sandy deserts of Arabia—a thirsty land, where, in many places, no water was; and how they were, at last, come to the confines of that promised land, flowing with milk and honey, which they were to go in and possess. ❝ You, my hearers," he continued, " are not, like the Israelites of old, in search of a fruitful dwellingplace; you have been born in a land of brooks of water, where you may eat bread without scarceness;' you have 'sowed by wells of water,' and have been blessed' in your basket and your store.' Yet to you, no less than to the Israelites, may the charge be needed'Beware, lest thou forget the Lord thy God, and say in thine heart, The might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.'" The minister then said, how much it became all men to meet together to return thanks to God for his mercies; and how such meetings usefully impressed upon us, that we have nothing but what we receive from Him. He proceeded to speak more particularly of the object of the present thanksgiving; and described how valuable the free supply of water was for all the purposes of life. He explained that the process of tillage could not be carried on unless the stiff soil were first moistened by the brooks which

penetrate it; and how the seed might be sown in vain, if it were not watered by the rain of heaven. The preacher concluded with an exhortation to the people on the duty of industry; reminding them that it was appointed unto all men to labour. "Let us, therefore, my friends,” he said, "when we go forth to perform the devout ceremony of returning thanks at the wells, for the abundant supply of water with which Almighty God has blessed this village, resolve that, in the time to come, we will not neglect so great a blessing, but, with renewed alacrity, work with our hands to make it productive a hundred-fold. And may the Lord God, who ruleth the seasons, and bringeth seedtime and harvest, give us understanding and diligence to do his will, and keep our hearts in the way of his commandments!"

Mr. Carson now left the pulpit, and led the way, in his robes, to the village wells, followed by the congregation in a long procession. A band of village musicians began to play a solemn tune as the clergyman passed out of the church, and continued till he arrived at the first well. He then raised his hands in an attitude of prayer; and all the people uncovered themselves, and stood around in reverent silence

as he uttered the words, "Let us pray." When he had returned thanks, the wind-instruments struck up, and the people raised their voices, and sang together the first verse of the hundredth Psalm :

"With one consent let all the earth

To God their cheerful voices raise,
Glad homage pay with awful mirth,
And sing before him songs of praise."

At each well in succession, the minister gave thanks, and the people took up the hymn again, singing the next verse.

At last the procession arrived at the fifth well, the one adjoining John Fraser's cottage. It lay retired from the road, on a small plot of grass, hemmed in by trees. The poor invalid, who had laboured so indefatigably to ornament it, was already on the spot; for he had not had strength to follow with the people to the other wells. He was leaning on his stick, waiting for the arrival of the procession. His emaciated but serene appearance struck the kind-hearted Mr. Carson, as he approached; and when he turned his eyes to the well, and read the inscription which John had selected for his board, he could scarcely refrain from tears. He saw that the poor cottager was at the brink of the grave, but that he was prepared to resign

his breath whenever he should be summoned; and the text he had chosen shewed whence he had derived the unearthly peace which lighted up his sunken eye. The words inscribed in the flower tracery were, " Ascension ;" and beneath, "It is I; be not afraid." The clergyman again cast a glance upon the humble Christian, whose faith was depicted in living characters, not only on this his tablet, but still more legibly on his countenance; and thus prayed:-" O heavenly Father! we thank Thee for the gift of this well; but still more we thank Thee for the Water of Life, of which whosoever will may take freely. For whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again; but the gift of God in Jesus Christ is unto us as a well of water, springing up into everlasting life!" The sick man bowed his head; and, as the minister concluded, gently responded, " Amen.”

The religious services of the day being now over, the people quietly dispersed. In a few minutes, the only persons left by the side of the well were John and Susan Fraser, with their boy Harry, and Mr. Carson, who remained to rejoice with his poor parishioners, on the return of their son, and to enquire into the symptoms of the invalid. He found that John was sadly

spent, and he assisted him into the cottage. It was evident the exertions of the day had been too much for him; but Mr. Carson, who had some medical skill, applied some restoratives to him with good effect, and the sick man was able, after a little time, to enter into conversation with the good clergyman. He spoke with cheerfulness of his feelings, and with the utmost thankfulness that he had been spared to see his

son once more.

Mr. Carson called Harry to him, and, after saying how glad he was to welcome him back to his native village, he told him that he hoped he would, for the future, prove himself deserving of his parents' love, by dutifully assisting them in every way that lay in his power.

Harry did not dare to say much in reply; but he shewed his desire to make amends for his past conduct, by helping his mother in her household-work, and in attending to his father's wants, instead of proposing to join his companions on the green. John and Susan, however, were eager that their son should share the merry-makings; and as soon as their frugal meal was over, they sent him off to take his part in the village festivities.

Every cottage that he passed was filled with