England's great north-western commercial port. I imagined the other day how struck would many of my little readers have been to see that large floating town, the Great Eastern, just pass the window where I am sitting, and push with solemn state its ponderous hull up the river. Why, such a fine ship as that on the opposite page looked a dwarf by the side of this floating wonder. I need not say more to give you the impression that I am in an interesting spot; but, interesting as it is, I cannot here forget my little friends who are looking from month to month to receive the bundle I have gleaned up for them. No, dear children, I think of you, and long to be of us to you in your early stages of life's voyage. Yo! have started off, dear children, in the ship of huma K life, bound for the port of eternity. And how sad to think you were born in sin, so that by nature sin and Satan pilot your vessel towards the dark gulf of eternal despair. I am rowing up to the side of the vessel you are in, anxious to tell you those truths that are able to make you wise to salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. May God the Holy Ghost give you to feel yourselves guilty sinners, and give you to fly with your load of guilt and sin to that dear Redeemer, who says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, who am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." EDITOR. A NOBLEMAN'S LETTER; OR, GRACE SURPASSES GOLD. "Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called."-1 Cor. i. 26. WE may safely believe that a man speaks the truth when he can have no possible advantage to speak otherwise; especially if his eyes are opened to behold the solemn realities of eternity, into which he must soon enter, and when his words may prove seasonable warnings to his beloved surviving friends. When all hope of recovery is gone, and an endless destiny is soon to be commenced, a man cannot either trifle or deceive; therefore, such testimony may be implicitly relied on. The following letter, from a nobleman on his deathbed to an intimate friend, no thoughtful person can |