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These contributions I have placed in the Post Office Savings' Bank, they are as follows: "For Mr. Caffin's Church," postmark, Brigg, 1s.; Miss Dornford, 2s.; Miss A. S. Carrington, 2s. 6d.; E. C. C., Leamington, 2s. 6d.; Two Sisters, M. and E., (postmark, Leeds,) 5s. ; R. P. C., 2s. 6d. ; E. O. and S. A. R., (Ripon,) 5s.; postmark, Marple, Stockford, 2s. 6d. ; J. Rousby, 2s.; Mrs. C. Robins, £1. ls. ; T. H., (Ripon,) 5s.; postmark, Exbourne, 28.; H. A. M., 1s. 6d.; Miss Georgiana Caffin, £1; Rev. G. B. Caffin, £1; Anonymous, "A Thank-offering," received by the Editor, 2s. 6d. ; "Fido," (Coventry,) 58.; M. A. K., (Whitby,) 2s. 6d.; Miss D. Jefferson, 2s. 6d. (Feb. 15.)

I have now in hand £6. 16s., but this sum I fear will hardly justify me in commencing the work or altering the Sanctuary. I will therefore, sir, with your permission, again presume on the liberality of your readers, and continue to them my appeal this month.

I should be very pleased (if it be GOD's will,) that the blessed Angels, who, as S. Chrysostom says, ever surround "the Holy Place" and bear on high the Eucharistic offerings and oblations of the faithful, should behold the Altar of S. Mary's, Ripple, like “a city set upon a hill," "a mountain of myrrh" and "a hill of frankincense,”

and the new pavement, glorious with
tiles of varied hue and device, on the
day of the Queen of Festivals, or if
that be not possible, on the Feast of
Pentecost. This would be something
like "keeping the Feast."-Yours, &c.,
GEORGE C. CAFFIN, (Niffac,) Rector of
Ripple, Deal, Kent.

Post Office Orders can be made pay-
able at Deal.

Additional Subscriptions to March 14th-Frizzle, 2s. 6d.; A. M., 5s.; A. T. M., (York,) 2s. 6d.; Grace Adams, 2s. 6d.; Mr. R. Parker, 1s.; Mr. W. H. Marsh, 2s. 6d.; A. T., Subscriber to Churchman's Companion, (Petworth,) 5s.; Mr. Shuter, Little Park, 10s.; Primrose, (Shrewsbury,) 2s. 6d.; C. L. V., (Exbourne,) 2s. 5d. I have now in hand £8. 12s. 5d.

BISHOP WILBERFORCE CONFIRMATION
MEMORIAL WINDOW IN S. MARY'S,
SOUTHAMPTON.

Miss LUCY PHILLIMORE (5, Arlington
Street, London, S. W.,) begs to acknow-
ledge with best thanks for the above,
K. M. T., 10s. The window will be re-
quired in eleven months time, £282 has
been received, £184 is all that is now
required to make the memorial com-
plete. Further contributions will be
gladly received by Miss L. PHILLIMORE
at the above address.

I

Notices to Correspondents.

Constance T. There are so many excellent Manuals for Lent that it is difficult to choose among them,-perhaps what would suit you best would be the second volume of "The Churchman's Guide to Faith and Piety," published by Mr. Masters, and sold separately, price 28. It contains full devotions for Lent and Passiontide.

A Canadian Subscriber. The Pelican is held to be a type of our LORD because it is said to pierce its breast in order to feed its young with its own blood,-for this reason it is used as a symbol on church banners.

Accepted: "A Vision of Battle Abbey past and present;" "The Transfiguration;" ;" "Early Christians, No. II."

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BY AUSTIN CLARE, AUTHOR OF THE CARVED CARTOON."

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It would be difficult to conceive a more splendid spectacle than that presented by the old Castle on the night of the New Year's ball. The folding-doors which connected the different reception rooms with one another were thrown open, and the whole suite, from the great hall to the Long Drawing-room, was brilliantly lighted up and tastefully decorated. Seen from one end, the coup d'œil of the whole was almost magical. The long perspective of splendidly furnished rooms, all ablaze with light; the wreaths of evergreens which hung from the walls of the old hall, garlanding the suits of armour, stags' heads, and antique carvings; the countless coloured lamps which shone from among the glossy leaves, shedding a rainbow brilliance on the beautiful camellias, orange-trees, and other ornamental shrubs, which stood in

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pots, like miniature groves, around the walls;-all combined to form a scene such as that old Castle had not witnessed for many a long day. The inner hall and dining-room (in which a magnificent collation was laid) were similarly adorned, but the Long Drawing-room, which had been transformed into a ball-room, was the chef d'œuvre of the whole. It had been decorated almost entirely by the young ladies of the family, who had wreathed the tall Venetian mirrors with festoons of laurel intermixed with red and white camellias and scarlet holly-berries, from among which branched elegant candelabra of frosted silver, filled with wax lights, and these, with the blazing crown in the cut-glass chandelier overhead, threw a flood of radiance, at once soft and brilliant, over the whole room.

It was early, and as yet no guests had arrived to add life to this fairy-like scene. Only a servant or two moved noiselessly about, lighting one after another of the wax tapers, and Mrs. Dorothy Craig hovered around the supper table in full glory of black watered silk and gold chain, putting the finishing touches to the arrangements. The clock was striking eight, when Helen went to her room to dress. She had had a little disappointment about the garniture of her attire: the greenhouse had been ransacked, and the nurseryman at Langford applied to in vain; it was not the season, and no scarlet geraniums were to be had. So, after a little inward sigh for money to buy artificial flowers, such as her cousins were furnished with, Helen had made up her mind to be contented with a few holly sprays instead. However, on entering her room this evening, what should meet her astonished and delighted eyes but a bunch of magnificent Tom Thumbs. There they lay on the dressing-table, nestling among their great, green velvety leaves, in all the fine contrast of dazzling scarlet, the finest blossoms she had ever seen. Turning to Antoinette, who had come in to arrange her hair, Helen asked where the flowers had come from. "Mais, de monsieur le Capitaine," answered the little waiting-maid, with a sly smile,—" Il est allé à Carlisle, ce matin, tout exprès, pour les chercher. Ah, mademoiselle!"—she continued, after Helen's toilet was completed, regarding her with unfeigned admiration,—“ vous ressemblez tout-à-fait à cette demoiselle que j'ai vue à Paris. Ah, oui, c'est vrai! comme cette robe vous va bien !"

Helen did indeed look well in her simple dress of snowy muslin, with its ruchings of green crape, which contrasted well with the scarlet geraniums in her hair and bosom, and the pretty set of coral ornaments

which she had received as a joint Christmas gift from her cousins. On her way down stairs she stopped at the door of Jean's room, and knocked softly. "Come in," answered a weak, weary voice, and Helen turned the handle, and entered. A bright fire was burning in the oldfashioned grate, and a lamp stood on the table, its rays shining full on the little pale face which rested on the pillow.

Poor little Jean! She was fast fainting away now, though none of the family, with the exception of Alec, seemed alive to the fact. For a long time past she had been gradually losing strength, and the fright which she received on Christmas Eve had been but the outward impetus which had brought her nameless malady to a climax. Dr. Hodgson had been called in; but, though he warned her family that she could not live long, they refused to believe him, declaring that she had always been ailing, and that this attack would pass off, and leave her no worse than usual.

Lady Carlaverock was particularly obstinate in refusing to believe Dr. Hodgson's opinion, for he had direfully offended her by the straightforward way in which he had treated her imaginary complaints, and she greatly resented his blunt advice to take plenty of exercise and fresh air, which, he assured her, would soon make her as strong as any milkmaid. So fears for Jean were not allowed to interrupt the New Year's festivities at Carrockcleugh Castle, and her parents and sisters lulled their consciences with comfortable incredulity of any coming evil. We are all strangely blind, sometimes, when it is not convenient to see.

"Oh, I'm so glad you are come," exclaimed the invalid, as Helen entered, no one has been near me since Antoinette brought the lamp, at six o'clock; and she's put it so near that I cannot sleep for the light; and it's hurting my eyes so much!"

Helen moved the lamp to the dressing-table, and drawing the curtain, so as to shade her cousin's face, she sat down by the bedside.

"I'm so sorry, Jean dear, that you cannot be at the ball this evening; you've no idea how beautiful the rooms look. I'm afraid you're fretting about it, dear," she added, seeing a large tear roll slowly down her cousin's cheek, "shall I stay with you?" (with a little gulp of disappointment)" I will if you like."

"Oh no," answered Jean, sliding her little thin hand gratefully into her cousin's; "it's not that, thank you. I've no wish to go down, and it's so pleasant to be able to lie quietly here; it's only that I am

so tired. Oh, dear! how sorry I shall be when Miss Alloway comes back; for then I'm afraid I shall have to go to lessons again, and they do make my head ache so!"

"Never mind, Jean dear," replied Helen, soothingly; "I'm sure if you're not feeling strong enough, Dr. Hodgson will never allow you to be troubled with lessons. Now, is there anything else I can do for you? You're sure you would not like me to stay?"

"Oh no, thank you; I think I shall be able to go to sleep now that you've moved the lamp. Stay, there is just one thing. Helen, would you mind reading me that Psalm before you go, the one which begins, The LORD is my Shepherd,' you know which I mean? You'll find the Prayer Book on the table; Alec left it here this morning." Helen took up the book, and read the Psalm.

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"Thank you," said Jean, when she had finished. 'It is so beautiful; I never, somehow, noticed it till Alec showed me. Oh, Alec is so good and kind! But now I won't keep you any longer; I hear the music beginning below."

When Helen went down, the rooms were well filled. The whole country-side-all those who could boast of any degree of gentility, at least-seemed to be assembled that night in the brilliantly illuminated saloons of the old Castle; for Sir George was very anxious to acquire popularity in a place where he confidently expected, in course of time, to become one of the largest landowners, and he was taking his measures accordingly.

A quadrille was just being formed as Helen entered the Long Drawing-room, and Alec hurried up to claim her as his partner. The three beautiful Carlaverock sisters were all among the fortunate eight privileged to open the ball, and looking radiantly lovely in their different styles; and Helen overheard several remarks about "the three Graces," and so on, as they moved through the dance to the spirited strains of the "Edinburgh Quadrilles." Rosamund appeared to have heard them also, and became more fascinating than ever in her manner to the effeminate young lordling with whom she was dancing. A great contrast to these were Ronald and Isabel; the former had for a long time refused to come to the ball, but on being attacked upon the subject by Lady Carlaverock before a number of people, his dislike to a scene had caused him to give an unwilling consent. So here he was in the midst of the gay company, looking moody and preoccupied, paying little or no outward attention to his beautiful partner, though Helen

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