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PAGE FOR OUR YOUNG FRIENDS.

or no food for some time, and appearing exceedingly distressed in mind, they feared she had drowned herself. That it had been suggested to them to apply there, previous to their having the river dragged. When informed of the inquiry after her, Mary wept profusely, and replied, "Tell them I'm safe."

More next month.

PAGE FOR OUR YOUNG FRIENDS.

ANNIE

THE ORPHAN.

"Tell them I die happy."

became the subject of religious impressions in early life, and evidences were shown which proved that the grace of God had touched her young heart. Tenderness of conscience, love to the Word and worship of God, a deep sense of her own sinfulness, and an earnest desire to become a sincere Christian, were observed with delight by her friends.

family, “I

Oh! what a

In April, 1851, she was seized with severe illness, which left her in a very delicate state of health. About this time she says, in a note to a member of the really think I shall soon return to kind and tender Saviour have we! I might justly have been cut off, but my heavenly Father has seen fit, in Ilis mercy, to spare my life, and I trust that life will be devoted to Ilis service." Always affectionate and grateful, she seemed particularly so when she returned to her native place, after six months' absence. And general feeling of joy was expressed at seeing her again. She could exclaim, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted;" and after this it was evident she was pressing forward in the good way. Again she writes:-"I feel an earnest desire to become a child of God. Oh! could I yield myself to my Saviour; could I say, 'My Saviour, I am thine!' Dear

rs. B

PAGE FOR OUR YOUNG FRIENDS.

91

says there would be some satisfaction in letting world know that we had given ourselves up to Christ, d openly avow ourselves the children of God. But it 1st be a voluntary act. We shall never be happy till s is really and truthfully the case."

ites:

---

For some time before her last illness she was depressed th doubts and fears. She lamented that she could not lise her interest in the Saviour, and wanted that delight prayer which she had sometimes felt. She thus again "I dare say you noticed I seemed miserable sterday. I felt so much the great depth of my sins. e both have had great privileges, and we know the way. t how have we slighted them? Still, Christ invites us ward. He says to the vilest sinner, 'I will not cast ce out."

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There is no doubt this was a season of great heartrching and deep humiliation before God with young nie. Some of her selections for the Saturday-morning ercise are indicative of her anxious state. We will only

e two extracts:--

Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?"

"Is there no balm in Gilead found,
To soothe and heal any smarting wound?

Oh yes, there is a balin,

A kind physician there,

My fevered mind to calm,

And bid me not despair!

Aid me, dear Saviour! set me free,

And I will all resign to Thee."

will take the stony heart out of your flesh, and will give you a heart of flesh."

"Oh! for a glance of heavenly day,
To take this stubborn heart away;
And thaw, with beams of love divine,
This heart-this frozen heart of mine."

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A MOTHER'S FAITH TRIED.

The flattering nature of her disease concealed from Annie's mind the danger which was too apparent to those around her. It was gently asked, "Supposing it to be the will of God that you should not return to health, how do you feel in the prospect of dying?" She replied, "Sometimes I feel I can die, and sometimes I fear I am not prepared." Faith, however, triumphed. Grace completed the work begun; and, finally, the victory was given her over the last enemy.

On the 4th of December, she was carried up stairs for the last time. On the 10th, symptoms of increasing weakness seemed to render it most desirable to tell her of the impossibility of her recovery. She heard the solemn tidings with great calmness, and was encouraged to rest on those promises of God's Word, which could alone support her in such an hour of need. E. B.

We should have been glad to have given the whole of this interesting tale in one number of The Mothers' Friend; but as we write for busy mothers, as well as for reading daughters, we must wait till next month, to accompany Annie to the gate of the shadowy valley.-ED.

A MOTHER'S FAITH TRIED.

Ah! my son will one day walk over his mother's grave!" "I KNEW a youth," said a gentleman at a public meeting, some fourteen years ago, who had a pious mother, but who, from the age of sixteen to twenty, lived a most gay and reckless life, resisting all her earnest remonstrances. Regardless of her tears and prayers, determined to pursue his own sinful and depraved inclination, he frequented the card-table and dancing-room unknown to his parents. On one occasion he ordered a suit of clothes, had them placed to his mother's account, and, attired in them, he

A MOTHER'S FAITH TRIED.

93

spent the night in dancing and revelry. When, in the morning, his mother remarked on his wan and haggard appearance, he assured her he had taken a long walk, and was very much fatigued!

"Once, on entering the room where his pious mother was sitting, she said to him-'Ah! my son will one day walk over his mother's grave, and have to mourn that he hastened her departure thither, and will then wish he had given his heart to God while she was alive.' The son bit his lip to prevent the tears, which, in spite of himself, forced their way to his eyes, and hurried from her presence to seek a corner where he might weep unseen. Yet still he pursued the same sinful career. At the age of twenty he was to leave his home, and he rejoiced to think he should then be free from the watchful eye of his parents. Now, thought he, I shall have my own way; there will be no meddling friend to tell tales!

"He went-but his mother's prayers followed him. About six weeks afterwards, he received a letter from her, full of earnest entreaty and warning; it conciuded thus :'My boy will think I have sent him a long sermon, but how shall I meet him at the bar of God, and say I am : clear of his blood, if I have not done all in my power to warn him of his danger?' These words went as an arrow to his heart-fixed there by the Spirit of God; he wept much. A pious young man in the establishment coming up, asked the cause of his tears. He replied, 'Read that!' and handed to him his mother's letter; he also wept-and said, 'Come with me to my room, let us pray together.'They did so, but the self-condemned young man could find no peace.

"For three weeks he sought comfort, and then he despaired of ever finding it. He resolved to commit suicide. He went out, taking his pocket Bible with him-he came to the brink of the river-he resolved to cast himself into the dark waters, feeling sure he should soon perish, for he

94

THE FALL OF THE GREAT TREE.

could not swim. Ile thought I will pray once more.' He knelt down on the river's brink and uttered a few words-the spell was broken--he resolvell never to rest til he had found rest in the finished work and love of Jesus. Shortly afterwards he found peace, and began his journey heavenwards. Thus was an answer vouchsafed to a mother's prayers on behalf of her son. And permit me," continued the speaker, "to add-the subject of that pious mother's prayers is he who now addresses you!"

Mother, pray on!

Young man!"Pray once more

יי!

THE FALL OF THE GREAT TREE.

66

FATHER," said a little boy, "I heard you say, 'twas a wonder you were not killed to-day, when the great tree fell pretty nearly upon you." Yes, Sammy, that was true, my boy." "Well, father, then perhaps gentle Jesus helped it to fall away from you, for mother always prays for you when you are gone to work-all of us together pray up stairs before we go to school." "Do you, my boy? and do you pray?" "Yes, father, I try to, a little; but I can't pray like mother does-she prays for everything." "Does she, Sammy? Ah, you have a good mother, my boy; there are not many children so happy as you are, to be taught to pray, too!" "Yes, father, don't you ever pray for us, father? Teacher says, if we wish to sing in heaven, we must pray on earth;—is that true, father? Will you sing in heaven, father, with mother, and all of us?" "I hope so, Sammy; wouldn't you like I should?" "Oh yes, father, to be sure I should;-but do you pray, though? eh?" "I hope, Sammy, your mother will always ask God to take care of your father, for fear another great tree should fall near me hen I am in the woods." "But, father, God will hear

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