m, after conversing a while, she said, in, have you heard any thing of your hn ?" "Oh, cruel woman!" said the fawith great grief, "how can you mention me to me? The first news I expect to f him, is, that he is hanged for a thief." swered, "Many a profligate boy has bea virtuous man ;" and endeavoured to rt him, but in vain. At length, he asked she knew whether his lost son was yet

She answered, "Yes, he was yet alive, oped he would make a better man than he boy;" at the same time she introduced o his father. The youth came in weeping, rew himself at his father's feet, beseechm for Christ's sake to pardon his misbeha; earnestly, and with much apparent sin7, promising future amendment. His fareproached and threatened him; but, upon mportunities of Mrs. Forsyth, he was pered to a reconciliation. He then besought ther to send him to college; saying, "That, er he misbehaved again, he would be conthat his father should disclaim him for ever. father granted him his request; and, after a time spent there, not only a thorough reforon, but a saving conversion, took place im; and he was so diligent a student, that, much less time than could be expected, he t through all his necessary studies and enterearly into the ministry. He became one of most extraordinary characters of the age A minister happening to be some time since Edinburgh, was accosted very civilly by a

there."

Anecdotes.

young man in the street, with an apology for th
liberty he was taking. "I think Sir," said he
"I have heard you at "
might, Sir; for I have sometimes ministered
note put up for an afflicted widow, begging the
"Do you remember," said he,
"You probabl
prayers of the congregation for the conversion
of an ungodly son?" "I do very well remem
ber such a circumstance."
"Sir," said he

་་

"I am the very person; and, wonderful to tell
the prayer was effectual. I was going on a fro
lic with some other abandoned young men, one
Sunday, and, passing by the chapel, I was struck
with its appearance, and we agreed to mingle
with the crowd, and stop for a few minutes to
laugh and mock at the preacher and people. We
were but just entered the chapel, when you, Sir,
read the note, requesting the prayers of the con-
gregation for an afflicted widow's profligate son.
I heard it with a sensation I cannot express.

was struck to the heart; and, though I had no
idea that I was the very individual meant, I felt
the bitterness expressed of a widow's heart,
who had a child as wicked as I knew myself to
be.
could not laugh.
My mind was instantly solemnized: I
the preacher. I heard his prayer and sermon
with an impression very different from what had
My attention was rivetted on
carried me into the chapel. From that moment
the gospel truths penetrated my heart: I joined
the congregation, cried to God in Chă
mercy, and found peace in beli

my mother's comfort

eavy cross

continued in the good ways of the Lord. ening having lately been made for an adgeous settlement in my own country, I hither with my excellent mother, and, for time past, have endeavoured to dry up the v's tears, which I had so often caused to and to be the comfort and support of her as I had been the torment and affliction of rmer days. We live together, in the ennt of every mercy, happy and thankful; ery day I acknowledge the kind hand of ord, that ever led me to the chapel."

IE PROFLIGATE TURNED MISER. YOUNG man who in two or three years a large patrimony in profligate revels, was t reduced to absolute want. He went one ut of his house with an intention to put d to his life, but wandering awhile almost sciously, he came to the brow of an emie which overlooked what were lately his s. Here he sat down, and remained fixed in ht a number of hours, at the end of which rang from the ground with a vehement exmotion. He had formed his resolution, was, that all these estates should be his aHe had formed his plan, too, which he iny began to execute; he walked hastily fordetermined to seize the very first oppory, of however humble a kind, to gain mothough it were ever so despicable a trifle, esolved absolutely not to spend, if he could A a 2

help it, a single farthing of whatever he might obtain. The first thing that drew his attention, was a heap of coal shot out of carts on the pavement before a house he offered himself to shovel or wheel them into the place where they were to be laid, and was employed: he received a few pence for the labour, and then, in pursuance of the saving part of his plan, requested some small gratuity of meat and drink, which was given him: he then looked out for the next thing that might chance to offer, and went with indefatigable industry through a succession of servile employments in different places of longer and shorter duration, still scrupulously avoiding as far as possible the expence of a penny. He promptly seized every opportunity which could advance his design, without regarding the meanness of the employment, or the degradation of appearance: by this course he had gained, after some time, money enough to purchase, in order to sell again, a few cattle, of which he had taken pains to understand the value. He speedily but cautiously turned his first gains into second advantages: retained without a single deviation his extreme parsimony; and thus advanced by degrees into larger transactions and incipient wealth. The final result was, that he more than recovered his lost possessions, and died an inveterate miser, worth sixty thousand pounds. So strange and contradictory is the character of man!!!

PROTESTANTS REPROVED.

REMEMBER," says Mr. Matthew Henwhen I was a young man, coming up to n in the stage coach, in King James's here happened to be a gentleman in the ny that then was not afraid to own himJesuit: many rencounters he and I had he road, and this was one he was praiscustom, in popish countries, of keeping urch doors always open, for people to go ny time to say their prayers. I told him looked too much, like the practice of the ees, that prayed in the synagogues, and ot agree with Christ's command.

Thou,

thou prayest, enter not into the church he doors open, but into thy closet, and hy doors.' When he was pressed with gument, he replied, with some vehemence, lieve you Protestants say your prayers no ; for (said he) I have travelled a great n the coach in company with Protestants, often laid in inns in the same room with and have carefully watched them, and never perceive that any of them said their rs, night or morning, but one, and he was sbyterian,' Superstitious and self righte s the Papists are, they are very attentive to orm at least, while it is too true that many estants, so called, never pray at all. Fas oceri ab hoste.