our own strength, but in Thine: strengthen us that we may strengthen her; teach us that we may teach her; all of which we ask, O merciful FATHER, for our blessed SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST's sake. Amen."

The last word was solemnly repeated by Hamilton, who was not a little affected by all that had occurred, and broke the silence that follows prayer by saying, "Every day I live the Church and her beautiful prayers are more and more dear to me; they supply help and comfort for the greatest time of need, and by the blessing of her daily appointed services they become so engraven on the heart, that they suggest themselves like old friends to aid us in all times of danger and of difficulty."

"It is so," said Mr. Stuart. "The prayers and collects of our Church are so linked one with another, and yet so perfect in themselves, that the thought of one produces a chain of comforting reflections connected together by the Word of God."

They now felt more prepared for their sad office, and soon arrived at the closed door, and the Rector on opening it pronounced as usual those comforting words, "Peace be to this house, and all who dwell therein;" then seating himself, and begging Mrs. M'Intyre would do the same, he succeeded in persuading the bright little baby girl to leave her mother's arms by holding up his watch as a plaything for her. He then proceeded gently to break the truth to the unconscious mother, and so truly the Spirit of Grace descended upon her well directed heart, as if in answer to the solemn blessing pronounced by GOD'S appointed minister, that "the peace of GOD, which passeth all understanding," shed its comforting support amidst the tears of nature, and, like the dew on delicate flowers, they seemed to refresh rather than bow down her soul. The eldest boy, ignorant of all save his mother's grief, was gazing sorrowfully on her, whilst he fondled the fine black hound which sat restless before the fire, as if it felt all was not right; evincing that wonderful sagacity which is so often perceptible in these affectionate animals.

"Oh," said Mrs. M'Intyre amidst her deep grief, “had I been at all a superstitious person, I should have shown it but too rightly this afternoon, for that poor hound has done nothing but whine all the time since-" she could not finish the words "he went out," but with a burst of fresh sorrow, as if she had for the moment forgotten the deepness of her wound, she exclaimed, "O my poor children! can it be that they are fatherless and I a widow?" Then, as if remembering her half-finished sentence, she continued, "As it was night work they were to be on, they did not want poor Hector to follow, and in general he is quite satisfied with an order."

Mr. Stuart and Charles Hamilton deemed it right to remain with the afflicted family till the first shock was over, and the trying meeting of the living and the dead had taken place. In the meantime Mr. Stuart thought it best to prepare and strengthen poor Mrs. M'Intyre for this by occupying her mind and time with prayer, and in the words then uttered he dwelt much on the sufferings of our blessed LORD, on His praying for His murderers, and on those words which He Himself had taught us to use in prayer, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us." He prayed also that she might love her enemies, bearing no malice or hatred in her heart; he asked too that the HOLY SPIRIT of comfort and support might be bestowed on her and on her little ones, addressing each petition to the GOD of the fatherless and widow, and sealing it with his SAVIOUR'S Name. But just at this moment steps were heard, and approaching steps. Not an echo, not a sound beside, for it was a still evening, and dusk was coming on. But as the heavy march of men neared the door, the dog, bounding from the child's embrace, barked its fullest note. All rose silently from their knees, and Mr. Stuart, leading Mrs. M’Intyre to the armchair, begged she would sit there and keep calm; and once more taking the little girl from her arms, (who had fallen asleep there during the prayer,) he laid her gently in the cradle, when the little boy, looking up with a beaming smile and look of wonder, said, "Daddy is coming, don't cry, mammy." His childish words shook the firmest heart, though the gentlemen tried not to show their emotion; but before the door was opened, the widowed wife had sunk back unconscious in the chair. Mr. Stuart supported her and bathed her temples, whilst his friend assisted the men in carrying in and laying on the bed of an inner room the cold and stiffened form of poor Donald M'Intyre. The men had been careful in washing from his brow the blood-stained effect which before had hidden his beautiful features, his hair was therefore thrown more than usual off his forehead, and except for the stains of death upon his opened shirt, he looked like a fine marble statue, carved to resemble sleep. In truth, as all things are wisely over-ordered by our FATHER in heaven, so it was in this case, for the young wife was long in recovering consciousness, and was thus prevented from witnessing publicly, and under such agonizing circumstances, the scene in which so many were engaged. When by degrees she was restored, the house was again quiet, yes, quiet as the dead now therein, for even the old hound had laid down, as if bowing in submission to its Maker.

As soon as Mrs. M'Intyre was sufficiently revived from her fainting dream to return to the sad realities of life, she desired

in a composed tone to be permitted to venture into the room where he now lay, and Mr. Stuart felt it right to allow her to go alone, that with the company of GOD and all good angels, she might look for the first time on that face which for the first time did not return her gaze. The rector and the young student stayed with the children, and the door being hardly closed between, the sound of many and submissive tears was heard, whilst unbroken and half-expressed words followed one another in supplication to her FATHER in heaven, asking comfort, peace, and forgiveness, not for herself only, but for others, as the sequel will show. At length the crying of the waking baby brought the widow into the room, where the Rector had been occupied in deep communion with his GOD; and as she took up her child, and kissed the little thing happy again, she said to Mr. Stuart, "If you please, sir, I have one more request to make, it is, sir, that you will favour me by soon coming again, and will oblige me by going first to Mrs. Assender's house, and assuring her I bear no feeling of anger or wrath against her, but pity her, and forgive her, (if she desires my forgiveness,) as I hope myself to be forgiven by my FATHER in heaven. Tell her, sir, I shall not feel satisfied till I have shaken hands with her, and you have prayed with us together, for though she is the wife of my husband's murderer, she, poor woman, surely could not help it."

remem

The last part of the sentence seemed almost too much for her strength, and those who heard her words were greatly struck, feeling how truly she was acting the Christian's part by following her blessed LORD's instructions when He said, (S. Matt. v. 44, and v. 7-9,) "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you,' bering He has also said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy," whilst the peace-makers shall not only be "blessed," but they shall be called the "children of GOD." Old Mrs. Fotheringale, the village nurse, having now arrived from a distant part of the village to remain with Mrs. M'Intyre, according to Mr. Stuart's orders given to the men, the gentlemen took their leave, and returned, after their long absence, to the rectory.

(To be continued.)

We do not print a multitude of Bibles, and diffuse them among a nation, trusting to them alone to convert or reform it. We give men indeed the Scriptures, but it is through the hands of the Church; and the Church is the first object which they will see, and learn to love and obey. The Church, with

the Bible open in her hand, so that he who runs may read, and not per.. mitting only, but compelling them as far as possible to read it, is the true minister of GOD among mankind. This is the doctrine of our own blessed Church of England, and of the Catholic Church of old. SEWELL.

OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

CHAPTER III.

THIS interval passed away, and the time came when it was needful for Goldsmith to present himself to the Bishop for ordination. His application was unsuccessful, and he was rejected. For this various causes have been assigned; one is, that having a great dislike to sober black, he appeared in the episcopal palace clad in gay crimson small-clothes; another is, that he was deficient in theological knowledge; whilst a third reason was, that it was more than probable that the bishop had heard of his irregular conduct at college. In the "Man in Black" he says: "My friends were now perfectly satisfied that I was undone, and yet they thought it a pity for one that had not the least harm in him, and was so very good-natured." His uncle Contarine still continued his faithful friend, and obtained him a situation as tutor in a gentleman's family, which he did not long retain. When he received his salary he determined to see the world once more, and so set out without saying a word to his mother or friends. After some weeks had elapsed he returned penniless. The anxious parent, secure of his safety, rated him severely for the course he had pursued. The amusing account which he drew up of his wanderings whilst at his brother's house, and sent to her, was on this wise:

MY DEAR MOTHER,—If you will sit down, and calmly listen to what I say, you shall be fully resolved in every one of those many questions which you asked me. I went to Cork, and converted my horse, which you prize so much higher than Fiddleback, into cash, took my passage in a ship bound for America, and at the same time paid the captain for my freight and all the expenses of my voyage. But it so happened that the wind did not answer for three weeks, and you know, mother, that I could not command the elements. My misfortune was, that when the wind served, I happened to be with a party in the country, and my friend the captain never inquired after me, but set sail with as much indifference as if I had been on board. The remainder of my time I employed in the city and its environs, hearing everything curious, and you know no one can starve while he has money in his pocket. Reduced, however, to my two last guineas, I began to think of my dear mother and friends whom I had left behind me, and so bought that generous beast Fiddleback, and bade adieu to Cork with only five shillings in my pocket. This, to be sure, was but a scanty allowance for man

and horse towards a journey of above a hundred miles, but I did not despair, for I knew I must find friends on the road.

"I recollected particularly an old and faithful acquaintance I made at college, who had often and earnestly pressed me to spend a summer with him, and he lived but eight miles from Cork. This circumstance of vicinity he would expatiate on to me with peculiar emphasis. We shall,' says he, enjoy the delights of both city and country, and you shall command my table and my purse.'. However, upon the way I met a poor woman all in tears, who told me her husband had been arrested for a debt he was not able to pay, and that his eight children must now starve, bereaved as they were of his industry, which had been their only support. I thought myself at home, being not far from my good friend's house, and therefore parted with a moiety of all my store; and pray, mother, ought I not to have given her the other two-and-sixpence, for what she got would be of little use to her? However, I soon arrived at the mansion of my affectionate friend, guarded by the vigilance of a huge mastiff, who flew at me, and would have torn me to pieces but for the assistance of a woman, whose countenance was not less grim than that of the dog, yet she with great humanity relieved me from the jaws of that Cerberus, and was prevailed on to carry up my name to her master. Without suffering me to wait long, my old friend, who was then recovering from a severe fit of sickness, came down in his nightcap, nightgown, and slippers, and embraced me with the most cordial welcome, showed me in, and after giving me a history of his indisposition, assured me that he considered himself peculiarly fortunate in having under his roof the man he most loved on earth, and whose stay with him must above all things contribute to his perfect recovery. I now repented sorely that I had not given the poor woman the other two-and-sixpence, as I thought all my bills of humanity would be punctually answered by this worthy man. I revealed to him my whole soul; I opened to him all my distresses, and freely owned that I had but one two-and-sixpence in my pocket, but that now, like a ship after weathering out the storm, I considered myself secure in a safe and hospitable harbour. He made no answer, but walked about the room, rubbing his hands as one in deep study. This I imputed to the sympathetic feelings of a tender heart, which increased my esteem for him, and as that increased, I gave the most favourable interpretation to bis silence. I construed it into delicacy of sentiment, as if he dreaded to wound my pride by expressing his commiseration in words, leaving his generous conduct to speak for itself.

"It now approached six o'clock in the evening, and as I had eaten no breakfast, and as my spirits were raised, my appetite