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made another slip, and Lilie's muff went up to her mouth to smother the laugh, which still reached the old lady's rather quick ear.

"For shame, Lil!" said Nannie, indignantly, "she almost fell; I'm going to help her.”

Nannie Blake, you'll do nothing of the kind," said Lilie, grasping her arm; "a pretty figure you'd cut, going along with that relic of antiquity; and here come the Beverleys, too!"

"I don't care for all the Beverleys in the world," said Nannie warmly; "just suppose that was my dear old grandmother I'd want folks to be kind to her, so I'll do all I can for other people's grandmothers."

"Pardon me," said a pleasant girlish voice beside the old lady, "but if you will take my arm, I think you will find that two are better than one on such a day as this."

"Thank you," said the old lady, while a pair of bright eyes looked sharply through the old green veil; "but perhaps we are not going the same way; I am going to Cedar Street.'

"So am I," said Nannie; “so I can take you there."

Then she linked the feeble old arm in her own, so young and strong; and they walked on together, talking pleasantly, paying no attention to the looks of surprise and amusement which were freely bestowed on them.

At last they came to a plain yet handsome house, at which Nannie paused.

"I am sure you must be tired," she said, "do come in and rest, and then I will take you home after that. I know my mother will be glad to see you."

A queer smile crossed the face hidden by the convenient green veil, as the old lady said quietly,

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Thank you, I will go in, for I am tired and cold."

"Oh, my aunt has come!" cried Nannie joyfully, stumbling over a

large trunk, as she piloted her charge into the sitting-room.

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Mother," she began in a half apologetic tone; but just then the old lady threw aside her veil; and, at the sight of the handsome, kindly face which appeared, Mrs. Blake gave a cry, and threw her arms around the stranger's neck. Stranger! No, indeed; not a stranger, but the dear aunt whom Mrs. Blake was accustomed to call her "other mother," and who was laughing, though a trifle tearfully, at the amazed look with which Nannie regarded these unexpected proceedings.

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Oh, no," said Nannie, springing gladly to her side, "but it all seems so strange."

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So I

Well," said the old lady, "I saw a carriage waiting at the station that I thought was yours, but they all swung about so that I was afraid to trust my old bones in one. had my trunk put in a waggon, and started off on foot. I am heartily glad that I did so; for, Mary, I have learned that your daughter is worthy of her mother and grandmother."

Then she told the whole story, and Mrs. Blake was very proud and thankful to find that her daughter had sacrificed her own pleasure and convenience, for a seemingly friendless and forlorn old woman.

"What made you wear this?" asked Mrs. Blake, lifting the old blue cloak which had fallen from her aunt's shoulders.

"Partly because it is warm, and partly because I knew such a dingy old cloak would be a sure protection against pickpockets; but I think in future I shall value it more than any article I own; for it has given me a glimpse of my niece's character which I might never have had, except for my old blue cloak."

THE DIGNITY OF LABOUR.

THOSE Who toil to earn their bread
Need not blush to own their lot;
They in noble footsteps tread,
And a claim to live have got.
Toil is not the wage of sin,

For in Eden work was given,
Man was made to work and win
Spoil of earth, and bliss of heaven.

He who at the anvil stands,

Striking while the iron glows,
Though he works with horny hands,
Nobly strikes the ringing blows.
At the loom, and in the field,
In the shop, and on the soil,
Where men wisely power wield-
There is dignity in toil.

He who works with throbbing brain
Thinks to teach men how to live,
Writes, that others good may gain,
Speaks, to truth fresh zest to give.
He can claim the manly right
With the sons of toil to stand,
He asserts his mental might,
Helps to bless his native land.

He who lives a life of ease,

Idly wasting all his days— Aiming only self to please,

Filled with pride and courting praise, Call him not a noble man,

Such existence is a shame;

And when ends his life's blank span,
Soon will die his empty name.

Labour brings reward and rest,
Educates the latent powers;
And he serves his age the best
Who employs his golden hours:
Working not beyond his might,
Toiling not against his will,
And beneath his master's sight
Glad his mission to fulfil.

All things labour for our good,

He who made us never sleeps; He who tills the ground for food, For his pains a harvest reaps. None who work need feel ashamed, As they do what good they can; 'Tis an honour to be named,

As we toil," a working man."

"IF I SHOULD DIE TO-NIGHT."

IF I should die to-night,

My friends would look upon my quiet face
Before they laid it in its resting-place,

And deem that death had left it almost fair;
And, laying snow-white flowers against my hair,
Would smooth it down with tearful tenderness,
And fold my hands with lingering caress:

Poor hands, so empty and so cold to-night!

If I should die to-night,

My friends would call to mind, with loving thought,
Some kindly deed the icy hand had wrought;
Some gentle word the frozen lips had said;
Errands on which the willing feet had sped;
The memory of my selfishness and pride,
My hasty words, would all be put aside :

And so I should be loved and mourned to-night!

If I should die to-night,

Even hearts estranged would turn once more to me,
Recalling other days remorsefully:

The eyes that chill me with averted glance,
Would look upon me as of yore perchance,

And soften, in the old, familiar way,

For who could war with dumb, unconscious clay?
So I might rest, forgiven of all, to-night!

O friends, I pray to-night,

Keep not your kisses for my dead, cold brow,
The way is lonely, let me feel them now;
Think gently of me; I am travel-worn;

My faltering feet are pierced with many a thorn:
Forgive, oh hearts estranged, forgive, I plead!
When dreamless rest is mine I shall not need
The tenderness for which I long to-night!

NEWS OF THE CHURCHES.

It is

WE desire to remind our readers of the Autumnal Session of the Baptist Union, which is to be held this month at Nottingham. hoped that the attendance will be as large, and the proceedings as interesting, as they have ever been. They ought to be, if the programme is faithfully and fully carried out.

The foundation-stone of a new chapel has been laid at Curry Mal

let, Somersetshire, on land granted on lease, at a merely nominal rent, by the Prince of Wales.-The foundation-stone of a new chapel has been laid at Folkestone, for the congregation under the care of the Rev. W. Sampson.-A splendid new chapel-to be called Sion Jubilee Chapel-has been opened at Bradford, for the ministry of the Rev. J. P. Chown. The foundation-stone of a new chapel has been laid at Harle

stone, Northamptonshire.-A new schoolroom and lecture-hall (in connection with which a chapel is shortly to be erected) has been opened at Middlesborough-on

Tees, for the ministry of the Rev. W. H. Ainsworth.-The memorialstone of a new Union chapel has been laid at Ramsgate, for the ministry of the Rev. F. S. W. Wood.The memorial-stone of a new chapel has been laid at Cefn Mawr, for the ministry of the Rev. G. Davies. -The old chapel in Harvey Lane, Leicester, now under the care of the Rev. L. Llewellyn, has been reopened, after considerable alteration and repair. The chapel at Coalville, Leicestershire, under the care of the Rev. C. T. Johnson, has been re-opened, after alteration and repair. A new chapel has been opened at Kirkby Folly, Notts.

The Rev. W. H. Rolls has been publicly recognised as the pastor of the Church at Bushey New Town, Herts; the Rev. C. Suggate, of the Church at Halesworth, Suffolk; the Rev. P. Thomas, of the English Church at Penarth; the Rev. I. Jones, of the Church meeting in Carmel Chapel, Aberdare; the Rev. I. John, of the Churches in Blaenlynn and Newtown, Pembrokeshire.

The following reports of MINISTERIAL CHANGES have reached us since our last issue:-The Rev. J. Hughes, of Ashton-under-Lyne, to Barrow-in-Furness; the Rev. H.

Dolamore, of Droitwich, to Stafford; the Rev. J. Walker, of Armley, Yorkshire, to Congleton, Cheshire; the Rev. F. G. Buckingham, of the Metropolitan Tabernacle College, to Harristown, near Newbridge, Ireland; the Rev. H. Marsden, of the same College, to Mansfield, Notts; the Rev. J. Homes, formerly of Millwall, London, to Aylsham, Norfolk; the Rev. J. O. Wills, of Dundee, to the Provost Wynd Church, Cupar, Fife; the Rev. E. Compton, of Broughton, Hants, to St. Bene dict Square, Lincoln; the Rev. W. Sharman, of Coningsby, Lincolnshire, to Lineholme, Yorkshire; the Rev. W. Underwood, D.D., formerly President of Chillwell College, to Castle Donington; the Rev. J. Raymond, of the Metropolitan Tabernacle College, to St. Neot's, Hunts; the Rev. C. Springthorpe, of Heptonstall Slack, Yorkshire, to Longton Potteries. The Rev. W. S. Brown has, on account of illhealth and increasing infirmities, resigned his charge at Attleborough, Norfolk, where he has ministered for thirty-eight years. The Rev. J. Watts has resigned his pastorate at Long Buckby, Northamptonshire.

We regret to announce the death of our old friend and contributor, the Rev. C. Elven, of Bury St. Edmunds, at the advanced age of seventy-six years; also of the Rev. T. Crabtree, of Perth, Tasmania, formerly of Blackburn, Lancashire, at the early age of twenty-six.

THE CHURCH.

"Built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner-stone."

NOVEMBER, 1873.

SPIRITUAL RELIGION THE SALT OF LIFE.

BY THE REV. C. WILLIAMS.

"Salt is good."—Mark ix. 50.

In the recent siege of Metz the stores of salt within the beleaguered city became exhausted. The effect was fatal. Saltless food, instead of nourishing and building up, enfeebled and destroyed the body. Foul humours and noisome plagues attacked both soldiers and citizens, and so the surrender of army and fortress was hastened. Salt preserves from corruption, possesses virtue by which it maintains the purity of that with which it is mixed, and imparts permanence to it. Verily, "salt is good."

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"the

These excellent qualities soon won a place for salt among symbols. From time immemorial to the present day it has symbolized, for instance, the faithfulness, the purity, and durability, of friendship. The wild Arab of the desert, herein setting an example to us Christians, will not betray or injure, but holds himself bound to succour and to help the man with whom he has eaten salt. The servants of Artaxerxes were jealous for their royal master's honour and safety, seeing they were salted with the salt of the king's palace" (Ezra iv. 14). Thus too we read (2 Chron. xiii. 5) of the "covenant of salt," into which God entered with David, to give to him and to his seed for ever kingdom over Israel." This covenant of friendship was memorialized in the sacrifices of Judaism. Those sacrifices answered to a manifold design, and doubtless were intended to set forth, among other facts, the goodness of the Deity. The direction given was: "And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt (Lev. ii. 13). The Levitical dispensation, like the gospel, was founded on the promise of an Almighty and Divine Friend, and they who approached God were required to do so in the full conviction of the everlasting love and helpfulness of the Lord. "The salt of the covenant," telling of faithful friendship, was to be had in perpetual remembrance.

VOL. XVI, N.S. NO. XI.

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