yet she was not discontented and repining. Her cheerful disposition has made her beloved by all who know her, and she feels assured that the friends she has lost are "inheritors of the kingdom of Heaven," through that Saviour, who is her only hope and confidence: and, when her day of trial is ended, she humbly hopes to join them in a world of glory!

As I slowly left the cottage I thought of Cowper's lines,

"The word of promise, how it flings abroad

Its perfume o'er the Christian's thorny road!" and I lamented that there were still many who listened not to the Saviour's invitation, to " come unto him" for rest, from the cares and sorrows of the world. It was not from among these that Alice had chosen the companion of her pilgrimage; and happy would it be for all young people if they followed her example; we should not then see so many victims of disappointed hopes sinking in sorrow to an early grave. The union of Christian hearts gives peace on earth, and hope beyond the grave. The trials of earth quicken the desire of the never-ending happiness of heaven.

IOTA.

INDIAN PILGRIMS.

"It is now well ascertained, that the river Ganges flows from under an eternally hard mass of snow, a few miles beyond the village of Gangotra, where fancy has given to its source the shape of a cow's mouth; but it is, in fact, an opening in the ice. To this sacred spot Hindoo pilgrims repair from all parts of India; and it is considered as such an exertion of love to God, that its performance is believed to redeem from troubles in this world and the next. Indeed this trial of Hindoo faith is most

truly wonderful; for the way to Gangotra lies, for several days' journey, over mountains almost perpendicular, the foot-path winding along their sides, with a precipice of two thousand feet immediately below, and projecting rocks directly, in many places, over head, with hardly a resting place for the foot, so that a false step is certain destruction. But this is not all; they have to cross swinging bridges of rope or cane, over frightful torrents: and a shivering creature, from the hot island of Ceylon, clothed in a thin cotton robe, has to encounter a change of climate, in the same day, from the most scorching heat, to the most freezing cold, so great that a hardy Russian could scarcely endure it.Hundreds, nay, perhaps, thousands of them perish every year in this enterprise, and the bottoms of the precipices are white with their bones. In short, some idea may be formed of the extraordinary dif ficulties in this journey, when we recollect that Captain Roper, and Lieutenant Webb, sent by government to search for the sources of the Ganges, found that, as they got near to Gangotra, they were obliged to give up their purpose, although provided with every requisite that money could procure."

The above description is given in the "Memoirs of India," written by R. G. Wallace, Esq. and published in the year 1824. It is impossible for any Christian to see the misery to which a wretched superstition leads these poor heathens, without wishing to see them brought to the knowledge of the true God. How blessed would be the change for them, to be drawn from a religion which teaches them that God delights in the torments of his creatures, and to be led to the true faith, which shews them that God is love, and that he delighteth in the happiness of his people. The religion of Christ shews us the way to peace, and joy, and everlasting happiness, and it does not require us to seek these

blessings by means of cruel labours and tortures, and self-inflicted pain. We would not be mistaken here; we do not mean to say that the Christian has no difficulties, or distresses, or troubles to encounter in this world. He often has a great many. It is needful for him that it should be so, because this world is a state of trial and discipline; and afflictions are often found to be the best means of bringing the mind to a right state, and preparing it for its highest happiness. The Christian then knows that his afflictions are sent in mercy; he receives them as he would receive medicines from the hand of a skilful and kind physician, knowing that they are intended for his good. Affliction is often the physic of the soul. But this needful discipline which a merciful Father sends for cur good, is very different from that torture which a man inflicts upon himself, for no purpose; which, moreover, teaches him to look upon God as a Being who delights in the miseries of his creatures, and which leads him to. believe that man, by his own sufferings, can atone for his own sins. When, however, we see these poor creatures going through such toils, and labours, and dangers, from a notion that it is pleasing to their God, many a man who is called a Christian may well be ashamed of the coldness and indifference with which he seeks to serve that heavenly Master whose commands are all merciful, and are all intended for his people's good. Nay, how often do we find those who profess to believe in the religion of Christ, living in a complete neglect of his laws, a complete opposition to his commands! We may send Bishops, and Clergy, and Missionaries to foreign lands, in hopes of bringing the heathens to the religion of Christ :-and no work can be more worthy of the exertions of Christians. But, if these heathens see that those who belong to the Christian community are living in contradiction to the commands which are written in the book which

you

we give them, how can we expect that they will embrace a religion which produces so little effect on the lives of those who profess it? The Hindoo may very naturally say to us, "We have a religion, and we follow it, whatever labour it costs us; have a religion, and your people follow it not, although it does not call you to such dangers and such toils as ours." The truth, however, is, that there is a wide difference between those who are called Christians, and those who are really so. The real Christian does make it his heart's desire to do the will of his Lord and Saviour; and this is indeed the mark by which a true Christian is to be known. Wherever the conduct thus agrees with the profession, the beauty of the Christian religion is seen, and we may expect that those who before knew not Christ, will be won to embrace a religion which produces such an effect on the lives of its followers. The holy lives of the first Christians were among the most powerful means by which the Heathen nations of old were brought to embrace the religion of Christ. Our Lord and his Apostles commanded their followers to seek, by their holy examples, to draw others to the faith. They were to "Let their light shine before men"-they were to

it be seen that they practised good works, that others might glorify God by embracing the Gospel; they were to win those who were "on the contrary part," by shewing them the happy effect. which their faith produced on their dispositions

their conduct;-they were to "put to silence the ignorance of foolish men," not by clamorous argument, not by ridicule, not by violence,—but

by well doing." And thus shall we best serve the cause of Christ, We have not, many of us, on our ands, the great work of calling the heathens to knowledge of Christ, but we have, all of us, me on whom our example may produce effect. may, by our bad example, lead others into sin;

爨

but it were better for us "that a mill-stone were hanged about our neck, and that we were drowned in the depth of the sea." We may by our Christian conduct be the instruments of leading some into the right path, and these may lead others :"they that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever."

V.

THE PEACHES.

(A Story for Children.)

Two boys were playing together in a garden; they jumped and ran about till they were tired; then they sat down to rest themselves. These boys were not alike; one was a great deal older and bigger. than the other; one was good, and the other was naughty. But I will tell you what they said and what they did, and then you will see which was the best boy. After they were a little rested, the biggest boy said he was hot and thirsty; and he looked through the bars of an iron gate, which led to another garden, and he saw some peaches that were very ripe, and very red, and beautiful. He said he wished he could get one, for that he should like to eat it very much. He asked the little boy if he did not think the peaches looked very good and nice. The little boy answered, that he knew they were sweet and pleasant; for, added he, "my mother gave me part of one, that she gathered off that tree yesterday, and I liked it very much. I wish she would come into the garden now; perhaps she would give you one."-Then the other replied, "Go and ask her for one." But the little boy said, "She is gone out, and she will not come home till dinner time. She told me so. Come, let us play again; it is of no use to stand looking