enough I have had to get them to you. I could not get to you in my cart, so after waiting two or three days for the weather to clearwhich it hasn't-I put my load on horses' backs; and you may believe it or not as you like, but I started before daylight; and if I have come one mile I have a dozen, in picking my way all round the country, to get to your village.' "And you have saved us all from dying of starvation, good man,' said my mother, bursting into tears. "What joy there was in the village that afternoon I need not attempt to describe, nor how busy my mother and I were, first in dealing out meal to our neighbours, and when that was over, in preparing a large batch of bread for the oven. Meanwhile, the miller went on his way to the two farmhouses, where he lightened his horses of their remaining loads. But, as I afterwards heard, it was dark that evening before he reached his home, though it was distant, as the crow flies, not more than four miles. "Before another week came round, however, the roads had become more passable; and the village supplies were never afterwards cut off. "There is one other thing I think right to mention, though I am sorry to speak of it. There was one family living near us, who had taken a full share of the broth that my mother made and gave away, who were discovered afterwards to have had a stock of potatoes hid up, and had been secrectly feasting on them when their neighbours were threatened with famine. You may guess what was thought of that family ever afterwards. This is the story, as told by Mrs. Scott's daughter; and though it is simple, almost to baldness, and imperfectly told-and though much greater sufferings have been endured from famine than the comparative slight inconveniences which were experienced by these villagers consequence of being for a few days deprived of bread—yet it may suggest one or two useful reflections. in Think, reader, and be thankful, that in the present day such a case of temporary deprivation is not very likely to occur in our country; and also, that we have so long been spared the extreme consequences of bad harvests in scarcity and badness and dearness of that which is properly called "the staff of life." Thank God, reader, for cheap bread, and plenty of it. To ascend from lower to higher considerations-from the bread that perisheth to that which endureth unto everlasting life—what gratitude ought we to cherish in our hearts, that no earthly storms can cut off the supply of heavenly bread, and that this bread is to be had simply on the condition that we ask for it. Death from starvation appears to be one of the most distressing deaths which a human being could suffer. But the miseries of such a death are soon over, for nature cannot hold out long without food. But to perish for lack of the bread of life involves interminable suffering. To avoid so dreadful an evil let us go to Jesus, who Himself is the bread of life; if we receive Him into our hearts, we thus receive ETERNAL LIFE, BE YE ALSO READY. How strange, mysterious and painful are often times the ways of God in his providence! And yet we are constrained to say, the Lord is good "too wise to err, and too good to be unkind." The circumstances I am called to relate are impressively illustrative of these Bible truths. They are concerning a young man near 18 years of age, named Robert Cotter. His parents and grandfather are members of our Society in Newry, Ireland. Robert was one of our most constant hearers, and all through the winter had been very attentive in kindling the fire, and in attending to all other matters connected with our preaching room in Newry. On the night of the 25th of March, 1872, he had a very strange dream. On his relating it at the breakfast table the following morning, his father assured him it was a very solemn warning from God, to give his heart to him, and to prepare for heaven. That same day, having occasion to go to Omeath, across the river, near to Warren-point, a strong force of wind coming sideways against the boat, it capsized, and Robert was thrown into the water. Twice his feet touched the bottom; but on coming up the second time he seized an oar and held himself by it till rescued. This circumstance coming so soon after his strange dream, made a very deep impression on his mind, and he now determined to trifle no longer about the salvation of his soul. He began to attend the class meeting, and at a society tea meeting we had on the 26th of May, we have reason to believe he experienced a true change of heart, for on the following Sunday morning he spoke his experience for the first time in the class, and gave full evidence of the change. That was his last Sab bath on earth. Accounts are given by his friends of his maintaining a serious and Christian conversation and deportment through the week. But on the Saturday evening, going out with a boy companion to bathe in the Newry canal, Robert was drowned. Though naturally thoughtful, his going into the water bespoke an unaccountable absence of mind, as he could not swim, and the water was deep. These things we must leave to the revelation of a future day. His untimely death has cast a gloom over us all here, but his parents, having recently passed through some very heavy affliction and trials, feel the stroke most keenly. On Sunday, June 15th, I preached a sermon to improve his death. The congregation was the largest it has been my privilege to preach to in our room in Newry. We have hopes that his untimely and lamentable death will result in good to our cause here. Reader, have you made preparation for death ? You have had many warnings. My message is from God to you, "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." "Therefore, be ye also ready, for in such an hour as yo think not the son of man cometh." LUKE STAFFORD. THE DRUNKARD'S WIFE. BY MRS. BALFOUR. WITHIN a fireless, dreary room, A lonely mourner weeps; Through the long night, 'mid cheerless gloom, Waiting in grief, and shame, and fear, Her husband's well-known step to hear. An infant on her bosom lies, And in the wretched bed 'O mother, give me bread!' While she-the wretched! breathes a prayer The initials and the finals will give a much neglected admonition found in the New Testament. Cleethorpes. T. S. A prize will be awarded for the best-written and the most correct solutions of these enigmas. They are to be sent in quarterly, and after the quarterly adjudication the reward will be forwarded. They are to be forwarded for July, August, and September, by the 20th of September; and for October, November, and December, 1873. The solutions are to be forwarded to the Rev. Thomas Storr, Cleethorpes, Grimsby. THE BONNY BIRD. Out in the shower a little bird sings, With light in her eyes and a light on her wings, Whose brightness and bloom she had caught on her wing; To teach her the music she sighs to the sky, That our hearts may rejoice in a joy "by and by." -Golden Hours. |