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went into the room. "Mother," | he was heard to sing were those

said the little fellow, looking up into her face inquiringly, "can you spare me?" The mother was too much affected at this to give an answer, but was soon bathed in tears. "You must not cry, mother,” said he; "praise the Lord! praise the Lord!" On another occasion, when his mother was present, he asked,"Mother, can you spare me? I am going to see Jesus, but don't put yourself about for it."

His

father went into the room to

see him, and wish him good-bye, previous to going to business. “Father,” said the child, "shall you have time to pray with me before you go?" What would some parents have done, had such a question as this been asked them by their dying boy? Many parents never breathe out prayers to Him who is God over all, and blessed for evermore, for themselves; how then can they pray for their offspring? But William Nutt was the son of a father who could pray, who had prayed, who had borne his children in the arms of love to the throne of heavenly grace. This being the case, the father instantly replied, "Yes, my lad, I will !” and kneeling by the bed side he breathed out his soul in fervent prayer to God on behalf of his

son.

William was particularly fond of singing, and the last words

which so beautifully express the Christian's desire to depart and be with Christ:

"Oh, how I long to be there!

And his glories to share,
And to lean upon Jesus's breast."

Being asked by one of his friends who came to see him, if he should like to go to heaven, he replied, "Yes, I should like to go now."

On Saturday morning, November 8th, it pleased God to separate the spirit from the fleshly tabernacle, the one to go down into the grave, the other to rise into the blissful enjoyment of that rest which "eye hath not

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They trained their children for North Frodingham, Driffield God and heaven, and Ada yielded Circuit, was born October 5th, to be saved by grace, when about 1855. When she was about seventeen years of age. Shortly three years of age, disease made after her conversion to God, she its appearance in her system. went to reside in the city of For some time hopes were enterYork, and united with the Primi-tained that she would out-grow tive Methodists there. Her piety it, but it ultimately settled down was cheerful, enlightened, and in her hip. Obeying the apostle's sincere. Through grace she injunction, her parents brought Overcame the temptations of her up in the nurture and admoyouth, and held on her way. nition of the Lord, and hence, But her career on earth was from her infancy, Annie was only short, her constitution taught to lisp the name of Jesus, was feeble, and that wasting dis- and to love Him who said, ease-consumption-soon began "Suffer little children, and forto assume a threatening aspect bid them not to come unto me, in her feeble frame. But her for of such is the kingdom of naturally amiable disposition and heaven." As often as she was kind spirit now shone all the able, she attended the Primitive more brightly, being sanctified Methodist Sabbath School; but by Divine grace. During her for the last seven months she last weeks on earth she suffered was confined to her bed. During severe pain of body; but she that period especially, the lovely was resigned to her heavenly traits of early piety were deFather's will. As she neared veloped. eternity, she tenderly besought her brothers and sisters to meet her in heaven, and she fell asleep in Jesus on the 5th of November, 1862, in the twenty-first year of

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For a child of her years she possessed a surprising knowledge of the glorious gospel, and gave pleasing evidence of the possession of Divine grace. She was a lovely and loving girl, and beloved by all who knew her; and during her long and painful illness, was never heard to complain, but she calmly submitted to the Divine will. One day she said, "I have been very sinful, but I feel that the Lord has pardoned me, and I have no fear of dying." On one occasion, when weeping much, she was

asked the cause; she replied that | ing, the dear child tapped her a friend who had just visited on the cheek with her thin, pale hand, and said, "Do not weep, mother, the Lord does all things well; we shall soon meet in heaven, to part no more, and it would be a shame to wish me to live."

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her had asked her if she would like to get better, and she had said Yes," but immediately added, "I am sure I wish the Lord's will to be done." To her mother, on another occasion, she said, "I do not think I shall get better again, and it might be if I lived to be a great girl I might be very wicked, and the Lord

knows best."

The writer, when alone with her one day, questioned her respecting the reason why she had no fear of dying, and the grounds of her hope; and was greatly surprised at her clear, Scriptural views of the way of salvation, her assurance of hope, and her matured Christian experience. Never will he forget her heavenly countenance as he spoke to her of that heaven where she would be as the angels of God-free from pain and suffering, and where she would meet her little brother George Edward, who had died a few months before, and both be for ever with the Lord. Her experience was more like that of a mature Christian than of a child of seven years; but it

was evident she had been taught

of God.

One day, her mother being distressed to see her suffer so much, said, "Annie, my darling, I do feel it to see you suffer so ;" when, seeing her mother weep

Nor was Annie unmindful of others; for several times she told her father, who is a local preacher, to tell the teachers and scholars

she hoped they would all meet her in heaven. She often spoke of meeting her dear brother George Edward in heaven. To her parents again and again she said, "We shall be looking out for you." After much suffering, borne with remarkable patience, Annie Dixon sweetly fell asleep in Jesus on the morning of the 10th of November, 1862, aged seven years.

Dear young reader, learn from the experience of dear Annie the importance and blessedness of early piety. Love the Saviour. He says, "Give me thine heart." Oh, remember He gave His life for you! By His inspired servant He says, "I love them that love Me, and those that seek Me early shall find Me." Oh, seek Him now, and then

"He shall defend and guide thy youth,
Through life's uncertain way;
Till thou art landed on the coast
Of bless'd eternity.

and evil habits; the habit of telling lies-and then by taking that which was not their own-by breaking the Sabbath-day-by keeping wicked company-and then they ran into sin of almost every kind. You may dread the road which they travelled with ease. They were afraid to sin at first, but afterwards they did sin; and one sin opened the door to admit another. Then Satan grew very busy with his temptations; they yielded by degrees until every means which was used for their salvation was treated with contempt. The loving tears of a mother fell plenteously for that wicked man, her heart-strings were strung to their utmost stretch, and perhaps it was that which sent her so swiftly to the grave. His life has been one of most degrading slavery, and if he turn not to God, his death will be horrifying in the extreme ;—and he was once a child!

Dear children, do not follow such a man, but imitate the example of Christ,-live as he lived. Be Bible readers, then you will become Bible lovers; and if you love the Bible you will obey its commandments; if you do that you will please God, and if such be the case he will receive you into glory. E. W. STEPHENS.

Wallaroo, South Australia.

A SUDDEN DEATH!

WHAT a solemn sentence! what impressive words! How often we hear them; how soon forget them. In every city, town and village, are to be found families who have been suddenly bereaved of their loved ones. A brother, a sister, a father, or a mother, has been taken away at a stroke. Sometimes not a soul has been aware of what had happened, till wondering why the absent one was not in his accustomed place at the usual time, some one has entered a bed-room, and there, for ever silent in death, was seen the startling corpse. The sight, the feeling, defy description. The words "How sudden! What a sudden death!" pass through the neighbourhood. At another time, the countenance of a dear one has suddenly changed; the signs of death have been seen, and ere medical aid could be secured, the spirit was departed; life was extinct. In this case as in the other, men, women, and children are talking fluently over the sudden death, and the words "How sudden," are heard everywhere.

But how often has a husband in apparently perfect health, left his wife and family, and gone to his daily labour; and ere the day has closed, been brought to them

a stiffened corpse, no more to see them, no longer to comfort them. The wife and family are overwhelmed in grief; kind friends would render assistance, but what can they do? how can they repair the breach? the mainstay is gone, all is a blank; friends will soon forget them; the sudden death will soon be forgotten; hence, nought of earthly things can check the falling tear, or still the troubled mind.-Jesus alone

"Can comfort grant and needful aid."

A sudden death occurred January 1st, 1863. A poor man, by name R. B., left his home, a wife and five children, on the morning of that day, to work on the railroad that is being constructed in this neighbourhood; during the day, the earth gave way, and pressing him against a truck, he was severely crushed. The doctor was sent for, but when he came he found the poor man could not recover. He was conveyed to Colchester in a wagon. Soon the report went through the town; the poor woman-the wife heard of it; the children caught the words, and such a scene presented itself, as is hardly ever witnessed; the woman, almost frantic, rushed to the spot, and notwithstanding the efforts of strong men succeeded_in_getting into the wagon that conveyed her husband's body; the people gathered round, and the whole neighbourhood was aroused at the unexpected occurrence. Kind friends sought to comfort the woman, but they could not pacify her, and notwithstanding all that was done for her, she continued unmanageable and "refused to be comforted."

How accidental, how sudden the death; how distressing a case. The family is in the greatest straits, scarcely anything in the house by way of furniture or clothing. I pray that friends may be raised up to help the fatherless and widow. The natural inquiry that may now be made by the reader is this: Was this man on the Lord's side? Were his sins pardoned? Did he die in the faith, &c. ? To these important questions I cannot give satisfactory an

swers.

You

Unconverted reader, I affectionately address you. may be in the bloom of youth; strong, robust, healthy but what is your life?-a vapour. What is your condition? A sinner before God, a slave to Satan, an enemy to your own soul. How dangerous your state.

"He who spake a world from nought,

At once could crush you down."

Oh! consider the uncertainty of life. What do you know of the future? You go out in the morning, leave your

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