press themselves in English, to them a foreign tongue. Among those who are utterly unacquainted with any language but their own; eyes will flash and cheeks flush while some peasant repeats some soul-stirring verses composed by himself or his ancestors; and proud indeed is the father who can boast a son well versed in the art of poesy. This have I not witnessed, but I have witnessed the delight and enthusiasm with which the uncultivated minds of peasants have appreciated the sublime beauty and figurative language of Scripture, when offered in the teanga vin milish na h' Eirion, (sweet honied language of Erin.) THE unsanctified wish to be freed from the punishment of sin; the believer from its bondage and pollution.-Robert Hall, THE HOUSEHOLD CHAIN BROKEN. A TRUE NARRATIVE. BESIDE a flowing river, Where waving beeches stand, And silver aspens quiver, We dwelt, a happy band. We wandered through each upland scene, And thus the happy years flew by, Save his, who crossed the distant seas, No voice's music had been hushed, Life glided like a dream. But three or four of all the band Sought an eternal home; The rest forgot the better land, Nor thought that death might come. Till He who doeth all things well The white-robed minister of death 66 Maiden, thy form of clay, Shall melt like the mists away, But living faith can smile on death, She cried, My flesh and heart are failing fast, Soon shall their links dissever; But God my strength and portion is, He shall be mine for ever. O happy maiden, thou hast given Thy summer-time of glee, 66 Thy heart's first fragrance unto heaven," Death had no sting for thee! Thus day by day, with a slow decay, Till her glad spirit rejoicing stood In the bright home of her "Saviour God :” *Psalm lxxiii. 26. Then years flew by, as the lightnings fly, 'Twas heard by a child with sunny hair, She ceased her brother's sports to share, At midnight rose her wailing cry, And with a strong though child-like faith, And ere the messenger came nigh, To her such faith was given; "I fear not now," she said, "to die, For Jesus is in heaven." Then came the bright one down, Bore her to her starry crown; Oh, what glad seraph-chants were strewn A year flew by, like a breeze's sigh, It came to one in manhood's prime, His feet had entered Jordan's stream, Its chill was on his frame; But till it froze his rich deep voice, But we trust it bore our wrested one And month by month, and year by year His white hairs bent o'er the Holy Book Thus years went by, with a warning cry The Patriarch bowed on the Sabbath-day At night he sank to his usual rest, At dawn came the summons there. His children stood by his painless couch, He knew them but could not speak ; He pressed their hands, and he looked farewell, Then turned the Book to seek, He placed it in their willing hands They read him that Word of God; |