having reduced his circumstances, it became necessary that he should go to sea. When his mother took her leave of him she gave him a New Testament, inscribed with his name and her own, solemnly and tenderly intreating that he would keep the book, and read it for her sake. He was borne far away upon the bosom of the trackless deep, and year after year elapsed, without tidings of her boy. She occasionally visited parts of the island, remote from her own residence, and particularly the metropolis; and in whatever company she was cast, she made it a point to inquire for the ship in which her son sailed, if perhaps she might hear any tidings of the beloved object, who was always uppermost in her thoughts. On one occasion she accidentally met, in a party in London, a sea captain, of whom she made her accustomed inquiry. He informed her that he knew the vessel, and that she had been wrecked; that he also knew a youth of the name of Charles ; and added, perhaps with too little reserve and caution, that he was so depraved and profligate a lad, that it were a good thing if he, and all like him, were at the bottom of the ocean. Pierced to her inmost soul, the unhappy mother withdrew from the house, as soon as she could sufficiently compose her agitated feelings; and resolved in future upon a strict retirement, in which she might at once indulge, and hide her hopeless grief. "I shall go down to the grave," was her lan guage, "mourning for my son." She fixed her residence at one of the sea-ports on the northern coast. After a lapse of some years, a half-naked sailor knocked at the door, to ask relief. The sight of a sailor was always interesting to her, and never failed to awaken recollections and emotions better imagined than described. She heard his tale. He had seen great perils in the deep,-had been several times wrecked, but said he had never been left so dreadfully destitute as he was some years back, when himself, and "a fine young gentleman, were the only individuals of a whole ship's crew, that were saved. We were cast upon a desert island, where, after seven days and nights, I closed his eyes. Poor fellow! I shall never forget it." And here the tears stole down his weather-beaten cheeks. "He read day and night in a little book, which he said his mother gave him, and which was the only thing he saved. It was his companion every moment; he wept for his sins, he prayed, he kissed the book, he talked of nothing but his book and his mother; and at the last he gave it to me, with many thanks for my poor services. 'There, Jack,' said he, 'take this book, and keep it, and read it, and may God bless youit's all I've got.' And then he clasped my hand, and died in peace." "Is all this true?" said the trembling astonished mother. "Yes, madam, every word of it." And then, drawing from his ragged jacket a little book, much battered and time-worn, he held it up, exclaiming, "and here's the very book too." She seized the Testament, descried her own hand-writing, and beheld the name of her son, coupled with her own on the cover. She gazed, she read, she wept, she rejoiced. She seemed to hear a voice which said, "Behold, thy son liveth." Amidst her conflicting emotions, she was ready to exclaim, "Now, Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." "Will you part with that book ?" said the mother, anxious now to possess the precious re. lic. "No, madam," was the answer, "not for any money, not for all the world. He gave it to me with his dying hand. I have more than once lost my all since I got it, without losing a treasure, the value of which, I hope, I have learned for myself; and I will never part with it till I part with the breath of my body." B. F. WILL you, who with heavenly wisdom are blest, Sweet pity and charity now would implore, And may this, and whate'er you have given before, May the bounties dispens'd by your liberal hand, Oh soon may the Lion lie down with the Lamb, MARY EUGENIA. AT THE ANNUAL EXAMINATION OF THE NATIVE CHRISTIAN BOARDING SCHOOL AT CHITPORE. BY THE REV. W. H. PEARCE. [We sometimes, in the spring or summer, give our readers a copy of verses repeated at Sabbath school Anniversaries in England. Here is one from the East Indies. Our little English readers will surely feel pleased to hear that Hindoo children, whose parents worshipped idols, are now enjoying these christian privileges, as well as themselves. Let us help with our money and our prayers, those kind Missionaries, who, under God, have done all this good.] O LORD, thy goodness we adore, And thankfully confess For health and life preserved, though near These blessings of an earthly kind Dumb idols were our fathers' gods, Though born idolaters, we too We know the way of life-are taught While thus to GOD, the source of good, To you, who by your presence here, To all on Britain's favoured shores, Their money, health, or time; To all, we owe a debt of love We never can repay; All we can give a grateful heart- May God in mercy crown your days Gently dismiss your souls by death, |