want to teach them book, and learn them about God and Jesus Christ. I do not expect, said he, to get so much sense as an American man, but my heart glad for little; so I can go and tell my countrymen about God, and teach them to read his book. O, my heart thank them little children too much for this good thing they been do for we.

These remarks are from a native boy that made a profession of religion about two years since, and who has faithfully adorned his profession with an exemplary Christian life, while he has met with much opposition from some of his countrymen.

*

*

*

*

A number of the boys say they will look their heads for something to put into a book to send to you, to let you know that they feel glad for what they hear you are doing for the people. The following is from a little boy about ten years old, that has recently, we trust, become a Christian:

"I am very much glad to hear that children in America be sorry for we African children. I thank God that God put it into their hearts to be sorry for we. I am very much pleased to hear them say so. By-and-by I will send you some shell, if Father let me live, so you know we think about you. JOHN H. B. LATROBE."

Then follows another little letter:

'MY DEAR GIRLS,-I am very glad that you care for little boys and girls in Africa, and send them money to buy them food and cloth, and give them some one to teach them book and learn them about God. I love to learn to read and write. My teacher learns me geography and arithmetic. Geography is a fine study, because it tells me about other countries. Arithmetic tells me how to count. All this I thank good people in America for. Your humble servant, SAMUEL BOYD."

* I have requested the boys to procure some curiosities for you, which I will try to forward by the first opportunity. * * The articles sent will consist of domestic utensils, ornaments for the neck, arms, &c. * * * May the Lord be with, and greatly bless, those dear young ladies of Andover, that have engaged in so noble a work, and ultimately bring them all into his kingdom. The prayer of your friend,

B. R. JAMES.

Scene in a Grave-yard.

In "Anne Allen," a beautiful little book published by the Mass. S. 8. Society, is the following scene in a grave-yard:

We next came to three little graves, placed side by side. Mrs. Allen drew her veil over her face, and simply directed mamma's attention towards them by her parasol, without speaking. A tear stood in Anne's eye -they were the graves of her three little brothers. Early had they been called to the world of spirits. Early had they tasted the joys of heaven. A while we lingered there, and gathered some flowers that grew beside the graves. Anne placed one in her mother's hand, and we then directed our steps toward some newly dug earth, a little distance off. I noticed mamma and Mrs. Allen remained near that "cherished spot, as Anne called it, and that after we left they began to speak together.

"A new-made grave," said Anna; "whose can it be?" "I can tell ye, Miss Anne," and a man appeared in sight, from behind a tombstone, with a spade in his hand. "Are you Mr. Tilton? and whose is this?"

"Bless your heart, 'tis widder Jones's-she that's been sick so long; and I'm thinking she's not one who is sorry I'm digging it," replied the man.

"No, she was a good woman, Mr. Tilton; she longed to die, and be with Jesus-dear old lady, is she gone? I wish I was as well prepared to die as she Anne, seriously.

was," said

"If ye were, Miss Anne,—and I hope ye are,—may it be no lot of mine to dig your grave for ye;" and as the old man said this, he looked kindly upon the child, as if he thought one like her must be long spared to bless and beautify the village.

"And would you not do that last office for me, Mr. Tilton?"

"God bless ye, my child, not me. I'll do any thing for ye, but not that. Many years for you, Miss Anne.' My brothers died young; why may not I?" We turned from the spot, but spoke not for some time. Anne seemed deep in thought. As we passed through the gate, to follow our parents home, I remember she said, "I wonder whose grave will be next made.'

That was my first visit to the abodes of the dead. I have often pressed the turf of a grave-yard since; but that, my first visit, imprinted lessons upon my young spirit, which gave an important direction to the tone of my feelings and affections in after life.

Children can understand the Doctrines.

In one of our cities there is a girl about thirteen years of age, who, for several years, has been connected with a Sabbath school where all doctrinal and evangelical instruction is excluded. The exercises consisted,-as we believe is the case in many of that class of schools,—in little more than moral lessons on natural history, and some of the outward virtues,— the most practical instruction being to tell the children they must be "good" and to be good, means merely correct outward actions.

Not long since, a city missionary called to visit this girl's sick mother. As he had occasion to repeat his visits several times, he became acquainted with this youth and she became much interested in him. On one of his visits, she told him "she wanted to go to a Sabbath school where she could hear something about the Bible,—she had got tired of hearing about birds and flowers and such things. This would do well enough for small children, but it would not do for her."

The missionary, before he left, asked her if she would like to attend their neighborhood meeting that evening? they ex

pected the Rev. Mr. affirmative and went. Mr. preached on the text, "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity." The sermon gave a very clear and lucid view of the object of Christ's death. This girl went home and gave her mother a full and minute account of the sermon. And she told her mother that she never knew before, that the death of Christ had any thing to do with her,i. e., she did not know that it had any particular connection with her happiness, or that it was a subject in which she should feel any special interest. "But now," she said, “I understand it exactly: God takes the sufferings of Christ on the cross and sets them against our sins."

would preach. She replied in the

How painful the thought, that there are multitudes, of all ages, who are taught to regard the death of Christ merely as the death of a martyr to the truth-as having no more connection with their salvation, than has the death of Stephen or of Paul! But the Bible teaches us that Christ died for our sins,that by his stripes we are healed,—that he is a propitiation for our sins,-a ransom for us.

How plain that the great and glorious doctrine of the atonement,-into which angels desire to look,-can be understood by children! The other great doctrines of the Bible, too,depravity, the necessity of being born again, justification by faith, &c.,-can be presented so as to be understood by the

young.

This girl, by her own request, has recently been taken into a Bible class under the instruction of the wife of her friend, the missionary. And the interest with which she enters into the lessons, and the increasing seriousness with which she listens to instruction, encourage the hope that the sufferings of Christ on the cross will be set against her sins, and she be enabled to rejoice in him as her Saviour.

Every enjoyment of life has three distinct stages,-anticipation-reality-and reminiscence; and it is more difficult than it first appears to be, to decide on the character, extent and value of each. Hope is the most extravagant and imaginative; action, the most engrossing and tangible; and memory, the most calin, and durable, and sober. Miss Pardoe.

Books of Fiction.

The complaint is occasionally made, that some of the books in our Sabbath school libraries, are nothing but fictitious stories. For the correctness of this complaint we cannot answer, only so far as our libraries have been replenished from the Depository of the Massachusetts Sabbath School Society.

That some of the earlier Sabbath school books were of the character complained of, there is probably but little doubt; and that the public press has been flooding the land with such books, is quite certain. Of making many such books, as well as many good books, there is literally no end. And in this state of things, the churches should fully understand the course pursued by this Society, respecting this matter.

The Board do not, knowingly, allow any books of fiction to be sold at the Depository. All the books there kept for sale, -excepting the publications of the American Sunday School Union, they mean to have carefully examined by one or more of their numbers; and for the good character of all,-excepting those that hear the imprint of that Society,—they hold themselves, so far as the nature of the case will permit, responsible.

The Board mean to guard the doors of the Depository from the entrance, not only of every work that will be injurious in its influence on the young, but also of every book whose influence on them will not be positively beneficial.

As to the publication of books of fiction, the Board have, from the first, taken a decided stand. In their third annual report, is the following distinct expression of their feelings on this subject:

"As to books of fiction, they should not once be named. The publications of the Society should be raised above all suspicion on this point. The Board are feeling more and more solicitude relative to this subject. They believe a narrative may be founded on fact, and yet be as truly a romance as many of the acknowledged novels of the day. The characters of a book, with only borrowed names, may be true; yet, if the smaller incidents and the filling up are fancied, or colored and arranged to give interest and effect to a few isolated facts, in themselves possessing only a common interest, the book, in its effect on the mind, is a novel. Of the publication of such books by this Society, the Managers utterly disapprove. Their influence, ultimately, niust be injurious."