must be a cripple as long as he lives. He had lost his little sister,-his playmate, the other self. No voice had been so gentle and no heart so loving to him as hers. He shed no tears. He stood like a marble figure upheld by crutches. But his little bosom heaved as if it would burst, and though he uttered no sound, I felt sure that he was sincerely mourning. The men unconsciously pushed him back as they finished the burial. Oh, how

meekly those little crutches took him back out of the way! I felt that I wanted to take him up in my arms and weep over him. No one thought of him, save the One who took little children

them.

up in his arms and blessed

The family returned from the burial. Each one thought so much of his own grief that the little lame boy was not thought of as needing consolation.

For

But from that grave the little fellow began to drop and wither. It was soon noticed that he ate but little, and in the night would be heard, as with a low voice he repeated over and over the little hymns that he used to repeat with the little sister. They thought it the grief of a child, and that a new sled and new playthings would banish it. But the arrow had gone in too deeply to be thus drawn out. hours he would go and sit in the little nook where he and Jessie used to play with his chin in his thin handthinking, thinking! Sometimes he would ask if Jessie could "remember now," or if she would love him still, or if they supposed "she sang the same hymns where she was gone," which they used to sing together, or if 'she should know him if she should meet him without any crutches!" The hymns that spoke of Jesus and his love, of heaven and its rest, of the angels and the redeemed, seemed to

be his delight. Though he seldom

mentioned Jessie's name, it became after a time well understood that he

thought only of her. He laid aside his playthings as of no use, but would bend over her little drawer and earnestly gaze at what her tiny fingers once handled.

Slowly and gently his life began to ebb out. He had no sickness, made no mention of pain, had no cough, and medicine could do nothing for him. When he came to take his bed from sheer weakness, he begged that he might lie on the very bed and on the same spot where Jessie died. Sometimes in the night he would be heard to utter a suppressed moan, and when his mother hastened to him and inquired what he wanted, he would only say, 'I want Jessie! Do you think she has forgotten me?" "I want to go to Jessie, and she will tell me all about it." Once, just before the Angel of dismission came for him, he was heard to break out almost in a shout.

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"What is it my son?" said his mother.

"Oh! I thought Jessie had come." "No. But, my child, you are going to Jessie. You will soon see her."

"Ah! I know. But I wish I could carry her something! And yet I know she has better things there.'

The little crutches are now standing in the corner of the mother's chamber, leaning against the little bureau that held Jessie's clothes and things. His little hat hangs just over the crutches. The pale face is there no more. Side by side the two small graves are seen under the great hemlock that tenderly spreads his shade over them. The cold winds of winter whistle over them. And where are the children? Did Jesus know him "without crutches?" Is he lame and pale and moaning now? Or is the Good Shepherd leading them to still waters, and educating and training them up in that pure and bright world? There is no little boy on crutches looking into the grave of a sister there!-Sunday School Times.

The Gospel of Peace. By J. A. MANT. Pp. 30. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster-row, E.C. THIS is a simple but sweet little story which our young friends will read with great interest. It will do nicely to read out aloud, as a sort of interlude at the numerous juvenile parties which are being given at this season of the year.

The Hive. A Storehouse of Material for Working Sunday School Teachers. Price One Penny. No. I. January, 1868. Pp. 24. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster-row, E.C.

THIS is a new monthly for Sunday School Teachers, and bids fair to realise all that it professes to be in

the title. Our old friend, The Sunday School Union, will have to look after its laurels in the way of magazine literature, if The Hive keeps up to the promise of its opening number, which is by far the best pennyworth of Sunday school information that we have ever seen. The appearance and getting up of the magazine are as excellent as its contents. No Sunday school should omit to order this popular work.

We have also received the following:

The Scattered Nation; E. Stock. The Gospel Magazine; W. H. Collingridge. Clifton Sermons, The Little Gleaner, and The Sower; all three by Houlston and Wright; for December. They all contain much profitable and interesting matter.

BAPTIST CHAPEL, WEST BROMWICH.

was

THE above place of worship having been closed for four months, for extensive alterations and improvements, was re-opened on Lord's Day, October 13th, when three sermons were preached; those in the morning and evening by the Rev. W. Stokes, of Manchester, and that in the afternoon by the Rev. W. Giles, of Birmingham. On Monday, October 14th, a tea meeting was held in the school adjoining the chapel, which largely attended. After tea, a public meeting was held in the chapel, presided over by the pastor, the Rev. T. Hanson, and was ably addressed by Revs. J. Whewell, J. G. Jukes, (Independent ministers of the town), W. Stokes, T. Hanson, and Mr. Levi Bailey. On Lord's Day, October 20th, the services were resumed, when three sermons were preached; that of the morning by the Rev. D. Evans, of Dudley; that of the afternoon by the Rev. C. Vince, of Birmingham, and that in the evening by the Rev. John Dowty, M.A., Wesleyan minister

of West Bromwich. The sermons were all of a superior order, and the services were found by many to be seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. The collections amounted to £46. The Baptists of West Bromwich have long needed a better and more inviting place of worship, which necessity is now supplied in the very beautiful and commodious sanctuary recently opened. We thank God and take courage.

CHAMBER HALL, NEAR BURY. When the first Sir Robert Peel was solicited to give ground for a Wesleyan chapel at Tamworth, near to which was his mansion, he said to the applicants, some of whom were his own workmen, "My lads, do not build your chapel too large; people like to go to a little chapel well filled, better than a large one half full. I often go into your chapels at Manchester, Liverpool, and London, and have no wish to find myself alone in a large pew, and pointed at as Sir Robert Peel." He also added, I have left most of my works in Lan

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cashire under the management of Wesleyans; they make most excellent servants. Also, when I resided in Lancashire, I asked Mr. Wesley, at one of the Manchester conferences, to come to breakfast with me. He agreed on condition that he might bring some of his children, and he brought thirty-six preachers with him." Wesley refers to the occasion in his journal thus:-"August 27th, 1787, I was invited to breakfast at Bury, by Mr. Peel, a calico printer, who a few years ago began with five hundred pounds, and is now supposed to have gained fifty thousand pounds. Oh, what a miracle if he lose not his soul." It may not be uninteresting to our friends to know that the room in which Mr. Wesley and his preachers were entertained so many years ago, is now the Dining Hall of the Baptist college.

ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH,

MIDDLESBOROUGH.

ON Sunday, December 15th, the anniversary of the above named church was celebrated in the OddFellows' Hall, Bridge-street, where the services are regularly held. Sermons were preached in the morning and evening by the Rev. E. Parker, of Farsley, from Rom. x. 4., and Isaiah liii. 11. The attendance in the morning was only small, as Mr. Parker was unknown; but there was a goodly gathering in the evening, and the services appeared to be highly appreciated by those who had the pleasure of attending them. On the following day a tea meeting was held in the same place, which was well attended, the trays being gratuitously provided by the ladies of the congregation. After tea, a public meeting was held, when addresses were delivered by the Revs. E. Parker, J. McNeill, (Presbyterian); J. Packet, (Wesleyan Reform); W. H. Ainsworth, the pastor of the little church, and some other friends. Mr. Councillor Lacy occupied the chair, and the meeting was enlivened by some good singing, performed by an efficient choir. Altogether, the services were very interesting, and we trust will be useful in giving a fresh impulse to a

cause which needs, and deserves, assistance from friends who are more fortunately situated. We trust the church will soon be enabled to obtain a place of worship of their own, which will doubtless remove one great difficulty out of their way.

PRESENTATION AT DRAKE STREET BAPTIST SUNDAY

SCHOOL.

ON Saturday evening, the senior young women's class, numbering fortyseven, took tea together in the school room, Henry-street. After tea, the pastor, the Rev. A. Pitt, by special request, took the chair. The meeting having been opened with singing and prayer, one of the young women, in the name of the class, presented Mrs. Pitt (their afternoon teacher for now four years), with a large and beautiful photograph of the whole class, with Mrs. Pitt and Mr. Henry Pogson (their morning teacher), in the centre. Another member of the class then presented Mr. Pogson with another photogragh, taken at the same time. Deeply touching and affecting addresses accompanied the presentations, which drew tears from many eyes. Mrs. Pitt and Mr. Pogson acknowledged the presents in suitable terms, each appealing to those not yet decided for Christ that night to yield to the appeals of his love, and admit him to the throne of their hearts,each entreating that not one in the picture, or who had been in the class, might be missing from Christ's right hand in the great day of God. Addresses were delivered by several other members of the class, detailing their Christian experience, and how God had dealt with them during the past four years. Some seventeen members of this class have been baptised and added to the church. The meeting will not soon be forgotten by those present.

ALBERT HALL CHAPEL,
MALDEN ROAD, LONDON,
N.W.

REV. JAMES WEBB, late of Ipswich, has consented to take the oversight of the church meeting in the above place of worship. Baptists in London

who hold strict communion sentiments in conjunction with an earnest missionary spirit, should do all they can to help this rising cause. Our friend Mr. Wilkin, Hampstead, N.W., will be very glad to communicate with any friends disposed to aid.

MINISTERIAL SETTLEMENT. THE REV. T. S. Bristow, formerly a minister amongst the Independents, having been baptised by the Rev. Thomas Dawson, in Liverpool, and received into communion with the Baptist body about twelve months ago, has recently received and accepted a cordial and hearty call to the pastorate of the Baptist church at Blakeney, in Gloucestershire.

near the river, and handled the subject of baptism in a most masterly manner. The candidate, (a brother) will be added to the newly formed English Strict Baptist Church.

On the 9th of June, this newly formed church had the pleasure of welcoming by the right hand of fellowship an aged and devout brother who left the Pettah Open Communion Church some ten years ago, not being able to agree with them regarding their open, or, as he says, loose views.

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Grandpass Chapel.-On Sunday morning, June 30th, Ten; (one male and nine females. An address was given near the river to a very large gathering of different classes of people by R. V. Dunlop, Esq., by interpretation, and baptised by Rev. James Silva. These will be added to the Singalese Strict Church.

On Sunday Morning, July 14th, five; (four males and one female) by Rev. James Silva. One of the candidates, an influential native Physician addressed the congregation before descending into the water. He was, till very lately, a formidable enemy to the religion of the Great Physician of souls. They, too, will be added to the Singalese Strict Church.

AT Grandpass Chapel, Colombo, on 11th August, one; by Rev. James Silva. The candidate is a Singalese newspaper editor, and was connected with the Bhudists as their lecturer, he went down into the water after addressing the people for more than one hour against Bhudism, and proving the truth of the religion of Jesus, he will join as a member of the Singalese Grandpass Church.

At Grandpass Chapel, Colombo, on 18th August, one; by Rev. James Silva, after the English service. The candidate will be enrolled as a member in the English Strict Baptist Church at Grandpass.

At Gonawella Chapel, on 21st August, thirteen; by Rev. J. Gunesekera. This church is also strict in communion.

DEATHS.

ON November 16th, at 53, Victoriastreet, Windsor, departed this life, Mr. John Faulkner Bradenell, aged seventy-six, after much suffering from Dropsy, which he bore with Christian fortitude. He was interred in the Windsor cemetery, with his beloved wife, whose death he deeply lamented. He was the founder of the first Baptist church in Windsor, and laboured incessantly day and night during its erection. He drew the plans and superintended the building at a considerable cost of time and labour, in addition to a liberal contribution to the building fund and the general support of that place of worship. He also saw, in 1853, the entire debt of the chapel removed under the pastorate of the late Rev. S. Lillycrop. He held the offices of deacon, treasurer, and superintendent of the Sabbath school for sixteen years. Mr. B. was a Strict Baptist and loved the doctrines of grace. In early life he entered the service of Lord Tankerville, where he gained the respect of his employer by his diligent and faithful service. He afterwards, in 1822, during the reign of his majesty George IV., entered the royal service at St. James' Palace, and was afterwards removed to Windsor Castle, where he continued first as gardener and afterwards as chief roasting cook in the royal kitchen. He continued in the royal service until 1855, when he retired on a pension besides a medal for long service. His character was marked by an unshrinking faithfulnes in his discharge of duty. As an inhabitant of Windsor for so many years he gained the respect of all who best knew him. He was exceedingly hospitable, his home and table were open to all lovers of the Lord Jesus, and many can testify to his kindness in that respect, but he now has been called away, we trust, to join the church triumphant above, to meet many dear saints who are gone before, and to be "for ever with the Lord." In the prospect of death he arranged and set his house in order, and when a friend called to see him he wept much and said, "I do not weep for sorrow, it is thankfulness that the