THE SOUL THAT BELIEVETH.

M March 1864, after a painful affliction of two years, aged four

Y dear daughter, Anne Huard, departed this life 17th of

teen. She was beloved by all that knew her; was always what is called a good girl. When first taken with her illness, she did not like anyone to talk to her about dying, but would say she should get better. She did not wish to leave her father and mother. She was very fond of going to chapel, and her Sunday school. The first time we perceived a work of grace upon her soul was one Sunday, when brother Wall was to preach in the evening. We asked her if she should like to hear him. She said, "Very much." Her mother carried her to chapel; not being able to walk, being then a poor cripple. The text was, 'My sheep hear my voice." While brother Wall was describing the difference between the sheep and the goats, her mother perceived her holding down her head, and crying. She said to her:

"Are you in pain? shall I take you home?"

She said, "No."

She had very little sleep that night: the next morning, her mother said to her,

y bad all night."

"My dear Anne, you have been very She said, "O mother, I am such a sinner. You did not know why I was crying at chapel last night. I did not think I was one of God's sheep; but thought I was a goat, and should go to hell."

She was for some length of time troubled in her soul; and was passing through great exercises of mind: was often heard to cry to God when alone: her mother would sometimes listen at the foot of the stairs to hear her pleading with her God; on going up to her would find her weeping on those occasions. She would talk to her; ask her if she thought the Lord was not very good to her even in the midst of all her sufferings in giving her a desire to love him, and a'spirit of prayer? She would say, "O yes, mother; He is good: but do you think He will hear such a sinner as me? I feel that I have such a wicked heart." Her mother told her that

she would never have known that, if God had not revealed it unto her; for He only did that to His own dear children, whom He had chosen for Himself.

One very remarkable circumstance occurred about this time. One morning she said, "I want to tell you something. Last night, after praying some time to God to tell me I was His child, I went to sleep, and dreamt I was in a large room where there was a great feast spread on a very large table; at the end of the table such a beautiful person sat, all in white. There was such a many there. I was there, and you, and father. Presently that beautiful person rose and gave something to some of the people: he came to me, and looked so pleasant, and gave me a white stone with gold letters on it, and one to you and father; that was to show that we were welcome to the feast. The rest covered their faces, and went out. I woke, and felt so happy." Shortly after that, a dear brother in Christ called to see her While talking to her, he said he had had such a good time at the throne of grace pleading to God on her behalf, so much so that he believed the Lord had heard him. You could see her face brighten up. When he went she said, "O mother, I am so glad that real good Christian people do pray for me." I said, "My dear, that will not do unless you pray for yourself." She said, "I know that; and am so glad that the dear Lord knows more than you do: He knows I love Him; I hate sin." She seemed from this time to lose the fear of death, though at times sorely tried and harassed. Her sufferings became very great. She would say, "O if I were the Lord's, He would give me more patience to suffer His will." She knew she was dying; she felt her end would soon come; but was ripening for glory. Sabbath evenings were then sweet times for me, although painful at the thought of so soon losing her; being unable through great affliction to attend chapel, was alone with her. She would talk so heavenly, and sing so sweetly such striking hymns: such as,

"Yes, I shall soon be landed on yonder shores of bliss,"

and one in her school hymn book,

"Thy will be done."

While singing this hymn, one Sabbath evening, she saw me weep. She said, "Sing, father; the Lord will give you strength to say, 'Thy will be done." "

I said, "I cannot say so now, my dear; I don't feel as though I could give you up."

She said, "O dear father, the Lord will support you; I don't think that you will be long after me, mother, and you, and brother, I hope, will soon meet above, with precious Jesus; O how happy we shall be."

Our pastor came to see her. On coming in, he said, "You are very bad, Anne."

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Yes," she said, "I am."

He said, "Do you think you will get better?

She said, "No."

"Then where do "To heaven sir."

you think

"How do you know that?'

you will go?

She said, "Because I believe that God has pardoned me.” "What makes you think so?"

"One day, I was so dark in my mind, and I prayed to God, and the room seemed all bright, and I seemed so happy."

"Have you ever had any passage of scripture applied to you? "Yes; Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,' and so on."

He said, "Well, if after all, if God was to send you to hell, do you think He would be just?"

She said, "Yes, I should deserve it."

I could fill a book if I were to write all; I will come to the last part of her life. She suffered very much; she would cry out, "Dear Lord, do take me home: do, dear Lord, release me, take me to Thyself:" then she would say, "O mother, O father, pray for me, that the Lord would give me patience; you don't know, father, what I suffer, but it is all for the best, the Lord does right." We saw her end approaching; we could scarcely bear to see her sufferings. We asked her if she feared death. She said, "No; come, Jesus, take me home." About half-an-hour before she died, I said, "You will soon be with Jesus." She said,

"Yes, I hope so, I think I shall." About three minutes before she went, she asked for her brother; she kissed him, and her look I cannot forget; and her happy spirit departed to be for ever with the Lord.

76, Green-street.

W. HUARD.

AMELIA

SADGROVE:

OR,

DECISION FOR TRUTH.

BY THE REV. WILLIAM FRITH, BOROUGH GREEN, KENT.

(Continued from page 129)

ARAH SADGROVE, who had been long silent, and had been

a mark of surprise mingled with regret, visible in her countenance, said,

"O! my dear Miss Williams, I am sorry to hear you say that you are not so religious as Amelia; I thought you were a very pious young lady."

"Indeed," replied Miss W., "I really do not know how you could have formed that opinion of me. I have never made any great pretensions to a sanctified life; for I have never felt any taste for reading religious books; and though I do not indulge in any of those low novels, still I like some good reading in Natural History, or the Biographies of some eminent persons. But, of course, I always try to accommodate myself to my friends as well as I can, and would not offend the feelings of any one; yet if I could SEE and FEEL the importance of religion, I should act differently."

"Ah, indeed you would," observes Miss Amelia, whose truthful and sympathetic mind, and tender conscience seemed deeply affected in hearing the remarks of her young friend, "if you knew the worth of a religious life; for I am sure that, although I do enjoy reading a good volume of Natural His

tory of Linnæus or Buffon, or some instructive and well written Biography, yet THE BIBLE is to me more attractive and interesting the more I read it. I seem to have such a pleasure in reading it that, though I cannot understand some of it, and some parts of its doctrines do really astonish me, yet I could not part with it for any book in the world. I have read that Alexander the Great, king of Macedon, said that he could find enough in Homer's Iliad to make a good general, and always took it with him in all his campaigns, and made it the study of his spare moments and leisure hours; and what he did with that very excellent poem, I would say and do with the Bible; for I do think that it is 'able to make wise unto salvation, through faith that is in Christ Jesus.' Indeed, I like what the poet has said of it in those beautiful lines,

May this blest volume ever lie

Close to my heart and near my eye.'

But, dear Miss Williams, have you ever prayed to God? Have you never felt a desire to enjoy that beautiful Book which you say is so highly appreciated by your dear mamma?"

"Well, dear Amelia, I have sometimes had such a desire, but it has soon passed away, and my interest either in the Bible, or in the Church, is not very great. I think, too, it is a great grief to dear mamma, for I know by some remarks she makes that she often thinks of me.'

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"O, dear Miss Williams, I do wish my dear mamma was like yours. I should be so happy. For though mamma loves me dearly, yet she does not like religion at all; and if it was not for dear papa and dear Miss Brooks, my kind governess, I should be very unhappy indeed, for I am often encouraged by them. But I often pray for dear mamma; and I shall also pray for you, too, dear Miss Williams, because I am sure you would love a religious life if you only entered upon it. And as the Lord is the Hearer and Answerer of prayer, I shall not cease to pray for you."

Thus spake Amelia Sadgrove, who, having felt the power of the world to come herself, and having drank of the fountain of life herself, she would fain have others drink of the crystal fountain, and feel the same joys she herself had so fully experienced.