be ves

others. Only think that you and I may sels which God fills that we may fill others; but then, as one says, 'We must be ever travelling between our emptiness and Christ's fulness.' True, we may be very small vessels; never mind that, we may be the oftener going. Just as if a dear friend gave us something to do for him, and were to say, 'I will give you a little at a time, and then you can come for more. Never mind if you have to come every day; I shall be glad to see you.' We should not say, 'Oh, it will be too much trouble for me to come so often; I shall get tired; I had rather take all at once.' Ah, no. Well, then, shall we not rejoice in every opportunity afforded us of going to Jesus often. And here, again, this oftenness of going would create a warmer feeling between our souls and Jesus.

or it

It often happens that we have a little trial, may be a joy, into which no one around us seems able to enter, and which we should hesitate to tell them; but we can go and tell Jesus. Has some little circumstance stirred up our hearts in unusual love to our pastor? How nice to go alone and tell Jesus and thank Him for giving us such a pastor, and pray Him to bless him. Or do we feel depressed and dis

heartened about something which perhaps friends might not understand. How sweet to go to Jesus with it! Did you ever think how fully He can sympathize with us in this lonely feeling? He was a man. Yes, He combined the tenderness and susceptibility of a woman with all that is beautiful in manhood. He wanted a friend as much as we, and He formed special friendships; but, after all, how much must He have felt the want of a perfectly kindred mind, one that understood Him, that fully sympathized with Him. In the prospect of His death, how often must He have longed for some one to whom He could talk unreservedly about it. Think what qualifications He possessed to make Him a devoted, loving, wise friend-such He proved Himself to His friend John. But then this only shows how fitted He was to receive the sympathy and affection of a friend who fully understood Him; and none did this. I have sometimes thought, when in loneliness of spirit I have turned to Him, He has seemed to say, 'Ah, my child, I know it allthe consciousness that you cannot make another fully understand you, your trials, your difficulties, your struggles. I knew it before you, and I am ready to be to you all that I felt

I needed in a friend when, in solitude of spirit, I trod your earth.' Dear L-, let us prize such a Saviour, and in getting nearer to Him we shall get nearer to each other. The light which His presence throws on our path will help us to say, not that we were happy on Saturday and Sunday only, but that we 'rejoice in the Lord always,' and never more than when prevented, by distance or uncongeniality, from rejoicing in the loving sympathy of friends.”

' January 1st, 1859.

"I should like to have spent a quiet halfhour with you to-day. I hope you are beginning the new year happily. I had a season of great enjoyment this morning. Ah, dear E with such a Saviour, how fearlessly we enter this year!"

Thus all Miss Dryland's correspondence, as well as the unfettered intercourse which some of her friends enjoyed, gave evidence of a growth in grace and a ripening for glory remarkable and beautiful.

Although her piety was generally of a cheerful cast, yet under the influence of much bodily weakness and the chequered events of life, as

well as the assaults of the great adversary, she had sometimes hours and days of depression and conflict. Ardent affections begat in her strong predilections and earnest wishes; but these were not consulted when another's interest would be affected, when the desires of others could be conscientiously met, or when the path of duty pointed in an opposing direction. Relatives, friends, and servants were constantly and growingly reminded, in seeing her conduct, of Him who "pleased not Himself.” In one season of illness she was, for a considerable period brought into bondage through fear of death. This, however, did not last long. The peace of God triumphed over the weakness of the flesh; and although at times the fear might return, it was but as a passing cloud, to be dissipated by the outbursting splendour of Him whose life was emphatically her Light.

CHAPTER V.

DYING.

"Gently along the vale of tears

Lead me from Tabor's sunbright steep;
Let me not grudge a few short years

With Thee tow'rd heaven to walk and weep.

Too happy in my silent path,

If now and then allowed with Thee,
Watching some placid, holy death,

Thy secret work of love to see.
But, oh! most happy should Thy call,

Thy welcome call, at last be given-
"Come where thou long hast stored thy all;
Come, see thy place prepared in heaven."

KEBLE.

THE frail constitution, weakened by repeated attacks of severe illness, began, in 1858, to give unmistakeable signs that it was passing beyond the reach of human skill to mend. Towards the end of that year the conviction forced itself upon Miss Dryland that she was no longer able to continue the work of teaching her class; and she consulted her pastor about the propriety of