"But she knew human nature too well, not to know that religious instruction would be very inefficacious, without correcting inveterately bad habits. Together with a few pious and able associates of her own sex,* she instituted a school of reform and industry, found manual employment for those who had never worked, and Christian instruction for those who had never been taught. The lips that had been seldom opened but to blaspheme their Maker, were taught to praise him; the hands. hitherto employed in theft, were employed in honest labour. Infants, in a doubly-lamented sense, born in sin and bred in vice, were snatched from a destruction which had appeared inevitable, and put into a train of improvement. The gloomy mansion which had lately been a scene of horror, only to be exceeded by those more dreadful future mansions to which it was conducting them, changed its face. The loathsome prison, which had witnessed nothing but intoxication and idleness, had heard no sounds but those of reviling and of imprecation, gradually became a scene of comparative decency, sobriety, and order." Testimonies equally honourable and just have since been repeatedly borne, by writers in our own and other countries, to the intrepid and untiring exertions of Mrs. Fry in the cause of humanity and piety, and the salutary and gratifying effects they have produced. Her visits of mercy have not been confined to the victims of crime and misery in the prisons of the British metropolis, but, taking a much wider range, have been extended to those of the most remote and suffering parts of the United Kingdom, especially in Ireland, which, in company with her esteemed brother, J. J. Gurney, she has visited for the purpose of endeavouring to ameliorate the wretchedness of the most wretched in that unhappy country: with the same * Among these Mrs. Steinkopff stands in the first rank. objects in view, she had previously visited Scotland, and the northern parts of England. Mrs. Fry's career of compassion and benevolence continues, like the path of the just, to shine brighter and brighter unto the perfect day, traceable by the blessings scattered in its course, and distinguished chiefly by that unobtrusiveness which, ascribing even the pleasure and blessedness of doing good unto others to the aboundings of Divine mercy, leads to the avoidance of human notice and commendation. The benevolent exertions of this devoted Christian have not been restricted to any single walk of usefulness, but have embraced most of those in which her sex can with propriety and advantage be engaged: one of her latest efforts of charity and piety has been directed towards a class of persons requiring, from their very peculiar circumstances, the kind attention of their countrymen, but hitherto greatly overlooked—the residents at the guard - stations around the coast, which amount to about five hundred in number, and include, with women and children, upwards of 20,000 persons, the nature of whose employment prevents almost entirely their attending on the public worship of the Most High, and the regular means of religious instruction. Efforts are now making for the purpose of placing a library of religious and useful books in each of the stations, and on board the revenue-cutters employed on the coast. These truly commendable efforts, it is understood, were commenced by Mrs. Fry, by whom they are vigorously pursued, with encouraging hopes that they will be liberally assisted, and soon rendered completely successful. THE SHEPHERDS' VIGIL. BY THE AUTHOR OF 66 CHRONOLOGICAL RHYMES." "And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night."-ST. LUKE ii. 8. SILENT, and calm, and beautiful The starry night came down, Where Kedar's deserts frown; The dark green hills, where oft of old The patriarchs' tents were seen; And lovely lay the land around, Lovely as when, of yore, The footsteps of her God were found Upon her olive shore: And where her vine-wreath'd gates unclosed R |