tude by bringing her little presents of things such as they could spare, and as they thought she might need. Thus, one brought her some meal, another brought some potatoes, and a third supplied her with milk, whilst a farmer made and drove as many cart-loads of peats as served her and her school all winter over. A great lady who occasionally lived in the neighbourhood, and heard how kind and useful Christy was to her poor and ignorant neighbours, sent her every year a large supply of cheeses out of her beautiful dairy. Thus you see God remembered his humble but grateful servant for good, and not only supplied her temporal wants, but -what gave her much greater joy-made her a means of supplying their spiritual wants. Although Christy's part of the Highlands is now supplied with a good minister, who is surrounded by a lively Christian congregation, not a few of whom received their first serious impressions in her little school, yet remember, dear children, there are still many destitute places where there are many souls hungering as much as Christy did for the bread of life; and, when you commence collecting for missions again, do not forget "the Home Mission."

Unprepared for Eternity.

WHO has not heard of that fearful calamity which befell so many persons in Glasgow on the evening of Saturday the 17th of February last? What a solemn voice and warning does it convey to all-a voice to be always ready, seeing we know not how soon, and how suddenly, the Lord may come-a warning to refrain from entering upon scenes of temptation and danger to the soul, to abstain from frequenting places of sinful and vain amusement-places too, where, above all others, men are least prepared to enter into the presence of their Maker, and receive their final doom!

An immense number of people had assembled together in one of the Theatres to witness what is called a PLAY. The house was large, much larger than any church we know. The proceedings began, and were carried on pleasantly for some time-the enjoyment and satisfaction of every one seemed complete-when suddenly the cry, the dreadful cry, of FIRE was heard. All looked about in alarm to see where it was. Smoke was observed proceed

ing from a particular part of the highest gallery. Immediately the whole audience therein assembled was thrown into the highest state of excitement. A tremendous rush was made to the gallery door; down-stairs they thundered, one over another. Before reaching the outer door at the bottom, some of the foremost fugitives stumbled and fell, and obstructed the passage. Others fell over them. The frenzied crowd behind still urged on, so that in a very few minutes a great many were suffocated. Groans, cries, and frantic shrieks proceeded from the vast mass of human beings thus jammed up. Meanwhile the slight fire that had originally caused disturbance having been got under, matters went on within quite as if nothing had happened. But soon were the sounds of music and of mirth brought low, speedily was the gaiety-hollow at the best-terminated by the news circulating from bench to bench, that the dead and dying were thickly strewed around. Universal attention was directed to the stair. The dead bodies were removed, the passage cleared, and further loss of life prevented. When all was over, and the melancholy list of the sufferers made up, it was found that no fewer than SIXTYFIVE persons had been killed. It turned out that a great many of these were mere boys and girls, some of whom had been present along with their parents, but left in the scramble to shift for themselves. Others had been without their parents' knowledge, and contrary to their desire. What a way to spend one's leisure hours! What a preparation for the ensuing Sabbath! Had these young people been members of a Juvenile Missionary Society, and given their money to the Missionary-box, how much better had it been! The wicked is driven away in his wickedness, but the righteous hath hope in his death.

THE IRISH SCRIPTURE READERS IN EDINBURGH. THE Hibernian Society was very useful some years ago, in teaching reading in the New Testament in the poorest parts of Ireland. The society used no school-book after their primer but the New Testament; and having great numbers to instruct out of limited means, and often by poorly qualified teachers, they had the scholars taught to commit much of the word of God to memory. Some children had large possession of the words of Scripture

in this way, and could repeat, with few mistakes, many chapters or a whole gospel, with epistles also, in the same

way.

This spread of Scripture knowledge among the young awakened great displeasure in the Roman Catholic priests, who feared losing their power over the people if they began to learn their religion from the Bible itself. Many of them were very angry, and threatened the people, tearing their Bibles from them by force. One little girl who had been a diligent scholar, and who loved her book like one who had got good from it, saw her Testament snatched up and thrown into the fire, in spite of all her remonstrances. She was inconsolable for the loss and shed many tears, but at last comforted herself by looking to God the author of the Bible, and said, "But Father P- cannot take from me the sixteen chapters of St John's gospel that I can say by heart, for I will repeat them every day and keep them in my memory, that I may never forget them.""

There are now several thousands of poor Irish Roman Catholics in this city, who have not yet learned to read the Word of God as this little girl had. We see them clothed in rags, bringing beggary and evil habits with them, degrading the poor among whom they settle, and reducing others to the same condition with themselves. But they are our fellow countrymen and fellow sinners, and we are called on in Christ's name to do what we can for them, to raise them to a better position, by bringing them acquainted with the duties they owe to God and And happily there is already a little band of Scripture readers, drawn from among themselves, who are employed in this service, and who engage many to give heed to the Word of God. These assemble on Sabbath evenings and at other times, sometimes to the number of two hundred, in the house of Mr M'Menamy, their director and superintendant, who lives in Gayfield Square. And it is hoped, as many pious ministers and zealous Christians assist in these labours, that God will give his blessing, and work a great improvement in that depressed but interesting class of people.

man.

This home mission, close to all our doors, and so important for the welfare of the community in which we dwell, looks to us for countenance, support, and, we need scarcely add, prayer.

THE COVENANTERS' COMMUNION.

WE extract the following account of a communion, held at East Nisbet in the Merse in 1677, from the second volume of Dr M'Crie's admirable Sketches of Scottish Church History. The account was drawn by Mr John Blackader, one of the ministers who officiated on the occasion :

"Meantime, the communion elements had been prepared, and the people in Teviotdale advertised. Mr Welsh and Mr Riddell had reached the place on Saturday. When Mr Blackader arrived, he found a great assembly, and still gathering from all airts. The people from the east brought reports that caused great alarm. It was rumoured that the Earl of Hume, as ramp a youth as any in the country, intended to assault the meeting with his men and militia, and that parties of the regulars were coming to assist him. He had profanely threatened to make their horses drink the communion wine, and trample the sacred elements under foot. Most of the gentry there, and even the commonalty, were ill-set. Upon this we drew hastily together about seven or eight score of horse, on the Saturday, equipped with such furniture as they had. Pickets of twelve or sixteen men were appointed to reconnoitre and ride towards the suspected parts. Single horsemen were dispatched to greater distances, to view the country and give warning in case of attack. The remainder of the horse were drawn round, to be a defence, at such distance as they might hear sermon, and be ready to act, if need be.

"We entered on the administration of the holy ordinance, committing it and ourselves to the invisible protection of the Lord of hosts, in whose name we were met together. Our trust was in the arm of Jehovah, which was better than weapons of war, or the strength of hills. The place where we convened was every way commodious, and seemed to have been formed on purpose. It was a green and pleasant haugh, fast by the waterside (the Whittader). On either hand there was a spacious brae, in form of a half round, covered with delightful pasture, and rising with a gentle slope to a goodly