duties of both tables may take place in all my actions, that my great design being Thy glory, I may through Thy infinite mercy be accepted by Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

NELSON.

COLLECT.

O ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who didst give to Thine Apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach Thy Word; grant, we beseech Thee, unto Thy Church, to love that Word which he believed, and both to preach and receive the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

JOHN HENRY PARKER, OXFORD AND LONDON.

Tracts for the Christian Seasons.

ST. MATTHEW'S DAY.

"SOME days passed away before I was again able to visit my kind friends; but my thoughts had been often on them. I could not get Henry's thoughtful face, and Alice's childlike questions out of my mind. They had told me to mind and be with them if I could on St. Matthew's day, as they then gave a feast to the labourers who had been employed on the harvest and fields. By that day the harvest was generally over, and the occasion was always kept by them with all their tenants, and the people who lived around their home. It was usually a joyful time, and they had strongly urged me to come. Accordingly, on the morning of St. Matthew's day I set forth from the place in the neighbourhood where I had been staying, and went in the direction of the old house. I had not gone far before I met several people wending their way

towards the house; all looked happy, and it was clear enough that seldom were landlords more beloved than the family at the house. The chil dren received with joy each little party at the gate, and in leading in the old men, and shewing the way to the others, they were so occupied as scarcely to notice my approach. Dinner had been provided on the lawn, and very soon a number of happy faces were gathered round the ample board, which groaned beneath the hospitable cheer of their kind employers; the children gladly served the guests, and Henry's kind manner won many a heart of those assembled there. He was much beloved by them all and being looked on as the eldest son, and the heir to the property, he was viewed in the light of one whose favour was of no small importance.

"So the afternoon passed away; the lawn was covered with the figures of the old grey-headed men, who, sitting on benches or walking about, were enjoying the gay and merry laughter, and the games of the children; while many a little group were seen threading the mazes of the woods round the house, or were spread across the fields which lay behind it.

“The afternoon had passed away, and the broad

gold shield of the harvest moon had risen above the horizon, and cast its slanting rays across the boughs of the trees; the parties of merry-makers were beginning to draw near home, and the children appeared half spent with their play; when a loud cry was heard from the wood which I spoke of. In a moment a number of persons from the lawn ran hastily towards the spot, for the cry announced some one in danger, or some accident having taken place. I was talking to some of the old men on the lawn at the moment, and immediately followed those who were hurrying to the wood. On reaching the spot we found a group of children, boys and girls, gathered round something which lay on the ground.

"Oh dear, oh dear,' cried many a voice at once, 'he's dead, I know he's dead; he does not

move.

"Henry, who came running up by this time, reached the spot where a boy lay on the ground seemingly quite lifeless; he had been climbing into a tree to gather acorns for the children, and in doing so the bough had broken with him, and he had fallen with it; he seemed dreadfully hurt, and for some moments the impression was that he was dead. Henry took

him up, and with the help of one or two others who were present, proceeded to carry him to his home.

The cottage which was pointed out as his home lay in a remote lane in the village. On entering the garden, a few straggling flowers lay across the path, which was thick with weeds, and the whole presented the appearance of neglect and wretchedness in the extreme. Who is he, and what is his name?' asked Henry, 'for I don't know his face, and I thought I knew every one who lived about here.'

har

"Oh,' cried one or two voices, he has not been here long; he and his mother came up vesting from Buckinghamshire, and they took this cottage; she died a week ago, and the boy has lived here by himself since.' The story, the sad plight of the cottage, the accident of the boy, all induced Henry to ask some more questions; and every incident which came out increased our interest. It appeared that none knew their history, or even their name; his mother had seemed a quiet kind-spoken woman enough, and to depend very much on her boy for support. They had come up for work, as they said, because they had none in their own part; and had been employed at harvesting. They had become intimate