The Ninth Talk with our Girls.

I.-A GIRL OF THE PAST.

THE subject of our sketch is MISS JANE REDMILE, of Dyke, known familiarly as "Aunt Jane;" first, doubtless, by her own relatives, but in late years she was Aunt Jane beyond the circle of her own family. The name conjures up to those who knew her a quaint figure in homely garb, oft seen on errands of mercy, or attending the sanctuary she loved so well, and where she had been a constant church member for over sixty-five years. The soul that animated that stooping form was of another mould from the men and women of everyday life. She lived to be old, and bent, and grey, but it was with a long life spent in the service of all things good and true, in a generous love of her brothers and sisters, as she called mankind, and in a thoughtfulness of spirit that had planted its sacred "Hall Mark" on the happy placid face. She could neither strive nor cry, but the unobtrusive, gentle influence of her life was potent for good. Referring everything directly to God's will, she raised the standard of every discussion on which she entered, and made for herself unconsciously, a position as representing heaven and all heavenly things to those with whom she came in contact, for which many would be humbly thankful as they ask for power to embody in their own lives something of her spirit.

In the first year of this century, on May the 10th, our subject was born into a position of few advantages. Her parents belonged to the small yeoman class, having a small holding at Dyke, near Bourne, Kingsley's "Brun," of Hereward the Wake, last opponent of Norman William, the Lincolnshire Fens and Flats hard by, Crowland Monks, that he tells of all gone long since. Rheumatism and ague not gone, nor greatly moved as yet by drainage done or projected across these Fens. And up into the hilly woodland country, on the other side, the parents journeyed on market days, taking to the towns, butter, eggs, fowls, ducks, and geese, managing to live honestly, and to take a pride in paying their way, but having little to spare there for luxury, no tolerance at all for anything short of utmost industry and thrift.

Education did not want for appreciation, but the opportunities for getting it were few. Universal cheap schools were distant. Meanwhile, there was much to think of beside schooling. Five more children added to the family, devolved on the eldest girl that best of all education, when the strength is not overcharged, the training of others. Spare moments had to be given to assistance in the actual bread-winning; no "lap of luxury" conditions, but better, the example of parents actuated by high integrity, and holding a lofty code of honour. They had something of the stern rugged Puritan spirit, especially on the mother's side; loving truth and honesty; hating untruth; finding it hard to be patient with the world's conventional shams and unrealities.

With such surroundings, and thrown in on her own reflections, more than is usual with young people, it is not surprising that her thoughts turned early to the "eternal verities." The heart was opened to the promptings of the Spirit that lighteneth every man with a gradual development, she became a decided, high-toned, pious girl. She found

THE GIRL OF THE PAST.

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a congenial spiritual home under the ministry of the Rev. Joseph Binns, at the General Baptist Church, Bourne; and the girl of eighteen, thoughtful and demure beyond her years, joined its membership on her birthday, for a life-long share in its duties and privileges. The Sundayschool found in her one of its chief supporters, and through life she maintained her interest in it.

The deepening of thought and strengthening of character had not been attained without struggle-she had come face to face with difficulties, there had come hard times. A law-suit threatened to deprive them of their home, causing anxieties and expense. Now, too, the bread-winner was striken down. A well was being sunk in which he was adjusting a charge of powder for blasting when the explosion took place before he could retire from the danger. In a moment-on that 13th of November, 1817, Jane, seventeen years old about-the head was taken from the family,-not by death. After lingering long in uncertainty, it was found that life was spared, but its power was gone, the eye-sight being hopelessly lost, henceforth the wife and mother must be the leader, and Jane we may well fancy a notable prop and comfort. Fourteen weeks the courageous woman had tended her stricken husband without taking a night's rest. Now she must lead in the bread-winning and face the world for her little ones; here was need for work and prayer and stout hearts; but the mother was a women of a thousand-energetic, decisive-a little woman with a big nerve and will; whilst she attended markets, Jane attended to the home, became a mother to the children, one of these was three years old, another but three months. A shop was opened to help to supply the family needs; much work, little rest and many anxieties, but the fight with adversity was resolutely carried on. Nor was the wear and tear of "the needed discipline of life" allowed to come between the soul and its God, nor His Church neglected. Twice on the Sabbath to school and service two miles away, and back again to the duties of home. Character forming, resolutions strengthening, self-denial constantly practised, that she might give to objects she had at heart. Sugar was dispensed with that one penny might be saved weekly for the Mission. Precursing the larger attempt to live on dry bread only that the savings might go to similar objects, an attempt that signally failed, as might be anticipated, nature putting in her protest in a way that was unmistakeable, she was attempting too much for her strength already, and to reduce the fuel was NOT the way to make the engine go faster. She was full of projects to make or save for some good object, or of useful service to those about her. Down work was then in vogue, if she could do this in bed, getting a few hours from sleep each night, surely here would be a mine of wealth. For some time it was carried on and some pounds made; when found out this was forbidden for fear the bed should be set on fire. If the maternal injunctions were obeyed does not appear, but mother nature has a way of getting herself obeyed, first or last. Continuous work by day is not consistent with added work by night, especially when the conditions are invited to sleep. Jane must sleep, and did sleep, but the busy fingers still went on at the down work; dreams came, the original goose weaver of the down feathers got into the dream, what so fitting for a goose as that he should be plucked, certainly he should be plucked: and on went the fingers, plucking,

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JOHN RUSKIN AND HIS HOME.

plucking. Unfortunately no real goose was there, only a ghostly dream goose, represented tangibly by the garment she had been making. When she woke all her work had been pulled to pieces. Shame and mortification to have wasted the precious hours thus, but at least the lost work should be recovered; she was determined to fill it up again, but sleep was over-mastering; the dream of plucking the goose returned, she undid her work the second time. Mother Nature gets her behests obeyed, and therefore the fight against such odds had to be given up.* BENJAMIN WYLES.

(Continued in our next.)

John Ruskin and his Home.

He is a genial man, slight in body, with kind blue eyes and sunny face. He is shy in manner, but his friends think he is the best talker that can be found in the four corners of the earth. He is devoted to his home, and is one of the hardest workers.

His house is at Brantwood, Coniston, in the north of England. It is on a hill that slopes down to a beautiful lake. Near by is a wood in which a clearance has been made, and seats placed on either side of a laughing, leaping stream. The views are among the most beautiful in England. His kitchen-garden is brightened by rows of roses, and the meadow is sown with yellow primroses and violets, and no cattle are allowed to crop the winsome things. A great orchard is pink with apple blossoms in the spring. The rowers on the lake are picturesque. Sometimes a red-coated soldier gleams by, sometimes a party of young girls. The Coniston people love" the gentleman that writes books" at Brantwood, and never forget the Christmas feasts, when the great professor speaks a few kind words to every child in the room.

turret

The house itself is a two-story, rambling structure, nestled under the hills. It was "bought without seeing" ten years ago. All the principal rooms look out upon the lake. The walls of his sleepingroom are quite covered with drawings from Turner, and the room" next to this is so designed that Mr. Ruskin may see the country all about him, and lose no effect of the splendid sunrises and sunsets on the lake. As he is always up at work before sunrise when in health, he never misses the beauty.

The drawing-room, the place of meeting for the household in the evening, where chess, music, and reading aloud are enjoyed-Mr. Ruskin often reading from Walter Scott's novels, has many Turners on the wall, and some pictures by Prout and William Hunt, all in water-colours. The furniture is old fashioned, but not antique, much of it coming from his father's old home. It is not æsthetic, as the word is now understood. The dining-room walls are quite covered with oil paintings. On one side are three family portraits-those of his parents, and one of himself at three years of age, a pretty child with

* Our readers should purchase the Memorial sketch, from which this is taken. It is a gem of purest ray serene, and its lustre ought to be flashed into every General Baptist home. It is published by Weeks, Thomas, & Co., Liverpool.

yellow hair, dressed in a white frock like a girl, with a broad, light blue sash and blue shoes to match. Here are beautiful paintings by Titian and Sir Joshua Reynolds.

The study is a complete and artistic workshop. On either side of the fireplace, over which is a beautiful sketch of Lake Geneva, are large bookcases, one filled with books, and the other with antiquities and minerals, which are in velvet-lined drawers. Many Turners are hung about the room. On a massive piece of chalcedony is Mr. Ruskin's motto, "To-day."-Wide Awake.

* Our Friends the Free Will, or Free Baptists of America, have just held a series of meetings at OCEAN PARK,-a denominational "Watering place," taken by the leaders of the denomination, and used largely by its members. This song was composed for the meeting of "Veterans."

Bradford-once more.

THE following information will interest our friends, who saw so much to admire in the Town Hall of Bradford, on the occasion of their entertainment therein by "the most worshipful the Mayor."

The Tower, twenty-three feet square and 200 in height, is, in most respects, a reproduction of the celebrated Campanile of the Palazzo Vecchio at Florence; and it is rather curious that the position of the Bradford Tower in the valley very much resembles the position of the original in the valley of the Arno.

The figures, thirty-five in number, which occupy niches on a level with the third floor of the building, are each seven feet in height. They are said to represent, faithfully, the Sovereigns of England, commencing with William I., as they actually existed in costume, figure, and physique.

The picture which arrests attention at the foot of the principal staircase, illustrates the legend of the Wild Boar of Cliffe Wood, whose tongueless head was chosen to represent the crest of the town. It is five feet by four, and pourtrays the Council Chamber of the King. The celebrated hero who killed the boar is in the act of exhibiting the animal's tongue to His Majesty as proof of his title to the proffered reward. Behind him skulks the villain with the boar's head, who meant to cheat the hero of his due. Ladies and gentlemen of the Court look on with interest.

The Mayor's Reception Room is illuminated with mottoes, of which the following are among the more striking: "Labor omnia vincit." "Labour is pleasure." "Laborare est orare." "Get your spindle and distaff ready, and God will send you flax." "Salvation and greeting to you all." "Small cheer and great welcome make a merry feast." "God speed ye plough, and send us corne enough."

The Court Room is probably the finest in the kingdom. Richly stained glass windows in the ceiling contain representations of Justice, Faith, Fortitude, and Mercy; and carefully executed figures of the Arts and Sciences, Commerce, Navigation, Agriculture, and Industry.

The great clock strikes the hours upon a tenor bell of nearly four and a half tons, with a hammer weighing about three cwt. The thirteen bells form the largest peal ever cast in Europe, and are at present fitted with barrels which play twenty-one tunes. An ivory key-board, similar to that of a piano, can easily be attached, so that the bells may be played upon by the fingers in the same way that an organ is played. The clock and carillons have cost about £5,000.

The total cost of the building has been as nearly as possible £100,000; this is exclusive of the value of the site, which is estimated, at the present time, to be worth at least £40,000 more.

A. C. PERRIAM.

* From an elaborate paper kindly forwarded by the esteemed Town Clerk of Bradford.