RUTH MARIA ROBBINS.

A REMARKABLE instance of the power of religion in sustaining the young mind in the trying hour of death, was exemplified in the case of RUTH MARIA ROBBINS, a child of but ten years old, who died at Quincy, Illinois, a few years since. This interesting child was born in Troy, N. Y. At a very early age she discovered much strength of mind, and an uncommonly amiable disposition. Her mother was an exemplary member of the church, and one who was duly impressed with the importance of training up her children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Maria was the subject of many prayers, and received much wholesome instruction when very young. At the age of three years she was sent to the Sabbathschool. She very soon became much attached to her teachers; was always punctual in her attendance, and never failed to learn well her lessons. Sometime after this,

her parents removed to Quincy. Here there was then no Sabbath-school, and the sound of "the church going bell" was not heard. Maria felt very sensibly these privations, and often spoke with regret of the change in her situation.

Her last illness was very distressing, but she bore it with all the patience and resignation of an aged Christian. The physician who attended her, declared that he had never before seen so much fortitude and patience exhibited by one so young. When asked if she did not wish to recover, she answered, "If I should, I must die some time; I trust I am now prepared to go, then why should I wish to continue longer on earth. I desire to go to God, in whose presence there is fulness of joy, and at whose right hand there are pleasures for ever more. There I shall be free from sin and pain, and dwell for ever with my Saviour." She then said to her mother and little sisters, "I have put my whole trust in Christ, and now he supports me; you must all do likewise, and in the trying hour he will also be your supporter." was told a few days before her death that a church was to be formed at Quincy the next week. She said, “I should be happy to join it," and then inquired, “Are

She

there not some in all churches who are hypocrites?" Her mother replied, "No, in the church of the first born, the society of heaven, all are holy, harmless, and undefiled." "True," said she, "and I shall soon be a member of that society." Then with rapture she exclaimed, "Farewell, world, I am going home."

She often expressed a wish that she could see a minister of the gospel, that he might converse and pray with her. Rev. Mr. B. was then in town, but unable to visit her, being himself very sick. Her wish, however, was gratified. Rev. Mr. W. was providentially passing through Quincy a day or two before she died, and hearing of her illness called to see her. He found her fond parents bending in silent sorrow over the emaciated form of the patient little sufferer. He approached her bedside. She extended to him her hand, and inquired if he recollected Maria Robbins. On being answered in the affirmative, she said, I must soon die, will you pray with me? He complied with her request, and afterwards conversed with her relative to her prospects in a future world. She was too feeble to say much, but expressed entire resignation to the will of God. On being asked if

she felt willing to die, she answered, "Yes-for I have given myself to the Saviour, and he will never forsake me." After this her pain became very severe, but she never suffered a murmuring word to escape from her lips, and was frequently heard to say, "Lord, I bow before thee in humble submission to thy will," and in this spirit she died.

MISS ANN MARIA HENRY.

In the character, life, and death of this young disciple of the Lord Jesus, there was much of deep and peculiar interest. The subject of many and fervent prayers, and trained in the nurture of the Lord, she, with the first developments of an early mind, gave evidence of being a child of grace.

She was the daughter of the late Rev. Thomas Charlton Henry, of Charleston S. C., and died at Ballston, N. Y., a a year or two since.

She looked forward to her first communion Sabbath with an earnest desire and joyful anticipation of uniting herself in a personal profession with the church. From this she was prevented only by her last illness. In relation to it she remarked, "I am providentially prevented. It is a subject on which I feel so deeply that I cannot dwell upon it; I cannot speak of it.”