DR. CAREY'S DWELLING HOUSE. On the other side we give the last of our short series of views illustrative of the early life of our great missionary, Dr. Carey. The first of the views, which we gave last year, was a view of Carey's humble birthplace; our last number contained a view of his shoe-shop at Hackleton; the house of which we now give a picture, was his house at Piddington, where he lived a short time after leaving Hackleton, before he took the pastorate of the little church at Moulton. We are sorry to say that no very pleasant associations are connected with this residence at Piddington. It was situated, says his biographer, in a swamp, and the miasma brought on ague and fever, which rendered him prematurely bald. The reason why he left Hackleton for Piddington was, that trade at the former place had become dull, and that he had been obliged to sell off his stock at great sacrifice. At the same time he had been attacked with fever, which had hung about him for eighteen months. While in this enfeebled state, he had frequently been obliged to travel from place to place, to dispose of his goods to procure bread. He was reduced at Hackleton to the greatest distress, and was only rescued from starvation by the affection of a brother, who made over to him whatever he could spare of his own scanty earnings. All this occurred before he was twentyfour years old. At twenty-four and a half, he removed to Moulton; thence to Leicester; thence to India. We have traced with the more interest the early history of William Carey, because during all these times of trial, God was training him for the great work he had to accomplish. It was at Moulton that he first entertained the thought of preaching the Gospel to the heathen. It was, we are told, from the perusal of "Cooke's Voyages round the World," and while employed in giving instruction to some pupils in geography, that he was led to contemplate the moral and spiritual degradation of the heathen, and to form the design of communicating * This engraving, like that of last month, is copied, by permission of the editor, from Old Jonathan for February. It is taken from an original drawing, made nearly fifty years since, by the late Mr. Clarke, of Olney. Let the Gospel to them. What came of that design, we all know. us thank God for William Carey! "The weak things of this world, and things despised, God hath chosen." If any of our young readers should be led by these brief sketches to imitate William Carey, and to follow his example, they will not have been written in vain. WORKING FOR CHRIST; OR, CAN A CHILD DO ANYTHING? "WHAT can I do for Christ?" asked Helen Grosvenor, almost impatiently. "Papa will not give me any money, and I am too young to go about with tracts, or visit the sick, like Aunt Marian, and yet Mr. Grant said yesterday, in his sermon, that even children could do something." "And he was right," said Aunt Sophy, from her couch. "Even you can do something, Nelly." "I am sure I don't know what, then," exclaimed Helen, who, as Aunt Sophy was only a few years her senior, was wont to be rather familiar with that lady; "do tell me, auntie." "Will you pray with me?" asked Helen, with more gentleness. "I am so impatient, and I want to do so much, and I can see nothing to do." "Kneel, then," said Sophy, "and we will ask that your eyes may be opened, so that you may see how you can best serve God in daily life." The child obeyed, and in a few earnest words her gentle friend and helper implored the aid of God's Spirit in regard to her opportunities. Sophia was one of those who, like the three Hebrew children, have in the fires of affliction an ever-present and almighty companion,even Jesus, the Son of God;* but she could sympathise with friends who were in darkness, and often it pleased God to make her the instrument of great good to those around her. Helen was naturally impatient, and even headstrong; but there were those in the home-circle who expected that the love for Christ which she expressed to one and another, would suddenly transform her into a model for sweetness and patience. Sophy knew * Dan. iii. 19-25. Sophia Grant looked up from her needlework for she was, as usual, making garments for the poor--and replied by three words from the Bible "Watch and pray."" "I don't understand you," said Helen. "You puzzle me.” "Watch, dear, for opportunity, and pray for wisdom to use it," explained Sophia. better. It never surprised her to find that the old manner returned in the hour of temptation; for she knew by sad experience how great was the strength of the tempter. "I am very dark," said Helen, as she rose. "I cannot see, even now, that I have any work to do for Christ." "Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God,"" read Sophia, from her Bible. "I know; but other Christians do more than that." "Shall I tell you why? It is because they watch and pray. While you are at school this morning, remember my text. If against temptation, and for opportunity, you resolutely watch and pray, trusting wholly in Christ for strength, wisdom, and success, and giving him all the praise, you will not live a useless life, or complain that God has given you no work in his vineyard." "I will try," said Helen, with a smile that told of hope. "How strange it is that I always feel so much better after one of these long talks with you!" At these words the pale face which she fondly kissed grew radiant, for it was always a joy to Sophy to be useful to any one. The school-house was not far distant, so all the way thither Helen Grosvenor prayed for wisdom to get good, and to do good, in her class. She was not very hopeful, for it seemed impossible that any chance of doing more than prepare for the future would be given her, and she had yet to learn that a patient pre paration for future usefulness is a noble work for God. However, it pleased Him who pities the weakness of his lambs to give her a special work that bright spring morning, for one of her fellow-pupils, a delicate girl who had just passed through deep family affliction, was too ill to remain in school, and Helen was requested to sit beside her in the drawing-room. Yesterday, this would have been a weariness; but to-day it was regarded as an opportunity. As she looked up from her painting now and again, and remarked the deep shadow which rested on the anxious face of the unrestful mourner, she thought of Sophy, and wished for her assistance. "I wish you would come and see us,” she remarked, "for I have an aunt who would just know what to say to you." "No one can know what to say to me now mamma is dead," sobbed Mary. Her sorrow was so great that Helen almost despaired. The girl was ill with fretting, yet it seemed impossible to comfort her. "If you would let me read a chapter in the Bible," she began. you love him, Helen? The girls all think you do." "I have asked him to forgive my sins," said Helen, "and he has heard me ; but I am still very weak and very wicked." "You cannot be so bad as I am," remarked the orphan. "Just now I quite hated God for taking mamma, and thought he had no pity. But when you read that Jesus felt so much for Lazarus and Mary and Martha, I changed my opinion." "Thank God!" said Helen, reverently. "He is very good to me." "Before you read me the rest of the chapter," said her friend, "will you pray with me?" "I cannot aloud," said Helen, "I have not courage." "Oh, ever so little, just a few words would help me," pleaded Mary. "Say that mamma has gone to heaven, and ask that I may meet her there." It seemed impossible to refuse, and Helen prayed. If Sophy had looked in just then, she too would have said, "Thank God." "To-morrow is Sunday," said Mary, when they parted at noon, "but the day after I shall see you, Helen, and I will ask Miss Sterling to let us come here in recess and have a talk. You know I want to meet mamma in heaven, and I cannot do that unless I love Jesus, can I?" Helen said No, and kissed her, with tears in her eyes, going away with a very humble, prayerful, grateful feeling in her heart. "Aunt Sophy was right," she thought, "for God has given me opportunities." Encouraged and comforted, she quietly sought her room, and gave thanks to God for his mercy. Then, as she wanted Aunt Sophy to pray for Mary, she went downstairs and told her simple story. "God has indeed been very good to you," said the invalid; "I quite expected he would be so, because he put it into my heart to pray for you nearly all the morning. We serve a kind master, Helen; let us see to it that we do very earnestly the work he condescends to give us." It was a beginning of bright things for Helen Grosvenor when God was thus pleased to make her his ambassador to her tried and tempted schoolfellow. From that time she was always watching for opportunity, and praying for grace to use it wisely and well. In the ten years which have passed by since then she has done much work in the vineyard, and many hearts call her blessed, for she has learned to glorify God in the little duties of her life, and she has never been ashamed to speak of Jesus. Praying and watching, watching and praying, she is conscious that she can do nothing of herself, and when any good results from her quiet labours, she withholds not the glory from Him to whom it is due. Dear readers, if we "watch and pray," we, too, shall be missionaries. |