LAMBETH RAGGED SCHOOLS.-SHOE-BLACK SOCIETY.

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Remember, time is short-eternity is long; you are hastening there, and the main end of your life is to prepare for it. You would make a poor bargain, though you gained all Australia, if by so doing you lost your soul. Think much of what the Bible says about this. Seek the Lord Jesus NOW, and take him as your Saviour, Guide, and best Friend.

Strive so to live on earth that we may meet again in heaven.

Do not lose this paper; read it over and over until you are able to practise very much of what it tells you.

Farewell! The Lord give you understanding in all things.

Ever your sincere friend, A. A. Read Deut. ch. xxx. 15, to the end; Ezek. xxxvi. 25-29.

DEPARTURE OF MORE EMIGRANTS.

We are happy to state that another batch of emigrants from the Ragged Schools sailed from Liverpool in the "Hibernia," for Port Adelaide, on the 22nd of February. They were connected with the following Schools :Grotto Passage School, 3; Golden Lane, 1; Hoxton, 2; Field Lane, 1; Paddington Wharfs, 1; and Westminster Refuge, 2.—Total, 1 ).

LAMBETH RAGGED SCHOOLS.

WE have pleasure in directing the attention of our readers to the advertisement announcing the opening of these schools. We are also enabled, in the frontispiece of our present number, to give sketches of the elevation and the ground-plan of this substantial and commodious building.

The schools have been erected at a cost of about £10,000, at the sole expense of Henry Beaufoy, Esq., of South Lambeth; and although it may be considered that this is a large sum to expend upon the erection of Ragged Schools, yet it must be borne in mind, that the munificent founder of this institution, while he has been desirous of providing for the instruction of the ragged children in the most ample manner, has also intentionally reared a becoming and enduring memorial of his deceased wife, whose benevolence and sympathy in her lifetime were largely extended towards the very poorest children, for whom she purposed in her heart to make some lasting provision. In building these schools, Mr. Beaufoy has also been desirous that no extra burden arising from maintaining such an extensive erection should ever fall upon the committee who have to provide for the educational purposes of the school, and with this object he intends investing in the funds the sum of £4,000, the interest of which is to be devoted to the perpetual maintenance of the building in complete repair.

Besides the rooms shown in the ground-plan, there are four rooms above, two of which are intended for senior and improved youths, one for a girls' sewing class and a committee room. There are also extensive and separate washing and other necessary offices attached, but which are not shown in the plan. The rooms are well lighted with gas, and warmed throughout by hot We give the ground-plan, believing it will be found a desirable arrangement for schools of less expensive construction.

water.

A large sum will be annually required for the educational purposes of the school, and we trust our Lambeth friends will receive the support of a goodly number of annual subscribers, to enable them effectively to work the splendid schools which the munificence of Mr. Beaufoy has placed in their hands.

SHOE-BLACK SOCIETY.

"WHY should it be necessary to form a Society, merely for the purpose of employing a number of ragged scholars as shoe-blacks during a few months of the approaching summer? "Could it not be managed in a quiet way by a few friends connected with the several schools, without making so much noise about it?"-Such are the questions occasionally asked respecting this

temporary association, and which, we think, may be answered in a few words. A proper agency was required to carry out the arrangements systematically, or the effort might become an evil instead of a blessing; and none were so likely to accomplish this as a number of gentlemen in an associated capacity, who would undertake all the responsibilities. There are also difficulties connected with the proposal, requiring much careful consideration and prudent management, and which could not be properly dealt with if intrusted to isolated individuals.

We are glad to find that the committee have, to a certain degree, matured their arrangements, and are now in a position to receive candidates for the new employment. It must be evident that the success of the scheme will depend very much upon a proper selection of the lads who are to be employed, and no parties will be so able to assist in this as the superintendents and teachers of the schools. We therefore entreat them most earnestly to recommend none but those on whom they can place the utmost dependence, and whose age, character, and general conduct, render them proper and hopeful candidates. Let none be recommended on the mere ground of individual necessity. Communications on this subject, containing names of candidates, time in school, nature of former employment, and other necessary particulars, should be addressed to the Honorary Secretary, R. J. Snape, Esq., 11, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn.

The attention of many parties, hitherto uninterested in Ragged Schools, has been directed to them through this novel scheme, and we trust that through the blessing of God, it may even exceed the anticipations of its sanguine projectors, and besides benefiting those lads who may be employed, lead to an extended interest in the good work.

Correspondence.

THE following letter, addressed to a member of our Visiting Committee, has lately been forwarded to us, with the liberal donation to which it refers. We insert it in our columns with the desire that other commercial firms may be induced to follow the good example :—

MY DEAR FOSTER,—I have not forgot you once told me that we ought to belong to the Ragged School Union. I now inclose you a cheque for £52. 10s., to be entered in the name of our firm, as a donation from Messrs. Groucock, Copestake, and Moore. As you are a visitor and take a deep interest in these schools, I shall feel obliged if you can call here on Thursday to meet Dr. Rice, (to whom I have given a cheque for the Royal Free Hospital, which we are going to visit,) and kindly accompany us to the Field Lane and other Ragged Schools, which we wish to see, and also the Westminster Juvenile Refuge.

Bow Churchyard.

I am, truly yours, G. MOORE.

Editor's Portfolio.

MR. WILBERFORCE AND HIS VISIT TO CHEDDER. MR. WILBERFORCE writes in his diary for 1789:-" Thursday, August 20. At Cowslip Green all day. 21st. After breakfast to see Chedder. Intended to read, dine, etc., among the rocks, but could not get rid of the people, so determined to go back again. The rocks very fine. Had some talk with the people, and gave them something; grateful beyond measure; wretchedly poor and deficient in spiritual help. I hope to amend their state." It was this

MR. WILBERFORCE AND HIS VISIT TO CHEDDER.

669

visit which gave rise to Mrs. More's exertions for her neglected neighbours. The vicar of Chedder at that time was non-resident, and his curate, who lived nine miles off, at Wells, visited the parish on Sundays only. The following circumstances have been recorded by Mrs. Martha More :

"In the month of August, 1789, Providence directed Mr. Wilberforce and his sister to spend a few days at Cowslip Green. The cliffs of Chedder are esteemed the greatest curiosity in those parts. We recommended Mr. W. not to quit the country till he had spent a day in surveying these. We easily prevailed on him, and the day was fixed; but after a little reflection he changed his mind, fancied time would hardly permit, and the whole was given up. The subject of the cliffs was renewed at breakfast; we again extolled their beauties, and urged the pleasure he would receive by going. He went. When he returned, I inquired how he liked the cliffs. He replied, they were very fine, but the poverty and distress of the people was dreadful. He retired to his apartment, and dismissed even his reader. I feared Mr. W. was not well. The cold chicken and wine put into his carriage for dinner were returned untouched. Mr. W. appeared at supper, seemingly refreshed with a higher feast than we had sent with him. The servant at his desire was dismissed, when immediately he began, Miss Hannah More, something must be done for Chedder.' He then proceeded to a particular account of his day-of the inquiries he had made respecting the poor; there was no resident minister, no manufactory, nor any dawn of comfort, either temporal or spiritual. The method or possibility of assisting them was discussed till a late hour; it was at length decided in a few words by Mr. W. exclaiming, If you will be at the trouble, I will be at the expense.' Something, commonly called an impulse, crossed my heart, that told me it was God's work, and it would do; and though I never have, nor probably shall, recover the same emotion, yet it is my business to water it with watchfulness, and to act up to its dictates. Mr. W. and his sister left us in a day or two afterwards. We turned many schemes in our heads, every possible way; at length those measures were adopted which led to the foundation of the different schools."

Of these very schools Mr. Wilberforce wrote, just three years afterwards :August 26, 1792.-Sunday: "Accompanied the Miss Mores to Shipham, Hounswick, Axbridge, and Chedder. God seems to prosper the work; both among old and young are those who are turning to him. Near a thousand children in all. One mere child had brought all his father's household to family prayers." At a still later date, Hannah More wrote to Mr. Wilberforce, in 1808 :-"In October we shall keep our twentieth anniversary of the opening of Chedder schools. We have very many children of those who were heretofore scholars; and within the last eight or nine years, above a hundred are gone out to service (well instructed and promising) from Chedder only. Do you remember John Hill, our first scholar, whose piety and good manners you used to notice? He afterwards became a teacher, but war tore him from us. Judge of our pleasure to see him at Weymouth. There was a sort of review. Everybody praised the training of eight hundred men, so well disciplined. The officers said they were fit for any service. One of them said, "All this is owing to the great abilities and industry of Sergeant Hill."-Tract Magazine.

All Christians have not the same means of doing good; but all may in some measure promote the glory of God, and the good of man. The Ragged Schools open to every benevolent heart a special way to pour out its bounty, and support their effort-children's mites-weekly pence-annual pounds; their magazines twopence, and one a half-penny, meet all classes, and invite them to 66 come and help us." And when they, like Chedder, shall keep their twentieth anniversary, our heavenly Father accepting the work and giving the increase-"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these little ones, ye have done it to Me,"-we, too, shall reap the peaceable fruits of righteousness, and see, in effect, that good and pleasant thing, "brethren dwelling together in unity."

P.

HOW MUCH OUGHT I TO KEEP?

A FRIEND lately said, "I have often asked myself what I ought to give for the cause of Christ, but I have recently been thinking and asking WHAT I OUGHT TO KEEP ?"

This is the question every Christian ought to put to himself. We may keep as much of God's property, which he has put into our hands, as is needed for sustaining life; we may keep some of the comforts of life, but we are not at liberty to indulge in luxuries, and give little or nothing for spreading the Gospel. The questions, "How much ought I to give ?" and "How much ought I to do?" are often tantamount to, "How little can I give?" and "How little can I do and yet be respectable ?" Reader! how much have you done for the promotion of God's glory? How much have you given to relieve the poor and the needy?

PATRIOTIC GARDENS, PERTH.-Last autumn, the Directors held an inspection of the allotments; and taking the assistance of a deputation from the Kinnoull Horticultural Society, (consisting of Messrs. Gowenlock, Clark, and M'Dougall,) they made a minute examination of each lot, and agreed to recommend for prizes the following, from the 150 into which the grounds are divided:

1. G. LORIMER-Lot neatly inclosed, with an excellent variety of vegetables, a tasteful arbour with flower departments-all in the most excellent order. 2. THE BOYS' SCHOOL OF INDUSTRY-Though amongst the latest of cultivation, has excellent crops, well cultivated, clean, and in good order, doing great credit to the industry of the boys.

THE LOST FOUND.

SHEEP about the desert straying,
Where the wolf delights in slaying;
Christ our shepherd found us, fed us,
And with cords of mercy led us ;
Kept within the fold, he saves us ;
Satan now no more enslaves us.
Blest be ye who kindly taught us,

And from heathen darkness brought us;
All our evil ways forsaking-
Chains of sin that bind us breaking-
Peace, for which we long had striven,
Christ the Lord has freely given.

Heedless, once, of every warning,
All the claims of duty scorning;
Dead to every kindly feeling,
Cursing, lying, picking, stealing;
Now we live by honest labour,
Never wronging friend or neighbour.
Life is short; though death assail us,
Conscience shall not faint or fail us,
For our Saviour's smile shall meet us,
And his welcome voice shall greet us,-
"Come ye blessed and inherit
Crowns decreed you by my merit."

The Children's Gallery.

THE RAGGED GIRL'S DYING

TESTIMONY.

DOES it not sound strange to hear it said of some people, that when dying they were happy? Just think, the next time you look into the glass, how you would like to see your bright eyes become dim and sunk, your full rosy cheeks pale and wasted, your hair lying in locks upon your aching forehead, wet with the cold damp sweat, and your poor body full of pains that would never leave you till you died! Could you be happy if, when confined to bed, you saw your fingers grow smaller every day, and felt sure that in less than a week they would be cold and stiff; and when you heard the merry laughter of

H. C.

boys and girls sporting in the street, or among the grassy clumps in the square, you knew quite well that your last game was played, that never again would you run races on the lawn, and before the sweet flowers had begun to bloom, you would be "faded and gone?" Would it not rather make you very sad to see mother standing at your bedside weeping, and know that she had your winding-sheet lying in a drawer, that men would soon be nailing the plate upon your coffin, which told how long you had lived and when you died?-to think that, before the end of another month, that sweet face you were once so fond of looking at would be deep down in a dark damp grave, and so loathsome that no

THE CHILDREN'S GALLERY.