taken ill, and died very happy. "Praying breath is never spent in vain."

Affecting Ordination Scene.

THE late ingenious Rev. Robert Robinson, of Cambridge, was once engaged to deliver what is called the charge at the ordination of a minister. He exhorted him notwithstanding every possible discouragement to persevere in the work, to which he was called, assuring him, that in the end, God would succeed his labors. With a view to encourage him, he should relate an anecdote, which had been lately told him, and though the names of the parties had been carefully concealed, he had no doubt of its authenticity.

He then stated that a certain minister, being about to travel in the country, was particularly requested by a friend, to call at the house of a farmer, an intimate associate of his early years, and a man whom he often yet visited, and to take up his abode there for the night. The minister pleaded that he was a perfect stranger, that he might be considered a sort of interloper, and several other things, all of which were overruled by his friend, who assured him of the piety, and unbounded liberality of the farmer, and promised him a letter of introduction; he farther stated, that he had often conversed with the farmer respecting him, and, in a word, the good farmer would feel his mind much hurt, if he passed that way, and did not spend a night under his roof. Under these circumstances the minister consented, and one summer's evening rode up to the farmer's gate.

He found the good man standing near; but instead of meeting him with the smile of politeness, he demanded in a surly tone who he was? The minister gave him his name, handed him his letter of introduction, and assigned his reasons for paying him a visit. The farmer eyed him with suspicion, half insinuated that he was an impostor, but at length told him he might put his horse into the stable, and walk into the house. At first the minister hesitated; he almost determined to ride on to the village; but on second thoughts he resolved to stay. He unsad

dled his horse, and walked into the house; and, not being asked to walk into the parlor, he took his seat with the servants in the kitchen. Supper time came on the servants whispered among themselves, "It is a wonder master doesn't ask the gentleman into the parlor." At his request, he was supplied with a basin of milk. After supper, the family was collected to engage in the devo tions of the evening; the minister followed at the heels of the servants, and took his seat near the door, not a little surprised at the treatment he received. The farmer read a portion of the scriptures; a pause ensued; there was evidently a violent agitation in the farmer's breast; at length he asked the minister to pray. They knelt down and the worthy divine forgot his trials; and elevated to a high state of holy feeling, his prayer was eminent for correct feeling and spirituality of mind. When he concluded and rose from his knees, the farmer, with tears streaming from his eyes, stepped up to him, and before the whole family, solicited pardon for the treatment he had given him; assuring him that he had never before so treated a minister; and from all that he had ever heard of him, he had for him in particular a high personal respect; and finally, that in reference to his conduct that evening, it was to himself the most mysterious event of his life.

He concluded by begging him to stay with him a few days, that his kindness might make up for his past unkindness. The minister begged he would forget what had passed, assured him that what degree of shyness he had witnessed should on his part be forgotten, and that his engagements would not allow him to stay longer. Nothing, however, would satisfy the farmer, but that the minister should stay one day longer, and preach in his house in the evening; to this he at length consented, and went off in the morning, attended with the best prayers and wishes of the man, who had received him with so much coldness.

"And what, my brother," asked Robinson, "do you suppose was the result? No less than three branches of the farmer's family were brought to a knowledge of themselves and of the Savior, under the sermon delivered in consequence of this mysterious unkindness.

The whole congregation were deeply impressed with so interesting a detail, made in Robinson's best manner; but the effect on the mind of the newly ordained minister was overpowering: he blushed, then turned pale, fainted, and was carried out into the air; the usual remedies were administered, and he gradually recovered. The scene was then unfolded; he was the very minister who formed the hero of the story; he had followed Robinson throughout till he came to the effects produced by the sermon; this he had never heard till then; and his feelings were overpowered with joy and gratitude.

Winter Evening in Iceland.

A WINTER evening in an Iceland family presents a scene in the highest degree interesting and pleasing. Between three and four o'clock the lamp is hung up in the principal apartment, and all the members of the family take their stations with their work in their hand. One of the family advances to a seat near the lamp, and reads aloud. Being but badly supplied with printed books, the Icelanders are under the necessity of copying such as they can borrow. The reader is frequently interrupted either by the head or some intelligent member of the family, who makes remarks or proposes questions on what is read, to exercise the ingenuity of the children and servants.

In some houses the Sagas, or historical poems, are repeated by heart, and instances are not uncommon of itinerants gaining a livelihood during the winter, by staying at the different farms till they have exhausted their stock of knowledge. The custom above described appears to have existed from time immemorial.

Instead of the Sagas, some of the more pious substitute the scriptures, particularly the historical books. At the conclusion of the family labors, which are frequently continued till near midnight, the family join in singing a psalm or two; after which a chapter from some book of devotion is read, if the family are not in possession of a Bible; but where this sacred book exists, it is preferred to every other. The head of the family then prays, and the exercise concludes with a psalm. When an Icelander

wakes, he does not salute any person who may have slept in the room with him, but hastens to the door, and lifting up his hands towards heaven, adores Him who made the heavens and the earth, the author and preserver of his being, and the source of every blessing. He then returns into the house and salutes every one he ineels, with "God grant you a good day."

Archbishop Sharp and the Highwayman

It was his lordship's custom to have a saddle horse at tend his carriage, that, in case of fatigue from sitting, he might refresh himself with a ride. As he was thus going to his Episcopal residence, and had got a mile or two before his carriage, a decent, well looking young man came up to him, and with a trembling hand and faultering tongue, presenting a pistol to his breast, demanded his money. The Archbishop, with great composure, turned about, and looking stedfastly at him, desired him to remove that dangerous weapon, and tell him fairly his condition. "Sir! sir!" with great agitation, cried the youth, "your money instantly!"" "Hear me, young man," said the archbishop, "you see I am a very old man, and my life is of very little consequence; yours is far otherwise. I am named Sharp, and am archbishop of York; my carriage and servants are behind; tell me what money you want, and who you are, and I'll not injure you, but prove a friend. Here, take this, and now ingenuously tell me how much you want to make you independent of so destructive a business as you are engaged in ?" "O, sir,” replied the man, "I detest the business as much as you. I am-but at home, there are creditors who will not stay. Fifty pounds, my lord, indeed would do what no tongue can tell." "Well, sir, I take your word; and upon my honor, if you will, in a day or two, call on me at what I have now given shall be made up that sum." The highwayman looked at him, was silent, and went off; and at the time appointed actually waited on the archbishop, and assured his lordship that his words had left impressions, which nothing could ever destroy.

Nothing more transpired for a year and a half, or more

when one morning a person knocked at 1 is grace's gate, and with peculiar earnestness, desired to see him. He entered the room where his lordship was, but had scarce advanced a few steps before his countenance changed, his knees tottered, and sank almost breathless on the floor. On recovering, he requested an audience in private. The apartment being cleared, "my lord," said he, "you cannot have forgotten the circumstance at such a time and place: gratitude will never suffer them to be obliterated from my mind. In me, my lord, you now behold that once most wretched of mankind: but now, by your inexpressible humanity, rendered equal, perhaps superior, in happiness, to millions. Oh, my lord, (tears for a while prevented his utterance,) 'tis you, 'tis you that have saved me, body and soul; 'tis you that have saved a dear and much loved wife, and a brood of children whom I hold dearer than my life. Here are fifty pounds; but never shall I find language to testify what I feel. Your God is your witness; your deed itself is your glory; and may heaven and all its blessings be your present and everlasting reward. I was the younger son of a wealthy man; your lordship knows him--my marriage alienated his affections, and my brother withdrew his love, and left me to sorrow and penury. A month since, my brother died a bachelor, and intestate. What was his, became mine; and by your astonishing goodness, I am now at once the most penitent, the most grateful, and happiest of my species.

Poor Jack.

THE following account is given by Leigh Richmond, as having been related by a minister, in a meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

A drunkard was one day staggering in drink on the brink of the sea. His little son by him, three years of age, being very hungry, solicited him for something to eat. The miserable father, conscious of his poverty, and of the criminal cause of it, in a kind of rage, occasioned by his intemperance and despair, hurled the little innocent into the sea, and made off. The poor little sufferer,