sɔ, and that's all you know about it. I have a thousand things to vex me. There's Rose, for instance. Mother expects me to be constantly taking care of her, and she's the greatest little torment you ever saw. By the way, girls, let's start after those strawberries in the wood, now she's out of sight for a minute, so she won't tease to go with vus !"

We were just about half-way across the meadow, when we heard a sweet voice crying,

"Please, sister Kate, Rose wants to go too."

1 turned round, I remember, and thought how beautiful was the little creature coming towards us. She was very unlike her sister Kate. Kate was a brunette; but the little white-robed figure tripping across the meadow had a pale, spiritual face, and long -curls of golden hair falling to her tiny waist. There was a flush on her cheek, and a look of eager, beseeching interest in her large, blue eyes; and she stretched her dimpled arms toward us, and kept crying in her earnestness,

"Please, girls, wait for Rose !"

A look of vexation crossed Kate's face, and she called out, in a tone of extreme irritability,

"Go back, Rose, you're too little to come; go back, go back!"

Kate always had a way of being minded, and the little one put her fingers to her eyes, and silently turned towards the house. "We hurried on in the direction of the wood, without giving a single glance backward. Ithink Kate's conscience reproached her for her selfishness, and I know my own pleasure was spoiled for the afternoon. We found plenty of strawberries, red and ripe, among their beds of leaves. There were little blue-eyed blossoms, too, that kept reminding me of Rose, and I was not sorry when the sunset shadows lengthened, and we turned to go home.

We had gone down the hill out of the wood, and crossed several rods of the meadow-land, when Kate said, in a hoarse whisper, "See there, girls; what is that white thing by the brook? Do you see it ?"

We saw it, and hurried toward it. It was Rose. At first we thought she was dead. Scarcely seemed the faintest breath to steal from her parted lips, and the pulsations of her heart were so weak you could scarcely feel them. She was in a kind of

trance-like sleep. It was sometime before we succeeded in waking her, and then her limbs seemed chilled and stiffened by the subtile dampness of the meadow-land atmosphere. She could not stand. How many times that afternoon the little darling had begged us "to make a chair" for her with our hands, and we had answered that we couldn't stop. We made one now. She twined her dimpled arms about our necks, and held on very tight; but she didn't speak, except once, and then she only said, "Ain't I most big enough, sister Kate?"

Mrs. Harrington met us at the door, with a wild look of alarm. "Good heavens, Kate!" she exclaimed, “what's the matter with Rose?" And, taking her from our arms, she discovered that her clothes were almost saturated with moisture.

"Kate, child, why don't you speak? Has Rose been in the water?"

"No, ma'am; but she went into the meadow, and got to sleep, and we found her there sleeping."

Oh, there were anxious hearts in Deacon Harrington's brown house that night. Very· tenderly was the suffering little Rose cradled on her mother's breast; but not once did she speak coherently. Her cheeks burned, and her eyes sparkled with fever; her dimpled arms were tossed above her head, and every little while, between her moans, she would stretch out her hands toward some imaginary object, and say, "Please, sister Kate, isn't Rose most big enough?"

Three days passed,-days of incessant watching and weariness, and toward evening the little Rose opened her blue eyes, after a restless slumber. She seemed much better, and the mother glanced hopefully up to the kind physician bending over her.

"I cannot say she's better, madam. God knows I wish I could; but Rose must die before midnight!" and the tears stood in glittering drops on the good man's cheeks.

The mother's great grief was not noisy. She quietly lifted her darling from the bed, and sat down with her in her arms. Kate stood by, sobbing, as if already the brand of Cain were upon her brow.

"Please, mamma," said the little one, at length," am I big enough to go to heaven ?" "Yes, darling," was the tearful answer. "Jesus loves little children."

"And, mamma, do you s'pose he'll forgive me for sitting down in the meadows to watch Katie, when you told me I mustn't ever stay there?"

"Yes, my pet, the good Saviour will forgive you for anything, if you are only sorry; but Rosie dosen't want to go to heaven, and leave mother, does she?"

"I heard somebody say I must go, when I was asleep, mother; a beautiful lady, with, oh, such white, shining wings; and she stretched out her arms to take me, but I didn't go. I woke up just to kiss you and

sister once more. Please kiss me, Katie. 'Ittle Rose won't never be naughty any more up in heaven, and I'll grow big before you come, Katie, so I can play with you up there!"

There were tears, sighs, a funeral, and a little coffin. The Rose-bud opened its petals on the bosom of Jesus. The little earth-flower was "big enough for heaven."

THE BONDAGE OF FEAR.- Between the christian and heaven there is an object from which nature shrinks back with dread and aversion. At one time his imagination pictures it as a dark valley, where no ray of light enters, where no friendly voice is heard by the lonely passenger, but where hideous and menacing forms ambush his path. At another time his fancy paints it as a deep and dismal defile, where he must go alone, and where a hideous monster stands in panoply complete, to dispute his passage, and to awaken in the disembodied spirit indescribable terrors. In short, it is what men universally call death, and from which nature, almost without exception, recoils in dismay. But from earth to heaven there is no passage save through that region of terror. Many a christian would gladly leave the earth and go to possess his inheritance in the skies, did he not dread a boisterous passage through that untrodden valley. Nature approaches the brink of the precipice, and strains her eye to penetrate the gloom; but she can discern only the swift and dark waters of Jordan rolling by, and the unrelenting countenance of the King of Terrors, with his menacing dart, while ever and anon the dying agonies of one and another victim assail her ear. She shudders at the prospect.

"The pains, the groans, the dying strife,
Fright our approaching souls away;
Still shrink we back again to life,

Fond of our prison and our clay." Some, indeed, through fear of death, are all their lifetime subject to bondage. Their weak and disordered nerves, their morbid and excitable fancies, start at the rustling of a leaf. No wonder, then, if their souls are overcome when they think of taking a last look upon this fair world, of grasping the hand of friendship for the last time, and of taking the fearful plunge, which throws them at once into the hands of that unsparing conqueror, whose heart never yet relented. No wonder that they cling to the world with a desperate grasp, and almost cease to feel the attractions of heaven. But let faith now put into nature's hand her magic wand, and it will be the traveller's passport through the dark valley, and the smitten waters of Jordan shall divide, and a ray from heaven come in to trace out his pathway.-Prof. Hitchcock.

FIDELITY. A heathen king once caused a pious Bishop to be brought before him, and required of him that he should deny his faith, and sacrifice to the gods. But the Bishop said, “My lord and king, that I shall not do." Then was the king exceeding wroth, and said, "Knowest thou not that thy life is in my power, and I can kill thee? One look and it will be done." "I know that," answered the Bishop; "but allow me first to lay before thee a simile and a question for thy decision. Suppose that one of thy most faithful servants should fall into the power of thine enemies, and that they should seek to move him to be unfaithful towards thee, so that he should betray thee. But seeing that thy servant remained steadfast in his fidelity, thy enemies should take him, and, stripping him of all his clothes, send him away naked, in the midst of mockings and insults. Say, oh, king, when he should return to thee thus, wouldst thou not give him thy best robes, and recompense him for his disgrace with honour?" And the king answered and said, "Well, yes; but what does all this mean, and where has such a thing happened?" Then spake the holy Bishop: "Behold, thou canst strip me of this earthly garment. But I have a Master who will robe me anew. Ought I then to regard the dress, and give up the fidelity for it ?" Then said the heathen monarch, "Go, I give thee thy life !"-Krummacher.

CHRISTIAN INCONSISTENCY.-Follow only one human soul into eternity; trace its endless course through delights which flesh and blood could not sustain; or through torments which human nature must have supernatural strength to endure; pursue it along the course of its eternal progression, and contemplate it making acquisitions in knowledge, holiness, and happiness, all but infinite, and leaving behind even the former attainments of cherubim and seraphim; or for ever sinking from gulf to gulf of misery and despair in the bottomless abyss; and then conceive, if it be possible, in some tolerable degree, what an event is the salvation of a single soul! And when you have revolved the comprehension of this mighty and mysterious unit of a single soul, carry it on to the tens, and hundreds, and thousands, or tens of thousands of such souls that are hurrying on to eternity, even

in the town where you dwell! Christians, again I say, abjure these vast ideas, or act more conformably to them. Abandon your belief in these stupendous realities, or, at any rate, prove that you are absolved from the obligation of arresting this tide of ruin, and swelling this stream of salvation, or else be more in earnest in your endeavour to save souls. You must do one or the other. In your present conduct, with such a profession upon your lips, and with such lukewarmness in your zeal, your conduct is the most monstrous inconsistency in our world.-J. A. James.

CHRISTIAN WATCHFULNESS.-None are so likely to maintain watchful guard over their hearts and lives, as those who know the comfort of living in near communion with God. They feel their privilege, and will fear losing it. They will dread falling from their high estate, and marring their own comforts by bringing clouds between themselves and Christ. He that goes on a journey with a little money about him, takes little thought of danger, and cares little how late he travels. He, on the contrary, that carries gold and jewels, will be a

cautious traveller; he will look well to his roads, his horses, and his company, and run no risks. The fixed stars are those that tremble most. The man that most fully enjoys the light of God's reconciled countenance, will be a man tremblingly afraid of losing its blessed consolations, and jealously fearful of doing anything to grieve the Holy Ghost.-Ryle.

He

GOING TO A "BETTER COUNTRY."-A christian does not turn his back upon the fine things of this world, because he has no natural capacity to enjoy them, no taste for them; but because the Holy Spirit has shown him greater and better things. wants flowers that will never fade; he wants something that a man can take with him to another world. He is like a man who has had notice to quit his house, and having secured a new one, he is no more anxious to repair, much less to embellish and beautify the old one; his thoughts are upon the removal. If you hear him converse, it is upon the house to which he is going. Thither he sends his goods, and thus he declares plainly what he is seeking. -Cecil.

NOTES OF THE MONTH.
POLITICAL.

The great event of the month is, of course, the defeat of Lord Palmerston and the dissolution of Parliament. It is not for us to enter here into the political excitement everywhere prevalent: we would rather call upon our readers to carry out their principles, at this important juncture, in a manly and earnest spirit; and to show themselves to be christians in their politics as in every other concern in life. At the time we write it is impossible to say what the result of the elections will be. Most of the elections will be over by the time this appears. The general impression is that Lord Palmerston's government will be strengthened by this appeal to the constituency Many noble men are, however, in the field, who would truly represent us as Nonconformists and advanced Liberals: we are sure we need not urge our readers, where it is not already too late, to support such men by every means at their command. As The Freeman very appropri ately says, "Let us all, in whatever way it may be needful to act, go to work, heart and soul. GOD calls us to serve him now at the hustings and the poll. That is the place for the most sequestered and cloistered piety for the present. Allegiance to a noble cause, love to GOD and CHRIST, love for the souls of men, all lead to this one duty now. We profess that these mo tives sway us to the very roots of our being. They bid us do great things in preaching and missions, and we do them. Here is a no less religious thing they bid us

do. Let us do that for the sake of our LORD. The lesson for the day is-VOTE RIGHT."

The China war, out of which all this hubbub has arisen, proceeds. Lord Elgin has been sent out to arrange matters if possible, and to place the relations of the Governments on a more satisfactory footing: Meantime conflicts continue in China, and we regret that those who stigmatise the Chinese as barbarians prove to be too near the truth. A most barbarous massacre of all the Europeans and other foreigners on board a postal steamer, has been perpetrated by a considerable number of wretches who were admitted on board as passengers; the heads of the murdered persons were taken away in handkerchiefs, of course to obtain the reward promised by the smooth-tongued Yeh. An attempt has also been made by bribed servants to poison Europeans at Hong Kong with arsenic in bread. At present the position of the Europeans is very precarious, and they urgently need the reinforcements that is being hurried to their aid.

The Persian war is over. A treaty of peace has been signed at Paris by Lord Cowley and Ferukh Khan.

ECCLESIASTICAL.

The Ecclesiastical news of the month is of no importance. We deeply regret to state that the Rev. G. C. Gorham, who will be remembered for his noble conflict, some years since, with the Bishop of Exeter, lies hopelessly ill. The most eminent of the London faculty have pronounced his case incurable.

NEW PARK STREET, LONDON. The popularity of Mr. Spurgeon, and the Divine blessing on his labours, appear to increase. On Sunday, March 8th, at the Surrey Music Hall, the Marquis of Lansdowne, and at least thirty members of Parliament were present; among the latter the Hon. Sydney Herbert. Baron Bramwell was also in the Hall. The Marquis evinced very great interest in the service, and was much impressed by the aspect of such a vast congregation. After the service, while one of the deacons was conducting him out by the most quiet side of the building, his lordship asked if he could, without inconvenience, see Mr. Spurgeon. He conversed with him very kindly for about ten minutes, adverted to Mr. Spurgeon having visited his county (Wilts), and strongly urged him to take care of his health, that he might the longer employ the talents which had been given him for usefulness. Amongst the congregation on the 17th ult., were Lord John Russell, Sir James Graham, Lord Stanley of Alderley, and a number of members of Parliament. On retiring, Lord John Russell and Lord Stanley of Alderley had a lengthened conversation with Mr. Spurgeon, both of the noble members expressing the most unqualified admiration of the talents of the rev. gentleman. We understand that Mr. Spurgeon has received £4,500 towards his new tabernacle. At the close of a recent Sunday morning's service, he was presented with a hundred pounds for that object by Mr. Ruskin, the author of "Modern Painters" The church at New Park Street now numbers between eight and nine hundred members, more, with the casual communicants, than the pews in the lower part of the chapel will hold. The additions to the church have been, on the average, not less than twenty-five each month.

SHEPHERD'S BUSH, NEAR LONDON.

A large gathering of leading friends of both the Baptist and Independent denominations took place on Wednesday, Feb. 25th, at Shepherd's Bush. The object of the meeting was to lay the corner-stone of a new and elegant chapel in the course of erection by Baptists and Independents united, residing in the neighbourhood. The Rev. J. Stoughton, of Kensington, offeredthe introductory prayer; the Rev. J. Graham, of Craven chapel, gave the first address; Sir S. M. Peto, on laying the foundationstone, in manly and glowing terms advocated the union that day attempted; the Rev. J. Aldis, of Reading, enforced on the friends that the success of the movement would be just in proportion as each wished it. Peter Broad, Esq., gave an interesting account of the previous proceedings which had led to the effort, and of the state of the funds, and the capacity and cost of the building; and the Rev. Mr. Leechman implored the Divine blessing on the undertaking. The Rev. Messrs. Roberts, of Horbury chapel, and Lewis, of Westbourne Grove, also took part in the proceedings. In the evening a public meeting was held.

Robt. Watson, Esq., one of Mr. Stoughton's deacons, was in the chair. Admirable addresses were delivered by the Rev. Messrs. Manning, of Frome, Broad, of Hitchin, White, of Camden-town, Bird, of Hatfield, and by Messrs. W. Heaton, P. Broad, Geo. Wilson, and the Chairman. It was announced that the chapel would cost £2,300, towards which nearly £800 had been given, and a similar sum lent by the committee' without interest.

PARK CHAPEL, BRENTFORD.

A tea meeting, numerously attended, was held on the 2nd of March, when the pastor, the Rev. J. W. Lance, took leave of the people of his charge, prior to his removing to Newcastle-on-Tyne. The chair was occupied by Mr. Watkins. After prayer by the Rev. A. G. Fuller, the meeting was addressed by the chairman, who testified to the efficient services rendered by Mr. Lance, both in advancing the spiritual interests of the church and congregation, and in reducing the debt on the new chapel; stating that of the members added by baptism during the last half century, more than onethird had been within the three years of Mr. Lance's ministry. He concluded by presenting Mr. Lance with Kitto's Biblical Cyclopædia, and Alford's Greek Testament, also a Bible to Mrs. Lance. Mr. Lance, in acknowledging the present, expressed himself with grateful feeling, not only in reference to this, and other special marks of their kindness, but to the uniform liberality of the people of his charge. Mr. Kent, a venerable elder of the church, in a most impressive address, referred to the universal love of the church and congregation to their pastor, and expressed, on their behalf, an earnest wish for his future happiness and usefulness. The meeting was then addressed by the Revs W. Perratt, T. Morley, and Mr. Cross. After a few words from Mr. Fuller, the Rev. J. Young invoked the Divine favour on the retiring pastor, and Mr. Lance concluded the meeting with a prayer for the blessing of God on the church.

LONGFORD.

The friends at Union-place, Longford, have been making earnest efforts to liquidate the debt on their chapel. The princi pal, with twelve month's interest, amounted to £262 10s. Towards this they had, at the commencement of the movement, six months ago, only a little over £100, which they had paid into a building society; now they have the happiness of worshipping in a sanctuary entirely free from debt, by which their energies had long been crippled, and their hearts sometimes discouraged.

PAULTON, SOMERSET.

The Rev. Thomas Davies, of Sandy Haven, Pembrokeshire, having accepted the cordial and unanimous invitation of the Baptist church at Paulton, commenced his stated labours the first Sabbath in February. On Thursday, February 19th, interesting services were held to recognise Mr. Davies.

In the afternoon, the Rev. D. Wassell, of Bath, preached on the mutual obligations of pastor and people. At five o'clock a public tea was provided, at which about 140 attended. At seven o'clock there was a public meeting, the Rev. D. Wassell in the chair, when excellent addresses were delivered by the Revs. D. Wassell, B.Davies, J. Price, Messrs. Fitfield and Dennet, of the Baptist College, Bristol, together with the pastor and Mr. Gerard, one of the deacons of the church.

BURY ST. Edmunds.

An interesting tea-meeting was held here on Tuesday, March 10th, when effective addresses were delivered by Messrs. Barratt, Glover, Treelove, Hardwick, and others. The friends also presented their beloved pastor (the Rev C. Elven) with a very substantial token of their regard. Mr. Elven, whose productions have frequently appeared in "The Church," has been pastor thirtyfive years, and now his labours seem increasingly blest.

REGENT'S-PARK COLLEGE.

We are glad to hear that the late W. P. Bartlett, Esq, of Oxford, has bequeathed the sum of £500 to the college, Regent'spark (late at Stepney). Similar sums are also bequeathed to the colleges at Bristol and Bradford. These bequests do not take effect at once, and are not, therefore, applicable to the present necessities of any of these institutions.

BAPTIST UNION.

We are requested to mention that the Annual Session of the Baptist Union will be held at Nottingham, on Friday, the 26th of June, 1857. Further notice will be given.

MINISTERIAL CHANGES.

The Rev. Francis Tucker, B.A., of Manchester, has accepted the unanimous invitation of the committee of management to take charge of the infant cause at Camdenroad Chapel, and has engaged to commerce his ministerial work there (n.v.) on Lord'sday, April 26th.-The Rev. Thomas Finch, pastor of the Baptist church, Harlow, Essex, during the past forty years, has informed the members of the church and congregation that he intends to resign his charge at Michaelmas.- The Rev. J. E. Perrin has received a cordial invitation from the Baptist church, New Wisbeach, to the pastorate, and commenced his stated labours on Lord's-day, March 8th.-The New Court church, Newcastle-on-Tyne, vacant through the lamented illness of their beloved pastor, the Rev. Isaac Davies, have given the Rev. J. W. Lance, of New Brentford, London, a cordial invitation to the pastorate, which has been accepted. Mr. Lance commenced his stated labours there on the third Lord's-day in March.-The Rev. J. P. Carey, having resigned the pastorate of the Baptist church, Walsall, and accepted a unanimous invitation from the Baptist church, Wolverhampton, commenced his stated labours there on the

THE REV. T. SWAN, OF BIRMINGHAM. On March 9th, at Glasgow, aged 62 years, the Rev. Thomas Swan, for twenty-eight years the affectionate, faithful, and useful pastor of the Baptist church, Cannonstreet, Birmingham, died. Mr. Swan died very suddenly. He had left Birmingham on Monday, March 2nd, to solicit the aid of friends in Scotland on behalf of "The Birmingham Scholastic Institution for the Education of the Sons of Ministers," and was then apparently in good health. On Lord's day, March 8th, a telegraphic despatch was received, stating that he had that morning been attacked with apoplexy, and summoning Mrs. Swan immediately. A special meeting for prayer on his behalf was announced to be held at Cannon-street on the Monday evening. At ten o'clock on Monday morning the following telegraphic message arrived :-"Mr. Swan is still living, but there is no hope-apoplectic strokequite unconscious-he lies at Crown Hotel

Mrs Swan arrived safe." A large congregation assembled at half-past seven in the evening. One prayer had been offered, when a telegraphic messenger appeared at the door, with a despatch from Glasgow, addressed to the deacons, announcing that Mr. Swan died at 6.10, p m. The funeral took place at Birmingham. March 16th. The Revs. A. G. O'Neill, G Cheatle, C. Vince, J. J. Brown, Isaac New, T. Morgan, and J. A. James, took part in the funeral service. On Lord's day, Mar. 22nd, funeral sermons were preached in Cannonstreet chapel,-in the morning by the Rev. J. A. James, and in the evening by the Rev. I. New.

THE REV. SHEM MORGAN, OF BEAUMARIS.

On February 9th, 1857, the Rev. Shem - Morgan, of Beaumaris, died, aged 24, at his father's residence, in Pembrokeshire. On the following Wednesday his earthly remains were interred in the burial place which is in connection with Blaenllyn chapel, when the Rev. T. E. Thomas delivered a suitable address on the occasion. It was only last May when Mr. Morgan left college at Haverfordwest, and took the oversight of the Baptist church at Beaumaris; but, alas, he was destined to be there but for a short time. The consumption was eating his strength and undermining his constitution, till at last he fell asleep in Jesus. During the short time he was at Beaumaris, we are happy to state, that several persons were added to the church, and the congregation greatly increased.