were found to have gone regularly up to see them, when their morning lesson with us was over, begging to have a second lesson from them.

The Sabbath was becoming more and more a day of enjoyment. When examined by their papa on that evening, their answers were distinct and clear; they had a relish for the exercise, which ended with a hymn. After that, it was a favourite amusement to find out by questions any Scripture characters we might fix on, without telling them the name ; and it was a still greater pleasure in their turn to try to puzzle us. Their prayer followed, in which China and the missionaries were constantly mentioned. Freddy's petitions became every Sabbath more earnest, well weighed, and humble. He would sometimes remain a few moments in silence before he began, and say to George. "Stop a minute; think well what you need first." George would ask that all the Chinese might put away their idols, and generally ended thus, after naming all the individuals in his mind at the time-" Bless all who are in the house, and all who are in the world, for Jesus' sake." His memory was faithful in recalling to his mind even the trivial faults of the day: while he confessed them, and acknowledged his sinny

We

heart as the cause, his voice often faltered. should not have heard of them otherwise. The most minute reference was also made to any illness or misfortune which had befallen others: "God sent it, and it is HIM we must ask to take it away." Such petitions as the following often found a place in their prayers" Teach me the way to pray. Pour out thy Spirit on me. Take away my naughty heart, and give Make me love Jesus better than anyMay I hate sin, because not get my own way and May I take papa's way,

me a new one.

thing; wash me in his blood. it makes thee angry. May I be like Eli's naughty sons. and mama's way, and Helen's way, and be like little Samuel. Make me quite, quite ready to die, in case Jesus sends for me soon." You were never forgotten; perhaps I told you at the time, of one of Freddy's last prayers for you-" Do not let the hot country hurt mademoiselle; bless uncle, and make him able for all his business. Keep cousin David safe, that he may come home, and we may see him. I thank thee for not letting him be hurt when the bullock-carriage was upset." This last sentence he made use of for weeks, and once said to me, "I didn't think God saved people from getting hurt when a carriage fell; I thought it

was only long ago when the prophets or Jesus were here that he did these things."

After his brother had gone to bed, he would still sit by us. Finding, one evening, that he had written three times with his pencil, GOD IS GOOD, I said it was better not to write that sacred name so often at once. Asking him afterwards if he had any reason for doing so, he said, "Might we not three times write that God is good, when Peter denied him three times ?"

Being detained from church for many weeks, he regularly went through the service at the proper hour. A pulpit was formed of chairs, a stool was placed with the missionary-box upon it, into which each of us was expected to drop something. He was at great pains to select the chapters and psalms beforehand, and did all with much seriousness. Nothing would induce him to stop or interrupt it. On one occasion, when tea was brought in during the time of it, he was desired to stop; and, on refusing, reminded that obedience was his first duty. He came afterwards with tears in his eyes, saying very respectfully, "Please, mama, when you see me beginning at a wrong hour, tell me not to do it then; but when once I have begun, I can't stop for anybody." During the winter, he had got leave to

remain up beyond his usual hour on that evening to family worship, and he carefully prepared the room where it was held, taking part in it with a freshness and interest-reading his verses in turn, and answering questions-in a way which struck all of us. On trying to get him to give this up, once or twice, when he seemed tired, we could not persuade him to forego the pleasure.

When his wayward nature had troubled him, as it often did to the end, he looked very sad : "I do ask a new heart from God; how is he not obliged to give it me when he promised it, and when I want to have it ?" An answer being given him suited to his comprehension, he kneeled down of his own accord immediately, and six times over, in earnest entreaty, asked, “O God! give me a new heart." Shortly before he was taken, it was said to him, that he must not expect his old heart ever to go quite away; that we began to hope God was giving him the new heart; and, if so, he ought to thank Him for it, as well as to ask to be yet more renewed. Looking down sweetly and sadly, he said, "Oh! I don't think I've got it yet; yet I don't know." George admitted no such doubts : at all times, when asked, he said he did love Jesus.

Mr Johnston, who had now been appointed a missionary to China, returned to Edinburgh during the winter. As soon as he came in George asked if he had bought a Bible yet for the Chinese with his halfcrown. He was told that it would buy more than one, but that they were not yet bought. When we next saw Mr Johnston, just before he sailed, the boys had been gone some weeks, and then we first learned that it was their small gift which had suggested to him the idea of the Children's Chinese Bible Fund of the English Presbyterian Church.*

Frederick had taken a great liking to the Book of Revelation, and it was now his favourite study. He was told that it was not a book well suited to his age. "Don't you see I must read it to you, because I can't understand it by myself like the others." He was told that God did not intend us to understand all that book. "Then I wonder he gave it at all; if he wants us not to know these things, why does he tell us; and when he does tell us, why not tell us plain ?" Again, "How does it say, 'the revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto him ;' I thought Jesus knew everything by Himself." 'Why is New

* Appendix, p. 297.

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