science in desperate hardihood of purpose, or swallowing the poison of delusion from lips too ready to speak peace where there is no peace: but I am now, in thought, dwelling on a single though most awfully numerous branch of that wide class of unequivocal transgressors, who cross our daily path, in all the successive gradations of their sad career; from the bloom of youthful beauty, gaudily tricked out in flaunting display, to the squalid spectral object, whose pale cheek, hollow eyes, trembling limbs, and tottering gait, proclaim for how very short a period she has yet to drag that wasted half-clad form along, ere it must sink where ours shall mingle with it. Yes, however high we may toss the disdainful head, however far avert the loathing eye, however cautiously protect the utmost verge of our garment from coming into contact with her defiling tatters, we shall mingle at last-mingle here in one common mass of corruption; and mingle hereafter in one mighty throng of animated existences, gathered for judgment before the eternal throne.

It was marvellous in the eyes of Simon the Pharisee that Jesus suffered a woman of the city, who was a known sinner, to touch him! Tear after tear dropped unrebuked upon those holy feet, from eyes that had lured many a soul into the paths of death; and tress after tress was applied to dry those drops away, that oft had been braided with gold and pearl, for the express purpose of ensnaring those whom he came to deliver. And, I bless His holy name, he has so far taught me, that I dare not pass a poor lost sister of my own vile race, without remembering that touching scene, and feeling as though to me was addressed the comprehensive appeal, "Seest thou

this woman?" I have in my garden a flower that bears on its leaves a memento I would not willingly forget; and when I see the long, pale, dishevelled petals of the white Cresymanthus shaken rudely by the gale, while its slender stem is bowed, and its sickly looking leaves hang down, in helpless resignation to its comfortless lot, I think of the little cottage where it stood hard by the door, to plead with me, as it were, for one within, of whom it seemed the most affecting type that could have been devised.

It was then winter, comparatively mild, but still winter, and very few of the flowers had survived even in that sheltered spot. The white Cresymanthus, however, was not quite alone; but so accompanied as to throw out its peculiarly fading and forlorn character in more striking relief. Close behind it, on the cottage-wall, peeped forth a few glowing china-roses, with a cluster of vigorous buds; and some double marigolds spread their rich, deep, golden hues at its root. Not far away stood a dwarf holly, be-dropped with scarlet berries; and whatever remained of flowers and foliage partook so largely of that firm texture and decided tint which conveys the idea of health and enjoyment, that the poor Cresymanthus looked the very personification of a sick, sorrowful, trembling stranger, in a circle where sickness, sorrow, or fear might rarely intrude. The place was one where my assigned duty would have called me, but I had been ill; and a dear young friend, ever ready to the work of Christian love and pity, had supplied my lack of service by a prompt response to the summons that she received. Deeply affected by the account she gave me, I now accom

panied her, not to interfere, but to witness her efforts; and very rarely have my feelings been more painfully excited, or my indignation more strongly provoked. Ascending to a very small neat room of the little cottage, I saw on a bed a young woman of no ordinary share of beauty, not, apparently, much changed by illness, with a bright glow on her cheek, and a fire in her rich, dark eye, and a smile playing round a very lovely mouth, so unlike what I had expected to behold, that I knew not how to account for it. However I sat down on the bed, while my friend, sitting nearer the pillow, bent over the sufferer, addressing her in gentle tones, and in the sweet language of the gospel. For some time she spoke unheeded; at length the bright eyes were raised to her face, and a transparent trembling hand was stretched towards her head, with the words'Let me look at your bonnet, Miss. Pretty bonnet!' Emma yielded to the request, at the same time sadly observing to me that it was not a lucid interval: and then I saw the extent of the calamity, as regarded this world-reason had fled.

While the poor maniac amused herself with the bonnet, and with her sister's little infant, which she tenderly noticed, I learnt the particulars of her story. The family was poor, but respectable; and all had gone out to service excepting Bessie, who remained with her parents, taking in needle-work, and frequently so employed for the various shops in London. At the age of eighteen she was suddenly missed from home; and no tidings could be heard of her until four years after; when, in the summer, she came down to that cottage, on an unexpected visit to her sister, who had married a respectable man,

and passed a day with them. A gentleman accompanied her, to whom she evidently was not married ; but as she was handsomely dressed, and came in a post-chaise, and appeared in high spirits; and as the gentleman-for such, in rank, he was-treated her with much affection, and behaved to her humble relatives with great affability, the poor people, culpably ignorant of their duty, forbore either to question or remonstrate with her, and Bessie returned, promising them another visit.

The promise was fulfilled, when, six months after, she was again brought to their door in a post-chaise, the driver of which delivered a letter to the sister, and while she was reading it, departed, leaving Bessie. In this letter the gentleman stated that the poor girl had been very ill; that change of air was the only thing requisite for her recovery; and earnestly implored them to give her lodging and nursing until she should regain her health. Attention being turned to the poor creature thus thrown on hands little capable of assisting her, it was discovered that she was raving; and also that the thrush had broken out in her mouth, with other symptoms so fatal, that the medical man, who was hastily called in, at once declared her to be dying. She had, in fact, been confined for three weeks to her bed; and the inhuman seducer, who had first stolen her from her home (which broke the hearts of both her parents) and retained her in worldly abundance, on guilty terms, for four years, no sooner found her thus becoming a burden on his hands, than he had her taken from her bed, to encounter the rough blasts of a severe winter's day; and thus exposing her to almost certain death, sent her to those whose daily

labour could but just scantily feed their own little ones, to suffer all the privations inseparable from such a change: even if, as was very near being the case, the irritated feelings of one on whom poor Bessie had no claim, did not provoke him to deny her the shelter of his roof. A sister's love, however, prevailed; and she was tenderly nursed; while the lucid intervals, long, but not frequent, were diligently improved by my dear young friend, with an earnest desire for the salvation of her soul. How far the Lord might bless the means of grace under which she was so singularly brought, it is not for us to say: but we were not left without hope concerning her. At first, when my friend spoke to her of the compassionate love of the Redeemer, shewing forth the exceeding riches of that grace for which all are invited to plead the fulness of that pardon which, in Christ Jesus, is offered to the vilest of sinners-she seemed to consider it as rather a mockery of her woe than an encouragement; for she fixed on the speaker an incredulous look, saying, 'Oh, don't talk so to me, Miss!' By degrees, she became less reluctant to listen; and after hearing much more to the same effect, she grasped her visitor's hand, saying, 'I should not be afraid to die, if I might go to heaven: ' then added, in an agitated manner, as Emma rose to go, 'If you will come to see me again, you will be my dear.' The visit was repeated often; and once or twice, at her urgent request, was her kind teacher sent for, when reason was perfectly awake; but only four days intervened between her first arrival, and her entrance on the eternal world. I saw her a second time, and then the colour had left her cheek, the fire was quenched in her eye, the smile had de