But before she had finished what she was attempting to say, the stranger inquired, with his countenance wild with emotion, "Is this Alice Grant ?" and the next moment he swooned and fell on the floor.

"Miss Alice!" exclaimed the agitated nurse, 66 what does all this mean ?-who can it be ?-what shall we do?" Alice herself stood amazed, but as the light fell upon the features of the apparently lifeless stranger; a thought flashed across her mind, and the following moment she was nearly falling beside him.

"Nurse," said she softly, but quickly, "bring me some water." This she applied liberally to the temples of the stranger, who slowly recovered his consciousness, and at length sat up. He looked round, and presently fastened his eyes more intently and inquiringly on the pale and motionless Alice. "Yes, yes," he exclaimed, "it is she; it is-it is my own beloved Alice."

"Charles-Charles-my brother!" uttered Alice, as she fell upon his bosom. "Oh, God be praised! Charles, is it —is it you?—Oh, mother-mother!"

The sound of the voice reached the dying mother, and she inquired, "Alice, my child, what-what did I hear, Alice ?"

Alice, scarcely able to stand, hastened to her bedside, and taking her mother's hand, already cold with death, spoke in accents tremulous- for the whole frame was agitated-tremulous, but kind.

"What did I hear, Alice ?" the mother softly whispered, "I thought I heard something. I thought he had come. Did I dream, Alice ?"

"Mother, dear mother," said Alice, putting her face close to the cold face of her dying parent, nd scarcely able to draw a breath-"whom did you think had come ?" "Why, Charles; it seemed as if he had come. But I dreamt-did I, Alice ?”

"Mother," said Alice, "could you see him? could you sustain it if you could see him ?"

"Surely, child; why I long to see him, and I did think I should see him once more before I died."

At this instant the door softly opened, and Charles approached, cautiously-inquiringly.

66

Mother," said Alice, "here, can you look up? do you know who this is ?"

"Who is it, Alice-who is it?" inquired the half wild, but still conscious mother.

"Mother," softly whispered Charles, as he kneeled down and kissed her cold cheek, "mother, my dear mother! Oh will you-can you forgive your long lost but repenting, broken-hearted child ?"

"Charles, my dear Charles! is it indeed you?" said the now dying mother, at the same time endeavouring to put her wan and feeble arm around his neck, "My dear boy, you have come; yes, I said you would come — you have; yes I can now praise God. One question, Charles, and I die in peace. Has my boy found pardon and peace in Jesus ?"

"Mother," said Charles, his tears nearly choking his utterance, "that Bible you gave me, and a mother's prayers have saved me. I have come in season to ask forgiveness. Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.' Mother, my dear mother, and will you forgive me also."

"Enough, enough!" said the departing mother; "yes, it is enough!" her countenance beaming, as it were, with seraphic joy.

"I am nearly through, but go my son-go my dear Alice, and publish it to the mothers of the land, what I have found true-and will continue true as long as praying mothers exist

"His loving-kindness changes not."

For a few moments following, it was thought she had ceased to breathe ; but she revived sufficiently to press once more gently the hands of Charles and Alice; and then she was heard singing, in a faint and scarcely audible tone, those beautiful lines which she had often expressed a wish that she might have occasion to sing:

"Soon shall I pass the gloomy vale,
Soon all my mortal powers must fail:
Oh may my last, expiring breath

Ilis loving-kindness sing in death."

The prayer was answered. "His loving-kindness" were the last sounds which were heard. They ceased here only to be resumed and to be sung by the glorified and triumphant saint before the throne of God.

A LECTURE delivered in the Hall of Science, Oldham, to the Children forming the Band of Hope, Nov. 26th, 1855.

MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS,

We all believe in the doctrine of relationship: there is some relationship between God and good angels-earth has a relation to heaven, and time to eternity. The loveliness of childhood answers to the beauty of spring; the glowing fervour of youth to the warm animation of summer; the full strength of manhood to the rich mellow fruit of autumn; and venerable age to the hoar-frost of winter. Well, it is spring and partly summer with us to-night. Allow me, therefore, your attention for a short time, while I address you on the subject of temperance.

Temperance necessary in order to the formation of a good character.

I commend to your notice the claims of Temperance, in order to secure and maintain a good character. Be assured you can never be successful in any noble enterprise without a well sustained character. This gives weight and influence, more valuable than gold, yea, than much fine gold. Solomon says, "A good name is more to be desired than great riches, and loving favour than silver and gold." A good character will give you easy access to the company of the wise, great, and good, and forget not this character is to be formed now. Think not that it is reserved for future days, or for years to come. At no future period of your life will your real

character be forming more than now.

Like the formation of a new moon, every night shows its advance, until it is full orbed with light; so it is with you every day in life, you are adding particles of gold or dust to your character. You are now not only forming habits, but planting principles that will live, live to the end of time, and again beyond the grave.

ANECDOTES OF CYRUS.

To show you the importance of an early formation of character, allow me to remind you of the illustrious character of Prince Cyrus, who in point of sobriety, virtue, and honour, was one of the noblest princes that ever lived.

One day, he was taken by his mother, Mandane, to see his grandfather the king of Persia, at the age of twelve. Astages had often heard of this noble youth, bnt had never before seen him. But when the king saw him, he was so charmed with his excellences, that he honoured him by making him his cup-bearer during the time of his visit.

In Persia it was customary for the king's cup-bearer to pour out a little wine first into his left-hand, and taste himself. But this part of the business Cyrus refused to perform; he gave the cup into the hand of the king in the most polite and gallant manner, with which the king was delighted, but remarked, “I am mighty well pleased, my son; nobody can serve with a better grace; but you have forgotten one essential part of the ceremony, which is that of tasting." "No!" replied Cyrus, "it was not through forgetfulness that I omitted that part of the ceremony." "Why, then," says Astages, "for what reason did you omit it?" "Because I apprehended there was poison in the liquor." Poison, child! how could you think so? "Yes, poison, papa; for not long ago, at an entertainment you gave to the lords of your court, after the guests had drank a little of that liquor, I perceived all their heads were turned: they sung, made a noise, and talked they did not know what. You yourself seemed to have forgotten that you were a king, and they that they

were subjects. And when you would have danced, you could not stand upon your legs." "Why," said Astages, "have you never seen the same thing happen to your father?" "No, never!" said Cyrus. "What, then, how is it with him when he drinks?" "Why, when he has drank, his thirst is quenched, and that is all."

There was the formation and happy effects of a good character, and but for such Cyrus would never have been the illustrious prince he was, he would never have been such an interesting subject of prophecy. "The Shepherd of the Lord," so great a friend to the Jews, or the mighty conqueror of Babylon.

RESPECTABILITY AND HONOUR.

I commend to your notice the claims of temperance, in order to the acquisition of respectability and honour. Tell me not, my young friends, you are poor; that you are humble in circumstances; that you have to work hard; that you have few opportunities, &c. I know all this. But think not, because of this, you cannot attain to respectability and honour. I tell you, you can do it. "I cannot do it," has done nothing; "I will try," has wrought wonders; "I will do it," has wrought prodigies.

"No one can hope too much from what his heart does love, If what he hopes, he labours to secure."

Here, then, my young friends, there is a chance for

you.

ANECDOTE OF THE BOY WHO WOULD NOT DRINK RUM.

Here is a ease to the point. There was once a little boy, in very poor circumstances, put out as an apprentice to a mechanic. For some time he was the youngest apprentice in the establishment, and of course had to go errands for the other apprentices, and not unfrequently he had to procure for them ardent spirits, of which all except himself partook. He, however, used none, consequently he was often the object of severe ridicule from the older apprentices, because, said they, "he had not sufficient manliness to drink rum."