as soon as possible, and they were placed in a comfortable house in a more healthy street, and by means of subscription which was opened for their relief, the greater part of their clothes and furniture were redeemed and restored to them.

The writer of this little narrative now proceeds to lay before his readers a description of the state to which this interesting family were reduced, and of the manner in which their grievous trials were sustained. For this pur pose some extracts will be inserted from the letters of the friend, who has manifested such unwearied kindness in promoting their interests.

"You have much reason to be thankful to your Hea venly Father for making you the instrument of saving these poor people from premature death. A cool recep tion would have chilled the heart and damped the spirit of this afflicted Christian, who begged attention to his case at your door. You are often borne on his heart when addressing the throne of grace. I feel happy to be so likewise. The more I see of this family, the more! am convinced of their being truly deserving. Indeed there can be no doubt, if we are able to effect for them what we wish, that they will be able to maintain a respectable station in society.

"The oldest boy (of 14) who was wasted to a mere skeleton, and had his faculties stupified (through want of food) is now full of energy, and anxious by his attention to shew how deeply he feels the change in his present situation. He evidently had learned to forget his own wants whilst witnessing those of his parents. When he was in attendance on his mother during her illness, find ing that she longed for some tea, and that there was no article in the house which could be pledged to obtain it he immediately took off his jacket, and parted with it to purchase a little tea for his mother."

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"On a late occasion, when they had all been uniting in prayer, and an earnest petition had been offered up si a throne of grace, that the bread of heaven might be granted to those, who had been the means of procuring food for them, the second boy (7 years old) knowing only us

who were constantly visiting them, said feelingly—“and, Mother, now may we pray that we may sit down at the same table in heaven with our kind friends, to eat it with them ?"

The faith and patience of this afflicted family were very remarkable in their greatest extremities, as will арpear from the following observations by the same correspondent:

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They were really sinking under their distress. On one occasion, having been without fire, candle, or food the whole day, towards evening the children seeing their mother weeping, said to her, 'don't cry, we don't want bread, we don't feel hungry,' which convinced their afflict ed mother that they did feel the want of it."

When I alluded to the change in the appearance of the children, the mother said--indeed a little good food has done wonders for them: yet, my friend, though they are very grateful for it, they had learned to bear hunger without complaining. When they had food, they blessed God for it; and when I had none to give them, they looked up to their Heavenly Father with hope, trusting that they should soon have some. With tears she added, "it has not been the bread that perisheth, that has kept their bodies and spirits together, but an Almighty arm has sustained us all."

I could not forbear weeping when they all united in a most striking prayer to the Almighty, for a blessing on those who had been made the instruments of raising them from the depths of misery. I assure you, your attention has been directed to real Christians. At first we feared their sufferings had affected their mental powers; but now that relief has been afforded, we are fully persuaded that as soon as a way is cleared for them, they will move respectably, and comfortably provide for their promising children, who have been well instructed both for time and eternity: the more we see of them, the more thankful we feel that relief is at hand, for they need and merit the attention of those who are able to assist them.

The effect of the sudden change from the utmost degree of want and distress that human nature could sustain,

to comparative comfort and plenty, which had been supplied by the kindness of friends, was almost too much for the mind of the afflicted mother to bear. So nearly were the powers of life exhausted by long continued fasting, that it was necessary to administer nourishment in the most cautious manner.

The effect produced upon the children is thus described by the kind friend, who attended upon them—

"Since the children have taken better food, their legs and feet have begun to swell, but their little pensive faces are much improved; they are good little creatures, more pleased to possess a book than any plaything; and their grateful though silent expression of countenance has more than once filled my eyes with tears."

The effect upon the mother was thus described in her own words "This happy change has well nigh made for us a still happier change: joy has nearly completed what sorrow threatened. Sometimes my mind appears about to fail me. Surely the preservation of Jonah was not more wonderful than our preservation and restoration; for in a few more days the whole of us would have been found dead within our walls.", Being asked what was the longest time she recollected the children being without food; she said, "very often the whole day, but several times to the end of the second day with only a potatoe divided between two of them:" and yet so patient were the children, that she never heard a complaint uttered. She said she believed they would have died without a murmuring expression.

When speaking of the faith and patience of her husband in their most trying circumstances, she said, "In our most agonizing distress he appeared like a rock; nothing moved him; the storm raged, and billow after billow dashed against us, threatening to engulph us; but his faith and patience were unmoved. He was confident that deliverance would be wrought for us. And so did I feel confident; but I thought it would be the deliverance of death, and then a happy entrance and reunion would be granted to us in that world, where no sorrow can enter. I thought we were past the help of man, and so we were,

Our restoration has been the work of an Almighty arm, that worketh, and none shall hinder. He heard our prayers, and in his own time answered them. Through what scenes of suffering and anguish God carried me, a poor weak creature, in our last little dwelling-place! where, could the walls repeat the expressions of distress that have resounded within them, they would appal those who heard them. Never can I pass the end of that street with a quick step, so solemn are my feelings when I look down the street, meditating on our sufferings there: yet God in mercy spared us."

A pleasing instance of kindness occured in the conduct of a shopkeeper to whom this afflicted family were indebted. Being compelled to apply to him as they were destitute of food and firing, the distressed mother apologized for asking credit where so much had been already allowed: when the shopkeeper, hearing her say that she trusted in God, said to her, "if you can trust in God, I may venture to trust you;" and immediately allowed her to have what she wanted.

In the facts which have been related, we clearly die cern an Almighty power supporting his servants when apparently in the most imminent danger of perishing through want, and in his good time interfering for their deliverance. It seems scarcely possible that human nature should sustain a greater degree of suffering than that which was borne by this afflicted family. Yet it was evidently under the direction of Him, without whose permission "not a sparrow falleth to the ground,”—who assures his people that the "very hairs of their head are all numbered,"" who will regard the prayer of the destitute, and will not despise their prayer."

Perhaps this little narrative may be read by some who are called to the same or similar trials with those which were experienced by this family. The writer will feel himself abundantly repaid for the trouble of putting these facts together, and submitting them to the public, if any sufferer from want or any other kind of distress, should be animated by the examples of faith and patience here recorded, and led to trust in the same gracious and

merciful God, in whom this family trusted. There are even in this Christian land multitudes who receive the common bounties of Providence as if they were their due, instead of viewing every thing which they receive as a gift from the "Author of every good gift;" and who never thank Him for what they have received, or pray to Him for the supply of their future wants. If such persons are suffered to want, let them consider what has been their conduct, and see "if there is not cause" for their present sufferings. When the servants of the Lord are brought into distresses of this kind, or of any other, it is for the purpose of "shewing them their transgressions," and "opening their ear to discipline;" of increasing and strengthening their faith, and of bringing them into that state of mind, which is described by the prophet, “although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."*

NOTE. The Editor is thankful to say, that by the blessing of God on the efforts of the kind friends of this tried family, the father has been got into a situation as House Apothecary to a Dispensary; but he will be thankful to receive and forward any contributions for their benefit.

SELECT PASSAGES.

"Thy will be done." We may think this in our judgment, we may say this with our lips, but we cannot feel it without grace. We have no business to say, why doest thou so? it looks like arraigning God. But we may say, shew me wherefore thou contendest with me? It cannot be in wrath; because that is passed over to another, to Him whom we all love! It cannot be in anger; because he never knew that, for he is always love. It is altogether like a father's best and wisest feelings. "Like as a father pitieth his children:" well we have

*Habakkuk iii. 17, 18.