tude for the kindness, but did not manifest as much pleasure as I expected, considering how highly he professed to value the Bible. While I was wondering, and rather sorrowing on the account, I observed the old man to be feeling with an air of embarrassment in his pocket. At length he pulled out an old tattered case, which appeared to have been long in use, and observed, "This new Bible will not be of much use to me, because my spectacles are so bad, that they help one very little in reading."

With that he opened his case, and showed a pair of spectacles of the cheapest sort, of which one glass was broken, and the other so scratched that it was wonderful that he could see through it at all. Mr. W- — no sooner observed this, than he said: "Well, Uncle Harry, you must have a new pair-do call at Mr.'s store, and tell him to let you have a pair suited to your age, and I will settle with him about it."

On hearing this, Harry's eyes gleamed with joy, and he exclaimed: "Thank God! God bless you, master! Now I shall have comfort again in reading the Bible."—And I never saw a happier, or a more grateful countenance.

Presently he said, the waggon would soon call for him, to take him home, and he must go down town, and be getting ready; on which he again thanked his kind friend, and invoked a

blessing on him and his family. He then came, and taking me affectionately and respectfully by the hand, said: "I never saw you before, and I never shall see you again in this world; but I love you as a minister of my blessed Lord and Master, and I hope that I shall meet you in the house above. Remember and pray for poor old Harry."

. I squeezed his hand, and assured him of my affectionate remembrance, and requested that he would pray for me, and for the preachers of the Gospel generally. "O!" said he, "may God Almighty bless all the dear ministers of Christ, and enable them to call many poor sinners to the dear Saviour. O! I do love to hear of souls coming to Christ; and it is my daily prayerThy kingdom come, and thy will be done, on earth, as it is done in heaven." With that the old man took leave.

I confess that I have often since wished to see him and hold communion with him.

There was

a spirit of piety about him, and of benevolence, of humble zeal and fervent hope, of meekness and submission, which I have rarely seen equalled. At the same time there was a degree of intelligence, and extent of religious knowledge, which in his condition really surprised and delighted

me.

I saw here one of the triumphs of divine

grace. I was made to appreciate the value and the excellency of that religion, which could take a poor slave, and so transform him, that he was well nigh fitted to be a companion of saints in light, and of just men made perfect. And I have often prayed since I saw him, that after the days of my wandering shall be over, all the suffering of my life shall have been endured, I may obtain the rest, and a lot in the inheritance, which I have no doubt is prepared for Uncle Harry.

THE HAPPY NEGRO.

Some years ago an English gentleman had occasion to visit North America, where the following circumstance occurred, which is thus related in his own words :

"Every day's observation convinces me, that the children of God are made so by his own especial grace; and that all means are equally effectual with Him, whenever He is pleased to employ them for conversion.

"In one of my excursions, while I was in the State of New-York, I was walking by myself over a considerable plantation, amused with its husbandry, and comparing it with that of my own country, till I came within a little distance

of a middle-aged Negro, who was tilling the ground. I felt a strong inclination, unusual with me, to converse with him. After asking him some little questions about his work, which he answered in a sensible manner, I asked him to tell me whether his state of slavery was not disagreeable to him, and whether he would not gladly be at liberty. 'Massah,' said he, looking seriously upon me, 'I have a wife and children; my Massah take care of them, and I have no care to provide any thing; I have a good Massah, who teaches me to read; and I read good book that makes me happy.' 'I am glad,' replied I, 'to hear you say so; and pray what is the good book you read?' The Bible, Massab, God's own book.' 'Do you understand, friend, as well as read, this book? For many can read the words well, who cannot get hold of the true and good sense.'

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"O Massah!' said he, 'I read the book much before I understand; but, at last, I felt pain in my heart; I found things in the book that cut me to pieces.' 'Ah!' said I, and what things were they?' 'Why, Massah, I found that I had bad heart, Massah, a very bad heart indeed; I felt pain that God would destroy me, because I was wicked, and done nothing as I should do. God was holy, and I was very vile

and naughty; I could have nothing from Him but fire and brimstone in hell.'

"In short, he entered into a full account of his convictions of sin, which were indeed as deep and piercing as almost any I had ever heard of; and stated what Scriptures came to his mind, which he had read, that both probed to the bottom of his sinful heart, and were made the means of light and comfort to his soul. I then inquired of him what ministry or means he made use of, and found that his master was a plain sort of man, who had taught his slaves to read, but who had not conversed with this Negro upon the state of his soul.

"I asked him likewise, how he got comfort under all this trial? O Massah!' said he, 'it was Christ gave me comfort by his dear word. He bade me come unto Him, and He would give me rest; for I was very weary and heavy laden.' And here he repeated a number of the most precious texts in the Bible, showing, by his artless comment upon them, as he went along, what great things God had done in the course of some years for his soul. Being rather more acquainted with doctrinal truths, and the Bible, than he had been, or in his situation could easily be, I had a mind to try how far a simple experience, graciously given without the usual means, could preserve a man from error; and I