1

Mr. Northend's peaceful death.

out any experimental knowledge of Christ, or him crucified, I shudder at the thought. O the baptism, the baptism, it saved my soul !”

These last words were uttered in a tone, and with an energy, that seemed almost superhuman. The strength by which he had been enabled to speak so long was the result of excitement. Exhausted by the effort he had made, he sunk back upon his pillow, and died as quietly as the infant child drops to sleep. A slight quivering ran over his features, and shook his frame. Restoratives were instantly used, but to no purpose. He had for ever ceased to breathe.

The house of clay deserted by the immortal spirit.

CHAPTER III.

66

In his duty prompt at every call,
He watch'd and wept, he pray'd and felt for all.
And, as a bird each fond endearment tries
To tempt its new fledged offspring to the skies;
He tried each art, reproved each dull delay,
Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way."

GOLDSMITH.

WHEN it was perceived that the immortal spirit had indeed left its clay tenement, all efforts to recall life were suspended; and we stood a while, and gazed in the deep silence of intense feeling upon the venerable and unbreathing form of this departed Christian. There was, even in death, a calmness and serenity that rested upon the fixed and motionless features of Mr. Northend, which spoke of the exalted and everlasting peace he had gone to enjoy. Tears were silently stealing down many a cheek in the solemn group that stood around the bed. But as if there had just been enforced by a voice from Heaven, the injunction, "Be still, and know that I am God," the stillness of deep and undisturbed solitude reigned through the whole house. After some little interval, prayer was proposed, in which all joined with great devotion.

As Mr. Heyden and myself left this dwelling of sorrow, the truth of the sentiment most forcibly occurred to me, that "it is better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting."

I was so absorbed in the scene that I had witnessed, that I was scarcely conscious where I was, until I found myself in the open air, and beneath one of the most bril

liantly illuminated heavens that I had ever witnessed. It was nearly midnight. The sky was cloudless. The moon moved on through the resplendent vault of heaven most gloriously! Around it twinkled ten thousand bright stars. The waters of the Ontario stretched before us like a sea of glory, beautifully irradiated beneath the soft and mellow rays of the orb of night. Not a sound was heard save the gentle ripple that played over the surface of the lake. We had left the house of death. The scene around us was calculated to perpetuate the deep and solemn feeling that had been already excited.

At length, as we passed on, Mr. Heyden, pointing to the heavens, said,

"Henry Northend has gone to yonder bright world, and will shine like one of those stars in the kingdom of his Master for ever and ever."

I felt too deeply to make any reply; and so we passed on several yards in silence. As we ascended a small rise of ground, Mr. H- slackened his pace, and turned a little out of the path. I followed him, and soon saw before us, at a short distance, a plain white marble stone, which seemed to mark the spot where the ashes of some departed fellow mortal rested. As we drew near, I perceived that we were in the neighbourhood of a small burying ground, which I afterwards learnt belonged exclusively to the two families of Northend and Heyden. Mr. H- went up to the stone just alluded to, and for a moment fixed his eyes upon the spot in deep silence. I read with some surprise on this stone, for it was almost as light as day, "Sacred to the memory of the Rev. D. P———, who departed this life, &c. He being dead, yet speaketh.""

"Do you know any thing," said I to Mr. Hthe history of this clergyman?"

9

"of

"Yes," replied he, “I knew him well, and have great reason to remember him.

"You know," continued Mr. Heyden, "that just as we arrived at Mr. Northend's, I was remarking, that recollec

tions of a peculiar character were connected in his mind with the baptism of his children, and you yourself must have observed with what deep feeling and peculiar emphasis he spoke of the baptism' just before he expired. If the hour was not so far advanced, I think you would be interested in the narrative of the baptism and incidents he alluded to; and that narrative would tend to illustrate the history and character of him whose ashes rest beneath this sod."

I assured Mr. Heyden that nothing could give me so much pleasure as the narration of which he spoke ; and that with my present feelings it would be impossible for me to sleep. I, therefore, proposed that we should linger around this spot, while he narrated the incidents jus alluded to.

A short distance from where we stood, there had shot up, within ten feet of each other, two elm trees, which had attained about half their growth. Between these trees there had been fixed a rude seat, from which, in the heat of the day, there might be viewed, in shaded retirement, the hallowed resting-place of the dead, and the wide-spreading waters of Ontario. Here we sat down; and Mr. Heyden proceeded with his narration, as follows:

"It is full twenty years since the Rev. Mr. P——————— first visited these parts. The country was then new, and we were entirely destitute of religious privileges. The want of religious privileges was attended with great and almost universal looseness of morals. Little respect was paid to the Lord's day; when it was not spent in work, it was usually devoted to amusement. Profane swearing was almost universal, and many were addicted to gambling, and deep and dangerous drinking.

"It was owing entirely to the restraining grace of God that I did not go all these lengths; for at that time, I was far from being under the influence of a practical and heartfelt religion, the only security for sound morality. The news of the Rev. Mr. P―'s arrival among us was soon

The missionary.

spread abroad, and made the subject of much conversation through the whole settlement. At this time it might have been truly said, 'We have heard a rumour from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen.' All that could went to hear the missionary preach; and some carried their children, that they might receive baptism. It was intimated to Mr. P—, the first time he preached among us, that there were several families in various parts of the settlement, that were desirous to have their children baptized, and among others, Mr. Northend's name was mentioned. Following this suggestion, he visited those families whose names had been mentioned to him, and where it was desired, administered baptism to their children, and exhorted the parents to cleave unto the Lord.'

“As I had had a previous introduction to Mr. P—————, he called upon me, and requested me to accompany him on this same errand to Mr. Northend's.

“ Mr. N. was at this time among the most careless in the neighbourhood, in relation to spiritual things; but being an Englishman by birth, and very much attached to the customs of his fathers, he was desirous of improving the present opportunity of having his children baptized.

"I conducted the missionary to his house, which was then a small log dwelling, standing at one side of a clearing of about ten acres. This was, at that time, all the land he cultivated. Mr. P― soon apprized Mr. Northend of the errand on which he had come. Mrs. Northend remarked: 'I am very sorry that we had not had some previous notice of this, for then we would have prepared better clothes for the children, and had them in some little order.'

66 6

"Let not this,' replied Mr. P- 'deter you from doing your duty in giving up your children to the Lord, or prevent you from embracing the present opportunity of having your offspring grafted into the body of Christ's church. May it ever, hereafter, be your constant aim and unceasing effort, to see that your children are adorned with piety, and clothed in the garments of the Redeemer's righteousness.'