indeed was the dismission of this young saint from the body, that her father told me he could scarcely believe she had eeased to breathe. He stood wrapt in surprise for some time, till a flood of tears gave relief to his feelings ; when he clasped the lifeless body in his arms, and blessed God for having removed his darling child “ from the miseries of this sinful world,” to the regions of peace and glory.

P.

DANIEL RUTHERFORD:

A true Tale. Amidst the many means of instruction, which the young enjoy in the present day, it is needful to set before them, not only the duty of seeking to improve those means, but the danger of neglecting them. With this view, I have chosen one of the most affecting tales that I ever met with : and I pray God that my young readers may duly profit by it. It is contained in an address, which the teacher of the school to which poor Daniel belonged, delivered to the scholars :

“ Daniel Rutherford was a native of the parish of Eithen. Perhaps few of you will remember him ; for all that were at school when he was here, have since gone out into the world. But many of you doubtless 'temember seeing his parents in the village on a' market-day, or at church ; or perhaps you all remember their deaths; for they were both buried in one week in the old churchyard, last year, at the time of Lammas fair. No doubt an ungrateful child brought down their grey hairs with sorrow to the grave.

Daniel was twelve years old when he first came to the school. For many months ne was a constant comer. He was a steady lad, diligent in his class; and had better talents than most of the boys. The first year, he got the highest reward, and also the medal, which our kind lady sent down from London to be given to the best boy.

But by degrees, Daniel's became careless. O! children, mark the first easy step of this wretched boy's awful fall, that you may shun it! I say, he was careless. He was late in coming to school. His lesson was learnt af. ter he had taken his seat in the class. While his body was bent in worship, his mind, instead of praying, was busied in learning his task. The reproof of his teacher, which had before made him sorry for his fault, now made him sullen. In a few months more, the careless scholar and the sullen boy became hardened: for he only laughed when he was punished. Dear boys, beware of the

first step in sin. For as surely as you take a first, you will take a second: and, if grace prevent not, a third.

The next step in this poor boy's fall, was absence from school: first, one evening ; then, after sometime, for two or three even. ings together ; without being able to give any good reason. Nay what was worse, he told falsehoods to hide the real reason, which very often was his going off to rob birds." nests on the sabbath-day! It was not in his case for want of knowing better, for no boy had ever his memory better stored with Scripture. He knew his duty, but he hated it; and gave himself up to the devices and desires of his own wicked heart.

His father chid him, as well as I. He threatened, he punished, to no purpose. He tried what kind entreaty would do ; but it was all in vain. At length he was sent down the village to learn the trade of a carpenter. From that time, I seldom heard his name mentioned.

Sometime after, a farmer's son in the vile, lage, who was at collega as a student in me. dicine, and was come to his father's during the summer, became a friend of Daniel's. The student was very fond of shewing off his powers to surprise the villagers; and Daniel was delighted beyond measure with his wonderful display. The grand object of

his desire was now to be a doctor. His fas ther's poverty seemed to render it quite uns likely that he should ever succeed ; but he was not to be discouraged. He worked at his business from morning till night; and from night till morning, be learnt his Latin books. For two years, he went on in this way. Alas! if he had used the same dilis gence in his proper station, the same fervour in seeking the Lord, he would have been the happiest of men !

But another step in his fall must now be noticed. There was nothing wrong in his love and pursuit of learning. But the Latin books, as his mother said, not only kept him from bed and from sleep; but from the house of God. Even in his worst days, Daniel had gone to church some part of the sabbath. It served to quiet his conscience; and when a Sunday-scholar, it was only in the even. ings that he went to rob birds' nests. But now he restrained prayer ; he forsook the church; and it seemed as if God had said to him, “let him alone.”

One Sunday morning, as he went to take his walk by the river side, he met with a party of young men, who began to speak somewhat freely to him against religion. At first, he was shy of their company; for he had always heard such men spoken againsta They were the disciples of Tom Paine, the

infidel; and they styled themselves, “the friends of the people:” and like all infidels, they wished to have as many of their own way of thinking as possible.

A Happy would it have been for poor Ru. therford, if he had continued as shy of these men, as he was at the first. But he began to listen with interest to their statements. They were clever he thought so, at least ; and he was vain of his little learning. Next Sunday they met again ; and as they only by degrees shewed themselves to Daniel, it was not till they were just about to part that day, that they praised the youth for his phi. losophy, as they called it; and begged him to accept a present of a book. David at first was afraid to take the book. He had stifled the cry of the sins that accused him; yet he still stood somewhat in awe of his conscience; and at this moment its upbraidings were loud. To heal the pain he felt, was past his power: but if this book, thought hę, be true -if this be true-all will be well! And in an evil hour he accepted it!

Before the next Sunday came round, he was a confirmed intidel. On the first read. ing of the book, he started and trembled at every page. On the second, he wished it were true! On the third, he hoped it; and on another, he almost believed it was true : and what was wanting in this belief, was at