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men, are delighted at the prospect of same Saviour bleeding for them on the soon measuring their strength with the Russians.

There can be no doubt that this is a just war we are engaged in, and therefore I say with them, "The sooner we are let loose the better." I think the Russians will find the "Celestials" (so called from our sky-blue facings) rather awkward customers to deal with; nousverrons. There are some people who cannot imagine how a Christian can ever join in the deadly strife of battle, but I can only say that with such I do not agree, (and I am sure you do not either), so that I shall not flinch from doing my duty to my Queen and Country, the Lord being my helper. I consider war to be a dire calamity, but as much the visitation from the Almighty as cholera or any other scourge. Now, as on the appearance of cholera we do not sit quietly down and let it take its course, but rightly (trusting in the blessing of God) use every precaution, and employ every means to drive it from us; so in the case of this war with the Russian despot. He has made an aggression upon a country (one of our oldest allies) which has given him no sort of provocation, and hath thus disturbed the peace of Europe, and let loose on us the horrors of war; and shall we Britons let him have his own way, and tamely look on? God forbid; rather will we, the Lord being our shield and buckler, crush the evil and restore peace and quietness to the land. *

*

*

I felt so happy yesterday in that miserable guard-room. I always make it a rule, after reading to the men the orders of the guard, to warn them against the prevalent habit of swearing, &c., and, to my great delight, during my whole tour of duty I didnot hear one oath; and, in addition to this, I had the pleasure of hearing several times the rustling of the tracts I had given them, and two or three times, as I passed through their rooms, could see them poring over them, and about nine in the evening, Sergeant -, drawing his chair (an empty cask turned upside down) near the fire, proposed to read aloud a tract called "The Young Naval Officer," to a most attentive audience. I was reading the Bible when he began, but could not help stopping and listening, so happy as I heard him recounting the story of a soul brought to Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit, and earnestly did I pray that those poor fellows might also be led to behold that

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cross.

It grieves me to think it will cause you all grief should anything happen to me; but as for myself, I fear not. If I were trusting to myself in ANY WAY, I might indeed tremble at the whistling of every bullet, and dread being summoned in an instant before the judgment-seat of Christ; but I can see no cause of alarm, even at the very moment when soul and body are about to separate, with the crimson cross full in view.

I had a large meeting of officers in my room, for prayer, last Sunday afternoon. A number of the sergeants and corporals are coming next Sunday, please God; indeed, we had arranged (in the way of seats) that as many as liked might come for the future; but I suppose we shall not see another Sunday here; but what is to prevent our having them in the Crimea ? God bless and reward a thousand-fold into their own bosom all my known and unknown praying friends in England? * * Your ever attached friend and brother in our blessed Redeemer.

H.V.

His men were always his first care; and on the night of his arrival, when he visited his company in bivouac, and told them that he should stand by the colours and rely on them to stand by him, he was cheered by evidences of confidence and attachment which he could not mistake. All through the sad trials of that winter his letters breathed only the spirit of alacrity and cheerfulness, without a sound of despondency or complaint. And the same spirit was a subject of remark to those around him. He did his work as a soldier, "full of gladness and singleness of heart, praising God and having favour with all" around him. There was a secret source of all this, though he made no secret of it, "Christ within, the hope of glory." The nights in those gloomy trenches were nights of communion with God; the watch-fire threw its light upon the holy page. The souls for whom Christ died were sought after among the healthy and among the sick. Others more or less like minded were drawn around him, and strengthened by his unswerving walk and unfaltering testimony. He had longed for this communion. "You cannot tell," he wrote, "how lonely the heart feels when long debarred from the communion of saints. I know there is nothing I have more felt the want of in this wilderness; for although we often view the Savionr near to our souls, yet one loves to hear

others testify to his faithfulness and goodness.' Six or seven persons under these influences often met together in a tent for reading and prayer. A light from heaven shone in that tent, and shone from it too. One of the number, Captain Craigie, fell the week before his friend. Others have survived to express the grief with which they feel their loss.

In the midst of all this there was the frequent wish "for a brush with the Russians," and a readiness, and almost a desire, for a soldier's death. It was not only natural courage which spoke thus, but the hope of showing the character of true religion to those about him in a way which they could understand.

He nearly missed the kind of death which he would have chosen; for, on the morning of January 5, he was found insensible. He had slept with a charcoal stove in his tent, and life was nearly extinct. In a neighbouring tent another officer lay dead from the same cause; but he himself was restored for a few more weeks of faithful service, and for a noble end.

How bright those few weeks of restored life appeared! when he could write again, "I am, thank God, safe and well in body and soul. I never was in better health; and the Lord continues to favour me with peace and joy in Jesus." One letter contained the journal of a Sabbath just ended, full of Christ and the work of Christ, and closing with the words, "What a happy Sabbath I have had !"

We here insert a few extracts from his letters and journal written at this time.

"At picquet the other night, I was gazing upward at the bright moon and stars, and the thought of the star in the 'East' led me to 'Bethlehem;' then the sorrows and sufferings of our blessed Redeemer, beginning at Bethlehem and ending at Calvary, passed in review before my mind.

"This afternoon while visiting the poor fellows in the cholera hospital, who were lying cold and comfortless on the bare ground, rays of sunshine seemed to illumine that charnel tent, as I brought before them Jesus, the crucified Saviour, for tears glistened in many an eye, and smiles were on many a lip. It is a pleasure and a privilege to talk to my sick comrades and fellow-sinners of Jesus; and it seems to me that those who never visit the sick and dying deprive themselves of the deepest happiness this world affords !

"It is painful, indeed, to witness agony we cannot alleviate, but precious is the privilege of being the harbinger of the glad tidings of peace and joy to their souls, by proclaiming in their ears the great Redeemer's love, and to see some gently falling asleep, murmuring the liferestoring name of Jesus. We are still in statu quo. Do not be anxious about me.

I am safe in my Saviour's arms; I know it, I feel it, whether in life or death." Camp before Sebastopol, "March 5th, 1855.

66

"My own darling Mother.-I am, thank God, safe and well in both body and soul; I never was in the enjoyment of better health-and the Lord continues to favour me with the sunshine of his presence filling me with peace and joy in Jesus. Oh! darling mother, how precious I find the Saviour to be to me in these perilous times; with what trust and confidence I can place myself, both for time and eternity, beneath the shelter of His cross! How the knowledge of the love of Christ (that he bled for us), nerves the heart to bear patiently, if not willingly, all the trials and troubles which we are sure to meet with sooner or later, in this world of tears. But what comfort religion gives to the soul, in leading us to forget the sorrows of the present in the bright contemplations of a future world, and how joyous and how light the heart, and how indifferent to all else when Christ reveals himself to us in the precious character of our dearest friend and brother! With Him near to cheer and assure us, we can reckon that the sufferings of our present world are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. I will . now give you a few extracts from my journal :

27th of February.-This has been the hottest day we have had. Took a long walk with one of my brother officers; we talked on religious subjects, and especially on the uncertainty of life. O! may we both prepare to meet our God whenever he shall summon us hence. The French fired several rockets from the Victoria redoubt on the town.

28th.-A cloudy day; the rain kept up until the afternoon. I went out with Captain ; went to the hospital and gave away several tracts to the patients, amongst them a number of "Come to Jesus." O! that the Holy Ghost may lead many to find rest and peace in the Saviour. Gaye John Cartley a hymn

book, for which the poor fellow was most grateful, also some jam and biscuit (thanks to dear nephew J.)

men,

March 1st.-Poor Cartley, one of my died in the hospital last night. Ŏ Lord! do thou keep me in thy great mercy from forgetting what thou hast suffered for me in body and soul; may I never be drawn by the cares of life from Jesus, my friend and Saviour, but may I daily live closer to his cross; above all, would I ask Thee to fill me with the Holy Ghost.

2nd-A cold day and snowy. Borrowed -'s horse, and rode over to the light division, with my pockets full of tracts, books, and cards of prayer, which I gave away to the sick of the 23rd, 33rd, 34th, and rifle brigade. came in the even

ing, and we sallied off together to the camp of the 2nd division, where we distributed several more to the 41st, 4th, guards, and 62nd regiments; we then called on Captain of the Royal Artillery. He was not at home. We sat in his tent for nearly an hour. I read aloud the 13th of Hebrews. Had and some others to dinner. Spent a most pleasant evening together; and read a little tract, called "Believe and Live," and then the 40th of Isaiah; after conversing on them we offered up a prayer. May the Lord bless these meetings together for our eternal good, and the glory and honour of Jesus Christ.

4th, Sunday.-Had divine service in the camp. We afterwards met together in a tent, six present. and I went laden with tracts to the remaining hospital of the 2nd division, where we distributed all we had. I prayed with one of the sick, who asked me to do so with tears in his eyes; poor fellow, he was much oppressed with the weight of sin on his conscience; I spoke to him of Christ, told him to look to Jesus. Read and prayed with Major and Lieuin the latter's tent. O! what a happy day this has been. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. I must now, dearest mother, get ready for the trenches. We have had rather light work lately, but we expect it will begin again soon as at first. But I am quite happy, dearest mother. I keep a journal, as you see; I can but scribble a little in it at night. Give my best love to dearest

tenant

and You are all constantly in my thoughts and prayers. Love to. God bless you, my own precious and darling mother.

Ever your own most warmly attached and devoted son.

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HEDLEY VICARS. "Fear not for me, he writes, in another letter, "I am safe in my Saviour's arms; I know it-I feel it for life or death."

And in his last letter, dated March 16 he closes with the words, "Jesus is near, and very precious to my heart and soul."

On the 21st of March, the fast-day in England, he read a service for the day, choosing the Psalms and Lessons for the occasion. All present were impressed with the earnestness of his manner, and the suitableness of his selections. it had been the Archbishop of Canterbury," said one man, "he could not have done it better."

"If

On the night of the 22nd, it was Captain Vicars' turn to command a detachment in the trenches. That night 15,000 Russians attacked the lines of the allies. His eye was the first to recognise the advancing columns. He made his men lie down till they were within twenty yards, then fire on the enemy. In a few moments they were engaged. "Nothing," says Lord Raglan's official despatch, "could be more distinguished than the gallantry and good example which he showed to the men under his command." He led the attack on the advancing enemy, had cut down two, and was attacking the third, when a ball, fired close to him (for his dress was singed,) entered beneath the arm, and he fell. The Russians tried to get him," says a private of the regiment, writing to his wife, but our gallant lads bravely defended him, and carried him to the camp ;" and the writer adds, with emphasis," he was so deeply loved."

An officer, standing in the darkness, saw the wounded carried by. A party passed. He asked whom they carried. It was a name well known to him,-that of one who had been a playmate of his childhood, unseen since then, one whose father's death-bed his own father had comforted, watching beside him as minister and friend. He found a stretcher, placed him upon it, and spoke to him the last words of kindness. The bearers and their burden disappeared into the darkness. They had taken but few steps before the spirit of him whom they bore had passed into the light, leaving behind for ever, wounds and war, the troubled earth and the body of this death. Truly he was a "good soldier of Jesus Christ."

Youths' Department.

RECREATION,

OR WHETTING THE SCYTHE. Recreation is intended to the mind as whetting is to the scythe-to sharpen the edge of it, which, otherwise, would grow dull and blunt. He, therefore, that spends his whole time in recreation, is ever whetting never mowing; his grass may grow, and his steed starve: as, contrarily, he that always toils and never recreates, is ever mowing, never whetting; labouring much to little purpose. good no scythe no edge. Then only doth the work go forward when the scythe is so seasonably and moderately whetted that it may cut, and so cut that it may have the help of sharpening."—Hall.

As

FAITH, OR A LEAP IN THE DARK.
"A minister of the gospel, one day
speaking of that active living faith which
should at all times cheer the heart of the
sincere follower of Jesus, related a beau-
tiful illustration that had just occurred
in his own family. He had gone into a
cellar, which in winter was quite dark,
and entered by a trap door. A little
daughter, only three years old, was
trying to find him, and came to the trap
door, but on looking down all was dark,
dark; and she called "Are you down
cellar, papa ?" "Yes, would you like to
come, Mary?" "It is dark; I can't
come, papa.' "Well, my daughter, I
am right below you, I can see you, though
you cannot see me and if you will drop
yourself I will catch you.' "Oh! I
should fall; I can't see you, papa."
know it," he answered, "but I am really
here, and you should not fall, nor hurt
yourself. If you will jump, I will catch
you safely." Little Mary strained her
eyes to the uttermost, but she could catch
no glimpse of her father. She hesitated,
then advanced a little farther, then, sum-
moning all her resolution, she threw
herself forward, and was received safely
in her father's arms.

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"I knew, dear papa, I should not fall."
This is a beautiful illustration of faith.
So let us fall into the arms of Christ,
He is able, He is willing, doubt no more.

THE PRINCE AND THE PHILOSOPHER

A young Prince once asked a philosopher how he should behave himself. He replied, "Remember you are a king's son, do nothing unbecoming your station." So let the christian remember he is adopted into the family of the King of Kings.

A

Review of Books.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. JAMES CRABB, late of Southampton. By John Rudall, of Lincoln's Inn, Barrister-at-law. London: Walton and Maberly.

We can strongly recommend this ably written life of a very excellent and useful man to the attention of our readers. It is calculated to excite to selfimprovement, and to efforts in various ways of doing good; and this the more,

as it delineates a character not favoured with any extraordinary mental endowments, or with appliances of rank and fortune. The youth who thirsts for usefulness in some department of christian philantrophy may here see how his object may be attained. Mr. Crabb, constitutionally raised above indolence, was elevated by divine grace superior to worldly-mindedness and sectarian spirit; and he breathed a pure atmosphere illumined and warmed. We see and admire him from the age of seventeen to that of seventy-seven always at work, and in the best of spirits, in teaching, preaching, founding institutions, enlight"Iening and blessing the poor and the ignorant, and pursuing the gipsies in their wanderings, with invitations to the feast of mercy-the Father's house, where returning prodigals may rest and be happy. God wonderfully blessed his labours, and such was the attractive power of his character that, during his residence of thirty years in Southampton, no less than £20,000 passed through his hands for benevolent purposes.

A few days after she again discovered the cellar door open, and supposing her father there, she called, "Shall I come again, papa?" "Yes, my dear, in a minute," hereplied, and had just time to reach his arms towards her, when, in her childish glee, she fell shouting into his arms, and, clasping his neck, said

It would be agreeable to extract largely, but we must refer to the work itself.

Mr. Rudall has performed his part with much taste and wisdom, and given us a valuable frame work to a man of God. He displays extensive reading and an admirable sympathy with the subject of his memoir.

THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. By H. W. [ CLAUDE, THE COLPORTEUR.

Longfellow. Bogue.

Longfellow has a world-wide reputation -his own countrymen are not insensible to his merits, and in England he has many warm admirers. His verses flow like a beautiful stream; his images are grand and life-like-his rythm is musical and every subject he touches gleams with the playfulness of his fancy, and glows with the fire of his soul-his last poem will add to his reputation. It is based on a legend current among the Red Indians. Hiawatha is a being who came to teach the red man to clear the forests,

sow the fields, to read and write. In working up the life of his hero, the poet has given some delightful sketches of Indian manners, and has interwoven many stirring legends into his narrative. The nature of the poem is unfavourable for extracts, but we will give one as a specimen of the manner in which it is written, which proves to be the old national metre of Finland, though rarely

met with out of the Scandinavian district. The passage refers to the legend of the white man's foot, and personifies winter and spring by an old and a young man.

The old man began to speak on this wise-
'When I blow my breath about me,
When I breathe upon the landscape.
Motionless are all the rivers-
Hard as stone becomes the water.'
And the young man answered smiling-
When I blow my breath about me,
When I breathe upon the landscape,
Flowers spring up o'er all the meadows-
Singing, onward rush the rivers.'
"When I shake my hoary tresses,'
Said the old man darkly frowning,

All the land with snow is covered;
All the leaves from all the branches
Fall and fade, and die and wither-
For I breathe and lo they are not....'
"When I shake my flowing ringlets,'
Said the young man, softly laughing,
Showers of rain full warm and welcome,
Plants lift up their heads rejoicing;
Back unto their lakes and marshes
Come the wild goose and the heron,
Homeward shoots the arrowy swallow,
Sing the blue bird and the robin;
And where'er my footsteps wander,
All the meadows wave with blossoms,
All the woodlands ring with music,

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author of "Mary Powell." Hall & Co.

By the London:

This is an admirable book for a Christmas present. It relates in a simple but chaste manner a few of the adventures

of one of those remarkable men who are to be met with throughout France and Germany, with their bags of bibles slung round their neck. The perils they encounter, the hospitality they meet with, the warm and hearty reception given to them by the peasants, the blessing the bible seems to the family circle, throw a great charm around this work. No one can peruse it without pleasure and profit.

General Intelligence.

the old world-and the present genera"Time flies," was one of the maxims of tion would, if possible, invent one to describe a swifter rush of time. The year has closed; its deeds have been narrated, its facts chronicled; and we now have, as it were, to bring up the rear guard, and let it pass before your view, before the eventful year of 1855 goes away from our gaze.

VISIT OF THE KING OF SARDINIA.

December has witnessed the arrival in England of one of our gallant allies. Victor Emmanuel, King of Sardinia, has shared the hospitalities of our shores, and the welcome of our court. The chief feature in his visit was the warm congratulations given to him on the religious and civil freedom he has bestowed on his subjects. He is the hope of Italy;—and there can be no question that he is designed to lead the benighted subjects of the Nubian princes to a position of freedom and prosperity. A curious document was presented to the king in London-it was a memorial from the leading religious societies, signed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and their presidents and treasurers, congratulating him on the religious prospects of his subjects, and praying that free toleration may still be enjoyed in his dominions. It is said that the Pope has watched his visit both here and at Paris with great anxiety. The papal power is making great efforts to recover its influence.

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