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"What sparkles in that lucid flood Is water, by gross mortals eyed; But seen by faith, 'tis blood

Out of a dear Friend's side.

"A few calm words of faith and prayer,
A few bright drops of holy dew,
Shall work a wonder there
Earth's charmers never knew."

Oh blessed means, which God has sanctified to so great an end! What an exercise for our faith but still more what a call for our thankful praise! that to each infant, thus brought to Holy Baptism, there is given the seed of a new and holy nature, to overpower rising corruption, to keep down evil passions in their earliest growth; a Heavenly Spirit, there to dwell continually, making a home of its bosom, and a Church of its heart!

Twice, during the performance of the holy rite, Janet's quick ear had caught a sound, as of some one moving near them, but the rest, too deeply wrapt in prayer, had not perceived it; now, however, the noise increased, and seizing Alice's arm, Janet pointed silently towards a spot in the darkness, where there was evidently a figure moving. In another moment, and before they could recover from their dismay, Alick the informer, stood before them. His manner was agitated, and his words thick and hurried: "Don't go," he stammered out; "oh pray don't go; I know you hate me, and I hate myself;" and tears, that none had ever seen on his face before,

coursed each other down his cheeks. "But, he continued, "I never heard of this, no one ever told me of such things as you said just now; and no one ever took me to be baptized, that my sins might be washed away, and that I might have the Holy Spirit given to me. Oh, sir, that's the reason I'm such a wicked boy, that every one hates me, and sets me to do wicked things, because they say Alick 'll stick at nothing, and that's why I came here as a spy, to-night, of my own accord. I know not why it is that I'm so bad, and so miserable; but oh, dear people, must I always be so, and have God always to hate me?"

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"I didn't know, sir, it was God that made my thoughts change. I've heard father and some others talk about the Holy Ghost, but they don't talk like you do; for if they want to do anything, if it's ever so bad, they say the Holy Ghost wills it; but I always knew that couldn't be ; but now, sir," he continued, returning to his former earnestness of manner, "do you think God would let me be baptized now, and take away my sins? Oh, they are so many, there's a bad spirit, instead of a good one, with me, sir ;" and again he burst into an agony of tears.

who seek it in repentance and faith. I think "All may have that great blessing, Alick, but you hardly know what or how you are to you somewhat know what repentance means; believe; and you ought to understand what you engage, before you are admitted to Holy Baptism."

"What must I do then, sir, and when may I come ?" asked Alick, eagerly.

"I must see you many times, and instruct you, that you may be really prepared for Baptism. We must run some risks in meeting, and must meet when we can."

"O never mind the risk!" exclaimed Alick; "I do want to give up what is evil, and to have God's love."

"Well, then, Alick, meet me here to-morrow night."

"I will, indeed, sir," answered Alick. Before they parted, Alice and her husband pressed Alick's hand, and said some kind words to him, and then bowing their heads to receive their pastor's blessing, they returned to their cottage.

Many times did the good pastor meet Alick, and at last he was enabled, with a good conscience, to administer that blessed Sacrament, whereby he was made a child of God. Poor Alick had much to endure after his baptism, not only from his own evil nature, which had so long had free sway, but also from the evil men, with whom he was compelled to associate. At last the power of the oppressor was no more, and the public profession of our true religion was restored; nowhere was there more fervent thanksgiving than in the secluded Church of M, where all hastened to catch a word or a smile from their beloved and venerable pastor, as he passed through their ranks, to take his old accustomed place in the ministrations of the sanctuary.

THE BURNING VESSEL.

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spots on the Sussex coast, a bright, sheltered nook, in a little bay, or rather cove, of its own, with a long row of villa-residences, built at the foot of a lofty cliff, and with a wide expanse of firm white sand in front.

H, I'm a miserable woman, ( that I am! a poor wornout drudge! quite a slave! scrubbing and rubbing, toiling and moiling, in all manner of dirt and sorrow! Being a good fishing-station, there are As soon as one set of lodgers is gone plenty of boats, and where there are boats another coming in! No peace, no there must be men to manage them. The respite! And Tom out all day, aye, Ashton children passed a good deal of time and often half the night, too, with his on the water, and it was soon observed that boat! No help in carrying the water, a certain Tom Day had acquired the exclunor in beating the carpets! And lit-sive privilege of carrying the young Ashtons tle Tom fretting so with his teeth! out to sea, and further, that when he came up Oh, it's a miserable world, and this is a mis- to Sea View House for orders, Ellen Mason erable place, and I'm a miserable woman! was seldom out of the way. A fine, sturdy, What a fool I was to leave Ashton Hall, and good-looking fellow was Tom, with a merry .. there's the kettle boiling over! laughing eye, and an honest, open, sailorSo did Ellen Day bemoan her lot; and like countenance; I suppose Ellen thought while she runs down stairs to look after the he seemed like one, who, if he had a wife, kettle, the reader should be made acquainted would know how to take care of her and, with the nature of Ellen's misfortunes. Like as soon as he dared, Tom let out that he was many other people, she had so few real trou- pretty well to do in the world, and every bles, that she was disposed to indulge herself year was doing better; that Winterbourne in imaginary ones. She had allowed herself was a growing place; that a lodging-house to complain so much about trifles, that with- (and there were one or two of them on sale) out being aware of it, she had grown very would be a safe investment for money, and discontented, and was making herself, and that if he could but find a wife to take charge every one who had to do with her, uncom- of it, he should be a happy man. And if, in fortable. addition to all this, he told Ellen that he admired her more than any one he had ever seen, and that he was over head and ears in love with her, he said no more than he felt, and than he had good cause to say; for, barring a slight shade of discontent, which now and then passed over her face, Ellen was a very pretty girl, and, what is more to the purpose, a well-principled and well-disposed one; so that, when upon inquiry and further knowledge, she was satisfied that Tom was a good man, and likely to make a kind husband, she contrived to let him know that she did not care how soon Ellen Mason became Ellen Day.

Now that she was no longer in service, she was continually comparing her present condition with what it had been at Ashton-Hall: all the while she was there, she was always full of misfortunes. It was too hot, or too cold, or the place did not agree with her; or the country was so dull; or she had engaged herself for a nursery-maid's place, while her talent was in the kitchen; in short, everything went the wrong way, and nobody, according to her way of thinking, had ever so many troubles and vexations as herself. Her chief consolation was in pitying herself, and in looking forward to a future, when she should be her own mistress, and have her own way, and then nothing would go wrong, and nobody would cross her. Service is no inheritance," she would say, "that's my only comfort. If I were but settled for life I should be happy."

The autumn of that year had not passed into winter, before the young Ashtons had gone home with a new nursery maid, and Ellen's savings were helping to furnish "Sunny Nook" (so the new purchase was called) with beds and carpets, tables and chairs.

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And before very long she was settled for life. About two years before the events, It was well-named Sunny Nook; for its which we are about to record, took place, the full southern aspect, and the lofty elms on family from Ashton-Hall moved, for the sum-either side of it, and the high cliff at the mer season, to the sea-side, and took up their abode at Winterbourne, which, as all the world knows, is one of the most delightful

back, made Tom Day's villa the warmest and most sheltered lodging-house at Winterbourne. In its garden the myrtle and scarlet

geranium lived through the winter, and the blue passion-flower hung in festoons, from pillar to pillar, in the little verandah.

It had all that nature could give it, to make it a bright and sunny dwelling; but unless we have sunshine in our own breasts, our outward blessings are given us in vain. Through every season of the year, Tom Day's house had a succession of lodgers, and each family, as they quitted it, expressed to Ellen the wish that they could always live in such a pleasant place, and congratulated her on having her lot in life cast there. At first she would blush and smile, and her eyes would sparkle at the consciousness of her happiness. Yes," and she thanked God for it; "she had a good husband, and they were doing well, and it was a beautiful place, and they had everything to be grateful for." By and by, she used the same words, but they seemed like a mere form, and as if they did not come from her heart; there was no smile, and her eyes did not sparkle. At the year's end, she "was sure she was very glad if the family were satisfied, but all places were very much the same to her."

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and if we do not find crosses ready provided for us, we had better make them than be without them. Only, if we desire a blessing on them, we must take good heed what the materials are from which we make them. We may make our crosses out of self-indulgence, (as poor Ellen did ;) Scripture teaches us to make them out of self-denial. And we must remember this, too, that we have no right to make crosses for others.

Ellen's infirmity had been a sore cross to her husband. For a long while he could not understand how it could be, that such little matters, as she declared to be the sources of her vexation, could be a trouble to anybody. At first he tried to laugh her out of it, but he soon found that this would not do. Then, with ready good humor, he endeavored to lighten her domestic labors, or whatever happened to be the cause of her trouble, by undertaking them, so far as he could, himself. Many a job, in house and kitchen, did he do, which never fisherman was seen to do before. His neighbors laughed at him, and told him he was spoiling a good wife; his wife laughed at him, and told him that his fingers were On the morning of the day on which our thumbs; but little cared he what was said, if tale commences, she had received the fare-only he could see her happy, and not hear wells of her last lodgers with a curtsey, and her incessantly complaining. their praises of Sunny Nook with a sigh of resignation.

The black spot had spread. A casual infirmity of temper was growing into a confirmed habit. No resistance had been made to the tempter, and the poison of the sin of discontent was spreading through Ellen's whole character, and making herself and her husband wretched. Without being aware of it herself, she was growing peevish and complaining, and without a trouble in the world, save those of her own making, was fond of talking as though fortune had a spite at her, and as if she had worse luck than anybody."

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A sharp fit of the toothache would have been a positive blessing to her, if it had befallen her in the first month of her marriage. The fact was, that she was really too happy; she had a husband who doated on her, and made everything smooth to her. It is a sad thing to say, but her very mercies had made her ungrateful. So true is it that the safest and least dangerous path for a Christian, is one in which all things do not go well with him. So needful is it for our own personal happiness, no less than for our spiritual advancement, and growth in God's favor, that we should obey the injunction of our blessed Lord "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.' We all need a daily cross;

However, it was all to no purpose; and when Tom found that, in spite of all his efforts to make her comfortable, Ellen still persisted in talking as if she were a miserable woman, he began to grow callous to her imaginary miseries. Certainly it made his home very uncomfortable at times; but (so he consoled himself) "it was only her way;" and he was determined not to mind it. So when she began to complain, he put his hands in his pockets and began to whistle, or put his hat on his head, and went down to his boat. This did not mend matters; and, by degrees, the way was preparing for that miserable state of things, in which husband and wife are glad to escape from each other's presence, instead of finding mutual society, help, and comfort. Ellen grew more peevish and complaining; and Tom became indifferent to his home, and to all things connected with it. He was happier when buffeting with the winds and waves, than at his own fireside; and Elien was happy nowhere: and this, simply, because she had given way to a discontented spirit, which grew upon her, more and more, and at times persuaded her that her very life was a burden to her.

The kettle, which, by boiling over, had interrupted the course of Ellen's lamentation, was speedily removed from the fire, and the work of preparing her house for fresh lodgers proceeded. Even in her grumbling, El

len had a pride in her house, and, unknown to herself, she had a great deal more interest in it, and everything connected with it, than she believed herself to have.

Grumbling had become a habit to her, and so as soon as she resumed her work, she resumed her grumbling. Yet it was not without a feeling of satisfaction that she looked upon her pretty parlor, when the labors of the broom and duster were concluded.

"It is a neat little place, I will say that for it, when it's properly cleaned up. There is some comfort in seeing a house look as it should, though I'm worn to death with cleaning it. Dear! dear! if I lived anywhere but in a lodging-house, how happy I should be! But these lodgers, coming in one after another, they're always making some mess or another, and never think of the trouble they give. And the sea, that's another thing, as bad or worse than the lodgers: it spoils everything, and fades everything, and wets everything. Who would have thought that it is only a week ago since I cleaned these windows, and now,-ugh! one can› hardly see through them, for the salt on the glass!" So saying, she threw open the folding-doors, which opened out into the garden, and began to clean the windows. "Never saw such a mess in my life! Who would ever have thought I should have to take to window-cleaning? I'm sure I never cleaned windows at Ashton-Hall. What a fool I was to leave it! What could have tempted me to come here ?" >

"Why, you fell in love with me; and couldn't help yourself, you know," said a good-natured voice behind her.

Ellen could hardly resist a smile, in spite of herself; and the tone of her husband brought back a vision of days that had long passed away.

"I wish you would not make one jump so, Tom; I thought you were going out a fish-) ing."

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So I was, and so I am; but I ran home just to get my glass, and take a look at that schooner there."

"Did you never see a schooner before?" "She's Dutch built, that's evident," observed Tom to himself, as he gazed through his telescope, without paying much attention to what his wife was saying; "and if the haze would clear away a bit, I should see more of her."

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puzzling to Tom's nautical experience. At
last he said, in an unsatisfied tone, “may be
they are waiting for a pilot ;" and he shut up
his glass, but instead of taking it into the
house, he put it into his pocket.

"Can I do anything for you, Nelly, before
I go?" he asked, addressing himself to his
wife.

"No, thank you, Tom. You have left me to do everything by myself, and now, when all's done, you offer to help me. There are only the windows to be cleaned, and you can't do that; for you would break every square you touched. If there's a thing on the face of the earth I hate, it's window cleaning."

"Why do you clean them so often, then?"

"Because, if I don't, the lodgers will grumble."

"Let 'em grumble," said Tom; "don't worry yourself about the windows; when they're dirtiest, they are cleaner than at the other lodging-houses, I'm sure."

"Of course they are. You would'nt have your house like Hogg's lodging, would you? People never stay there more than a day or two, because of the dirt."

"Well, then, don't clean these windows till you're rested."

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Rested!" exclaimed Mrs. Day, in a very injured tone; "I'm sure there's no rest for me, Tom. I've never known rest since I left Ashton-Hall; and as for having rest ever again, till I'm in my coffin, the thing's impossible."

And then to show how impossible it was
that she ever could have rest, she began to
clean a large pane so vigorously, that in a
moment her cloth went through it, and the
glass was shivered to pieces.

"Are you hurt? Have you cut your-
self?" cried Tom, with great earnestness.
"Cut myself? no: but there will be five
shillings to pay the glazier, if there's a
farthing."

"It might have been worse," said Tom,
greatly relieved; we might have had to
pay the surgeon. Never mind the glass."

"Never mind the glass,' and 'it might
have beon worse!' Why, Tom, you'd make
one think you were a fool, by the way you go
on at times. I do believe I'm the unluckiest
creature that ever was born! Don't you
know there are new lodgers coming in to-
night, and don't you know there's not a gla-
zier within four miles of us? And then to
go and say: 'It might have been worse.'
You're enough to provoke a saint, Tom.”
It was well for both parties that the con
versation was here brought to a sudden stop,

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Had it proceeded further, the quarrel, which seemed to have been long impending, would have been the result. Day was wearied out with his wife's fretfulness, and her womanly pride was piqued, that she could no longer exert the same influence over her husband, now with frowns, as formerly with smiles.

Hurt and angry at Ellen's hasty words, he had turned away from her, and was in the act of taking the path which led out of the garden to the sea-shore, when once more his attention was rivetted to the schooner, which was now rapidly approaching the shore, with all her sails set. A fresh wind was blowing, and, during the short time in which Tom had been talking to his wife, the vessel had come full in sight.

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forth in denser masses from every cranny of escape, eddying round the white sails, spreading over, and obscuring the deck, and then, stretching out in a long, low line above the waters, darkened both sea and land.

Nearer and nearer it came, and gradually, as it approached, was heard a sound, which still grew louder and louder, till it rose above the howling of the wind, and the tumult of the waters, dashing over a line of rocks in the immediate neighborhood. It was the angry roaring of the pent-up flames, writhing and struggling to burst forth, raging like wild beasts, greedy of a prey, which some obstacle detains for a moment from their grasp.

The squall increased; down came the rain in torrents; but the anxious crowd upon the The careless whistle, which had been com- shore stood motionless, one sight in their menced with a view of hiding deeper feel-eyes, the fated vessel, one sound in their ings, stopped in a moment. The telescope ears, a sound which rung in them for a week was raised, as suddenly let fall, and then, in after, the indignant bellowing of the baffled a voice which was choked with agitation, the fire. fisherman exclaimed: "Oh Ellen! Ellen! look out yonder! As sure as there is a heaven above us, that vessel is on fire, and the poor fellows are running her ashore to save their lives!"

"On fire!" cried Ellen, darting up, and forgetting, in a moment, all her silly pique, 66 where, where? I see no fire."

"No, no, that's yet to come; but you see the smoke, don't you, driving across the sails? You see how they're steering the vessel, don't you? Would they steer her so in broad daylight, knowing, as they must, that in five minutes' time they will be aground within fifty yards of our cliffs, if they had any hope of saving their own lives by any other means?"

It was but too evident even while he spoke, the mass of smoke, surrounding the ill-fated vessel, grew thicker and thicker. The hatches had been fastened down, to prevent the approach of air to the flames, and to retard the progress of ignition; but it was a question of time, that was all, when the fiery element would burst forth. Without saying another word, the husband and wife ran out of their garden, and in a minute more were upon the beach, whither (for the alarm was already given) their neighbors were hastening.

It was about noon: but the month was November, and heavy clouds were drifting across the sky, and obscuring the sun, which, however, gleamed forth at intervals. The tide was going down, and the firm white sands were thronged with the population of the little village.

Nearer and nearer came the vessel, and every instant the smoke, black as ink, poured

Baffled for a short space only! for, at the moment she grounded, the force and shock of her keel, cutting its way into the sand, and then meeting a sudden and complete resistance to all further progress, seemed to have the effect of causing the timbers to gape, and of removing every obstacle which hitherto had hindered the visible ascent of the flames. Within a minute the whole space about her stern was a mass of fire, lapping up every object within its reach, curling round the masts, running in tongues of flame among the rigging, darting like balls of fire, from point to point, till every part and portion of the schooner was wrapped in fearful conflagration. The rain continued to fall heavily, the waves beat over the ship, but not the slightest check appeared to be given to the devouring element. For a brief space the fire was less bright, for the wind was now veering about continually, and sweeping in eddies round the vessel, carried the smoke with it, and obscured every object. So things continued for a quarter of an hour or more, and then the wind, having shifted, and blowing steadily off the land, the progress of the fire became visible once more. By and by there was a loud explosion, which caused the affrighted crowd to hurry away in all directions; then another, and another, and then some portion of the stern gave way, and there issued from the opening a cataract of liquid fire, which ran over the sands, (for by this time the retreating tide had left the vessel stranded,) rolled through a low barrier of rocks and sea-weed, till it forced its way into the sea, with which it appeared to mingle without being extinguished. And no wonder! for the cargo had consisted of hundreds

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