not eat it. But at the coming on of harvest, they were gen erally relieved from these distresses.

I was some years on these missions, during which time I suffered considerably for want of clothing, as well as food. Yet I found those who were so much more destitute than myself, that I felt it a duty to divide my little stock.

One instance I will here relate, which occurred during my travels in the wilderness. Having met two other missionaries, at a certain place, and hearing of a family that professed religion at some distance, we set out to visit them. We found them extremely poor. The woman was just recovering from a dangerous lying-in-the man was sickly, and able to do but little-a large family of small children in rags surrounded them. I saw a few quarts of meal on the table, which I believe was all the food they had in the world; and even from this, they offered to provide something for us to eat; but we refused to take from them their little remaining portion. The sight was affecting.-When we left them, we gave a part of what we had, after having united in prayer and praise.

I should have noticed before, that soon after I left home, I obtained a horse, which was a great assistance to me in getting from place to place. It was with difficulty, however, that I could get to some e places I visited, either on foot or on horseback. The roads for the most part were extremely bad. Indeed, in some places, there were only horse steppings, guided by marked trees; in others, the small bushes only were cut out, to make a narrow foot-path; and these roads, if they may be so called, lay through swamps and marshes, and deep forests of many miles in length, without a house, or a single human being to be seen. There were other places, which were still more difficult to pass; where not the trace of a path could be found--which put me under the necessity of crawling along the lake shore, in the edge of the water, on the smooth beach, or over the rough rocks. Neither bridges nor ferries were, in many places, to be found, which rendered it impossible to proceed, without fording or swimming; and this was done at times with the hazard of life; unless when the rivers were frozen, and even then, the passing had times of extreme danger.

But all these sufferings and difficulties were more than compensated, by the blessing of God that attended my ministerial labors. In some places, the wilderness budded and blossomed as the rose. Though it increased my labors to a

long before the scriptures might be given to our untutored savages, in a language they can real and understand.

Mrs. Americus, who was never talkative, though a woman of deep thought, good sense, and sound piety, could not refrain speaking on this occasion; for she felt a warmth of zeal for the salvation of the heathen, which did honor to her profession. Were the needless, and worse than needless superfluities of life, said she, to be retrenched, and the money paid for them employed to send the scriptures and faithful ministers to the poor settlements of our own nation, and the benighted savages of the wilderness, what might be the blessed results-who can tell?

It is true, said Mr. P. that we have the means of going much farther in this work of charity; and from the disposition which has manifested itself within a few years, and which is rapidly increasing, it is to be hoped that superfluities will be laid aside, ere it be long; and that all the disposable means will be employed, to pour a flood of light on the heathen world.

I am gratified, said Evangelus, that the ladies have lately caught the missionary spirit, and though the great Head of the church has not called them to missionary labors, yet as they afford the means of support to such as are called and sent of God, I hope the spirit of piety will incline them to do it on right motives; and then I am sure they shall share in the gracious reward of those who turn many to righteousness.

Whether we share in the reward or not, said Mrs. P. we ought to desire the happiness of others, and contribute to that happiness, by such means as are given us by a bounteous Providence.

The satisfaction, said Prudentia, of seeing souls in heaven, who shall be brought there through our means, will be a great reward for every self-denial we may have occasioned ourselves, by what we have given to Bible Societies, and for the support of missions, even if there be no direct reward bestowed by God himself. But if a course of charities performed in the spirit of new obedience, in the favor of the bodies of the saints, shall give such evidence of their adoption into the family of God, as to occasion the Judge to say • Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord; how much more shall a charity directed to the salvation of a soul for whom Christ died, evidence our love to God

and our neighbor, and meet with the approbation of our di vine Lord, and the reward of grace!

We have a thousand motives, said Charles, to engage in this work; and those who feel the importance of it, ought to stir up the minds of others to put forth united exertions, that the heathen may be given to God's Son for a possession, and the uttermost parts of the earth for an inheritance.

I hope, said Mrs. Americus, that the time is not far distant when this shall take place-when the north shall give up, and the south not keep back; when God shall bring his sons from afar, and his daughters from the ends of the earth; when his Watchmen shall see eye to eye, and lift up the voice with the voice together; declaring the acceptable year of the Lord, and all the boundless mercies of God our Saviour. I think, said Evangelus, there are some signs that this pe riod is approaching. May the Lord hasten it, and all the church say, Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus!

CHAPTER XXXVI.

In a walk which Charles took next day, he witnessed an impropriety of human conduct, which too often occurs. He was passing a house, and hearing loud and passionate words, he drew a little nearer to listen. The mother was scolding violently at her son, who had offended her. You son of a bitch,' said she, I'll skin you alive, I'll cut your head off, I'll lick you to death, if you don't do better."

Charles shuddered to hear this kind of language, so unlike what he had been accustomed to hear in his father's house. One moment he thought of entering, in order to show her the evil and impropriety of such language; the next he hesitated whether it were proper. He, however, passed on, without saying any thing; but made the following reflections.

If the offending child was the son of a bitch, was not she herself a bitch, and her husband a dog? Her passion, therefore, led her to degrade both herself and her husband. Did she mean to skin him alive, to cut his head off, or to lick him to death? Certainly not. Did she not, then, tell a lie? And must not her child consider such threats in that light? Such

unreasonable and constant threats of punishment, serve only to harden the feelings of children, by the loss of filial affection, and a disregard to all parental authority.

It was not long after this, that Charles falling in company with a neighbor of the General's, was led to speak of the religious education of children. He observed, he thought it useful to train them up to religious instruction, to impress on their minds the fear of God, and the necessity of abstaining from evil, and of using the means of grace.

The neighbor, Mr. Antiworks, strongly objected to these ideas. For my part, said he, I leave my children to take their own course, and never wish to have them taught to pray, or to use any of the forms of religion. It has a direct tendency to make them pharisees, by depending on their works, and thus lead them to reject faith; hence, I despise it from my

soul.

This conversation was so opposite to the feelings of Charles, he could not forbear replying. Your remarks, said he, contradict every part of my education. And I have reason forever to be thankful to God, I had religious parents, who educated me according to their character; for I have every reason to believe, that, under God, it has been the means of bringing my soul to the knowledge of the truth. Nor am I alone; many others will have occasion to bless God forever, that they had parents who piously educated them.

Beside, I apprehend, Sir, continued Charles, you do not take my meaning, concerning the religious education of children. I would by no means have them taught to rest in any prayers, or means, as though they were saving; or would supercede the need of divine influence, or the atonement and mediation of Christ. Means of grace, I know, have their proper place, and unblest of God, they cannot be availing ; but as God has appointed them to be the ordinary channels through which he communicates saving mercy, they should be taught the use of them in this light—that is, they should look to him for his promised and unmerited mercy, to deliver them from the power, guilt and love of sin, and to preserve them blameless, to everlasting life.

If the children of such as favor your opinion, were any more moral, while young, or religious, when grown to years of understanding, than the children of others, I should certainly be inclined to adopt it; but children who are left to roam at large, without due care taken concerning their morals, are inclined to be more irreligious, profane, and indecent.