Memorials of the Departed. OLD NELLY was for many years the faithful domestic of a Christian family in the north of England. Her mother dying when she was very young, poor Nelly was cast upon the world at an early age, and became one of those white slaves known as "town apprentices." Sorrow and neglect attended her steps up to womanhood, and at twenty-one she sought another home, and eventually came to the above family as servant. She was found to be honest: she watched her master's property with an owner's care. She attached herself to every member of the household. It was generally understood as the greatest insult that could be offered to Nelly, to speak evil of the family in her presence; an insult she never failed to resent with a fearful outbreak of unbounded rage, much to the amusement of mischief-loving people who delighted to tease her. Her peculiarity of dress,- for she dressed after the style of Welshwomen in earlier days, and her short, curly hair, resembling that of a negro, drew forth, especially from young people, remarks that Nelly could not bear; and she would turn into some quiet corner, and weep bitterly; and not until warm sympathy was offered her, would she be pacified. Her devotion and never-tiring care, during seasons of sickness in the family, gained the confidence and respect of all in return; but, amidst all her good qualities, there was one drawback, she had no taste for religion, or religious duties. She could never be induced to attend a place of worship, read her Bible she could not, and she was equally disinclined to learn to read. Although assembling with others at the morning and evening devotions, she did not consider it as anything more than a duty to the family. Prayer-meetings were held periodically in a room in the house; but Nelly never cared to be present; in every way acting as if religion was not for such as she, but only for her superiors, and as if she had no part or lot in the matter, excepting as a duty to her master and mistress. As to vital godliness, she lived a heathen in a Christian household. One day it was said by one, in a jocular manner, "Nelly, you are getting old and infirm; you had better be sent to the poorhouse." It was carelessly said, without the least idea of wounding; yet it sunk deep into Nelly's heart, and she pined in secret over those words, fearing that it would be a reality. This great grief so preyed upon her mind, and, together with physical ailments, so affected her system, that she was seized with a fit of paralysis, from which she never recovered. It was then discovered how deeply she had felt the threat that was never designed to be put into execution. A young lady, whom she had nursed when a child, and to whom the old creature was fondly attached, spent hours with her trying to allay her fears, and soothe her troubled spirit. Week after week passed away, still poor Nelly languished on a sickbed; all were anxious about her soul. Often was she exhorted to pray for mercy to that Saviour of whom hitherto she had thought that He died for all but her. Her master frequently visited her, and prayed with her, as also did other friends. Sometimes she would express a wish that this person, or that, should be solicited to come and pray with her; so that even dark-minded Nelly was led to understand that she had an interest in the blood of the Lamb, and could be received into the fold and family of God. Many times, when left alone, has she been heard pleading with God for pardon for all her sins; and gradually light broke upon her mind, as the light falls upon the dark earth on a winter's morning, growing imperceptibly brighter and brighter. The finest trait of her character stood forth prominently even then; namely, her love and faithfulness to her kind master and his family. Her gratitude was unbounded; and many a prayer was offered to God that He would bless them abundantly all their days. Day after day she lay calmly awaiting her last summons; when, one evening, the young lady before referred to went to her room. After a short time she bade Nelly "Good-night." She re ASTRONOMICAL NOTICES. 63 the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ." Of Nelly's fidelity and uprightness of character much more might be said; but all these good qualities were as sounding brass and tinkling cymbals when she came to lay on her death-bed. For seventeen years she had lived surrounded with Christian privileges, yet, until sickness came, she did not see herself as one of those Christ died to save; but thanks be to God for His condescending goodness in receiving poor Nelly to His embrace in the eleventh hour. New-Zealand. Astronomical Notices. FOR FEBRUARY, 1869. BY A. GRAHAM, ESQ. RISING AND SETTING OF THE SUN AND PLANETS FOR GREENWICH. EDLA. MARS. SATURN. H. M. Rises. H. M. 4 4m Increase of distance for the month The Sun will be eclipsed, on the 11th, to the inhabitants of the southern regions of Africa and South America. As the Sun's apparent diameter will exceed the Moon's by three minutes, or about a tenth of the whole, the Eclipse will be annular at and near to those points where the straight line, joining the centres of the Sun and Moon, meets the surface of the Earth; these points will lie in a curved line, passing a very little way southward of the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn. The Eclipse lasts 221,620 237,086 "" 90,367,030 miles. .90,894,790 527,760 on the Earth generally from 10h. 55m. in the morning, to 4h. 38m. in the afternoon. Regulus, the bright star in Leo, which was occulted by the Moon on January 1st, will be again occulted on February 25th, from 6h. 38m., to 7h. 37m., in the afternoon. As Mercury sets more than an hour and a half later than the Sun, before the 10th, it will be visible to the naked eye in the afternoon, low in the west. On the 1st, at Sh. 28m, in the afternoo it will be in the plane of the ecliptic, going northward. It is worthy of notice that, just seventeen minutes later, Venus will be in the same plane, going southward. Mercury will be at its greatest apparent angular distance from the Sun, eighteen degrees eastward, on the morning of the 4th, a little after midnight. At ten o'clock in the morning of the 6th, it will be in perihelion: the distance from the Sun will then be only twenty-eight million, two hundred thousand miles. On the 9th, at one o'clock in the afternoon, the apparent motion among the fixed stars changes from direct to retrograde. It will be at its greatest distance from the plane of the Earth's orbit on the afternoon of the 16th; and three days later it will be in inferior conjunction with the Sun, too far northward to appear between us and the disc, and therefore no transit. On the 28th, at 6h. 35m. in the morning, it will be within four degrees of Venus. Venus is in the remote part of its orbit, approaching the Sun on the western side. Seen in a telescope, it presents a nearly round disc, of eleven seconds diameter. On the 9th, at 1h. 48m. in the afternoon, it will be within less than one degree of the southern edge of the Moon. Mars is in opposition on the 13th. The distance from the Earth at that time will be sixty-two millions of miles. The southern hemisphere is turned toward us: in that hemisphere the spring quarter is pretty far advanced. On the 10th the planet will be within four degrees of Regulus. The contrast between the red planet and the white star will be beautiful and instructive. Jupiter sets early in the evenings. It will be near the Moon, on the 15th, at half-past five o'clock in the afternoon. Among the remarkable groupings of the satellites may be mentioned that on the 10th, at six o'clock in the evening, when they will be all on the western side of the planet in the order of their actual distances; and that on the 24th, at the same hour, when they will again be all on the west, three of them being very close to the planet; the order of their distances will be fourth, second, first, third, counting from the planet. The previous night, at this hour, the third satellite will be very close to the disc on the west, the other three close together on the east, in the order first, fourth, second. The first satellite and its shadow will be on the disc on the 11th, from 6h. 2m., to 7h. 15m., in the afternoon; and the second satellite and its shadow will be on the disc on the 6th, from 8h. 12m. to 8h. 30m. Saturn is now in Scorpio, about ten degrees east of Antares. Here, again, we have an opportunity of contrasting a planet with a bright fixed star. THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER. "SOME fell upon stony places." This expression used by St. Matthew, must be read in connexion with that recorded by St. Luke, "Some fell upon a rock." It was not land thickly strewn with stones, such as may now be seen in some parts of the wolds of Lincolnshire; but, rather, land having a thin layer of good soil spread out over the surface, and underneath, not far down, the hard, smooth rock. This ground, therefore, is not like the wayside which is thrown out of cultivation, and affords no covering whatever for the seed, VOL. XV.-Second Series.-MARCH, 1869, E This is cultivated, and the ground, to a certain depth, is good ground, but there is not enough soil; "they had no deepness of earth," not sufficient to support the growing plant through the summer on to harvest-time. In two respects, at least, the hearts of some hearers are like unto stony ground. They are good down to a certain depth, and whatever is right and hopeful lies on or near the surface, and is seen at once. But their faults are hidden, and those defects, which afterward prove ruinous, are not discoverable at first. On the surface, patent to everybody, is more or less good feeling; but what man can see through this, and ascertain that all is rock below?-an unrenewed will, a sluggish understanding, convictions unsettled, and a heart not yet out of love with sin. "Forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth." In the conduct of those who receive the seed into "stony places," we find two facts which correspond to the premature appearance above-ground of the blade which "forthwith sprung up." When they have heard the Word, they "immediately receive it." These persons are impressible, and easily moved. Mentally, they are indolent and credulous; they dislike hard thought, and cannot endure argument and so, to save themselves further trouble, they do, superficially, receive the Word "immediately." They receive it under the particular aspect then and there presented. They do not take the pains to inquire whether there may not be other doctrines and duties equally true and binding, which they could not receive; they do not even put together what they have heard at different times, and on other occasions: but from one sermon they judge of the whole Gospel, and without consideration they receive the Word. This circumstance taken by itself is quite enough to awaken suspicion. Of course no one can say how long a time is required for thought and deliberation before a man is prepared intelligently, and on full conviction, to receive the Word. This depends upon manifold conditions, and will vary in almost every case. But, as a rule, what is done hastily is not done well. This is specially true where choice is concerned; and the choice of a religion, to live with, and to die with, is too grave a business to admit of hurry or lightness: and hence it follows that the man who does this, without deep thought, can have no just views of the supreme importance of the step he is taking. For it must be borne in mind that, in order to fruitfulness, this parable requires very much more than merely hearing it; much more than weighing its claims and soberly pondering its awful statements. All this every one is bound to do at once. But to receive the Word fully, is to accept it as the rule of heart and life; and, before any one takes this step, he ought to consider the breadth of its requirements, and what it will cost flesh and blood to "live godly in Christ Jesus." Consideration is as fitting in this case, as it is seemly and safe that before a man begins to build, he should sit down, take time, and count the cost. But not only do these persons receive the Word "immediately," |