I then read to her the 51st Psalm and Luke xv., and I asked her if I tired her.

She said, "No, no; read and pray."

After praying that God would open her eyes and give her faith to see Jesus as her pardoning Saviour, she said, "What is faith?

Placing my bag before her, I said, "If I tell you this is a bag you will believe it because you see it, that is sight; but if I tell you angels are in this room waiting to rejoice over your turning to Jesus to save you and you believe me, that is faith. Faith is a thing not seen but believed."

I called again on Friday morning and saw that she had but a few hours to live. Her husband was sitting by her side. It appears he was so anxious about her that he came home from one of the seaports by train, instead of by sea, thus showing how God had answered her prayer in allowing her to see him

once more.

Her cough was distressing. She said, "Oh! I am not happy." She could not bear the reading of various verses on the love of God; but said, "Oh, that I knew my sins were forgiven."

I explained to her the little tract, "The debt is paid." I was then obliged to leave her for a little while, and I gave her these words to think of while I was gone

"I am a poor sinner and nothing at all,

But Jesus Christ is my all in all."

At half-past five o'clock a message came that Mrs. Cwished to see me again before she died. I went directly, and found her husband and two sisters watching her. She opened her eyes, looked at me and said, "Oh! I am happy now; Jesus is here. I know I am forgiven. I thank you so much for telling me all about it. God is good. I want to go and be with Jesus, and I do not want to live now." Her face was radiant with joy, and she said, "Pray with me once more." I bowed in prayer, thanking God for His wonderful love in finding at last this sheep that was lost.

Seeing her lying still and pale, her husband said, “Oh, she cannot hear you." She said, "Yes I can. Jesus is here." I

She said,

said, "Leading you through the dark valley?" "Yes! Yes! I am forgiven! I am forgiven!" I took her hand and wished her farewell. She pointed upwards and said, "I shall meet you there," and became insensible. When she rallied she said, "God has sent a light to light me through the dark valley. My place is ready now," and gently passed E.

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away.

THE NEEDY WHO WANT OUR KIND OF NURSE.

WE print the following details, by way of example, of the need and sorrow that lies very often not far from our daily path, that requires searching out by our kind of agency, and then helping through a time of trial by local benevolence.

also how we are sometimes pointed to our cases.

It shows

No one

Poor thing! 'Thank God,

"I had lately on my district," says one of our Nurses, "a Mrs. R. A midwife from the hospital had attended her for two days, and, having heard of me, sent to ask if I would call and see if anything could be done for the poor creature. visited her, as she had not long moved into the house. I went at once, and found everything so beautifully clean, which really is a treat; six little children, no fire, the father gone to the hospital. He had been at home one month ill in bed with dropsy. He has been a gentleman's servant. They seemed very respectable people. The poor woman had only a crust of dry bread that day; she was eating it as I went in. she seemed too low to speak. At last she said, perhaps He has sent me a Christian friend.' I really stood wondering what I could do to help them, they wanted so much. However, we begged a little warm water, and I washed the baby. It was a bitter cold day, and no fire. Poor little thing! my heart grieved for it. I dressed it as well as I could with the things given me, and while doing so I lifted my heart to God, and asked Him to guide me aright. I encouraged the poor woman, in the midst of her bitter trial, to look up to Him, whose are all the treasures of supply in heaven and earth, and who is ever merciful and heareth the cry of the needy. I then thought I would send a little note to my superintendent, and ask her for a coal ticket for them; also a little nourishment for

the woman. I left it for the biggest girl to take. I then passed on to my next case, with a promise to call the next day and do what more I could.

"That case, however, laid very heavy on my heart. I could not eat my own food, seeing that poor woman and children had none. I shared what I had with them, and sent her some oatmeal I had from the Mother-house. I went there first on my round the next day, and was as much surprised when entering as I had been the day before. The woman looked up and said, with such a sweet smile, 'I have been thinking, nurse, so much of the treasures you talked about. How many you must be telling of those treasures!'

"I said, 'What treasures?'

"She answered, 'The treasures in heaven.'

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"I then told her how it reminded me of a sermon I once heard from those words, 'Treasures in Heaven.' The minister was telling us how heaven would be our home, yet we should not enjoy it so much as we might unless we had laid up treasure there. He said, for instance, we leave an old home on earth and take a new one. We look round it many times, and admire it, and feel it is better than the old one, yet there is an unsettled feeling at first. It does not seem like home; but when we bring this picture, and that book-shelf, and many other things we loved, and place them there, then it looks like our own old home, so we are to lay up treasures in heaven. I was sorry to hear that her husband had been sent back from the hospital; for they had not a second bed. But, poor man, when he came in he could not believe his eyes. There was a good fire, a nice piece of mutton on the table, and the mother sitting up in bed enjoying the little I had sent her.

"He said, 'Truly God is good.'

"Yes; and dear husband,' said the wife, I wish you more about Him than you do.'

knew

"The man was silent. Day by day they were fed. A gentleman gave them soup for the children, the baker said he knew they were honest people and would pay when they could, so they might have bread for the family. My superintendent and other ladies were very kind to the father and mother. Meat was sent until they both got strong enough to go out.

"The first place the woman went to was the hospital to return thanks. She could go to the chaplain there free and have baby baptized; from thence to Miss W- to thank her. The man soon got better, so as to be able to go to his work, which his master kept for him; but before going out he was sadly in want of a pair of warm trousers. I did not know he wanted them, for they did not tell me. I am sure the woman had strong faith in the Lord, for she took this new want to Him with the assurance that He would provide them as He had the other things. Still I knew nothing about it, or would have asked at the Mother-house, as I did for the baby's clothing. However, I was with Miss W- soon after, and as I was leaving she said, 'My father has given me some of his clothes to give away, do you know any one deserving of a pair of trousers?' I did not all at once. I said, 'I think Mr. N- does.' Miss W. gave them to me saying, 'If he doesn't need them, give them to some one else.' I took them, telling the wife I did not know if he was in want of such things, for as I saw a livery coat I fancied he had his clothes found. She looked up as if in silent prayer, and then told me how the Lord had sent them because she had told HIM all about it. She further said, 'I am so pleased to tell you, nurse, my husband asked me for the Bible, that he might read for himself. I had a good pious mother, and her prayers are not in vain.' When the poor fellow received the gift he said, 'It is more than I deserve.' They feel this dear baby is sent as a blessing to them, as they say it brought its own clothing and food for all, and the father a gift, and perhaps a new heart. They told me they never received such kindness in their lives before. Only once they had asked a little assistance, and were almost crushed to the ground by unkind words and treatment, therefore they felt very thankful they had sought out our Nurse. I pray it may make a lasting impression."

BIBLE-WOMEN FOR MADAGASCAR.

"MY DEAR MRS. R——,

"Antananarivo, Dec. 24, 1874.

"By the last mail we received notice of your Society's kind

contribution. Money advices only reach us quarterly, or it would have been more speedily acknowledged. It was most acceptable, and will enable Mrs. Poole to arrange for the employment of six Bible-women as soon as the suitable people can be secured. They are not very easy to find, however, for of course they must be women of some Christian experience able to edify others, and well read in the Scriptures, and among the more intelligent middle-class there is still a great deal of the clan or caste feeling which interferes with a willingness to undertake such a labour of love. We have still to deplore the very little, if any, heartfelt interest taken in the spiritual welfare of their dependants by the men and women of rank and influence here.

“There is much in their home-life that admits of great improvement, especially among their servants or slaves, and it is in these families that the work of the Bible-women would be found. I know the word slaves is a most offensive one to an English mind, but, in reference to domestic slaves, it must be owned that they are for the most part physically well treated here, and though their emancipation must come, and the teaching of the one Book will bring it about, yet it does seem that at present, with very much that one deplores, the slaves would be in a far worse condition were they free; still, as a minister said the other day, the 'grace of God is sure to bring salvation from slavery as well as from sin.'

"One feels more and more the importance of 'woman's work' in this harvest field, and I rejoice to hear that recently some powerful arguments have been used in favour of sending out Ladies of suitable age, and good attainments, as missionaries. Their labours will be greatly respected and valued; in Madagascar there does seem a noble opportunity for ladies full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, who are willing thus to give themselves entirely to the service of our common Lord. women are very willing, nay, anxious to be taught many of the useful arts, and a ready access is thus afforded to them for the imparting also of spiritual truths. Very many of them are professedly Christians, nevertheless they are babes in knowledge, and still need line upon line, and constant instruction in

L

In this capital,