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"But, Martha, if it were God's will, you would rather live, and grow up a strong and hearty girl, like sister Mary, would you not?" She paused a moment, and then said, "No; I'd rather die, and go to Jesus."

I thanked God for such a hope vouchsafed to this young child. She returned home, never again to leave the sunny doorway of her own cottage. In much pain and weakness she lingered for three months; but, though they were months of pain, though her whole body was agitated by the throbbings of her heart, till it was sad to look at the suffering lamb, her mind was in "perfect peace." Her little feet stood firm in the midst of Jordan, fearless of the water-flood. Jesus, the true Ark of the Covenant, was with her.

She looked earnestly at her mother one day, and said, "Mother! I'm glad I am going to die, instead of you;" knowing and feeling that her mother had yet much to learn. The day before she died, she had been watching for some time the baby she loved so well, when she suddenly said, "Oh, I wish I could

take baby with me to Jesus!" Her little brother, whom she also loved much, she would beg to be a good boy, and come to her in heaven. She seemed to understand and long for, in their own case, the blessedness of that meeting when there shall be

"No wanderer lost,

A family in heaven."

The next morning, a sweet May morning, when the lambs were sporting, and the birds were singing, and healthy children were gamboling in their playful joy, Martha suddenly fell back in her chair; the little heart stopped its painful beating, and her spirit returned to God who gave it. We believe that angels bore her to the Saviour she loved and trusted in.

The long grass now grows over the grave where Martha's body lies: we do not know the very spot, but God knows it; and when Jesus shall come again, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, we believe that the dust of the pious, gentle, patient, believing little Martha will be gathered

H

together, and shall rise a glorious body, to meet the Lord in the air.

Dear child! may she see in that blessed company all those she so dearly loved on earth!

"There is, beyond the sky,

A heaven of joy and love;

And holy children, when they die,
Go to that world above."

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No. 9.-Two GRAVE-RAILS.

HERE are two new grave-rails in our churchyard; the one is sacred to the memory of "Edith Threader, aged 67;" the other is in memory of "Eliz. Shambrook, Schoolmistress, aged 65."

No striking events marked the course of these dear women; but they, being children of God, and heirs of the kingdom which He has prepared for those who love Him, were guided by His hand, and followed by His eye of love during their pilgrimage; and perhaps their simple annals might interest and encourage those who, with trembling steps, are seeking the heavenly country.

CHAPTER I.

The mother of Edith Threader was the daughter of a wealthy farmer; but she offended her father, and lowered her own station in life, by foolishly marrying a servant on the farm. She was a woman of superior mind and truly religious, but stern in character and determined in purpose. Having taken, of her own free will, a lower station than was intended for her, she suited herself to that station; she wished to bring up her family in the fear of God, to make them fair scholars, and then to see them honestly gaining their daily bread. It was her desire to serve God with the talents which He had bestowed upon her, and accordingly she kept a small school, and in the evenings often held a kind of lecture for the young servants of the place, saying, "My dear children will be servants, exposed to all the dangers and temptations of service; I will try therefore to benefit such, and perhaps my God whom I serve will raise up friends in season to be useful to them."

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