picking cotton. During the hours of labour, their conductrice related and explained to them such little stories from the Bible, or pleasing anecdotes in natural history, as were likely to suit their comprehension, and to direct their attention to the wise and superintending care of Providence, in the ordering of every event; to the beauty and harmony which reigns throughout his works; and to the affection and respect which they ought to cherish towards their parents and superiors. She also taught them to chant and repeat hymns; instructed them in the rudiments of botany, and gave them useful information on every subject likely to conduce to their advantage in future life.

"The principles of love to God and devotedness to his service, and the germs of moral excellence thus early implanted in their hearts, proved of incalculable benefit to them as they grew up; and their happiness became fixed on a basis which neither the storms nor vicissitudes of life had power to disturb.

"The children, so far from being weary of

these weekly meetings, listened with the deepest interest to the instructions they there received; counted the days till their return, and were delighted with the thought of their approach. Having been thus prepared by early discipline, they were admitted, at the age of seven, into the higher schools; where the elder girls assisted the conductrices in their labours, by teaching needlework, knitting, &c.

"By the united labours of many individuals, this institution, so simple in its origin, became of incalculable advantage in the Ban de la Roche, and excited and strengthened mutual good will, benevolence, and friendship, among the inhabitants of the district. There was,

however, one great disadvantage attached to it. The poor conductrices, compelled to earn their own subsistence by the labours of their hands, could only afford to appropriate one day in the week to the purpose. In the interval that elapsed between the meetings, many of their instructions were consequently effaced from the minds of their little pupils, or, at least, the impression they had made at the time was in

some degree obliterated. Great improvements were, nevertheless, certainly effected; and we are ready to suppose that the benefit would be exceedingly enhanced, if it were possible for the lessons to be repeated five or six times every week, with sufficient variations in the arrangement to prevent monotony.

Let

"The scantiness of Oberlin's pecuniary means did not allow him to carry on this mode of instruction to the extent he could have wished, although it was the object of his constant and earnest solicitude. Let us, therefore, endeavour to do so; and to crown his labours, by putting into full execution those benevolent plans which his experience and knowledge of human nature led him to conceive. An annual salary of a hundred francs, for each of the conductrices, would allow the children to meet every day of the week. May we not hope for sufficient funds to cover this expense?

"The Ban de la Roche would then present the model of a simple village institution, of the greatest utility to the morality and well-being

of its inhabitants. Such an example would not be lost upon the neighbouring districts. They would imitate it; and thus we should have the satisfaction of promoting an object in which our late beloved pastor took so peculiar an interest, and of raising a lasting monument to his memory."*

Mr. Legrand, a gentleman whose name will frequently appear in this volume, as the active and benevolent coadjutor of Oberlin, writes from Waldbach, in August last :

"The subscriptions now amount to 7,876 francs. If we could raise 12,000 francs, the interest of that sum would be sufficient for the institution."

Four thousand francs, or 1607. remain, therefore to be subscribed; and it is earnestly to be

* Subscriptions are received by Messrs. Legrand, Foudai, Ban de la Roche; Messrs. Treuttel and Würtz, Rue de Bourbon, Paris; Ditto, Strasbourg; Messrs. P. J. Heisch & Co., 159, Fenchurch Street, London. It is perhaps scarcely necessary to add that donations presented for any specific object, independantly of the schools, as the distribution of Bibles, or the benefit of the parish at large, will be faithfully appropriated according to the wishes of the contributors.

wished that all who are desirous of perpetuating to future generations the influence of Oberlin's beneficent exertions, and the remembrance of the example, which, like the mantle of Elijah, he has left behind him for the encouragement of others, may, according to their respective abilities, contribute towards raising so comparatively small a sum.