the eventful Tuesday morning to leaden skies and a driving, steady drizzle. "Rain at seven, fine at eleven !" and then the cry changed to "See at two what the day will do!" But the day would not do any thing save weep and sulk. The farmer who had offered to lend his pony and gig to convey us two ladies to the works, had lent the useful animal to a neighbour to drag a coal cart, thinking we could not but give up the "outing." However, as Topsy observed, we "had got to go," so we put on our waterproofs, and longing for boots to match, we set off. My friend's husband, a tall, warm-hearted clergyman, snatching a week's rest and fresh air in the country, accompanied us on our two miles' trudge. As we proceeded the rain gradually lessened, and when we reached the brow of the hill above the settlement, it had quite ceased. There the works lay below us those mighty operations covering acres of land which it would be useless for any person who could not add C.E. to his name to attempt to describe. Suffice it to say, hundreds of men were here at work on the bottom and sides of a valley one day to be a reservoir, while only a short distance to the left gleamed the silver-grey waters of the one which they had completed. Across the valley on the opposite hill stood the rows of huts and the long line of stables, one end of which, boarded off as a schoolroom, was to be the scene of the evening's entertainment, to which we were invited guests. Another and much more important visitor, though, was expected. All had agreed that music should not be the only attraction. One speaker at least was needed, and he had been secured in the person of the vicar of the vast town nearly twenty miles away, for the use of which the pure waters of these moorland heights were being stored. He had promised to spare this evening from the midst of ceaseless engagements and meet the navvies, in whom he had long taken a deep interest, for the first time face to face. And now the rain had come, and we told one another he would not see the place in its beauty. Mists veiled the hills, and the distant sweeping outlines which so frequently at this evening hour had reminded us of Bunyan's hills of Beulah were hidden from view. And who save those who have crossed one, can understand the clayeyness of a public work" in the course of construction, or comprehend how easily boots can be half dragged from the struggling feet? But seven o'clock drew near, and as our visitor did not appear a panic crept over us. Suppose he A great we ! So we entered Mrs. H.'s one. fire blazed in the grate in the living-room. Only three of the inmates were there, and they were sitting near it reading newspapers. To the left was the lodgers' sleeping apartment, with accommodation for ten or twelve men; opposite us was the family sleepingroom, and we caught sight of little Alice, with her black eyes and waving hair, frisking about on the bed in her white nightgown, peeping at the visitors through the open door. | Next to this room was the pantry. Pictures and crockery were on the kitchen walls, and everything was spotlessly clean. But time was passing, so we turned down to the stables. A group of men stood about the schoolroom doorway. The room found quite full, and later on it became so crowded that many stood outside the barnlike door, unable to enter. The manager being prevented by business from taking the chair, we found the timekeeper, his deputy, waiting on the threshold to welcome the guest of the evening. The timekeeper, an old acquaintance, was a handsome middleaged man of musical ability and kindly nature. He wore a diamond pin in his shirt-front, but perforce had his trousers-legs turned up at the bottoms. With difficulty we were piloted into the front row and seated immediately below the platform, close to the harmonium and big bass. A goodly company, vocalists, navvies, and friends, was there, but they were not the only performers. On the edge of the platform were seated three small boys, who were to repeat "pieces,” and these young gentlemen were accompanied by admiring "mates," half-a-dozen of whom gradually took possession of a form near the timekeeper, and one rough-headed, jolly lad, dressed in a double canvas coat and bright neckerchief, was installed by the vicar next to himself. The proceedings began by all the company rising and heartily singing, "What will the harvest be?" followed by an anthem given by the choir. Then Master Rugby, a very small boy with a round little face, a regular Cockney, filled with natural and acquired self-possession, recited "The King and the Locusts" with such remarkable rapidity that when he ended the audience felt more breathless than he himself seemed to be. We had now got into the swing of events, and "pieces pieces" of music and "pieces" of recitation given by rather more timid navvy boys, followed one another quickly. Master Rugby next sang a solo-a hymn—and at the end of each verse up went his wee hand, and smiling encouragingly upon us, he cried, "Chorus!" As, however, few knew it, the response was not powerful. By degrees the schoolroom became very hot, and the thought did once or twice strike us that the stable might be more agreeably situated otherwhere than just through a wooden partition, though ever so nicely papered and decorated. The vicar said afterwards to us, what most struck him as he rose to speak was the intelligence of all the faces before him. His own worn, keen one gave emphasis to his words. In the navvy parlance, "he gave us the straight tip" he spoke directly to the point, and he was listened to with breathless attention. He spoke to them of their work, so useful and lasting; of the relations of employers and employed; of their amusements. He illustrated his remarks by anecdotes, and pleased a mother with a pretty child in the second row by referring to "that baby in pink." Poor mother! Barely a fortnight afterwards. the round sweet baby eyes were closed for ever, and, wrapped in white, the little one was laid to sleep in the hillside churchyard so near her empty home! And then, as a servant of Christ, he spoke to them for his Master. After this we had a taste of business. Two navvy friends made little speeches, giving us accounts of the night school and lending library, of which for two years they had had the charge. There they stood, with bronzed faces, far more nervous at confront ing an audience than they would be to look danger or death in the face. However, we learnt from them that thirty-four scholars had been the average, rising in winter to even sixty; that thirty new books had been purchased for the library with attendance-money during the last five months; and that friends in the great town had given fifty more. Ah! how many half-worn books thrown carelessly aside in comfortable homes would be a blessing in the long evenings in navvy huts out on the wild moors, if their possessors would only be at the trouble to gather them together and send them to the Navvy Mission Secretary! But now came a break in our proceedings. The vicar had to leave for his long drive to the nearest station. Nor did he do so without warm thanks from his newly-made friends, nor kind promises on his part, since fulfilled. Our tall clergyman said a few warm sentences, and then for nearly an hour longer we remained listening to readings and speeches, anthems and hymns, all given by Our own men." One navvy only refused. to rise to the chairman's summons. That one was the rough-headed boy, described by the timekeeper "as a young gentleman who had occupied a prominent position in that evening's entertainment as-vice-chairman.” In vain the audience clapped, in vain did the chairman endeavour to assist him to riseonly blushes and wriggles could be got out of him. So with a final hymn our happy gathering broke up. We, the distant friends, adjourned to Mis. S.'s hut, where tea and cakes, thoughtfully provided and given with a hearty welcome, awaited us, and where, although it was now nearly eleven o'clock, baby, with his shoulders tied up with blue ribbons, was wide awake in his father's arms. And then we walked home through the darkness, occasionally plunging into a pool of rain-water, as we missed the light of Jim's lantern; tired, certainly, but happy and well pleased with our evening with our dear friends the navvies. THANKSGIVING. H, how I worship God for this, Alas, with what unseeing eyes Do men plod on through field and street, Finding no gladness or surprise In all things that their gaze can meet ! THE A SCOTCH PEASANT AND HER BIBLE. BY JEAN L. WATSON. "To his Excellency PRINCE ALEXANDER GALITZIN, President of the Bible Society, St. Petersburg, Russia. 'SIR,-Though I be one of the weaker sex, and one to whom a holy Providence has assigned a low lot in the world, I humbly hope for your Excellency's pardon for daring to address one of your high rank. But the ninth Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society having fallen into my hands, I read your Excellency's name as president of the society at Petersburg with a glow of gratitude in my heart, both to the Almighty Agent who has the lives of all men in His hand, and to you as acting under the same Divine direction which I cannot well express. 'HE two following letters were written in | sanctioning the formation of the institution, 1814, the first by a poor woman in and desiring to be considered a member of Scotland, to Prince Alexander Galitzin, Pre- the same. This brought to my recollection sident of the Russian Bible Society, and the that promise to the Gentile Church-' And second by the Prince in reply :kings shall be thy nursing fathers' (Is. xlix. 23). Nor can he derogate anything from his greatness by countenancing such a laudable undertaking. Solomon, of whom it is said (1 Kings x. 23) that he excelled all the kings of the earth for his wisdom and riches, did not think it below his dignity to give orders about the building of the Temple, and to contribute thereto. And he also stood and prayed before the whole congregation at the dedication thereof. And if I might be permitted to express my humble opinion, I would say that to enlighten the benighted tribes of those who sit in darkness and in the region of the shadow of death, with the light of Divine revelation, which shows unto them the way of salvation, is a nobler enterprise. than even the building of the Temple, of Jerusalem; for none had a natural right to that sacred edifice but the tribes of Israel, but this is designed to benefit all nations, kindreds, and languages, and seems to be ushering in that grand event when the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea' (Is. xi. 9). "And indeed it is surely a good omen for this institution to be favoured in having such a great personage for its president; not that there is any respect of persons with God, but besides their pecuniary aid, the example of the great has ordinarily much influence on the lower classes. High as you are placed, sir, in holy Providence, an interest in the Saviour and His divine righteousness, zeal for His glory and concern for the salvation of perishing sinners, is a badge of far more distinguished honour: for thus saith the Lord (Isaiah xliii. 4), 'Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee.' The righteous, and they alone, are 'the excellent ones of the earth' (Ps. xvi. 3). None of the warlike exploits which have deservedly procured titles of honour to the heroes of our day, can once be compared to what is done with a view to the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom and the salvation of immortal souls. Time, with its rapid current, will shortly sweep away their highest titles, which are but sprung of earth, and their most renowned achievements will be for ever buried in oblivion if they have not the honour which cometh from above, and if their names be not written in the Lamb's book of life; while the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance, and they who turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever. "I likewise read with a kind of transport the Ukase of the great and good Alexander, "The events which have come to pass in our days are such as nothing but the spirit and zeal of the Lord of Hosts could perform. The unanimity and oneness of sentiment which prevails among Christians of so many denominations, and the removal of the prejudices which lay on the minds of many even in our own country, not to speak of the nations abroad, some of which are less enlightened, is a work which could not be performed by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord, and seems to indicate the approach of that happy period when there shall be one fold and one shepherd. What has already been done by means of these laudable undertakings would have been deemed impossible not many years ago. But the removal of these obstacles out of the way, which appeared insurmountable by human power, looks like the accomplishment of another gospel promise (Is. xlix. 11): 'I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted;' and in the late victories gained by the allied armies we see something like an answer to the psalmist's prophetical prayer (Ps. lxviii. 30): 'Our God ΙΙ hath rebuked the spearmen; he hath scattered the people who delight in war.' And now every one is submitting himself and bringing his pieces of silver for the destruction of Satan's interests and the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom on the ruins thereof, for the effecting of which the word of the Lord, accompanied by the power of the Spirit, is the most powerful engine. Though darkness now covers a great part of the earth, and gross darkness the people, yet by the universal dispersion of the word of salvation among them, they are called to arise and shine, for their light is come, and the glory of the Lord has arisen upon them (Is. lx. 1). Your Emperor, whose affable and condescending manner has rendered his name known over half the inhabited globe, has rendered it still more so by placing it along with your Excellency's and other princes and great men, as a subscriber to such a godlike institution. In this we see the fulfilment of another part of ancient prophecy: 'The Gentiles shall come to thy light and kings to the brightness of thy rising, and their kings shall minister unto thee' (Is. lx. 3, 10). "If your Excellency has suffered me thus far, permit me to say, Go on in the name of God, using your utmost endeavours to send the light of life to the dark places of the earth, that have long been full of the habitations of horrid cruelty; and may every member of your society feel the salutary influence of the Word on his own soul. God grant you all an interest in the Saviour and His divine righteousness, which is the sum and substance of all the promises contained in that blessed book, the Bible. Three things which are so nearly connected with the glory of God and the salvation of souls make our day a good day indeed. The cloud that rose like a man's hand in bigness on the formation of the first Bible Society, is now covering the whole heavens, and there is the sound of an abundance of rain in the clouds of promise to the Gentile Church of which Britain and Russia form a part. For thus saith the Lord concerning an exalted Redeemer: 'I the Lord have called thee in righteousness and will hold thy hand, and will keep thee and will give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation to the ends of the earth' (Is. xlii. 6, and xlix. 6). "What abundant prospect of success have you, not only from the Divine promises, but also from the aspect of Divine Providence! The breaker is evidently coming up before you; you have already broken up and passed through the gate; your kings shall for this pass before you, and Jehovah as your head (Micah ii. 13). He shall assuredly crown your labours with an abundant harvest; then shall you rejoice, bringing back your sheaves (Ps. cxxvi. 6). And let the whole earth be full of His glory (Is. vi. 3). Amen and Amen. "I might have employed some person to have written to your Excellency, who would have addressed you in a manner more becoming your dignity; but being ashamed to let the world know how far I have presumed I have kept it a profound secret. Neither could I receive any assistance from my husband, he being confined to his bed more than three years by a stroke of the palsy. Living a few miles from where Mr. James Willie's connections reside, would not wish him to know anything about this letter, as I should be exposed to ridicule in this place on account of having written it. I neither expect nor desire an answer to this letter, but would be glad to know if it comes to hand. When monuments of airy fame are hurled from their bases, God grant your Excellency an interest in the new and wellordered covenant, that your name may be found written in the Lamb's book of life, eternal life and a crown of immortal glory. "In the hope that the benign spirit with which your Excellency seems to be actuated will enable you to forgive me, I beg leave, with profound submission, to subscribe myself, "Your Excellency's B- "Most obedient servant, "A—— B—— "Cairmy Hill, near Dunfermline, North Britain, Aug. 20, 1814. "P.S.-There are a great many of our ships at St. Petersburg to return immediately." (This letter was only corrected in the orthography: in every other respect it is an exact copy of the original.) Prince Alexander Galitzin's answer :— “MY DEAR MADAM,-I had the pleasure of receiving your letter, and though I answer it late, yet I consider it an agreeable task, and thank you most kindly for it. The contents of your letter, notwithstanding the weakness of your sex, as you express it, bear testimony to the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ.' Therefore not only I, but all the members of committee of the Russian Bible Society, heard your letter read with very great satisfaction, seeing in it your true veneration of the word of God, and the power of that word working in you. The |