anon to oppress her; how the thought of her children in their neglected condition pained her; how her prayers seemed all unheeded, and her soul cold and dead; and to all these suffering complaints, Helen strove to apply the only remedy which can ever be of the slightest avail. For every need of the human soul there is a promise in Scripture which will meet its full demand; and, from the storehouse of her well-furnished memory, she was able to apply the verse of comfort according to the poor sufferer's varying need.

"Oh, Miss Helen, dear young lady, if I had you always here I should never grieve. You have given me light-I mean you have led me to the light; but, oh! I am afraid when you are gone it will be all dark again. I shall forget those blessed verses."

"Then I will write them out for you," said Helen, "so that you shall not forget them; and remember that though your weakncss and infirmity should cloud your memory,

God cannot forget. You have given yourself to Him, and He says to you, 'I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.””

Helen now rose, and taking the sleeping child into the adjoining room, she laid it down upon the bed, and covered it warmly up with an old shawl which lay on the chair, and finding that she had already overstayed her leisure time, she promised to come again in a day or two, and departed.

She could now do no more than leave the parcel of books at Miss Marsh's house, and return home, for she knew that should her aunt come back from her drive, and find her not ready for the accustomed reading, all would be rendered uncomfortable for the rest of the evening. She had looked forward to a nice conversation with the invalid Miss Marsh, with whom she was a great favourite, but she put away all vain regrets, and felt sure there would soon be another opportunity, when she might, perhaps, have the pleasure of taking Effie with her.

When Helen arrived at home she found the house still empty, so she went to her room, and taking off her shawl and bonnet, she sat down by the window, drew her writing-table before her, and began to prepare the verses she had promised for her poor friend. She thought over the different points of the conversation she had held, and, as far as she was able, she placed the prayers and promises-the soul's cry of distress, and the Saviour's merciful answer-in close juxtaposition. She wrote as follows:

"Oh, God, the memory of my sins is misery to me! 'I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins. Return unto me, for I have redeemed thee,' Isa. xliv. 22.

"And even now the power of sin over me is so strong! A stronger than he shall come upon him and overcome him,' Luke ii. 22; 'Sin shall not have dominion over you,' Rom. vi. 14.

"Show thou me the way that I should walk in! I am the way,' John xiv. 6; 'Come, follow me,' Luke xviii. 22.

"Lord, my cross is so heavy to bear, I can hardly endure it! My grace is sufficient for thee, my strength is made perfect in weakness,' 2 Cor. xii. 9.

"Why am I thus sorely tried? 'As many as I love I rebuke and chasten,' Rev. iii. 19; 'This is all the fruit, to take away thy sin,' Isa. xxvii. 9.

"If I die what will become of my children? Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive,' Jer. xlix. 11; Be careful for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, let your requests be made known unto God,' Phil. iv. 6.

"I pray and pray again, but it seems as though God did not hear my prayer. "Though He tarry, wait for Him; because He will surely come, He will not tarry,' Hab. ii. 3 'If we ask anything according to his will, He heareth us,' 1 John v. 14; 'If ye shall ask

;

anything in my name, I will do it,' John xiv. 14.

"I am full of fears and disquietudes, and no one understands or can sympathize with me. 'I, even I, am He that comforteth you,' Isa. lii. 12; 'As one whom his mother comforteth so will I comfort you,' Isa. lxvi. 13; 'We have not an High Priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities,' Heb. iv. 15.

"The thought of death and the grave fills me with fear! I will ransom my people from the power of the grave. I will redeem them from death,' Hos. xiii. 14.

"And when I stand before the judgment seat, Lord, wilt Thou be near? 'Hearken unto me, my people; my righteousness is near,' Isa. li. 4, 5; 'Every tongue that shall rise against Thee in judgment shalt Thou condemn,' Isa. liv. 17.

"Oh, my God, how good Thou art! Teach me to love Thee more! "Thou shalt call me