It was all very bad-as miserable as what comes under notice in any parts of Edinburgh or Glasgow, though by no means with the same environing of filth. It is only in Scotland that dirt is indelicately obtrusive. In one room about ten feet square, we found living an old shoemaker, two sempstresses, and a girl. They seemed to have scarcely space to turn themselves; and, except a bundle of rags in a corner, there was no vestige of a bed. Yet there was cheerfulness in this dismal den. The cobbler was busy with his hammer; and the two drudging females had received the pleasing intelligence that the making of shirts was up a halfpenny. Here and elsewhere were terrible complaints of the dearth of bread. When I mentioned that I was sure there would be a good harvest, and that great quantities of corn would soon arrive from America, the good news seemed to come like a ray of sunshine in the midst of gloom, and for a moment sent a thrill of joy through the heart.

was

sorry for one poor woman whom we found inhabiting a small dingy room on the ground-floor of a house in a very narrow alley. She was rheumatic, and had not been able to walk for fifteen years; she could go to the door only by crawling on her hands and knees. This poor old creature, nevertheless, did not appear unhappy. She spoke resignedly of her sufferings. On inquiring if two little girls who were with her were her grand-children, she replied that they belonged to a neighbour who had to go out daily to work, and that she took charge of them as a matter of duty. It was our duty to assist each other.' In this way are the poor constantly found assisting the poor.

Mr. Walker, the missionary who

mentioned that, some years ago, when he began his domiciliary visits in Westminster, he was received with great jealousy, and open threats of vengeance. The people could not understand how any person in his station should come about them unless for some selfish purpose; nor could they believe that their children should be invited to go to school unless to make a job of them. Their notion was, that the free schools were a new trick on the part of the rich to squeeze the poor. With the quiet perseverance of a Scotchman, Mr. Walker combated with, and ultimately vanquished, these fancies. The free schools are now exceedingly popular; and the missionary is a recognised friend and counsellor throughout the district. Of this we had some evidence: in the course of our walk, he was several times stopped by women of a humble class to get his advice on matters which concerned them. I should imagine from this, and other circumstances which have come to my knowledge, that town missionaries, even as regards secular counsel, are of the greatest possible service, and form an indispensable enginery of humanity and civilization in the present condition of large cities.

As we entered the chariot which had been in attendance, and drove into the glare and bustle of Palaceyard-amid crowds of ladies and gentlemen hurrying to see the new House of Lords, and lawyers pushing along with their bags towards 'the hall'-I almost felt as if suddenly dropped into a new world; so totally dissimilar are two states of things closely in connection with each other.CHAMBERS.

RAGGED SCHOOL FACTS AT WOOLWICH. During one of the winter months, one of the

teachers fainted, owing to the heat of the room, and was compelled to retire into an adjoining apartment. The grief of the children belonging to her class was most violent; they burst into tears and sobbed audibly. At

eight o'clock the school was dismissed; and at nine o'clock, the teacher, having recovered, was conducted towards her residence; but she had hardly reached the street before she was surrounded by the children, who had waited an hour in the cold in order to see their beloved teacher once more. On being told that she was better, they said, 'All's right, all's right; teacher's better, now we'll go home.'

K. L. attended the school until she obtained a situation at a small public-house near the river, kept by a woman who had one little daughter. The first night that she entered the house, she slept in the same room with the owner; before retiring to rest, she knelt by her bedside and prayed to the Lord. The woman seeing her so engaged, was very angry and rebuked her, telling her she had better get into bed immediately. The next morning K. L. again prayed to God; the woman remarked,' It was all nonsense wasting time that way.' Nevertheless, the child persevered. During the day the daughter came to K. L. and said, 'Do let me pray with you-mother never lets me pray.' The child's request was gladly acceded to, and oftentimes did these children pray together.

I. J. has attended the school for some months; he is now possessed of a Bible, out of which he frequently reads to his parents, one of whom is a drunkard. This poor boy supports with Christian patience many severe trials; he prays frequently and studies the

word of God, a copy of which he carries always with him. His father on one occasion, after recovering from an illness, brought on by intemperance, asked him to pray for him. The boy went to his box, took out one of the books he had obtained in exchange for tickets, called 'Cottage Prayers,' and kneeling down by his father's bed, offered up his prayers for his recovery.

A VISIT TO SCOTCH RAGGED SCHOOLS.-I lately visited the Ragged industrial schools in Aberdeen, Dundee, and Edinburgh. Those in Aberdeen are increased in number from a schism, that arose out of the Free Kirk, and doing much good. In one school, called the Refuge, I saw eighty to ninety boys. They had finished work for the day (about half-past seven) and were having supper. This consisted of porridge and milk. In the school, the order was very good, the expense very moderate, only about £4 each child per annum. The food per day only 24d. each. Attached to the school was the Child's Asylum, where every child found by the police in the street of Aberdeen, is taken and kept till claimed, or placed in some suitable institution. At another school for Ragged girls in Donbara lane, I found fifty-six children in capital order, under an active, intelligent mistress. Both these schools were patronized and frequently visited by Mr. Sheriff Watson.

In Dundee I found a most efficient school, and capital arrangements, food, &c. Several instances of good were mentioned. The food here also cost very little, but was good and wholesome. I tasted the broth and bread. They had plenty of it, and yet that and porridge morning and evening only cost 24d. or 3d. a-day for each child. The school was in a very wretched locality, not far

from the scene of the labours of that man of God Mr. Cheyne, but had a large yard attached, and plenty of room for cooking, work rooms, &c.

In Edinburgh they have two schools. In the one I found thirty girls, in the other fifty boys. They had only lately begun and were not fully organized. They promise to be well carried on. Mr. Gathna of the Free church, whose chapel is close by, takes an active part in their management. It was mainly by his exertion that the schools were kept out of the hands of the Catholic party in Edinburgh, who wished to exclude the authorized version of the Scriptures, and who are now making efforts to establish schools on a plan of their own, where Popery as well as Protestanism is to be taught.

Our chairman, Lord Ashley, writes me (Thursday) October 7th, that he has visited the Ragged school in Glasgow, and has been much pleased with the economy of it. The expenditure astonished him, and he thinks we might take a hint from the Scotch, as to the food. This we are trying in Westmoreland, as to oat meal and Indian corn, and shall soon see if English boys can live as the hardy Scotch ones do.

W. L.

YORK RAGGED SCHOOL,-This school is situated in Bedern, a neighbourhood well known for its moral destitution. It was opened in February last. Since that time about ninety-five children have been admitted; and the average attendance is forty children, including twenty-eight boys and twelve girls. Already have several instances occurred in connection with this school showing that this destitute class of children are capable of receiving an amount of moral and spiritual instruction exceeding the manager's most

sanguine expectations. Several of the children have been transferred to other Sunday schools. On Thursday afternoon, the 9th of September, the children taught in this Ragged School were treated plentifully with tea and buns. Forty-five children were present, most of them of the ragged description, and their expressive looks told too plainly that, for once in their lifetime, they were about to partake of a bountiful meal. Several ladies and gentlemen were present to witness the novel, but gratifying, sight.— 'There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth.' Prov. xi. 24.

THE RAGGED SCHOOL TEACHER Composed by J. PAYNE, Esq. and repeated at the Public Meeting of the Lambeth Ragged School.

In a crowded room, and hot,

I saw, with young children round, A Man, who seem'd rooted and fix'd to the spot,

While before him was heard a low sound,

Teach-teach-teach!

Patient, and gentle, and mild,

He had turn'd from the fane, where the eloquent preach,

To enlighten the poor and the weak.

He seem'd to embrace the whole In his ceaseless, anxious care; Though stubborn, ungrateful, and hard to control,

Were some of the wild spirits there. Love-Love-Love

Is a feeling no failures shock; It fixes it's eye on the Shepherd above, And it feeds the young lambs of his flock.

Cheering his heart with those

Who prize the good words he saith, The Ragged School Teacher no weariness know's,

For his work is of life and death. Bound-Bound-Bound

To his duties each sabbath day, He labours on earth, and in heav'n shall be crown'd

With a glory that fades not away.

The Children's Box.

ENEAS CARRYING HIS FATHER

OUT OF BURNING TROY. CHILDREN! you love to see beautiful sights, and to read of affectionate actions, and to hear of wonders! What could be a more delightful sight than that which the picture at the head of these remarks represents. See that young man carrying on his shoulders his parent out of a burning city; how he must have loved his father! and what an affectionate son! Who is this son? It is Eneas, an illustrious Trojan prince, carrying his father Anchises, out of burning Troy. The Greeks had besieged Troy, and this was the tenth year of the siege. On this night, it is said, the Greeks gained an entrance into the city by a wooden horse. This horse had been made very large, and into its body were put many armed men. The Greeks then left the horse, and retired to the sea-side. The Trojans thinking the Greeks had given up the siege, came and took the horse into the city. In the night, the concealed men stole out, unbarred the gates, and let in the Grecian

army, who set fire to the famous buildings of Troy, plundered its treasures, and killed nearly all the inhabitants. Eneas escaped, but not alone; for he did not leave the city till he had his father seated safely on his shoulders, his son Ascanius by his side, and his household goods.

Here was true affection! Children! do you thus love your parents? 'Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be Eneas was a long in the land.' heathen; but he has set an example worthy of the imitation of Christian sons and daughters.