He has been a sufficient hope. Thank God I have learned this.' "His wife and children, who were deeply attached to him, murmured as they stood by, 'Thank God! thank God!' The reader proposed prayer, and several Roman Catholic neighbours present joined heartily in his fervent supplication. "The end was now very near, but as the outward man was sinking day by day, the inner man was renewed. He blessed the Lord with his failing breath, as his light and his salvation. The priest called, but he needed no earthly intercessor or rites of the Church, and motioned him away with averted face. His outward perceptions were now becoming deadened as his end approached. He lay nearly insensible, and seemed unconscious of the tenderest words from his family; but when the reader spoke to him of Christ and heaven, the precious words seemed to find fresh life with him, and he would lay his hand on his heart, and look up with peace and joy in his face, whispering the name of Christ and some word of faith. "About ten o'clock on the Sunday night the reader called for the last time; his family said he was now quite unconscious; but when his friend leant over him, and spoke of Christ, he again opened his eyes, and gazed on him with a beaming face of recognition, which astonished his wife and son. Again, at the name of Christ, he laid his hand on his breast, with the look of deep joy and peace in his poor dying face; but (in the words of the reader) 'there was no death there; it was a conscious, joyous entering into life.' Towards midnight he was called to enter into the joy of his Lord. "A family of converts, who had been frequently visited by the readers, were removed to the hospital with fever. Their little boy, a child blind from birth, gave the most lively and touching testimony to the reality of his faith, declaring he was not afraid to die, for he knew he was going to Jesus." What a wonderful thing it will be in heaven to meet with all these, and many more sought and saved ones, what histories there will be to listen to and relate, and how we shall all joy to give the glory to Him who "seek and to save that came to which was lost," BIRDS' NEST WANTS. AMONGST Our wants for the Birds' Nest is that of a motherly Christian servant, one who having given her heart to Christ is desirous of giving her life to Him too; one who not only can herself wash and cook plain food, but who would train the girls for service. If any one would like thus to devote herself, please write to Miss Davies, 35, Upper Fitzwilliam-street, Dublin. CHRISTMAS HYMN FOR THE LITTLE ONES. I SEE the shining holly bough I hear that Christmas-time should be, But tell me why you go to Church, Because in Bethlehem, long ago, The Saviour, Christ, the Lord Most High, A little babe was born. He came to live and die for us, To take our sins away; He left His Father's house above, To wander here without a home, The poorest of the poor. He came, for all our many sins And though He's gone to Heaven again, He see's us every one, And knows if we are thankful For all that He has done. He wants us all to love Him, To serve Him while we may,— Then in Heaven He'll make us happier M. M. Instead of 8, Merrion-square North, Dublin, address 35, Upper Fitzwilliam-street, Dublin. LONDON: WILLIAM MACINTOSH, 1 |