money, thinking, very justly, that it was very often productive of more evil than good to the borrower, but the boy was so very earnest, urged so many seemingly good reasons why the money would be of particular use to him just then, and promised so faithfully that he would make it up in small regular weekly instalments, that Mr. L― at length consented, and lent him the sovereign. Charles expressed himself very grateful, and repeated his promise of punctual repayment, in which no doubt he was at the monent perfectly sincere. Time passed on, one month elasped, then another, but Charles seemed quite to have forgotten his debt, till Mr. L— reminded him of his promise; he looked awkward and conscious, did not deny that he had been in good work, but said he had had more than he expected to pay for tools, however he would be sure to make up the money very soon. But weeks and months passed, and Charles, who now disliked and feared his friend the Rector, began to absent himself from the Sunday School. After this, he evidently saw him at a distance he avoided meeting Mr. L-; if he would turn out of the way, or if obliged to pass him would hasten by with scarcely a sign of recognition. The Rector observed all this, and it gave him great pain, particularly as Charles, who at one time was most constant in his attendance at Church, was now hardly ever to be seen there. In this sad state of things above a year had elasped, when one day Mr. L received a message to say that Charles R was dying, and greatly wished to see him. Much shocked, he hastened to the house, on reaching which he was much surprised at being conducted to a small garret in the roof, and at seeing around signs of poverty which he could hardly have expected to find in the dwelling of Charles' Father. This seemed to strike the old man, who immediately said, "You look shocked, sir, at seeing things in this wretched condition, but let me explain to you the circumstances. I have done my best for Charles, I apprenticed him, as you know, to a good trade, and put him in a position to maintain himself respectably and comfortably; he had plenty of work and received good wages, but alas! he got among bad companions, and wasted his money, and had quite cast me off, till at the commencement of his illness he came to me, without a sixpence of his own, and with scarcely any clothes to wear. I could not refuse him the shelter of my roof, but I think you will see that, after his conduct, I cannot, in justice to my other children, spend my earnings in procuring for him those comforts which, had he been a dutiful son, I would have worked day and night to provide for him.” Mr. Lacknowledged the truth of this, and approaching the bedside, saw at a glance that poor Charles was indeed near his end. A cold, caught a few weeks before, had attacked his lungs and led to rapid consumption, so that it was now plain that the young man had not many days to live. On hearing the Rector's voice, he started up, exclaiming, "O sir, I am so glad you are come, I do not deserve your kindness, but I am dying, I know I am, and I could not die happy till I had asked you to forgive me!" The Rector endeavoured to soothe him with some kind words, but Charles could not rest till he had fully expressed to him his deep sorrow for his past behaviour. He told Mr. L-that he had all along had plenty of work and good earnings, so that he could easily have repaid the money he had borrowed, but that he chose rather to spend it on his own gratification, and it was not till he felt that he should never again rise from his sick-bed, that the dishonesty and ingratitude of his conduct appeared to him in their true light. He now with shame and repentance confessed all this to the Rector, and entreated his pardon, exclaiming over and over again, “O sir, how earnestly I wish I could now repay my debt, but I have squandered away everything I possesed, and have returned pennyless to be a burden to my poor father. If I could only get well! but I feel that çan never be." Mr. L-, much affected, readily assured him of his forgiveness, and, as soon as he became somewhat composed, exhorted him to direct his thoughts towards the God whom he had offended by this and many other grievous sins, and to endeavour by penitence and prayer to obtain, for his Saviour's sake, the pardon of all his transgressions. I cannot now record any further particulars of Charles R-'s last hours. He lived about a week after the scene I have described, and we can only hope that he turned to the best account the short time thus allotted to him; and that as a sincere penitent, he found mercy and forgiveness with God, through the merits and mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ. To the day of his death the remembrance of the unrepaid loan pressed heavily on his mind, and troubled his last moments. Some of the latest words he uttered referred to this subject. Reader, the main facts of this little narrative are strictly true. It is hoped that some by whom it is read may be induced to take warning by the example of poor Charles R-, may observe how, from at first delaying the payment of a debt, he was led into the sins of disrespect to his pastor, of neglecting the opportunities of religious instruction offered him, and finally of forsaking public worship in Church, and the means of grace, and thus, to outward appearance at least, living without God in the world. And may God of His infinite mercy grant, that any who may have fallen into like temptations, may have grace given them to repent in time, to forsake their evil way, and walk before Him in newness of life! L. R. P. ENACTING HOLY RITES. "Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." THEY talk of wells in caverns deep, Where waters run a wondrous race, Our floating tokens, bright or base: True to their fount, the likeness bear How in the end their course they wear Into the light of manhood free: In careless mien, in care-worn face The long-forgotten Infant wondering trace. Oh many a joyous mother's brow Is sadden'd o'er when sports are rife, But if a holier task engage His busy dream,-if clad in white, And darker than the gloomiest deep She sees in heart an empty throne, And falling, falling far away, Him whom the Lord hath placed thereon, "Cast ye the lot, in trembling cast; The traitor to his place hath past," Strive ye with Prayer and Fast to guide Guide it towards some serious brow, His Creed rehearsing to the roar Or with a child's deep earnestness Showing his mates how saints baptize and bless. LYRA INNOCENTIUM, |