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Tales and Sketches.

THE RAINY SUNDAY.

I was a gloomy, stormy Sunday. night long the rain had poured adily down, and with the morning, addy streets, soaked grass, and dripng trees, greeted the eye everywhere. Many were the sorrowful glances ast through the blurred window-panes disappointed damsels who were prevented from exhibiting their new sumer dresses and bonnets; and many were the expressions of vexation as the hours wore on, and the rain continued without any prospect of intermission.

Empty pews abounded in all the Lurches that morning, for, strange to 4. sabbath rain is always considered Euch more damaging to health and Apparel than that which falls on weekdays; and more than one pastor meved that his sermon, on which he Lad bestowed so much care during the wek, must now be preached to a handrl of hearers.

True, there were some quiet, earnest Christians who, accepting the rain as well as the sunshine from the hand of the ving Father, thought it better to plod rough the wet streets in their everyday attire than to leave their places in the house of God empty. There were others, too, who had grown weary of taying in-doors, who had yawned over the last new novel, and pronounced it interesting, and who had ventured out with the hope of averting a fit of the "blues." There were some, also, who were weary and heavy laden, who Lad come to escape their own sad thoughts, and with a vague idea of obtaning rest and comfort.

The first vibrations of the church bells were sounding ont upon the heavy air, when a young lady, dressed in

deep mourning, seated herself at a window overlooking the street. Sho was alone, for her husband had left the city upon business a few days before, and had not yet returned. •

The room seemed unusually gloomy and desolate to her that morning. Only a few weeks. before, it had rung to the joyous music of a child's sweet voice; but the little cradle was empty, and the tiny form, so carefully shielded from every rough wind, had been left alone in the quiet churchyard, where the rain was beating down so drearily.

Tears of passionate sorrow started to the mother's eyes, and her whole soul went out in bitter rebellion against God. "Others had many jewels; I had but one; why should He pass by them, and rob me of my darling, my only

one "

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Soon the bells ceased, the few passers-by disappeared, and nothing broke the stillness but the measured ticking of the clock, and the driving rain as it beat against the window-panes. cannot bear this! I shall go mad,' she exclaimed, starting up from her seat. Suddenly a thought crossed her mind. 66 There is a church down the street, which I have never visited; I will go there. Anything is better than sitting here alone."

In a few moments she entered the strange church, and was shown to a seat. The singing of the first hymn was nearly concluded, and she did not raise her eyes till the preacher's voice startled her from her reverie.

He was a tall, noble-looking man, with an earnest, thoughtful face, one of those countenances which bear the

unmistakable impress of goodness. Satisfied with her scrutiny, the lady

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'It happens very often that a storm, instead of impeding the vessel's progress, speeds her on her homeward voyage. If her course be skilfully shaped, the tempest drives her rapidly forward in the desired direction. It may be in a dismantled condition, with torn sails and damaged rigging; still, she is rapidly nearing home.

"Thus it is with the storms that so often sweep across the troubled waters of life. They are all designed by a loving Father to bring us nearer home. We may not see it to be so now; but when our tempest-tossed bark shall have anchored in a peaceful harbour of the new Jerusalem we shall see how those threatening tempests drove us towards our quiet rest, for so he bringeth them to their desired haven.'

"We may not understand now why God took from us that dear friend, whose loving heart had shared in all our joys and sorrows, and who was ever ready to help and comfort us, when we were wear almost fainting, under the burdens f life. Perhaps He saw that we were leaning upon the arm of flesh, when we should have trusted to the everlasting arm, and so He took away the earthly support that we might learn to cling to Him alone.

"There are other shadows, even darker than this, that fall across our

pathway. In many a household today there is an empty cradle; there are dainty white robes which will never be worn again; and little half-worn shoes which the tiny feet left behind when they entered the dark waters of death. Strangers may say lightly. 'It is only a child.' Ah! my friends, little coffins often cast the longest shadows.

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You cannot understand now why God should have taken away your dar ling; but sweet is the assurance of ou Saviour, What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter." God saw that you were making an idol of that little one, and so He took it away, that you might learn to worship Him alone."

The stricken mother was weeping silently, but very different were her tears from those she had shed a few hours before. Then in the bitternes of her spirit she hated God, because He had taken away her child; now she saw the hand of a loving Father, whe through this dark and sorrowful pat was leading her to Himself. "Oh, forgive me!" she prayed; “ Forgive my wickedness and rebellion. Ŏ- God. loving and merciful, pardon the erring heart that has so long refused to yield to thee. Jesus, dear Saviour, have mercy upon me!

The sermon was ended, and the congregation rose to sing the last hyms. It was the "Shining shore." Many hearts thrilled with joy as they sung the sweet words,

"Should coming days be cold and dark,
We need not cease our singing;
That perfect rest nought can molest,
Where golden harps are ringing ;
For oh! we stand on Jordan's strand,
Our friends are passing over,
And just before the shining shore
We may almost discover."

How happy they seem! thought the stranger. What a sweet thought it must be to them that together they shall enter into rest-the dear pastor whom they love, the people for whom he has so often prayed

She stopped, and a dull, aching pain

crept over her heart as she remembered that she had no part nor lot in this glorious rest. "My darling is safe on the shining shore, shall I ever reach there myself? O God, have mercy upon me for Christ's sake!"

The service was over, and she turned to depart. There were some in that church who remembered the injuncon, "Be not forgetful to entertain rangers;" and before she gained the or, more than one kindly voice had her welcome, and asked her to at them again. They little knew How much those few words had cheered the burdened heart of the sorrowful stranger.

Again she entered her lonely home, Weary and heavy-laden, it is true, but not despairing. She knelt down to pray; and in the stillness, many words, heard in years gone by, and long since forgotten, of the love and compassion of Jesus, came back to her mind once more. Almost sinking into the dark Waters, she saw His arms of love and mercy outstretched to help her, and ke Peter, she cried, "Lord save me, for I perish!" Before the dull twilight darkened into evening, she had laid her burden of sin and sorrow down at those dear feet once pierced for her ake, and heard the sweet voice of Jesus saying, "Be of good cheer, thy ins are all forgiven thee."

The rainy Sunday, over which so any repined, was to her the brightest day of her whole life; for, breaking rough its dark clouds, the Sun of Righteousness had arisen with healing in His wings.

THE PASTOR'S PRAYERS.

FOR years there had been a spiritual urth in the little church at HProfessors of religion neglected the house of God; no meetings for prayer were held; and the family altar was neglected. The dust had gathered so aick upon many Bibles, that it might

have been written on them, "God is not in this house." The day of rest was profaned. Professing Christians would spend the Sabbath morning in the house of God, and the afternoon in visiting their neighbours; and some even spent the afternoon in hunting and fishing. Worldlings grew bold in sin, and rejoiced at the inconsistencies of Christians.

But in the summer of 183- a new spirit seemed to come among the people. Without any apparent

cause, Christians became interested in the welfare of the church. On the Sabbath they were regularly in their places; their visiting and sports were given up for the house of God. Soon the pastor's heart was made glad by hearing the deep-drawn sigh from one, or seeing a tear roll softly down the cheek of another, or the head of another bowed with tears of penitence. Even the heart of the careless worldling was touched by the truth. The scoffer was silenced, and went away to pray. The Bible was taken down from the shelf, and in many households the family altar was set up. Instead of leaving their pastor alone to pray, Christians gathered around him, and united their prayers with his for a blessing.

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Before long, some who had spent their evenings at the tavern were found in the pastor's study, asking, What must I do to be saved? It was plain that the Spirit of God was there. No extra meetings were held, yet the seriousness kept increasing; the "still small voice " was speaking to the hearts of men. In almost every family some were anxious, while here and there one began with trembling to rejoice in the love of Jesus.

Before the leaves of autumn had fallen, sixty souls were gathered into the communion of the church. But the good work did not stop. The little church was too small to hold all who came to worship. It was made larger, and yet it was filled. The number of worshippers increased, and at length formed two congregations.

Another church was built, and another minister called to help the faithful old pastor in his arduous, but glorious work. For years this interest continued, until hundreds were rejoicing in redeeming love.

Though nearly all were surprised when the revival began, yet one had expected it; one soul had been praying and wrestling with God for the Spirit's influence. The pastor had behieved and prayed, and "according to his faith, so it was unto him." His heart had been made sad at the coldness among the people of his care. When he thought how little his labours had been blessed, he was grievously discouraged. In his trouble he called upon God, and God delivered him.

This

Some distance from the parsonage there stood a smalt orchard. orchard the man of God made his wrestling-place. Here, he afterwards told one of his deacons, he went in the twilight, and before the dawn of day, to plead for the outpouring of the Spirit upon his people. For weeks and months, with scarcely an omission, the break of day and the evening twilight found the faithful pastor in this Bethel on his knees, pleading with the Hearer of prayer.

Though more than thirty years have passed, and the good old pastor has long since gone to his rest, yet the influence of those prayers is still felt

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NANNIE'S VICTORY.

FOR THE YOUNG.

NANNIE CLARE was in a small sea of troubles. Her father had gone out, and she sat perched up at his study table, a sheet of paper spread out be fore her, and her pencil in her hand all ready to write whenever she shoul decide what name to put down next But her face was all in a frown. Th truth was, Nannie Clare was goin to have a tea-party that very after noon, and the troublesome question "Whom to invite, and whom not to was gathering wrinkles all over forehead.

"Let me see," she said, bending over her list, "Papa said I might hav ten little girls, just as many as I an years old to-day, and I've got dow one, two, three, four,-Oh dear me I've got nine names. I can have jus one more. Now whom shall I invite! I do so want Fanny, but then there's that Ellen Mason; I like her, and we sit next to each other at school; but how funny she would look in her pink calico dress, and great thick shoes, and every one of us girls will be dressed in white; then she is lame, I don't believe she would like t come."

Dear me I wonder why pap gave me that verse this morning. I' tired of saying it over, it doesn't mea me, I'm sure.

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Doesn't it, little Nannie? Sayi over just once more, slowly, thoughtfully, Christ was not ashamed to call them brethren.' Now, are you quite sure it doesn't mean you? Elen Mason has no father, and her mother is poor; she lives in a little, low brown house at the foot of the hill; and though she is very kind and goodnatured, and helps you out of many a hard sum in arithmetic at school, still you know you are a little ashamed her, and wish you could manage to slip out of inviting her to your party: you feel cross every time you think of her coarse shoes, and calico dress, and

er wooden crutch. Isn't that very trange for a little girl, who thinks she wes Jesus, and is willing to make Im her pattern?"

"Oh!" said Nannie, crossly, in swer to her conscience, "I wish I ad never heard of Ellen Mason. I on't believe I'll have any party at all, do have so many things to plague

The girls wouldn't treat her well she did come, and that would make feel worse than if she hadn't been ited."

"Christ was not ashamed to call ben brethren," whispered Conscience, peaking very softly, but so plainly hat she could not help hearing.

"I'll ask papa to let me have her ere all day on Saturday, then we can Have a beautiful time, ever so much Loer than to ask her to come with all those girls." Then she listened for the answer; it came, clear and

Freet:

"Christ was not ashamed to call ben brethren."

This time Nannie didn't say a word; he sat still for a few minutes and thought; then she slid out of her ather's study chair down on her knees, and from her heart came these words, Dear Jesus, I want to be like thee, I ant to do right to-day, please show me how!"

Then she arose, and bent over the per with a face out of which all the ons had gone, and wrote with a Try careful hand, in as round even tters as she could "ELLEN MASON." The study door swung open with Lore noise than Mr. Clare ever made, Ed cousin Tom appeared.

"Oh, Tom," said Nannie, "I've got ny list all made out. Now will you go und and invite them?"

"Don't know," answered Tom in a Trovokingly lazy tone.

"Oh, but Tom, you must, because pa said I mustn't tire myself out this Corning."

"Let's see who's coming? and Im reached out his hand for the list. A girl party. My! I'm sorry I've got to go round; if I hadn't promised

uncle Charles about the swing, I'd take myself off in a hurry. Florence Stone, she's proud as a peacock, looks like one too. Gracie Holden, Louise Collins, she'll get hanged some day with one of her long yellow curls. Katie Stuart, Janie Townsend, Emma Hall. Oh, what a set!"

"I wanted Fannie Chester," explained Annie, "but you see I couldn't have but ten, and she is older than I, and won't care, I dare say.'

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She's gone to her uncle's," said Tom. "She was in the train this morning. Why here's Ellen Mason, as sure as I'm alive. Did uncle Charles tell you to do that?"

"No," said Nannie soberly, "I haven't said one word to him about it ?"

"Then however did you come to do it?"

"My verse is about her, Tom."

"Your verse! a verse in the Bible about Ellen Mason; let's hear it?"

Once more Nannie slowly repeated, "Christ was not ashamed to call them brethren.'"

Tom looked at her curiously, whistling a little.

"You're a queer chicken," he said at last. 66 Humph! I dare say it's the first party she ever got invited to in her life. Shall I drive round there and get her before I go out for father?"

"O Tom," said Nannie with dancing eyes, "if you only will, it is such a long walk, you know.'

It is doubtful which was the more astonished at this offer, Nannie or Tom.

"Mother! O mother! I'm to go, I'm to go! Nannie has sent me word to be sure and come, and her cousin Tom says he will drive round here at three o'clock for me. I shall go to a real party, mother! just to think!"

And Ellen Mason hopped round the room on her crutch almost as fast as could Nannie with her two feet.

There were never ten merrier girls than those who played and swung and chased each other around the trees in

Mr. Clare's yard that afternoon.

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