LESSONS FROM THE LEADHILLS.

BY THE REV. T. W. BROWN, ALVA.

ART of the mountain range which separates the counties of Lanark and Dumfries has received the name of Leadhills, from the circumstance that lead ore is found in large quantity in the rocks of which the hills are composed. On the watershed, or ridge from which the upper waters of the Clyde proceed northwards, and those of the Nith in an opposite direction, stand the two villages of Leadhills and Wanlock head; and in the immediate neighbourhood of these are conducted all the operations necessary in the preparation of lead. Indeed,

mining has been carried on there since the days of Queen Elizabeth.

I had long been anxious to visit the locality. On a fine day of last September I found myself, in company with a friend, toiling up the ascent from Abington to the village of Leadhills. The road winds along the valley of Glengomen," the poisonous valley," so named from the destructive effects of the lead, which used to find its way into the stream. As we get higher, the scene is very impressive. The heath-covered hills stand on either side in solemn majesty, and we feel the grandeur of the works of God. At last we reach Leadhills, a straggling village,-the houses being so arranged as almost to form the letter Z.

Our first business is to descend one of the mines, and Mr. Hastings, the Free Church minister of Wanlockhead, kindly helps us to this. Suitably equipped for the expedition, we proceed under the guidance of two intelligent miners to the entrance of a shaft nearly a mile distant. It was pleasant to find that these sons of toil had come to know and love the Saviour. They spoke with delight of a work of grace among the miners. From them we also learned that, with the exception of a single inn for travellers, there is not a public-house in either village. The moral tone of the people generally is excellent, and in both places there is an extensive library, largely used. The walk was very pleasant. All round are scenes hallowed by memories of suffering in the times of the Covenant, and one of our guides pointed out the head of the famous Enterkin Pass, of which you read in "Simpson's Traditions of the Covenanters."

Well, we reach the mouth of the mine,-the entrance to the top of the shaft being by a short passage cut into the hill. Then, furnished with a lighted candle, we descend a series of ladders, each from 30 to 40 feet long,

and each with a landing-place of its own, till we get to the bottom, some 300 feet down. From this point we proceed along the workings of the mine. The ore is found in veins, more or less thick, and containing a greater or less proportion of lead. The business of the miner is to follow the course of these veins; and as we toiled along the low and narrow winding passage, sometimes nearly ankle-deep in water, and marked on each side the hardness of the rock from which the ore must be extracted, we could not but feel that the men whose daily task it is to wield the pickaxe in this dreary underground region deserve our warmest sympathy.

Another thought occurred to me. They seek treasure, and spare no pains to obtain it. Dear young readers, do you study the Bible after this fashion? It contains priceless treasure, for it testifies of Jesus. Search the Scriptures with a praying heart,-asking that the Saviour would make himself known to you, and you shall find him if you seek for him with all your heart.

After exploring the recesses of the mine, and trying our hand at the extraction of the ore, we sought our way to the upper air. As in descending, our progress was slow. One step at a time! But we had light enough for that. And thus the Lord guides his people, young or old. Follow the light, and do what present duty calls for. The future will ere long be revealed. "What thou knowest not now, thou shalt know hereafter.' Children of the light will at last find their way from this scene of comparatiye darkness to the land of unclouded glory. So we thought as we gladly emerged from the mouth of the mine to the welcome light of day.

Of the process of smelting and refining we shall give some account in another paper.

Here is a picture of some young people visiting a mine.

INDIA.
CALCUTTA.

Faint, yet Pursuing.

THE fearfully crippled state of our European agency well-nigh overwhelms us. Still, our trust is in God, and in the re-awakened energies of his believing people at home. When I arrived here, nearly six years ago, though Dr. Mackay was at home, and Mr. Smith had recently gone, there were five of us in Calcutta, Dr. Ewart, Mr. Powrie, Mr. Gardiner, Mr. Beaumont, and myself; two at Chinsurah, one ordained, Mr. Millar, and one lay teacher, since ordained, Mr. Fyfe. Now, with work not only undiminished, but in many ways increased, and field enlarged, how does the case stand?

At Calcutta, his period of three years being nearly expired, Mr. Thomson, the lay teacher, will be leaving us early next month for some other situation, and then there will only be two of us, Mr. Fyfe and myself. At Chinsurah, Dr. Mackay being constrained by long continued illness to leave for home immediately, there will only be one, Mr. Beaumont.

All the other stations are conducted by native Christian brethren alone.

Meanwhile we do rejoice that we have such a staff of able and willing native Christian assistants. What could we do without these now, in our hour of need and sore travail? Oh, that their numbers were multiplied a hundred-yea, a thousand thousand fold!—Rev. Dr. Duff.

BOMBAY.

Railway Workers in India.

I SPENT a few days first in Bombay and then proceeded to the Thuli Ghaut, where a large number of Englishmen and Scotchmen, who are employed on the railway works, greatly feel their separation from the ordinances of religion. Greatly to be pitied are the increasing numbers of our countrymen who have to live in out stations far from the sound of the Sabbath bell, and surrounded on all sides by the borrid sights and sounds of idolatry. I spent a happy Sabbath, ministering to our countrymen at the Thuli Ghaut.-Rev. Dr. Murray Mitchell.