as the subject of my remarks, "Simplicity." I also delivered a short speech in French. After the speaking was over, the premiums were awarded to those deserving of them in the different classes. I received a handsome silver goblet, a small but neat silver cup, and two most interesting books. Our audience consisted of about fourteen hundred persons, who left the hall extremely gratified with the exercises. About three months ago a number of moral and intellectual youths formed themselves into a society for the purpose of self-improvement. Myself and George have the honor to be of the number. We meet every Friday evening. Our exercises consist of composition, declamation, and debate. Already do I find the good that accrues to me from being connected with this association; the misty clouds of ignorance which before gathered around me are beginning to disperse before the genial rays of the sun of science, and I trust before long to walk in the broad daylight of learning and intelligence. The influenza is raging to a very great extent in the city. Scarcely can you enter a house but some of the inmates are not suffering with it. * * * We are very anxious for mother to move into the country a short distance, say one and a half or two miles. We see every day more and more the demoralizing influence of crowded cities in bringing up youth, and particularly so in Baltimore. I have not been in any city or town, nor do I believe there is any, where the youth are so depraved in their character and vicious in their habits as in Baltimore. *** But I am getting beyond my bounds. Tell cousin George R. I should be glad to hear from him."

I have before me a copy of the Fourth of July oration. It is creditable alike to the head and the heart of its youthful author. It is well conceived and well expressed, showing the elevation of thought and principle, the patriotic and religious fire which thus early animated him. In the same composition-book, in his neat handwriting, are translations from the Greek and Latin, and original essays, which give evidence of a vigorous intellect already well advanced in culture.

CHAPTER VI.

ALFRED, THE CHRISTIAN WORKER.-ESSAYS AT PREACHING.

HARMONIOUSLY with his intellectual progress, Alfred's moral and spiritual character was also growing. Mrs. Cookman, to satisfy her own yearnings for usefulness, to gratify the incessant demands for her counsel and society, and to obtain relief for her mind by activity, was much from home. She literally went about doing good-visiting the sick, needy, and penitent, attending social and religious meetings; and thus her heart was diverted, in a measure, from her great sorrow, and she was able to maintain a degree of health and cheerfulness. All this while Alfred was a keeper at home. He would urge her out, and volunteer to remain and take care of the children. Of an evening he could be seen, with his little brothers surrounding a large table, superintending their studies, helping them forward. in their next day's tasks. Oftentimes the mother would return home weary, and she would say, "Come, children, we must have prayers before we go to bed ;" and the quick response would be, "Mother, we have had prayers; Alfred has held prayers with us." At this age he showed habits of system and neatness which always followed him. His little room was a pink of tidiness; his bed, his books, his table, his clothes, all were kept in the nicest order, and he punctually observed the hours of coming and going assigned him by his mother. Could a better testimony be given to a son than the following from the pen of his mother?

"There are very few who could fully estimate the love and sympathy of such a mere youth as Alfred was when I was left

without the strong arm I had been accustomed to lean upon. He turned at once into the path of a wise and steady counselor, both to myself as well as to his brothers. He tried to share every burden and supply every loss which an apparent adverse Providence had laid upon us. In the deep anguish of a stricken heart, he would say, 'Dear mother, let the event be as it may, it is all right, and will turn out for the best; our heavenly Father disposes of all events, and He can not err in any of His dealings with His children.' Alfred did almost exclusively direct and control the studies of his brothers, unite with them in their various pursuits, and guard them from influences that might have been prejudicial but for his timely warnings; and yet there was no austerity in his admonitions; a spirit of consideration and kindness ever marked his efforts. He was remarkably constant in the path of obedience both toward God and in his Church relations. His class-meeting was never neglected. His attendance at the Sabbath-school, first as a scholar and then as a teacher, was constant; and so marked was his conduct as to induce the superintendent to request him to address his youthful companions on the importance of yielding their hearts to the blessed Saviour, and this before he was fifteen years of age."

Although he was naturally thoughtful, and the care prematurely devolved upon him tended to sadden his spirits, it must not be inferred that he was at all gloomy or despondent. On the contrary, he was one of the liveliest of boys, full of fun and cheerful gayety; he was always ready for a gambol with his brothers and his neighbors. He was a great favorite with his young companions. Known to be a ready writer, nothing was more common than for all the girls around to wish him to write their valentines.

The first public religious exercise which Alfred conducted was "to lead a class-meeting," when about sixteen years of age. A Mr. Childs had requested him to lead his class. The class

CHARLES STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

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met in a private house. The mother, in her great desire to hear him conduct it without embarrassing him by her presence, concealed herself behind a side stair-way, and so listened to all the exercises. His opening hymn, which he read and sang, "Talk with us, Lord."

was,

After a struggle of two years, Mrs. Cookman received the blessing of the perfect love of God, which removed her despondency and restored her former cheerfulness. While communing at Eutaw Street Church, the Holy Spirit applied Christ's words, "His blood was shed for thee," with such force and sweetness as to fill her soul with peace, and to give her complete victory over all her fears. Henceforth she walked in the light of the Lord. This occurrence was very important, not only for herself, but also for the active work she was doing in the churches, and most of all for the duties which she owed to her family. In 1844 the new and beautiful Charles Street Methodist Episcopal Church was dedicated. The trustees cordially offered Mrs. Cookman a pew, and the family found a warm welcome in the bosom of this young Church, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Edwin Dorsey, M.D. To be more convenient to the church, they removed to a house on Lexington Street. In the associations here Alfred's activity rapidly developed. His talents and piety were soon recognized, and he found every encouragement to their exercise.

Early in this year Alfred and George received a letter from their grandfather. It is so good that I can not refrain from inserting it entire.

From the grandfather Cookman to Alfred and George:

"HULL, STEPNEY LODGE, January 27, 1844. "MY DEAR ALFRED AND GEORGE,-I received with more than ordinary pleasure your letters of the 27th of July, and in reading them I could scarcely persuade myself but that time, by some mysterious revolution, had thrown back my life for at least five-and-twenty years, and that I was again read

E

ing the pleasing letters of dear Alfred and George, my beloved sons. But, alas! the spell was soon broken by the painful recollections of the past. I am, however, delighted with your letters. The handwriting is very good; the composition, for your ages, is of a superior order; and, if you continue to prosecute your studies and exercises with unremitting perseverance, I have no doubt but you will, in your day, be the fac-similes of those whose endearing names you bear. *** Let me entreat you, my dear grandchildren, to minister in every way in your power to the tranquillity, comfort, and happiness of a mother whose maternal care and solicitude for the welfare of her family have been as unremitting as her love has been pure and ardent. I was delighted to hear of your attainments as scholars, and of the very handsome manner in which your exercises were received by the audience at your public exhibition. You have, by these successful efforts, secured a prominent position in the estimation of the public; and if you should conclude from this circumstance that you may now relax your efforts in the prosecution of your studies, this elevation will be but the precursor of your fall. It is not enough to be considered the first among boys: you must look forward and aspire to be the first among your citizens. But this can not be attained but by unremitting industry. Decision of character is therefore indispensable in all important undertakings, and I have no doubt of your ultimate success if you are determined to excel. You are, I hope, proceeding with your learning in a systematic and methodical order, and making yourselves thoroughly masters of one branch of science before you enter upon another. This is indispensable, as this is the basis of all after-improvements in learning.

"I am glad to find that you have become members of a literary society, and have no doubt but it will be of great service to you. Your dear father and uncle had the same privilege, and they often surprised me by the papers they produced and the speeches they delivered on the questions discussed at their weekly meetings. Mixing with members of superior acquirements, they obtained a great increase of knowledge, and also obtained an easy and graceful mode of public speaking. There is, however, some danger growing out of these institutions, against which I would most urgently caution you. The questions for discussion have seldom any connection with each other, and this necessarily induces a desultory and careless course of reading and of thought. Now the danger to be apprehended is this: that you will seek applause in the forum rather than in the academy, and fall into a dislike of the study of those dryer branches of learning which require greater mental application and labor, and the mastery of which is essential to your becoming proficients in sound learning. Above all things of this life, seek first